Is Beth Portman the next Lisbeth Salander, Katniss Everdeen, or Vanessa Michael Munroe?
A girl and a man sail the South Pacific guided by Death to an act of revenge that will set them free.
Beth Portman's parents died in a home fire four years ago, while Beth, then a normal, happy 14 year-old girl sails with Silas Tufts, an ex-Navy SEAL and family friend. With no other family, Beth stays with her best friend, Judy, and her lecherous father. After a few uncomfortable months Judy asks Beth to leave and she's glad to go, beginning her coming-of-age journey to become anything but a "normal" teenager. Silas also lost his family to tragedy. He has roamed the sea for years fleeing his guilt and grief. Beth joins him on his sailboat, both seeking solace and peace. In Mexico, they believe they have found the new love and family they seek with a beautiful Mexican woman. Soon, though, tragedy forces Beth and Silas to sail into the South Pacific, wandering aimlessly. But Death, in the form of a black Albatross, has a task for them. Over the next four years Death surreptitiously guides their journey and prepares their bodies and minds for their mission. Beth's transformation begins with an attack in the Philippines that changes her life forever. In a beautiful Great Barrier Reef lagoon Beth saves a life, but another tragedy shows her and Silas the purpose of Death's mission. Pirates, butterfly poachers, a jungle spirit, and a merciless Hong Kong crime boss, complete Beth and Silas's journey to an act of revenge that will set them free.
David Burton is an American writer living in sunny Southern California. He traveled by motorcycle through Mexico, US, Canada and Alaska. From motorcycles he turned to the ocean, building and sailing his own boats to Mexico, Tahiti, Hawaii, and through the Panama Canal to Florida. He spent a lot of time reading while on the water, so he decided to write books he would have wanted to read at sea.
Having swallowed the anchor he now mops floors and collects trash for money, writes for a living, and has become a (temporarily?) unrequited sailor.
Dark and edgy, yet I couldn’t help but feel so much for the main characters, Beth, the teenage orphan girl who becomes the ward of Silas, a salty sailor with his own demons chasing him across the seas.
When her parents died, Beth went to live with her best friend’s family, but the lecherous father became too much of a nightmare to endure and that’s when she went to Silas, an old family friend, ex-Marine and a man who would protect her, no matter what. Together, they form a bond that is both heartwarming and beautiful. But can happiness follow them across the waters onboard the Montegar or will tragedy continue to haunt them? Is Death riding the waves beside them or are the gods of the waters guiding them on a journey that will change the very fiber of Beth’s being? Will they ever find a safe harbor to land in?
ANCIENT MARINERS by David Burton is a journey of life, a coming of age for a young girl who has seen far too much darkness and a tale of relationships that grow beyond what the eye can see. Mysterious, intriguing and filled with that feeling of “other,” I was mesmerized from start to finish!
David Burton is a brilliant storyteller, his ability to set forth a tale that comes to life with characters that become real is magnetic. It isn’t that often that a book comes along that I can’t’ wait to read again, but ANCIENT MARINERS is at the top of my must read again list! If you’re looking for that special read that is clearly different, clearly one to get lost in and one that will stay with you long after that last page, this is it!
I received a complimentary copy from David Burton! A truly bright gem in the world of books! Highly recommended reading!
Publisher: David Burton Writing; 3 edition (September 9, 2012) Publication Date: September 9, 2012 Genre: Coming of Age | Horror Print Length: 310 pages Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News, follow: http://tometender.blogspot.com
Jump right into David Burton's gripping adventure of a happy, innocent young girl who, following the murders of her parents, seeks revenge and is transformed into a brave, sexy young woman. Beth Portman, always drawn to the sea, is mentored by Silas, a salty, old seaman whose own life is plagued with pain.
Creating an unwavering bond, the unlikely pair sail around the world seeking justice, as Death follows them in the form of a black albatross which uncannily foreshadows the danger which is lurking at every port. The supernatural begins to hazily merge with reality as Beth and Silas confront an array of pirates, witch doctors, and ghosts and follow their quest in pursuit of the evil, lecherous murderer.
A real page-turner, Ancient Mariners is a story not to be missed by sea lovers and thrill seekers alike.
Death is a silent companion on this quest for freedom and revenge. It's there at every turn guiding Beth to vengeance for the injustice that no one has ever righted. Now, out on the sea where she is most at home with her friend and mentor Silas, Beth will follow death's lead until she claims her due.
A great read! Trying to escape their pain & loss, Silas & Beth are sailing the Pacific, only to have death and chaos follow them. This is a real thriller and the ending, while you can gradually see it coming, is very satisfying.