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Duty and Destiny #13
Half a Victory
Book Thirteen - Half a Frederick’s squadron continues to stir up trouble on the Barbary Coast. However, they don’t get it all their own way and at times take heavy losses for very little gain. Later, Frederick becomes aware of a plot that if successful, could threaten Britain’s naval dominance in the region. The Duty and Destiny Series is a superbly-crafted collection of historical novels with a strong naval/seafaring theme. The series follows the naval career, loves and business dealings of Englishman, Frederick Harris, a brave but reluctant mariner. Despite his disinclination, he is seemingly destined to become a Master and Commander of his own ship. Books best read in series order. Published by The Electronic Book Company
- GenresHistorical Fiction
201 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 11, 2017
282 people are currently reading
11 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
September 18, 2023
Almost done with this series, Admiral Harris is still in the Mediterranean attempting to carry out his orders to disrupt, discourage, and when possible destroy Barbary Pirates without upsetting Morocco or the Ottoman Empire.
He manages to sink not one but THREE French fleets somehow in the last two books, despite the French being locked out of the Med and heavily blockaded. One maybe? I could buy? The remnants of the attempt on Egypt and a few that slipped out of blockade, but two are full on fleets including double deckers. The third is more believable (a jumble of very old Ottoman and other ships and a swarm of smaller galleasses etc) but still.
It was good to see Harris running into a whole lot of nothing and finding little to accomplish his goals with for much of the book -- and its not dull, its just realistic. His fleet is out pounding the crap out of anything he can and people would go hide rather than face this bunch.
And a lot of people get hurt or die here, key people you don't expect. The final battle is particularly heroic and sad, but faced with steely determination at all costs.
After his previous antics and trashing fleet after fleet, Harris should be Nelson-level adulation and be given a pile of medals and statues in England, but he's treated like he messed up and might not be beloved when he gets home, somehow.
He manages to sink not one but THREE French fleets somehow in the last two books, despite the French being locked out of the Med and heavily blockaded. One maybe? I could buy? The remnants of the attempt on Egypt and a few that slipped out of blockade, but two are full on fleets including double deckers. The third is more believable (a jumble of very old Ottoman and other ships and a swarm of smaller galleasses etc) but still.
It was good to see Harris running into a whole lot of nothing and finding little to accomplish his goals with for much of the book -- and its not dull, its just realistic. His fleet is out pounding the crap out of anything he can and people would go hide rather than face this bunch.
And a lot of people get hurt or die here, key people you don't expect. The final battle is particularly heroic and sad, but faced with steely determination at all costs.
After his previous antics and trashing fleet after fleet, Harris should be Nelson-level adulation and be given a pile of medals and statues in England, but he's treated like he messed up and might not be beloved when he gets home, somehow.
January 2, 2018
Another great read from Wareham.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews