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Pellew Fleet Action
FLEET ACTION
Midshipman Gerry Pellew escaped a French prison with nothing but the clothes on his back and a debt to the men who didn't make it out. Now, aboard HMS Lark, he's determined to become the officer his late father would have been proud of — if the war doesn't take him first.
The blockade off Brest is a slow grind of fog, storms, and waiting — until Lark crosses paths with the Junon, a French frigate captained by a man as skilled and honorable as any Gerry has faced. Twice they meet, first in the fog and then in a squall. The third time, there will be nowhere left to hide.
As intelligence mounts that the French fleet means to break out in force while shepherding a massive convoy. Gerry is thrust into boarding actions, brutal storms, and the command decisions that separate boys from officers. When the fleets finally collide in the war's largest engagement yet, Gerry will fight not just for victory, but for those who depend upon him and his own brother, serving somewhere in that same battered fleet — home alive.
A story of duty, grief, and the strange respect that can grow between enemies, for readers who can't get enough of Hornblower, Aubrey-Maturin, and the golden age of naval adventure.
Midshipman Gerry Pellew escaped a French prison with nothing but the clothes on his back and a debt to the men who didn't make it out. Now, aboard HMS Lark, he's determined to become the officer his late father would have been proud of — if the war doesn't take him first.
The blockade off Brest is a slow grind of fog, storms, and waiting — until Lark crosses paths with the Junon, a French frigate captained by a man as skilled and honorable as any Gerry has faced. Twice they meet, first in the fog and then in a squall. The third time, there will be nowhere left to hide.
As intelligence mounts that the French fleet means to break out in force while shepherding a massive convoy. Gerry is thrust into boarding actions, brutal storms, and the command decisions that separate boys from officers. When the fleets finally collide in the war's largest engagement yet, Gerry will fight not just for victory, but for those who depend upon him and his own brother, serving somewhere in that same battered fleet — home alive.
A story of duty, grief, and the strange respect that can grow between enemies, for readers who can't get enough of Hornblower, Aubrey-Maturin, and the golden age of naval adventure.
277 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 27, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
October 4, 2026
Very disappointing after a great first book
This series has really lost its way, after a very engaging first book.
The second proceeded to get all the facts and details mixed up including wrong ships and captains.
This book is just a series of earnest conversations, repeated doggedy throughout. Yes, we read for duty and heroism. Yes the effects of war on the young is worth exploring.
But tedious conversation after conversation, reiterating almost word for word the same 3 or 4 ideas just absolutely killed my brain.
When the action comes...of which there is very little, we are supposed to believe that long flowery dialogue is held during a cutting out firing of a ship. Or whole paragraphs are exchanged during hand to hand combat during a boarding action.
The final nail is the drawn out exchange between the teenage Pellew and the French Captain Comer.
Absolute twaddle and the inevitable result was yawn inducing.
I would be angry to pay for this "book". As it is, I begrudge the time it took to complete.
Mr Comer, please try harder and don't use AI as much.
This series has really lost its way, after a very engaging first book.
The second proceeded to get all the facts and details mixed up including wrong ships and captains.
This book is just a series of earnest conversations, repeated doggedy throughout. Yes, we read for duty and heroism. Yes the effects of war on the young is worth exploring.
But tedious conversation after conversation, reiterating almost word for word the same 3 or 4 ideas just absolutely killed my brain.
When the action comes...of which there is very little, we are supposed to believe that long flowery dialogue is held during a cutting out firing of a ship. Or whole paragraphs are exchanged during hand to hand combat during a boarding action.
The final nail is the drawn out exchange between the teenage Pellew and the French Captain Comer.
Absolute twaddle and the inevitable result was yawn inducing.
I would be angry to pay for this "book". As it is, I begrudge the time it took to complete.
Mr Comer, please try harder and don't use AI as much.
September 19, 2026
With the potential for being an entertaining romp into the world of eighteenth and early nineteenth century in my opinion it fails. It turned out to be a repetitive and overly sentimental tale. If you removed the words honest (or derivatives honesty, honestly), or banned the use of repetitive phrases of hugely unlikely personal relationships. As for the structure of the story; it is a story about the Royal Navy at a time when ranks were supremely important. It has a character who is introduced as a hero, despite being a midshipman. Another arrives with his lieutenant's examination pass in his clutch of certificates, but still a midshipman. These along with a couple of other midshipmen, they are repeatedly described as officers, which they were not. It was a small ship which boasted just one lieutenant - in itself not impossible, but to then have four midshipmen was quite unlikely. When the First (and only) Lieutenant is sent off to command a captured vessel the story completely loses the thread of this disciplined service. 1) he was the only lieutenant - an admiral will not have seconded him without also providing another more junior lieutenant from another ship, or 2) the captain will have selected from his midshipmen the one who had passed his lieutenant's examination awaiting an appointment to lieutenant.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 10, 2026
Sadly, just okay!
What happened? This one does not even come close to books 1 or 2. Couple of bits of action and a lot of "how are you feeling ? What are you thinking about? That was an honest thing to say " and then repeat, continuously, with the same people coming and going. It was like a series of scenes from Emmerdale on the water. Did this get written by the author or by the local primary school?
What happened? This one does not even come close to books 1 or 2. Couple of bits of action and a lot of "how are you feeling ? What are you thinking about? That was an honest thing to say " and then repeat, continuously, with the same people coming and going. It was like a series of scenes from Emmerdale on the water. Did this get written by the author or by the local primary school?
October 12, 2026
Series is growing more Young Adult.
I enjoyed the first book but the series keeps getting more childish and formulaic. Fleet Action consists of about 25% of the pages describing how each and every one of the characters sharing their feelings of fear with each other and the positive responses run on and on. "We are all afraid but we are afraid together!"
Another 25% of the book is every character lines up to praise Gerry at length. I had no idea that the Royal Navy was so intent on praising it's midshipmen!
Then there is the fact that our hero carries a Book of the Dead, listing all the men he knew that have fallen in battle or in prison camp. And in an amazing coincidence, his Father carried a similar Book of the Dead!
Another amusing aspect us how chatty the characters are while in the heat of battle. Parry a blow, talk to the man trying to kill you, parry another blow...
The part that I actually kind of liked is that the author wrote in a brilliant French officer who shared the authors last name, Comer.
I enjoyed the first book but the series keeps getting more childish and formulaic. Fleet Action consists of about 25% of the pages describing how each and every one of the characters sharing their feelings of fear with each other and the positive responses run on and on. "We are all afraid but we are afraid together!"
Another 25% of the book is every character lines up to praise Gerry at length. I had no idea that the Royal Navy was so intent on praising it's midshipmen!
Then there is the fact that our hero carries a Book of the Dead, listing all the men he knew that have fallen in battle or in prison camp. And in an amazing coincidence, his Father carried a similar Book of the Dead!
Another amusing aspect us how chatty the characters are while in the heat of battle. Parry a blow, talk to the man trying to kill you, parry another blow...
The part that I actually kind of liked is that the author wrote in a brilliant French officer who shared the authors last name, Comer.
September 3, 2026
good story but needs editing
Overall, the Pellew series is light and entertaining. However, like most of the Comer books, it needs editing to remove the obvious errors such as typos and repeated sentences.
More importantly, the series needs a strong editor to improve the writing. The main character never makes mistakes and is very prone to preaching. For some reason, even his seniors listen to him. Did 18th century British Naval Officers repeatedly verbalize their fears on a tiny ship? Did only midshipmen lead boarding parties against larger opponents? Would the Captain of a large ship engage a teenage midshipman in a sword fight while ignoring the fighting all around him? The sword fight, by the way, takes about twice as much time and three times more dialog than the duel between The Dreaded Pirate Roberts and Inigo Montoya.
Still, an enjoyable read.
Overall, the Pellew series is light and entertaining. However, like most of the Comer books, it needs editing to remove the obvious errors such as typos and repeated sentences.
More importantly, the series needs a strong editor to improve the writing. The main character never makes mistakes and is very prone to preaching. For some reason, even his seniors listen to him. Did 18th century British Naval Officers repeatedly verbalize their fears on a tiny ship? Did only midshipmen lead boarding parties against larger opponents? Would the Captain of a large ship engage a teenage midshipman in a sword fight while ignoring the fighting all around him? The sword fight, by the way, takes about twice as much time and three times more dialog than the duel between The Dreaded Pirate Roberts and Inigo Montoya.
Still, an enjoyable read.
October 24, 2026
From Calm to Action Galore
Young Pellew is in the thick of it again. It’s nice to read the humdrum of Navy life under sail then the expectation of action. Then it’s full on.
Truly well put together and there is the enjoyment knowing Pellew’s naval life is growing with each book.
Certainly one I have been attracted to now for the next one to roll out. Must keep this interested ongoing
Young Pellew is in the thick of it again. It’s nice to read the humdrum of Navy life under sail then the expectation of action. Then it’s full on.
Truly well put together and there is the enjoyment knowing Pellew’s naval life is growing with each book.
Certainly one I have been attracted to now for the next one to roll out. Must keep this interested ongoing
September 27, 2026
A well written book. Follows a very good plot line of a young man developing into an outstanding officer. About too much of a psychic study in what should be a great action story. Follows on well from the first book in the series. Will eagerly await the next volume.
September 29, 2026
Pellew's story continues well, with lots of insight into the world of midshipmen in the Age of Sail. It culminates in a vivid account of the Second Battle of Ushant and Pellew's return to acting lieutenant.
October 30, 2026
Enjoyable series
I’d like the author to link the titles, as they do contain the same character as the focus.
I had to figure it out by looking at publication dates, & reading summaries.
I’d like the author to link the titles, as they do contain the same character as the focus.
I had to figure it out by looking at publication dates, & reading summaries.
November 2, 2026
too much talk, not enough action
This book in the series was a disappointment. Tons of dialogue full of platitudes and repeated topics. Little action. More than once blocks of text were repeated verbatim.
I probably will let this series go.
This book in the series was a disappointment. Tons of dialogue full of platitudes and repeated topics. Little action. More than once blocks of text were repeated verbatim.
I probably will let this series go.
September 8, 2026
too much repetitious dialog…
…and woefully distorted history of the battle at the end of the book. Very good writer though. Earlier 2 Pellew books are much better.
…and woefully distorted history of the battle at the end of the book. Very good writer though. Earlier 2 Pellew books are much better.
September 12, 2026
Great series and great story, will definitely check out more from the author!
September 19, 2026
poor editing job
Many errors. Repeated sentences and confusing dialogue at times. Story good but mistakes may be editors fault. Not Mr. Comer’s best effort.
Many errors. Repeated sentences and confusing dialogue at times. Story good but mistakes may be editors fault. Not Mr. Comer’s best effort.
October 5, 2026
engrossing read
Cannot wait for book three of Pellew, really enjoyed both books, please hurry with the next one, love all of Perry Comer books to be fair.
Cannot wait for book three of Pellew, really enjoyed both books, please hurry with the next one, love all of Perry Comer books to be fair.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews