What do you think?
Rate this book
Brewer’s Revenge
Commander William Brewer has an opportunity for to settle scores against his pirate adversary once and for all.
Admiral Horatio Hornblower has given Commander Brewer captaincy of the captured pirate sloop El Dorado. Now under sail as the HMS Revenge, its new name suits Brewer’s frame of mind, for he lost many of his best men in a previous engagement. His new orders are to hunt down the pirates who have been ravaging the trade routes of the Caribbean sea.
But Brewer will face more than one challenge before he can confront the pirate known as El Diabolito.
His best friend and ship’s surgeon, Dr. Spinelli, is taking dangerous solace in alcohol as he wrestles with demons of his own; while the new purser, Mr. Allen, may need a lesson in honest accounting.
Worst of all, Hornblower has requested that Brewer take on a young ne’er-do-well, Noah Simmons, to remove him from a recent scandal at home. At twenty-three, Simmons is old to be a junior midshipman, and as a wealthy man’s son he is unaccustomed to working, taking orders, or suffering privations.
William Brewer will need to muster all his resources to ready his crew for their confrontation with the Caribbean’s most notorious pirate. In the process, he’ll discover the true price of command.
Admiral Horatio Hornblower has given Commander Brewer captaincy of the captured pirate sloop El Dorado. Now under sail as the HMS Revenge, its new name suits Brewer’s frame of mind, for he lost many of his best men in a previous engagement. His new orders are to hunt down the pirates who have been ravaging the trade routes of the Caribbean sea.
But Brewer will face more than one challenge before he can confront the pirate known as El Diabolito.
His best friend and ship’s surgeon, Dr. Spinelli, is taking dangerous solace in alcohol as he wrestles with demons of his own; while the new purser, Mr. Allen, may need a lesson in honest accounting.
Worst of all, Hornblower has requested that Brewer take on a young ne’er-do-well, Noah Simmons, to remove him from a recent scandal at home. At twenty-three, Simmons is old to be a junior midshipman, and as a wealthy man’s son he is unaccustomed to working, taking orders, or suffering privations.
William Brewer will need to muster all his resources to ready his crew for their confrontation with the Caribbean’s most notorious pirate. In the process, he’ll discover the true price of command.
285 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 18, 2017
73 people are currently reading
17 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
February 20, 2018
Surrounded by fog, Katherine Wilkerson can’t see beyond the ship on which she and her family sail. They are bound for St. Eustacius in the Caribbean, where her father is to take up his new position. Before the day ends, though, he and many others are dead, her mother and the three other women are kidnapped by pirates, and she and the other six girls are left on the ship as the pirate captain departs with a final warning: El Diabolito rules the Caribbean and the British are not welcome!
Thus begins Brewer’s Revenge, the second book in the Hornblower’s Legacy series. The prologue serves only to introduce the nefarious scourge plaguing the Caribbean; it also leaves readers wondering what becomes of Katherine because she’s such a compelling character.
Following the prologue, the story focuses on Master & Commander William Brewer, who is now the captain of HMS Revenge, a sloop of war converted from a prize he seized from Jean Lafitte. She is his first true command – a fact that makes him nervous, although he does his best not to convey his feelings to his crew – and she is armed with four 18-pound carronades and sixteen 12-pound guns. The driving goal in his life – almost an obsession, really – is to track down and kill El Diabolito, the man responsible for killing men under a younger Brewer’s charge before they could reach Jamaica.
Many of the men aboard Revenge were with him on his previous ship, HMS Defiant, but Midshipman Noah Simmons is new. Brewer accepts him only because his mentor and commander, Admiral Hornblower, requested that he do so. Not only is Simmons the newest and oldest midshipman at twenty-three years of age, he’s also the governor’s son and on board because of a “youthful indiscretion” that required him to leave Jamaica as soon as possible. From what he knows and sees of Simmons, Brewer surmises that he’s more accustomed to giving orders than taking them. He’s also good at doing only what’s absolutely necessary to get by; to this end, he bullies the youngest midshipman into doing his duties. When he leaves a mark on the midshipman, Senior Midshipman Jonathan Reed intervenes with the help of the boatswain’s mate, which marks Reed as an enemy as far as Simmons is concerned.
Brewer’s first assignment is a two-week cruise to familiarize himself with Revenge and to visit two governors on nearby islands. His first stop is St. Kitts, where he meets Sir Henry Danforth and his daughter, Elizabeth. Smitten with each other, they agree to write to one another. More and more Brewer finds his thoughts on her, more than his command, but what kind of life can he offer her when he spends most of his time at sea and she would have to live alone? (The romance between William and Elizabeth is promising, but readers may have to wait awhile to learn what happens since the next book in the series goes back in time to relate an earlier episode in Brewer’s career.)
His second destination is the French island of Martinique. The governor is less than forthcoming, except when they discuss Napoleon, but Brewer learns much more from the captain of the French frigate anchored in the harbor. Captain Albin Roussin reveals that five warships left his navy when they learned that Louis XVIII ruled France following Napoleon’s abdication. Three were sunk and the fourth hasn’t been seen since it sailed toward Brazil. The fifth vessel, a frigate, is now in the hands of pirates, whose current captain is El Diabolito. Captain Roussin and his men are in the Caribbean to capture and punish the deserters.
After Brewer delivers this information to Hornblower, he hopes to finally go after El Diabolito. Instead, his orders are to cruise off Puerto Rico in search of another Spanish pirate, Roberto Cofresi, whose recent attacks on merchant ships make him a greater threat. Brewer’s frustration at being thwarted from his true goal leads him to learn a painful lesson about the loneliness of command and just what it means to be responsible for the men who serve under him. Although they do engage the pirates, Cofresi escapes. One of his men, Charles Gibbs, is captured and Brewer learns that El Diabolito requested assistance from Cofresi to help him attack a treasure convoy carrying enough silver and gold to finance revolutions for independence throughout Spanish America for many years. They are to rendezvous in Colombian waters. Brewer devises a plan to convince the admiral to send the Revenge in pursuit of the pirates.
Unlike the first book in this series, Brewer’s Revenge progresses at a slow pace after the prologue. The first half of the book focuses on introducing the crew and setting up the parameters of the eventual action. Had I not read the first book in the series, I might have set this one aside, for the first half is basically a portrayal of the mundane life of the Royal Navy in times of peace in the early nineteenth century.
Those readers stalwart enough to keep reading, though, are richly rewarded once the midpoint of the book is reached. An accidental fall from the tops, an attempted murder, a startling meeting with a respected and admired colleague who soon becomes an enemy, and an unexpected appointment with Simon Bolivar elevate the action until it becomes non-stop and heart pounding. Unforeseen twists add icing to the cake, even if the author takes a liberty or two with the historical record to create a satisfying ending.
Thus begins Brewer’s Revenge, the second book in the Hornblower’s Legacy series. The prologue serves only to introduce the nefarious scourge plaguing the Caribbean; it also leaves readers wondering what becomes of Katherine because she’s such a compelling character.
Following the prologue, the story focuses on Master & Commander William Brewer, who is now the captain of HMS Revenge, a sloop of war converted from a prize he seized from Jean Lafitte. She is his first true command – a fact that makes him nervous, although he does his best not to convey his feelings to his crew – and she is armed with four 18-pound carronades and sixteen 12-pound guns. The driving goal in his life – almost an obsession, really – is to track down and kill El Diabolito, the man responsible for killing men under a younger Brewer’s charge before they could reach Jamaica.
Many of the men aboard Revenge were with him on his previous ship, HMS Defiant, but Midshipman Noah Simmons is new. Brewer accepts him only because his mentor and commander, Admiral Hornblower, requested that he do so. Not only is Simmons the newest and oldest midshipman at twenty-three years of age, he’s also the governor’s son and on board because of a “youthful indiscretion” that required him to leave Jamaica as soon as possible. From what he knows and sees of Simmons, Brewer surmises that he’s more accustomed to giving orders than taking them. He’s also good at doing only what’s absolutely necessary to get by; to this end, he bullies the youngest midshipman into doing his duties. When he leaves a mark on the midshipman, Senior Midshipman Jonathan Reed intervenes with the help of the boatswain’s mate, which marks Reed as an enemy as far as Simmons is concerned.
Brewer’s first assignment is a two-week cruise to familiarize himself with Revenge and to visit two governors on nearby islands. His first stop is St. Kitts, where he meets Sir Henry Danforth and his daughter, Elizabeth. Smitten with each other, they agree to write to one another. More and more Brewer finds his thoughts on her, more than his command, but what kind of life can he offer her when he spends most of his time at sea and she would have to live alone? (The romance between William and Elizabeth is promising, but readers may have to wait awhile to learn what happens since the next book in the series goes back in time to relate an earlier episode in Brewer’s career.)
His second destination is the French island of Martinique. The governor is less than forthcoming, except when they discuss Napoleon, but Brewer learns much more from the captain of the French frigate anchored in the harbor. Captain Albin Roussin reveals that five warships left his navy when they learned that Louis XVIII ruled France following Napoleon’s abdication. Three were sunk and the fourth hasn’t been seen since it sailed toward Brazil. The fifth vessel, a frigate, is now in the hands of pirates, whose current captain is El Diabolito. Captain Roussin and his men are in the Caribbean to capture and punish the deserters.
After Brewer delivers this information to Hornblower, he hopes to finally go after El Diabolito. Instead, his orders are to cruise off Puerto Rico in search of another Spanish pirate, Roberto Cofresi, whose recent attacks on merchant ships make him a greater threat. Brewer’s frustration at being thwarted from his true goal leads him to learn a painful lesson about the loneliness of command and just what it means to be responsible for the men who serve under him. Although they do engage the pirates, Cofresi escapes. One of his men, Charles Gibbs, is captured and Brewer learns that El Diabolito requested assistance from Cofresi to help him attack a treasure convoy carrying enough silver and gold to finance revolutions for independence throughout Spanish America for many years. They are to rendezvous in Colombian waters. Brewer devises a plan to convince the admiral to send the Revenge in pursuit of the pirates.
Unlike the first book in this series, Brewer’s Revenge progresses at a slow pace after the prologue. The first half of the book focuses on introducing the crew and setting up the parameters of the eventual action. Had I not read the first book in the series, I might have set this one aside, for the first half is basically a portrayal of the mundane life of the Royal Navy in times of peace in the early nineteenth century.
Those readers stalwart enough to keep reading, though, are richly rewarded once the midpoint of the book is reached. An accidental fall from the tops, an attempted murder, a startling meeting with a respected and admired colleague who soon becomes an enemy, and an unexpected appointment with Simon Bolivar elevate the action until it becomes non-stop and heart pounding. Unforeseen twists add icing to the cake, even if the author takes a liberty or two with the historical record to create a satisfying ending.
January 25, 2018
Another good read by a new author for me.
A new prospective on a look at Hornblower. I enjoyed this look in to what it would be like to be a Captain reporting to Hornblower.
I enjoyed this book with lots of sea action with a little romance.
When I completed reading this book I was already looking for the next book.
A new prospective on a look at Hornblower. I enjoyed this look in to what it would be like to be a Captain reporting to Hornblower.
I enjoyed this book with lots of sea action with a little romance.
When I completed reading this book I was already looking for the next book.
April 25, 2019
A rip-roaringly good tale that captures your attention from the get go. If you've never heard about Horatio Hornblower or any other characters from his world, you'll enjoy this tale a lot. And it even comes with sound effects and other little goodies. You'll definitely enjoy the guy telling the story. So,
when you get a chance pick up a copy of the audio version, of the book and enjoy.
when you get a chance pick up a copy of the audio version, of the book and enjoy.
October 21, 2025
This spinoff from the excellent and classic Hornblower series is a lively tale and well-suited to the Canon. Brewer gets his first command and starts chasing pirates in the Caribbean. They are numerous and persistent, but he perseveres to the dismay of the notable Lord Cochrane, currently in command of the Chilean Navy.
November 20, 2025
Excellent history of sea life after napolionic wars the dangers of the sea and the enemy loneliness
Plenty of action Duty handled well for good and bad Excellent use of training people up to next level or above in case of senior officers killed or disabled Dealing with orders you do not like
Excellent sound effects and narration
Plenty of action Duty handled well for good and bad Excellent use of training people up to next level or above in case of senior officers killed or disabled Dealing with orders you do not like
Excellent sound effects and narration
April 1, 2019
I listened to the Audible audiobook. It was awesome. The performance by the narrator was exceptional with the various characters from different nationalities. The storyline was engaging and full of action.
April 4, 2019
First sea faring swashbuckling book and it was a good story, it moved at a nice pace with some good characters.
The main story followed Captain Brewer, with a subplot around the midshipmen. Seems to be part of a series, but still standalone enough to enjoy.
The main story followed Captain Brewer, with a subplot around the midshipmen. Seems to be part of a series, but still standalone enough to enjoy.
May 10, 2019
Audible:Wow!Excellent book!The writing was good,the story was interesting and I liked the likable characters. Nigel Peever blows it out of the briney with his wonderful naration! I was given this book by the narrator,author or publisher free for an honest review.
January 31, 2021
This was a good book even though I do not really read this type. I found that it is well written and the narrator is also good I think that anyone would enjoy reading this and it is well worth the money to purchase.
November 2, 2022
great series
Exciting, action packed and believable end of the age of sail British Navy sets things right.
Villains abound, and old enemies are now comrades.
I like this series, wish I had read them in order.
Exciting, action packed and believable end of the age of sail British Navy sets things right.
Villains abound, and old enemies are now comrades.
I like this series, wish I had read them in order.
March 28, 2023
Another winner!
Great characters and lively action. I really enjoy the interaction between
characters. I also enjoy the references to Brewer's time with Bonaparte. Ready to start the next book.
Great characters and lively action. I really enjoy the interaction between
characters. I also enjoy the references to Brewer's time with Bonaparte. Ready to start the next book.
June 12, 2019
very good read. reminiscent to Master and Commander series by Patrick O'Brian without having the language as dated... if you like the Richard Sharpe series by Bernard Cornwell you should like this...
December 15, 2019
I had a friend who recommended that I listen to a book narrated by Nigel Peever. I checked out his narrations and this story instantly grabbed my attention. This audiobook is enhanced with sound effects. I quite enjoyed them and made the story more "3D." Peever has such a range of distinct voices that you feel you are listening to a multi cast production. I already have another book of his lined up because he is so talented.
The story itself was fabulous. It was fast paced from start to finish and an amazing Caribbean adventure, with pirates. If you love historical fiction, Pirates of the Caribbean or similar stories, I believe you will really enjoy this book. I only found out after listening that it was a second in a series. I had no idea. It reads like a complete stand alone. If that is your hold up with trying it, do not let that stop you. This story and the narration are very well matched.
I received a copy of this audiobook at my request, and I have voluntarily left this review.
The story itself was fabulous. It was fast paced from start to finish and an amazing Caribbean adventure, with pirates. If you love historical fiction, Pirates of the Caribbean or similar stories, I believe you will really enjoy this book. I only found out after listening that it was a second in a series. I had no idea. It reads like a complete stand alone. If that is your hold up with trying it, do not let that stop you. This story and the narration are very well matched.
I received a copy of this audiobook at my request, and I have voluntarily left this review.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews