Honour Bound

Fighting Sail #10

by Alaric Bond

Satisfied that he has forged HMS Kestrel into a formidable weapon, Commander King is keen to take her to sea once more. But the war is not progressing well for Britain, and his hopes of remaining in Malta are shattered as Kestrel is moved closer to the action. And so begins a story that covers two seas and one ocean, as well as a cross-country trek through enemy territory, a closer look at the French prison system and a reunion with several familiar faces. Containing breathtaking sea battles, tense personal drama and an insight into the social etiquette of both Britain and France, Honour Bound is a story brim-filled with action and historical detail.

Genres: Nautical

413 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 14, 2017

About the author

Alaric Bond has written for television, radio and the stage but now focuses on historical nautical fiction with twenty published novels, fifteen of which are in his acclaimed ‘Fighting Sail’ series.
Set in ‘Nelson’s Navy’ of the Revolutionary and Napoleonic wars, these have no central hero but feature characters from all ranks and stations; an innovative approach that gives an exciting and realistic impression of life aboard a warship of the period.
Hellfire Corner is the first in an intended new series and marks a change in emphasis, although future ‘Fighting Sail’ instalments are planned.

Reviews

[Philip Allan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first encounter with one of Alaric Bond’s Fighting Sails series, and I settled down in anticipation of a rattling sea yarn. All seemed in place, as Commander King and the crew of the Kestrel left Malta to join the fleet blockading Rochefort. But then the tale took an unexpected turn, as can so often happen at sea. Running into an escaping French squadron, and in the face of overwhelming odds, King and his crew are forced to surrender and find themselves prisoners of war.

Their follows a sinuous tale ashore in France, as the crew are first marched to the fortress town of Verdun, and then incarcerated there. Bond has clearly researched his subject well, with plenty of authentic details of captive life deep inside France. Meanwhile, the sea is not completely abandoned. A parallel story is offered, of smugglers under the command of former Royal Navy Lieutenant Lewis, operating across the narrow seas from Flushing in French occupied Holland. When King and his men decide to make their escape, the two tales converge towards the book’s climax.

In spite of being largely based on land, this is still a book for the age of sail enthusiast. Bond obviously knows his period, and it is rich in nautical detail. Unlike traditional practitioners of the genre, he leaves space for the sailors too, with their own plot lines and development. The character of Lovemore is particularly intriguing. All in all, it is a fine piece of work.

[V.E. Ulett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alaric Bond is a master of the multi-character novel. His tenth in the Fighting Sail series, which includes sea battles, superb action and shipboard scenes, excels most as an involving character driven tale. Honour Bound continues to follow the exploits of Commander King, and we at last discover what has become of Captain Banks. There were some laugh out loud moments, in Bond’s depiction of lower deck expressions and world view, and even a touch of the supernatural. The action takes place across France as Captain King and others travel to Verdun, where a prison garrison awaits them. How King, Banks, and the officers and seamen of the Royal Navy, survive capture and that greatest blow to honor—the removal of liberty—makes Honour Bound a fascinating read.

[Robert Crouch · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series keeps getting better with each book. Honour Bound, like its predecessors, is character driven, and not afraid to venture from sea to land when the French capture King’s ship. He and his officers are taken prisoner and held at Verdun, France. Their captivity and way of life is shown in considerable detail, adding an extra dimension to the story and characters, who we get to know a little better.

Battles at sea are not forgotten though as a parallel story follows the exploits of Lewis, an officer turned smuggler.

If you like your novels to have strong and interesting characters, facing life and death challenges, and you enjoy learning about life in the past, then please give this novel, and the rest of the series, a try.

Highly recommended and looking forward to the next book.

[Philip Kromer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed, but is series headed in a weird direction?

I’ve enjoyed the books in this series as a pulpy substitute for more Horatio Hornblower/Jack Aubry/etc. books, but this one adds in a weird element of having one character able to tell the future(‽). The historical notes make me think that won’t be a thing from now on but it was a distraction. The historical references hooks are, by the way, the best part of these books; you’re pointed to obscure amazing stories like Mme Du Buc, young French aristocrat who (may or may not) have been abducted at sea into the harem of an Ottoman emperor eventually assuming great influence in court.

[Jerry Sloan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not up to the very high quality of other books in the series. I expect some very dubious coincidences in these books, but when it comes to the fortune telling and the occult I find it kind of silly. But I’ll still continued with the series and have just ordered the 11th book.

[Centurio52 · Rating 5 out of 5]

A splendid novel, as are all books by Alaric Bond.
He truly is a master of Historical Naval Fiction.
A highly original story line makes for a captivating book.
Easily five stars and a must for those who love stories about
the British navy and its sailors in the Napoleonic era.

[Dianne P. Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Damn Good reading

Really, really enjoyed this one. Lots of tense moments. At times i needed to put i down and walk away.