Sailing to Redoubt

by C. Litka

Be good.
Or some dark night the sorcerers of Vente may come for you.

On the islands of the Tropic Sea, parents caution naughty children to behave, or risk that some dark night the sorcerers of the Vente Islands might to carry them off. The fate of these very naughty children varies from island to island, but it is often whispered that they might end up in a stew.

Navy lieutenant Taef Lang must have been a very naughty boy, since one soft, tropical night the Vente came and carried him off. And he certainly ended up in some very hot water.

Sailing to Redoubt is the story of his adventures in the company of two Vente Island sorceresses, Sella and Lessie Raah, on a quest to discover the secret of the legendary lost outpost of the world’s first people, the Founders. Equipped with a map, a golden key, and a small yacht, they set sail across the bright, blue, and sometimes deadly, Tropic Sea. Sailing to Redoubt is C. Litka’s sixth imaginary world novel and is filled with the characters, humor, and adventure that are the hallmarks of his writing.

268 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 15, 2019

About the author

I write romances. Romances in the old meaning of the word; that meaning being an adventure novel set in exotic locales, remote from everyday life. The fact that I set my stories in the future and in imaginary locales mean that they can be classified as science fiction, but what I really write are first person narratives that feature likable, modern characters, in lighthearted, realistic adventures, told with humor and a bit of that other type of romance as well.

In my teen years I read hundreds of science fiction books and since then many other types of novels; detective and mysteries, humor, adventure, military, sea stories, as well as light literary fiction, many of which were written in the first half of the last century. Having lived a perfectly ordinary and, thankfully, an uneventful life. these are the stories that have shaped the style and themes of my own stories,

I live in a small Wisconsin city. I’ve been married for as long as I can remember, with two grown children and a couple of grandchildren. Besides writing, I paint impressionist landscapes and ride my bike each day, outside when it’s warm and inside during long the Wisconsin winters with the bike on a stand next to a window.

Reviews

[Audrey Driscoll · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a lovely book--a true, old-fashioned adventure story in an exotic setting. While planning a career as an adventuring archaeologist, Lieutenant (Limited Time) Taef Lang of the Aerlonian Navy is drawn into a quest by a pair of twin sisters with a fascinating background. One of them entrusts him with a personal treasure and the other tries to convince him it's because of love, despite evidence to the contrary. The question of who is right about this persists through a series of voyages among the islands of the Tropic Sea on a 12 metre sailing vessel named the Night Song.

Here is a description of sailing by night: "Overhead a million stars winked and shimmered. To the west, a silver-white trail led across the dark sea to Arra just above the horizon. A dark peak of an island notched the sky to the east. ... The sea slapped the hull and gurgled and hissed past. The Night Song talked to itself in a hundred little creaks and groans as it plunged through the sea."

I'm sure anyone who has sailed in tropical waters will relate to this and many other scenarios. The fact that there are two moons suggests we're not in the Caribbean or the South China Sea, but aside from that the setting includes unexplored islands, sudden storms, volcanic eruptions, and tsunamis. There are encounters with armorfish and reef dragons and pirates. Taef has to cope with these and other hazards while wondering about the consequences of his sudden departure from his post, and how (or whether) he should disengage himself from his by turns delightful and annoying companions.

The story is too realistic to be called a fantasy, but there is an element of steampunk about it. No airships, but lots of trains and sailing vessels. Readers familiar with naval culture will likely appreciate some of the humorous references. There is no need to say more about the plot, because the revelations of the story are too good to spoil. I heartily recommend this book to anyone looking for an entertaining adventure, especially one involving sea voyages.

[Kari · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very enjoyable adventure novel.

Really like this authors writing. Reminds me of some of my favorite adventure writers like R. L. Stevenson, Jules Verne, H. R. Haggard, etc. And one of my absolute favorite authors Captain Marryat. Guess that's why enjoyed the nautical details, added authenticity but didn't become a sailing manual. Nicely paced. Enjoyed the characters wanted their adventures to not end, could sympathize with the main character on that score. Had to finish reading this story in two days, best recommendation I think.

[Torfinn Ingolfsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked it.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's easy to sink into this book. It has adventures, but there's also a strangely soothing quality to the writing.
The characters are distinctive and the dialogue rings true.
Recommended.