What do you think?
Rate this book
The Sea-God at Sunrise #2
Paradise
In 1849, Honolulu town, newly named the Hawaiian kingdom's capital, is caught halfway between worlds. The former backwater is now an international port for whalers and merchants, and Honolulu is where men go to seek their fortunes - until the discovery of gold in California changes everything.
Amid these early days of the Gold Rush, whaleship captain Daniel Ellis and Takao, his boatsteerer, sail into Honolulu for a brief stopover. When things don't go as planned, they'll need to turn to someone for help. Who better than Shima, now living just outside Honolulu, working as a physician and well connected within the Hawaiian elite?
But Shima has changed, too, and he has his own secrets. In the sequel to "The Sea-God at Sunrise," Ellis and Takao may find that the biggest battles they'll face are not at sea against monsters of the deep, but in the harbors and valleys of Oahu against friend and brother.
Amid these early days of the Gold Rush, whaleship captain Daniel Ellis and Takao, his boatsteerer, sail into Honolulu for a brief stopover. When things don't go as planned, they'll need to turn to someone for help. Who better than Shima, now living just outside Honolulu, working as a physician and well connected within the Hawaiian elite?
But Shima has changed, too, and he has his own secrets. In the sequel to "The Sea-God at Sunrise," Ellis and Takao may find that the biggest battles they'll face are not at sea against monsters of the deep, but in the harbors and valleys of Oahu against friend and brother.
238 pages, Paperback
First published February 10, 2015
1 person is currently reading
435 people want to read
About the author
G.L. Tysk
5 books23 followersG.L. Tysk was born in Chicago to Hong Kong immigrants. She was raised in Texas, moved abroad to Japan, and now lives in Massachusetts with her Norwegian-American husband. This muddling of multiple cultures drives her to explore the effect of cultural exchange and diversity in her writing. Her work focuses on early American whaling and its impact on globalization, 19th century colonialism, and Asian and Pacific Islander immigrant culture. She has sailed square-rigged vessels with Sea Education Association and with Mystic Seaport aboard the historic whaleship Charles W. Morgan. She lives in Boston.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
March 29, 2015
I was a First Reads winner of this book through a GR giveaway.
First of all, don't let my rating stop you from reading the book. The two stars I gave it are more of a reflection of the fact I had a bit of a hard time really getting into the story, which in turn directly correlates with my personal tastes and knowledge regarding nautical as well as Hawaiian history.
It should also be noted that I have not read Tysk's first book in the series, The Sea-God at Sunrise, so I can't really tell how the story in Paradise ties in with it, and how the detailed knowledge - or the time previously invested in getting to know some of the recurring characters - would have affected this reading experience. This is not to say that Paradise would be confusing, unreadable without having read the first installment in the series. It did feel like a solid stand-alone in its own right, and the most crucial details of what happened previously were told well enough for nothing to feel particularly confusing. In short: you don't need to read the first book, but for all I know, it could add to what you feel towards the characters.
Characters themselves were part of the reason I had a hard time getting into this book. That is not to say the characters weren't written with decent quality. I rather liked Captain Ellis, the well-meaning man who would rather have a little faith in people, and his frustration with being held in the dark regarding the details of what's happening. Unfortunately, I couldn't quite find myself interested enough in the other characters. Takao started off alright, but then plummeted down.
Now, to avoid ending in a sore note, the things I actually really did enjoy about Paradise!
First of all, Tysk's immense understanding of nautical and Hawaiian history definitely shows. Even without the afterword listing and naming the historical happenings interwoven into the background setting of the story, the prose itself drops clear enough hints for the reader to catch on and do some research of their own on the matter, should they feel compelled to do so on the spot, as they read. What comes to nautical vocabulary, this is more apparent in the very beginning of the book, but I must say I was initially confused by the jargon (while some may have been familiar to me in my native tongue, I had no knowledge of what the words would translate to). That confusion did not deter me from enjoying the story, however - it was just an opportunity to increase my personal vocabulary. I appreciate it when books do that, even if the words won't exactly end up in every day use. In many ways, reading this novel felt educational, even though the actual accounts of the characters were fictional.
Secondly, I rather enjoyed the dialogue. Just not perhaps for very obvious reasons. That is to say, I enjoyed it because it felt more realistic than what I'm often used to in the books I've read. The characters would stammer, not know what to say besides a simple "Oh", fumble with their words. They would say empty phrases people simply just say because they are kind of supposed or expected to, like "I'm sorry" in certain situations. When they'd have a go at a verbal sting, it would actually feel believable, in the sense that one could imagine himself saying something along those lines. The sting doesn't feel calculated, pondered, or too well-worded. Saying all that might feel like some backhanded comment on Tysk's ability at verbal acrobatics, but I assure you it isn't. It was truly, honestly refreshing to see dialogue that felt more like what I'd hear in every day life, where hardly anyone can spurt out complicated, long, perfect sentences like they were reading them straight off a crib sheet. People are rarely all that silver-tongued. People are rarely capable of shouting out witty, apt remarks at every given moment. But I suddenly realized that's how it is in most books I tend to read, and while it's entertaining and I love it as much as the next person, seeing just regular people talk felt very refreshing.
That's all folks. While the book might not pop to my mind when asked for recommendations, I certainly would not advice anyone against reading it if they planned to.
First of all, don't let my rating stop you from reading the book. The two stars I gave it are more of a reflection of the fact I had a bit of a hard time really getting into the story, which in turn directly correlates with my personal tastes and knowledge regarding nautical as well as Hawaiian history.
It should also be noted that I have not read Tysk's first book in the series, The Sea-God at Sunrise, so I can't really tell how the story in Paradise ties in with it, and how the detailed knowledge - or the time previously invested in getting to know some of the recurring characters - would have affected this reading experience. This is not to say that Paradise would be confusing, unreadable without having read the first installment in the series. It did feel like a solid stand-alone in its own right, and the most crucial details of what happened previously were told well enough for nothing to feel particularly confusing. In short: you don't need to read the first book, but for all I know, it could add to what you feel towards the characters.
Characters themselves were part of the reason I had a hard time getting into this book. That is not to say the characters weren't written with decent quality. I rather liked Captain Ellis, the well-meaning man who would rather have a little faith in people, and his frustration with being held in the dark regarding the details of what's happening. Unfortunately, I couldn't quite find myself interested enough in the other characters. Takao started off alright, but then plummeted down.
Now, to avoid ending in a sore note, the things I actually really did enjoy about Paradise!
First of all, Tysk's immense understanding of nautical and Hawaiian history definitely shows. Even without the afterword listing and naming the historical happenings interwoven into the background setting of the story, the prose itself drops clear enough hints for the reader to catch on and do some research of their own on the matter, should they feel compelled to do so on the spot, as they read. What comes to nautical vocabulary, this is more apparent in the very beginning of the book, but I must say I was initially confused by the jargon (while some may have been familiar to me in my native tongue, I had no knowledge of what the words would translate to). That confusion did not deter me from enjoying the story, however - it was just an opportunity to increase my personal vocabulary. I appreciate it when books do that, even if the words won't exactly end up in every day use. In many ways, reading this novel felt educational, even though the actual accounts of the characters were fictional.
Secondly, I rather enjoyed the dialogue. Just not perhaps for very obvious reasons. That is to say, I enjoyed it because it felt more realistic than what I'm often used to in the books I've read. The characters would stammer, not know what to say besides a simple "Oh", fumble with their words. They would say empty phrases people simply just say because they are kind of supposed or expected to, like "I'm sorry" in certain situations. When they'd have a go at a verbal sting, it would actually feel believable, in the sense that one could imagine himself saying something along those lines. The sting doesn't feel calculated, pondered, or too well-worded. Saying all that might feel like some backhanded comment on Tysk's ability at verbal acrobatics, but I assure you it isn't. It was truly, honestly refreshing to see dialogue that felt more like what I'd hear in every day life, where hardly anyone can spurt out complicated, long, perfect sentences like they were reading them straight off a crib sheet. People are rarely all that silver-tongued. People are rarely capable of shouting out witty, apt remarks at every given moment. But I suddenly realized that's how it is in most books I tend to read, and while it's entertaining and I love it as much as the next person, seeing just regular people talk felt very refreshing.
