Seaflower

Thomas Kydd #3

by Julian Stockwin

Internationally bestselling author Julian Stockwin's seafaring hero, young Thomas Kydd, comes of age in this epic naval adventure set in the Great Age of Sail. Writing in the sweeping tradition of Patrick O'Brian and C. S. Forester, acclaimed author Julian Stockwin continues the saga of Seaman Thomas Paine Kydd as he moves up the ranks of the Napoleonic-era British navy. The year is 1794. Kydd and the other shipwrecked sailors have returned to England for the court-martial of the sole surviving officer of Her Majesty's frigate Artemis. Kydd was on duty the thirteenth of April as quartermaster of the starboard watch. He knows what happened that dreadful night. His evidence can destroy an officer's career. Kydd is devastated by the loss of his ship, and he's shocked when he's not allowed to tell the court his story. Instead, Kydd and his good friend Nicholas Renzi are forcibly shipped off to the Caribbean. After many lonely months at sea, they don't even have a chance to go ashore to see family and friends. New adventures await, however, as both Kydd, a man of humble origins gradually rising through the ranks, and Renzi, whose exalted family heritage remains a tantalizing mystery, discover the pleasures and hazards of a lush new land. The journey will take Kydd from a dockyard in Antigua to a life-and-death struggle on the high seas aboard the plucky naval cutter Seaflower. While war between England and Revolution-torn France escalates, Kydd's mettle under fire -- as a sailor and a man -- receives the ultimate test. Set at the dawn of a new century, Seaflower gives us the primal forces of nature at sea where they are at their most untamed and exhilarating. This is classic storytelling at its powerful best.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Nautical, Historical, Adventure, War, Action

336 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 2003

About the author

Julian Stockwin was sent at the age of fourteen to Indefatigable, a tough sea-training school. He joined the Royal Navy at fifteen. He now lives in Devon with his wife Kathy. Julian has written 24 books to date in the Kydd series of historical adventure fiction, the story of one man's journey from pressed man to admiral in the age of fighting sail, and a non-fiction book, 'Stockwin's Maritime Miscellany.' His latest Kydd series title is THUNDERER. And, he's also published two historical standalone novels, THE SILK TREE, set in the time of Emperor Justinian and THE POWDER OF DEATH, about the quest for the secret of gunpowder.

Series:
* Thomas Kydd

Reviews

[Clemens Schoonderwoert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this book in 2005, and its the 3rd volume of the wonderful "Thomas Kydd" series.

Once more this seafaring tale has its authenticity in language and actions at sea and on land, and that makes this series so original.

The year is now AD 1795, and we find Thomas Kydd, his high-born friend Nicholas Renzi and other members of the crew of the ill-fated HMS Artemis, and they are waiting they be shipped back home after being shipwrecked.

At first summoned as court martial witnesses, but in a political act to shield an officer's reputation they are shipped out to the Caribbean, to spend their time there.

At the dockyard in Antigua, Kydd will get to know the workings of the Navy, but at a certain he will gain the ire of the master shipwright, and so he'll be dismissed and to an unknown future.

But his friend, Nicholas Renzi, has a surprise for Thomas Kydd and the rest of the crew in the form of a little topsail cutter called, Seaflower.

What is to follow is a marvellous naval story in which Thomas Kydd and his crew in the cutter the Seaflower will have to show their tenacious and courageous workmanship as top-class sailors, and the ultimate test will be when this Seaflower will meet the raw forces of the sea, and where that will eventually end.

Highly recommended, for this another splendid addition to this beautiful series, and that's why I like to call this episode: "A Brilliant Seaflower"!

[Jean · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is book three in the Thomas Kydd series of historical nautical fiction. Stockwin’s richly detailed portrait of life on ship and shore during the Napoleonic Wars is engrossing. He writes of shipboard routine, the panic and confusion of combat and the terrifying approach of a hurricane at sea. Stockwin writes from the view point of a common sailor in the 18th century British Navy. It is all here: the cramped conditions, the disgusting food, the undeserved punishment and cruelty of some officers and the unremitting toil.

From the beginning of the book we are plunged into a fast paced series of actions. The manic plot encompasses four battles, three courts of naval inquiry, two hurricanes, two shark attacks, a shipwreck, yellow fever, and rescue of French Royalist and a few floggings and dinner parties.

Kydd goes from an ordinary sailor to a Master’s mate, picking up along the way the navigational skills and drawing room manners of an officer and a gentleman. The setting of the story is in the Caribbean as Britain and France fight over the West Indies in about 1795. I read this as an audio book downloaded from Audible. Christian Rodska does his usual great job in narrating the story.

[Robin Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

The third book in a long running series that just seems to get better and better the characters keep growning and flowing with their ever expanding plot lines and movement into the ever larger arena of their times, as they and their careers / fortunes grow so do the scale and power of the troubles they encounter gone is the innocence to the plot a new origionality pervades the whole story and leaves the reader with a shanty lilt to their speech and a roll to their gait.

Having read the rest of the series and read the rest of the reviews i can tell others that Julian did learn and progress the characters even further, and when that was coupled with his obvious passion for the sea and all things nautical, you end up with a series that does rank up there with Forrester and O'Brian, every year i look forward to my new instalment of Kydd...but to get there you have to start at the beginning.

Well recommended

(Parm)

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Three in the Kydd Sea Adventures finds Kydd and his crewmates reassigned to the Caribbean. After various battles and prizes taken, Kydd is assigned to a boring duty ashore while his friend, Nicholas Renzy, works for an admiral after his intelligence and ability for languages are recognized. Various adventures follow when the two get a berth on the sleek cutter, Seaflower, along with their former shipmates. Prepare for another rousing seafaring tale with likeable heroes who still have far to go in their careers.

[Leigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great instalment in the Kidd Sea Adventures. The depth of the main characters is developing really well and the diversity of the adventures is making this read even better. The description of sailing is clear and understandable.

Looking forward to the next book: Mutiny

[Randy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kydd and Renzi end up working in a shipyard. Renzi is in the Admiral’s office and gets the idea to create orders for his favored list of seamen to get births on a cutter. So, he writes (forges) orders for several men including, of course, Kydd who needs to get back to sea as he has just been canned by his blue nose shipyard boss for carnal crimes. This seems a convenient and somewhat contrived device to move the story along. But I recall my brother doing something similar for our cousin during the Vietnam war. Through his enlisted connections our cousin was transferred from a front line infantry slot to a cushy radio job in a vacation area of Vietnam. Novelists get license for coincidences and Kydd’s sister shows up in the Caribbean to get married. Unfortunately, her intended dies of the Yellow Jack before a wedding can take place. She ends up as companion to an aristocratic lady and they all end up on the small cutter with Kydd and Renzi when Lord What’sit needs to be quickly transported to a larger port so he can take important intelligence back to London. Unfortunately, they run into a hurricane and the cutter is thrown up on the beach. So, the Lord decides he should take the long boat and try and find refuge. Kydd volunteers to sail the boat. Renzi comes along as well as the sister to take care of the Lord, injured in the hurricane. They are finally rescued by the fleet after some slick navigation by Kydd. The Lord promises they will be mentioned in dispatches. Kydd now has a patron and should move up in rank in book 4.

[Stven · Rating 3 out of 5]

The prose is a bit dense, and it wasn't until I consciously slowed down my usual reading speed by about 10% that I was really able to go with its flow. Even so the pacing of the story didn't always work well. Sometimes events would happen with hardly any emotional preparation, and other times we would wallow around for pages waiting for anything to advance the story. The worst was spending a dozen or so pages building up to a big battle scene only to turn the page and get "Chapter 5: The deck of a ship at dawn was the most beautiful sight he could think of, Kydd decided." You don't make friends of your readers by skipping the juicy parts.

Nevertheless, there's a satisfying level of detail about the practicalities of warships at sail and the characters and situations are good enough to hang in there with. Not all of the battles and storms are elided.

[Todd Stockslager · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good-natured novel of life at sea in the Caribbean during the romantic age of pirates, privateers, great ships, seamen, and battles. Sometimes moves at a good pace, other times, seems like episodic fictionalized accounts of background research.

I think part of the problem is that Stockwin, career English and Australian Navy working on only his third novel, is just not a polished writer yet. He has a good main character, but sometimes the settings and relationships are stilted and maudlin.

May be worth watching for future novels to see if Stockwin's skill grows with his catalogue.

[Ken Thompson · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the author's notes to this novel, Julian Stockwell announces himself to be a 'visile', that is,as I understand it, someone who has to see the scene in his mind's eye or The actual location to write a scene.

I would rather he be a 'characterile' or 'plotile' - able to write three dimensional characters and gripping tales. Having read up to this, the third in the series, I'm increasingly frustrated by how episodic and facile the plots are. I need to re_read some Hornblower or Aubrey/Maturin to cleanse my palate.

I know this is early in the series - I hope they get better, but I won't be paying to read them.

[Luke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although I enjoy the seafaring adventures of Kydd & Co, these novels feel like they move far too fast for my liking. Hornblower takes the time to develop character and plot, whereas the Kydd novels seem to move at a hundred miles an hour. In this novel Kydd serves of two different ships, as well as in a dockyard for a time, and is shipwrecked not once but twice. There is little time given over to the characters thoughts or feelings on these developments, in my view. I enjoy the genre but am struggling to love the Kydd series.

[Glen Raffel · Rating 3 out of 5]

OK read. Continues to develop the characters of Kydd and Renzi during their service in the Caribbean. What I didn't like was the endless cycle of setting up an interesting, dangerous conflict then having a convenient rescue in the nick of time. It would have worked better to have fewer challenges but have the characters work through them without an easy out.

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hate to be boring, but simply put, this is an excellent series if one is into the days of sail and goings on in Europe between the Brits, France, Spain, etc. Authentically written. Onto yet another. There are seventeen books currently in the series.

[Burt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Julian Stockwin is clearly the successor to Patrick O'Brian.

Stockwin's writing is colorful, descriptive, and he brings his characters and their settings to life.

[Cindy Vallar · Rating 5 out of 5]

With the demise of the Artemis, Thomas Kydd finds himself the key witness in the upcoming court martial of her only surviving officer. His last visit to England involved a hero’s welcome and grand celebrations. Now, he and his surviving mates are virtual prisoners, instead of being given leave to visit family. Then, on an April night in 1794, they are whisked aboard a lumbering, decaying warship bound for the Caribbean. There will be no trial, no testimony, no one to blame for the shipwreck. The underhandedness leaves a bitter taste in the survivors’ mouths, but what recourse do they have against the Admiralty?

Their destination is Guadeloupe, currently under the occupation of British troops working with French royalists. Kydd and his friend, Nicholas Renzi, quarter in the town with a family still loyal to the monarchy, but fear of retribution permeates their lives. Rebels and insurgents inhabit other parts of the island and, when fighting resumes, the British and royalists are unable to stop the enemy’s advance. A mass evacuation ensues with much chaos, during which Kydd and Renzi become separated. Renzi accompanies the exiles on a different ship for Jamaica; Kydd helps his countrymen evade their pursuers, knowing that death awaits him if they are caught.

Kydd and his comrades are rescued just in time, but not without casualties. No sooner is he safe aboard Trajan once again than a hurricane strikes. Afterward, he is tasked with sailing the damaged vessel to the dockyard in Antigua for repairs; instead, the shipwright condemns the warship and Kydd finds himself ashore with a new assignment, Master of the King’s Negroes. Although he enjoys learning the construction side of shipping, he feels out of his depth in managing slaves who accomplish tasks he has little knowledge of. He longs to return to the sea, where his true talents will be most useful. The master shipwright is a religious man with strict rules. When Kydd violates one of them, he commits an unforgivable sin and is once again adrift.

A chance encounter with an admiral leads to Renzi working as a writer in Spanish Town, Jamaica. Most days he duplicates orders and tends to mundane matters. On rare occasions he translates French newspapers and papers that might contain nuggets of intelligence for the admiral. Renzi dislikes his assignment, but it suits his despondency over the loss of Kydd whom he believes died as the insurgents overran Guadaloupe.

Reunion is a constant theme throughout this story, not just with shipmates, but also with family. Fire at sea, ship engagements, a cutting out episode, and good leaders versus bad ones are some of Kydd’s many adventures this time around. His education continues in ways that provide readers with an understanding of life in the navy. He also has the opportunity to see impressment from the flip side; instead of being a victim, he is charged with acquiring a crew from amongst very reluctant men.

The mark of a great storyteller is one who consistently captures the mood of the story in ways that allow readers to experience firsthand the highs and lows the characters face whether these involve the pain of flogging, the misery of yellow fever, the bleakness of being landbound, the drudgery of paperwork, or nerve-wracking reconnaissance. Julian Stockwin is such an author. At the same time, he spins his tale with succinct writing and tantalizing action. Seaflower catches the reader in its web from the first page and doesn’t let go until the last. Even then the reader is left wanting more, which in this case is possible because this is but the third title in the Kydd Sea Adventures series.

(This review originally appeared at Pirates and Privateers: http://www.cindyvallar.com/Stockwin.h...)

[Igenlode Wordsmith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Apparently this is the second in a series, but that didn't really matter; however, it definitely felt as if the author was trying to cram in every little bit of West-Indies-related lore that he had found, from Anne Bonney to maroon rebellions to the vomito negro. His protagonist goes through a dizzying array of different scenarios, from working in a dockyard to surviving a open-boat voyage to rigging a spare tiller on a ship of the line during a hurricane, and meets a ever-changing kaleidoscope of different people (indeed, it takes some contrivance on the part of the author to reassemble what seems to be his 'regular' cast, given that he keeps throwing Kydd from one assignment to another). And I did find the heavy use of dialect rather wearing to follow, given that just about everybody with the exception of Renzi is supposed to be 'speaking roughly'; there had to be a better way to indicate that the cast were uneducated sailors than that.

It's a interesting idea to show the Napoleonic wars from the lower-deck point of view, but of course it's rather limiting because realistically the sailors know and care little about what is going on for much of the time; a land attack written from the point of view of someone who is supposed to be making a flanking movement but doesn't know what 'flank' means consists unsurprisingly of mingled confusion, panic and boredom. In this genre comparisons with Hornblower are inevitable, and I'm afraid this author just doesn't have C.S.Forester's knack of feeding the reader with information at a rate that makes it both interesting and natural-seeming. It feels more like having the research regurgitated at you. And he doesn't manage to flit from setting to setting in the way that Forester does even in the very episodic Mr. Midshipman Hornblower.

Stockwin has clearly put a lot of work into this -- a little too clearly, and a little too much work. And Renzi getting 'unmasked' multiple times in the same book (and never with any consequences) felt a bit redundant.

[Larry · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the 3rd in the Kydd Sea Adventures series and so far, I have read them in order. Kydd is a sailor of the British Navy on a “ship of the line” in the late 1700s, early 1800s. The books are similar to Patrick O’Brian’s Aubrey & Maturin series – which are so good they may have spoiled me for other seafaring novels – but different enough. Each book is an ‘episode’ in Kydd’s life – yet can easily be read in standalone fashion. This one is set in the Caribbean as Kydd takes on more responsibilities. (Unfortunately, Stockwin doesn’t exactly explain the cliffhanger ending of the prior book.) The details of dockyard work are interesting and the “Adventure” comes with a daring hundreds of miles in a small open boat.

The writing is OK – and sometimes a little technical. I could have used a dictionary to understand all of the nautical terms. Still, the terms can be understood in context or just glossed over and add to the seafaring ‘yarn’ feel. … I’ll probably read another book and then decide if I am continuing the series.

[Gilbert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having completed a circumnavigation with the Rear Admiral Sir Jack Aubrey the pace of this voyage was extraordinary. This novel covers such a vast series of events that in Patrick O’Brian’s hands it would have been a half million word, two thousand page opus.

The whirlwind, flitting style of story telling gives this novel a kinetic sense of page turning pace, but to my mind it only provides a brief sketch of each action, storm or command. There were some instances of lack of discipline that, even under the most relaxed command I am sure would have resulted in a much harsher punishment than shown. That said, significantly better written than Parkinson’s The Guernseyman; and, although not the most complex protagonist still more nuanced (and rakish) than Hornblower.

Overall a very enjoyable read, and I would think an excellent introduction to naval fiction.

[Brandon Nordin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kydd moves up

This series moves from strength to strength in both storytelling and nautical lore. Of course that means that each escapade and providential escape becomes a little more far fetched, but it makes a good yarn. Particularly enjoyed the expanded use of sailors slang and usage, even if, at times, I almost had to sound the sentences out loud to decipher them. The lead characters are becoming a little two dimensional in their assigned roles but, in this book, are supported by a wide range of supporters & challengers that make their lives, and our reading, interesting.

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am finding this series to be very addictive. I really enjoyed the third instalment of the Kydd adventures at sea and the more I get to know the characters, the more I like them. Seaflower is predominantly set in and around the Caribbean, and once again, the dangers of nature and man are beautifully balanced. I highly recommend this series and still give it an overall rating of 4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ along with 4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for Seaflower.

[Bernie Doyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining book in the vein of Captain and Commander and Hornblower series. It is a little more technical and detail oriented than the others and the good fortune of the main character, Kydd, is a little far fetched. Having a background in the Coast Guard, I do find the sea stories to be technically accurate and satisfying. This is the third book of the series and I'm afraid that I'm hooked for the rest.

[Brad Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third book in the Kydd series and Mr. Stockwin has really found his voice. There is a higher level polish and rhythm in this book over the previous two stories. If you have read CS Forester’s Hornblower series and Bernard Cornwell’s Sharpe series then you will be at home with Kydd. It looks like there are 20 more books in the series which is a good thing.

[Alan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series continues to be excellent. After the shipwreck at the end of the last book, Kydd has been returned to England where, after he testifies at a court martial, he is immediately put on another ship to avoid retribution from the lieutenant he testified against. Hurricanes and more shipwrecks as Kydd's story transfers to the Caribbean.

[Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another pretty good Kydd adventure. As per the first two has several adventures combined into one book. On a Man O War he sees action and braves a hurricane. He then works in a dockyard for a while. Then he is back with Renzi working on a cutter seeking prizes.

[Jeremiah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the best book of the series so far. Little time wasted on nautical terms just to prove the author knows what he is talking about. The story was good, and the author painted the scene well. I will read the 4 book and am hoping the story and writing continue to improve.

[Charlie Shaw · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good tale of Thomas, Nicholas and Cecilia in the beginnings of things.

[Mark Donald · Rating 4 out of 5]

Best in series so far lots of naval action kydd seems to meet a new woman every book and sinks his boat at the end

[Chelsea Berry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actually finished listening last month, but zoned out on the last chapter, so listened again. Another great adventure full of global travels and peril.

On to the next one!

[Roger Rea · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well researched book,

A very well researched book, full of anticipation and expectation. If you are glad enough of some naval terminology, A must read to add some more to it.

[Adam‘’s book reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

2020 update this is the second time I’ve tried to read this book and I succeeded this time. But the author tries to do way too much which I don’t understand because it’s only the third book in a 27 book series granted when he started writing these books he did not know how long of a series it would be most likely. I am glad to see that he is expanding the different characters especially Ramsey Thomases best friend aboard ship and the youngest crewmember Luke. .

Synopsis

After Artemis Runs a ground and become shipwreck Kydd is brought back to England where he gives evidence against an officer he is reassigned to Trajan a ship of the line. The ship set sail for the Caribbean islands where Kydd experience is his first hurricane. Trajan is beyond repair and he gets reassigned once again to sure life working on repairing other ships he contracts yellow fever but survives. At the same time Ramsey is assigned to shore duty as well as a translator where he discovers his brother is also living on the island as a wealthy aristocrat planter . Eventually kid gets dishonorably phone off the island it Hass to find a new ship do you sale and he gets assigned to the Seaflower along with Ramsey and Luke

[Curtiss · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thomas Kydd rises to the rank of quartermaster serving both afloat and ashore in the Caribbean on His Britannic Majesty's service, and eventually decides to follow his colleague and friend Renzi's advice for Kydd to aspire to even higher rank, requiring a warrant from the Admiralty itself. By the end of the tale both he and Renzi distinguish themselves by aiding a peer of the realm in his mission to deliver vital naval intelligence, and thanks to the peer's gratitude and patronage, both receive the coveted advancement to the rank of warrant officer.