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Devil's Fire #4
Scarlet Devil
The author of THE DEVIL'S FIRE trilogy delivers his darkest pirate adventure yet...
As agents of the Crown hunt the last pirates of the Caribbean toward extinction, Captain Kate Warlowe and the treacherous crew of the Scarlet Devil search for an uncharted island where a fabled lost city supposedly yields limitless fortune. What they find is far more terrifying than a walk to the gallows. The haunted people of an ancient civilization linger in the shadows, led by a mysterious man with a forgotten destiny. Separated from her crew and fighting for her sanity in a place where nothing makes sense, the intrepid Captain Warlowe must keep her wits if she is going to survive the dangers lurking around every corner.
As agents of the Crown hunt the last pirates of the Caribbean toward extinction, Captain Kate Warlowe and the treacherous crew of the Scarlet Devil search for an uncharted island where a fabled lost city supposedly yields limitless fortune. What they find is far more terrifying than a walk to the gallows. The haunted people of an ancient civilization linger in the shadows, led by a mysterious man with a forgotten destiny. Separated from her crew and fighting for her sanity in a place where nothing makes sense, the intrepid Captain Warlowe must keep her wits if she is going to survive the dangers lurking around every corner.
410 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 7, 2017
27 people are currently reading
546 people want to read
About the author
Matt Tomerlin
10 books118 followersMatt Tomerlin specializes in historical fiction. He has released four novels set during the Golden Age of Piracy.
For updates on Tomerlin's current projects, visit www.mtomerlin.com
For updates on Tomerlin's current projects, visit www.mtomerlin.com
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
August 31, 2017
Kate Warlowe (formerly Lindsay) is the pirate queen of my dreams. She's smart, witty, and fierce. A female pirate captain in a world that does not suffer a woman gladly, she holds her own against all challengers, from ambitious members of her own crew to Black Bart to Woodes Rogers himself. And despite all this, somehow she also maintains a certain sense of compassion. 8 years of buccaneering have not robbed her of her humanity, which pleased me to no end. She's a complex character and I adore her.
It's been a rather big year for those of us in the "pirate" fandom. The finale of Black Sails, the fifth installment in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, and now this delightful book. Where the former two disappointed [me] greatly, Scarlet Devil does nothing but SHINE. This book was everything I hoped for and more. This treasure hunt includes elements of the supernatural and Mayan mythology, which was a fun new addition to this series. I approve of the new direction, and like the greedy reader I am I hope there will be more. XD
Kate's exchanges of repartee with her crew, her enemies, and her lover Gabe are to die for, her quips had me cackling constantly as I read this.
It IS quite gritty. Lots of people die in gruesome ways. Its a pirate book, there's supposed to be gratuitous violence. What else would you want or expect?
Also, you really should read Golden Age - A Short Story, the short companion prequel to this tale that explains how Jack Rackham, then Kate, came into possessing the famed red coat cum treasure map. We're robbing the author by only paying 99 cents for it, it's is delightful good pirate fun.
It's been a rather big year for those of us in the "pirate" fandom. The finale of Black Sails, the fifth installment in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, and now this delightful book. Where the former two disappointed [me] greatly, Scarlet Devil does nothing but SHINE. This book was everything I hoped for and more. This treasure hunt includes elements of the supernatural and Mayan mythology, which was a fun new addition to this series. I approve of the new direction, and like the greedy reader I am I hope there will be more. XD
Kate's exchanges of repartee with her crew, her enemies, and her lover Gabe are to die for, her quips had me cackling constantly as I read this.
It IS quite gritty. Lots of people die in gruesome ways. Its a pirate book, there's supposed to be gratuitous violence. What else would you want or expect?
Also, you really should read Golden Age - A Short Story, the short companion prequel to this tale that explains how Jack Rackham, then Kate, came into possessing the famed red coat cum treasure map. We're robbing the author by only paying 99 cents for it, it's is delightful good pirate fun.