That's all folks. While the book might not pop to my mind when asked for recommendations, I certainly would not advice anyone against reading it if they planned to.
August 12, 2015
Once again, G. L. Tysk takes us back to the mid-nineteenth century in her sequel to the historical maritime fiction, Sea God at Sunrise. In Paradise time has moved on for the two Japanese brothers, each have gone their separate ways, one staying on the seas, one settling down in the tropical paradise of Honolulu as a physician while living a questionable life of danger in the shadows.
Takao has become a man of the sea, in a world where whaling can be a brutal way to make a living, while Shima has put down roots on land. Fortunes can be made in the tropical port, but will they be sustained in a world learning of the gold strikes in California?
When Takao goes to Shima for help, what will he find? Is Shima the same brother who cared for him as a child or has he been tainted by the world around him? What secrets will Takao find? Will they be revealed by Shima’s wife?
G. L. Tysk has brought all of the detail, the emotional hooks back from her first novel but has taken her tale in a new and grittier direction. Fabulous dialogue, riveting scenes and her descriptions of the world around almost bring the feel of the salt spray to life. Two brothers, once on the same journey for survival now face the differences that have come between them, differences that may not be overcome with mere words. Follow along on a journey of pain, loss and the end of an era of love and trust between two brothers caught up in tangles of the lives they have created and futures that are as uncertain as the open seas.
Moving, captivating and well-written, this portion of the journey, while a standalone in its own right, is best savored by the seasonings of reading book one, first.
I received this copy from G.L. Tysk in exchange for my honest review.
Series: The Sea God at Sunrise - Book 2
Publication Date: February 11, 2015
Publisher: G.L. Tysk
ISBN-13: 9781507805466
Genre: Historical Fiction
Print Length: 238 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Reviewed for: http://tometender.blogspot.com
Takao has become a man of the sea, in a world where whaling can be a brutal way to make a living, while Shima has put down roots on land. Fortunes can be made in the tropical port, but will they be sustained in a world learning of the gold strikes in California?
When Takao goes to Shima for help, what will he find? Is Shima the same brother who cared for him as a child or has he been tainted by the world around him? What secrets will Takao find? Will they be revealed by Shima’s wife?
G. L. Tysk has brought all of the detail, the emotional hooks back from her first novel but has taken her tale in a new and grittier direction. Fabulous dialogue, riveting scenes and her descriptions of the world around almost bring the feel of the salt spray to life. Two brothers, once on the same journey for survival now face the differences that have come between them, differences that may not be overcome with mere words. Follow along on a journey of pain, loss and the end of an era of love and trust between two brothers caught up in tangles of the lives they have created and futures that are as uncertain as the open seas.
Moving, captivating and well-written, this portion of the journey, while a standalone in its own right, is best savored by the seasonings of reading book one, first.
I received this copy from G.L. Tysk in exchange for my honest review.
Series: The Sea God at Sunrise - Book 2
Publication Date: February 11, 2015
Publisher: G.L. Tysk
ISBN-13: 9781507805466
Genre: Historical Fiction
Print Length: 238 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Reviewed for: http://tometender.blogspot.com
February 21, 2015
Without providing any spoilers, Tysk takes the memorable characters from her first novel The Sea God at Sunrise and writes a completely different kind of tale. Halfway through, I started preparing to write a review on Tysk's wonderful and easy way with dialogue and how she has taken a casual and meandering route through life's pitfalls and the familiar miasma of friendly and familial commitments. But then, looking back, I really should have seen it coming. But I didn't, and it made it all the better. The twist. I ended up enjoying Paradise every bit as much as I enjoyed Sea God, and I enjoyed Sea God tremendously. 4 stars and I can't wait for a third installment (maybe a prequel, hmm... Hin hint).
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews