Matthew wants nothing more than to escape from his past, but that hardly seems possible with his new apprentice. While William might be Matthew's chance at redemption, an opportunity to pay for his mistakes, William also has a reckless streak that could ruin the new life that Matthew has built for himself. Either Matthew will pull William from piracy, or William will drag Matthew back into the dangerous world that they both come from.
What a ripping yarn! I thoroughly enjoyed this tale of the man who fell into bad company. It's a story that explores the contrasts between guilt and innocence, and between conscience and volition in a world populated by pirates, privateers, and settlers in the New World. The characters were well developed, especially the main character, Matthew Blackwell. The author does an excellent job of evoking sympathy for Matthew, William and Stephan, and of crafting the hardhearted world in which they live.
5 stars, yo ho ho and a bottle of rum for this rollicking pirate story.