September 29, 2017
Every single one of these books are amazing
If you've gotten this far you don't need to read a review to know this one is going to be just as good. The only thing I'm bitter about is that all other pirate fiction pales by comparison. Being a huge pirate fan, this is kind of a bummer. Keep writing Matt. Fingers crossed they turn this series into a movie series.
If you've gotten this far you don't need to read a review to know this one is going to be just as good. The only thing I'm bitter about is that all other pirate fiction pales by comparison. Being a huge pirate fan, this is kind of a bummer. Keep writing Matt. Fingers crossed they turn this series into a movie series.
April 22, 2020
I loved the original trilogy, mostly because I am a huge fan of the golden age of piracy and absorbing any sort of pirate related stuff.
While I did enjoy this book (and read it in 3 days) I did think that seeing as *spoiler alert* Kate has now rid the world of all the famous pirates, this book lost a little momentum for me personally. Gone is Blackbeard, Vane, Hornigold etc, so for me, some of the piracy in the series was lost with them. Instead we are left with blackbeard and Roberts daughters along with some other new pirates who find themselves in the path of fearsome Kate Warlowe, which as the previous books showed us, usually ends in gruesome fatalities.
The one thing I still loved about this book is Kate, she's the perfect anti-hero, ruthless, merciless and exactly what you would expect from a woman who had everything taken from her, and piracy forced on her.
The story in this book for me was just a little too farfetched, it strayed into the supernatural and often just seemed a little random? And for me, it seemed like the series should have ended with this book (even the last one to be fair) but instead it ends on a cliffhanger and the author states that Kate's story will continue in another book! I just feel like if some of the main pirates were still alive I would have no issue with continuing the series, but seeing as the golden age of piracy is over at this point, it just feels like the series is being milked to it's extent and I feel like anything after this book would be too much.
That being said, Tomerlin is a FANTASTIC author, loves the way he writes, love Kate, love how he writes pirates, so maybe it's just time for a new series with new characters...
While I did enjoy this book (and read it in 3 days) I did think that seeing as *spoiler alert* Kate has now rid the world of all the famous pirates, this book lost a little momentum for me personally. Gone is Blackbeard, Vane, Hornigold etc, so for me, some of the piracy in the series was lost with them. Instead we are left with blackbeard and Roberts daughters along with some other new pirates who find themselves in the path of fearsome Kate Warlowe, which as the previous books showed us, usually ends in gruesome fatalities.
The one thing I still loved about this book is Kate, she's the perfect anti-hero, ruthless, merciless and exactly what you would expect from a woman who had everything taken from her, and piracy forced on her.
The story in this book for me was just a little too farfetched, it strayed into the supernatural and often just seemed a little random? And for me, it seemed like the series should have ended with this book (even the last one to be fair) but instead it ends on a cliffhanger and the author states that Kate's story will continue in another book! I just feel like if some of the main pirates were still alive I would have no issue with continuing the series, but seeing as the golden age of piracy is over at this point, it just feels like the series is being milked to it's extent and I feel like anything after this book would be too much.
That being said, Tomerlin is a FANTASTIC author, loves the way he writes, love Kate, love how he writes pirates, so maybe it's just time for a new series with new characters...
December 22, 2018
Absolutely outstanding author !
Well, I held out as long as I could to read the last novel in the series The Devil's Fire especially knowing that this would be the last made it almost impossible to give in to temptation to go ahead and finish the series. I noticed that Matt used a quote from one of Robert E. Howard's short stories about pirates titled Black Vulmeha, and wondered if this inspired him to create his series of novels, or possibly be was inspired to become a writer having read novels by Robert E. Howard. Matt seems to have captured the essence of Howard's ability to tell a story that is so intense in its action, and ability to create such a vivid picture of what is taking place that you forget that it is fiction,and are totally drawn into deeply relating to his characters to the point you actually feel as though you were there like a fly on the wall.I also liked the addition of what I assumed were aztect's on the remote island that Kate was having premonition of. The supernatural element did not detract from the story one bit. I hope he continues to write more novels of this caliber as I know he can. As great as the series was i would be willing to read just about anything this man wrote. Excellent series ! There isn't sufficient words to express the enjoyment i received from reading this series. Definitely sorry to see it end.
Well, I held out as long as I could to read the last novel in the series The Devil's Fire especially knowing that this would be the last made it almost impossible to give in to temptation to go ahead and finish the series. I noticed that Matt used a quote from one of Robert E. Howard's short stories about pirates titled Black Vulmeha, and wondered if this inspired him to create his series of novels, or possibly be was inspired to become a writer having read novels by Robert E. Howard. Matt seems to have captured the essence of Howard's ability to tell a story that is so intense in its action, and ability to create such a vivid picture of what is taking place that you forget that it is fiction,and are totally drawn into deeply relating to his characters to the point you actually feel as though you were there like a fly on the wall.I also liked the addition of what I assumed were aztect's on the remote island that Kate was having premonition of. The supernatural element did not detract from the story one bit. I hope he continues to write more novels of this caliber as I know he can. As great as the series was i would be willing to read just about anything this man wrote. Excellent series ! There isn't sufficient words to express the enjoyment i received from reading this series. Definitely sorry to see it end.
April 5, 2019
Scarlet Devil. The legacy of Kate Warlowe. I really enjoyed this book and if you have finished the Trilogy, you won’t be disappointed to get one last adventure. For me, the beginning was the strongest part of the plot. It touched up on the trilogy and connected us to some familiar characters. However, as the story neared the horizon, it felt like it spiralled into a different story altogether. Not in a bad way! I just wish it came together a little more gradual and stuck with golden age just a little longer.
This book was still violent and adventurous as the previous ones (which I know we enjoy the R rated part of this series) but if you can’t handle a little bit of a mythological aspect maybe settle the series at The Devil’s Horizon. Ask yourself though, is it really a pirate legend without the occasional ghost?
Praise to Matt Tomerlin for finally giving us the pirate series we NEEDED!
This book was still violent and adventurous as the previous ones (which I know we enjoy the R rated part of this series) but if you can’t handle a little bit of a mythological aspect maybe settle the series at The Devil’s Horizon. Ask yourself though, is it really a pirate legend without the occasional ghost?
Praise to Matt Tomerlin for finally giving us the pirate series we NEEDED!
August 11, 2025
I’m just gonna happily pretend this was a trilogy
July 17, 2017
I was a huge fan of this series the first time through. Re-reading it in anticipation of this release, I didn't enjoy them as much due to the relentless, gory violence. Unfortunately, Scarlet Devil continues that trend without developing Kate's character at all, and adding a spiritual/horror aspect which is utterly incongruous. I plowed my way through it, but took little pleasure in it. Very disappointing.
January 28, 2021
Kate's Adventures Continue
The fourth book in the series define the character, conviction and passion that Kate has developed as a pirate, a survivor and an adventurer. She can never go back to her old life; as her passion is freedom and the open seas.
Matt To Berlin is a master in this genre and I highly recommend this novel and the entire series, even if you are only an occasional swashbuckler.
The fourth book in the series define the character, conviction and passion that Kate has developed as a pirate, a survivor and an adventurer. She can never go back to her old life; as her passion is freedom and the open seas.
Matt To Berlin is a master in this genre and I highly recommend this novel and the entire series, even if you are only an occasional swashbuckler.
November 15, 2017
Really liked the previous series, but this one just didn't quite do it for me. I mean, we have three and a half books with no sorts of voodoo whatsoever, and then bam, all of a sudden we have a haunted island? Seems a bit of a strain to me.
June 25, 2018
Good
Could've done with less supernatural. I get the incorporation of it, but at times it was a little confusing. Was good, but the ending was a bit of a downer. I can only hope that its because Kate's story will continue
Could've done with less supernatural. I get the incorporation of it, but at times it was a little confusing. Was good, but the ending was a bit of a downer. I can only hope that its because Kate's story will continue
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews