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Blackwood & Virtue #1
Winds of Marque
"Bennett R. Coles ranks among my go-to list in SF. Entertaining and intelligent storytelling and terrific characters. In Winds of Marque, Coles may well have invented a whole new subgenre that has me scrambling for a description--Steam Space? Whatever you call it, a blast to read. Here's hoping that many more adventures are in the offing for Blackwood and company." —Steven Erikson, New York Times bestselling author
The first novel in an exciting science fiction series—Master and Commander in space—a swashbuckling space adventure in which a crew of misfit individuals in the king’s navy are sent to dismantle a dangerous ring of pirate raiders.
In a dense star cluster, the solar winds blow fiercely. The star sailing ship HMSS Daring is running at full sheet with a letter of marque allowing them to capture enemy vessels involved in illegal trading. Sailing under a false flag to protect the ship and its mission, Daring’s crew must gather intelligence that will lead them to the pirates’ base.
Posing as traders, Daring’s dashing second-in-command Liam Blackwood and brilliant quartermaster Amelia Virtue infiltrate shady civilian merchant networks, believing one will lead them to their quarry.
But their mission is threatened from within their own ranks when Daring’s enigmatic captain makes a series of questionable choices, and rumblings of discontent start bubbling up from below decks, putting the crew on edge and destroying morale. On top of it all, Liam and Amelia must grapple with their growing feelings for each other.
Facing danger from unexpected quarters that could steer the expedition off course, Blackwood and Virtue must identify the real enemy threat and discover the truth about their commander—and their mission—before Daring falls prey to the very pirates she’s meant to be tracking.
The first novel in an exciting science fiction series—Master and Commander in space—a swashbuckling space adventure in which a crew of misfit individuals in the king’s navy are sent to dismantle a dangerous ring of pirate raiders.
In a dense star cluster, the solar winds blow fiercely. The star sailing ship HMSS Daring is running at full sheet with a letter of marque allowing them to capture enemy vessels involved in illegal trading. Sailing under a false flag to protect the ship and its mission, Daring’s crew must gather intelligence that will lead them to the pirates’ base.
Posing as traders, Daring’s dashing second-in-command Liam Blackwood and brilliant quartermaster Amelia Virtue infiltrate shady civilian merchant networks, believing one will lead them to their quarry.
But their mission is threatened from within their own ranks when Daring’s enigmatic captain makes a series of questionable choices, and rumblings of discontent start bubbling up from below decks, putting the crew on edge and destroying morale. On top of it all, Liam and Amelia must grapple with their growing feelings for each other.
Facing danger from unexpected quarters that could steer the expedition off course, Blackwood and Virtue must identify the real enemy threat and discover the truth about their commander—and their mission—before Daring falls prey to the very pirates she’s meant to be tracking.
384 pages, Paperback
First published April 16, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 93 reviews
May 4, 2019
4 🌟
I enjoyed this. Easy read sci-fi. But I'll admit I so hated how the author kept switching characters name by using first name then a paragraph later talking about same character but then last name. Confusing especially when there's like 6 characters in the room going back and forth from first and last names omg. Pick either one or the other. Ugh. But other than that it was easy to understand the science information to this scifi. Just confusing if there were more than 2 characters in a room conversating lol.
Liam works for the Navy second in command. But when he's offered to take on a crew by the Emperor himself to take down those pirates. He jumps for it. But there's rules in taking this job.
With a crew that has fighting skills that's willing to take down the bad guys. Guns and swords in out of space. Creatures of other kinds. But then everyone starts questioning the job. Who can be trusted?
I enjoyed.
Can't wait to read more by this author especially part 2.
I enjoyed this. Easy read sci-fi. But I'll admit I so hated how the author kept switching characters name by using first name then a paragraph later talking about same character but then last name. Confusing especially when there's like 6 characters in the room going back and forth from first and last names omg. Pick either one or the other. Ugh. But other than that it was easy to understand the science information to this scifi. Just confusing if there were more than 2 characters in a room conversating lol.
Liam works for the Navy second in command. But when he's offered to take on a crew by the Emperor himself to take down those pirates. He jumps for it. But there's rules in taking this job.
With a crew that has fighting skills that's willing to take down the bad guys. Guns and swords in out of space. Creatures of other kinds. But then everyone starts questioning the job. Who can be trusted?
I enjoyed.
Can't wait to read more by this author especially part 2.
February 2, 2019
Authentic-feeling space navy action with a lot of twists that really kept me guessing until the end. Recommended for fans of Jack Campbell.
November 4, 2024
I would have loved this as a teenager, but as an adult I fought the urge to roll my eyes a lot. Even so, despite that, the writing was good and I did enjoy Blackwood and Virtue's company for a while. Slightly predictable for those familiar with the genre, but all in all, fun and enjoyable. 3 ⭐
June 1, 2024
“But as a captain, one is held to a higher standard. A captain has to do more than lead—a captain has to inspire.”
Pirates and Aliens. Fun, fast young adult steampunk space opera. A mashup of Pride and Prejudice, Mission Impossible, and every Hornblower/Harrington/Aubrey book. What could go wrong?
It was a crazy idea, he knew, but . . . not without merit. And this entire mission had already dived deep into the realm of absurd.
Marred by poorly understood physics. (On a par with Star War/Trek. A low bar.) Misrepresents solar and orbital basics. Apparent understanding of space, war, and logistics seems derived from comic books or movies.
Like them, her own belt was heavy with a cutlass and a pistol. The sword was bigger than anything she was used to, and she’d never even fired a pistol before.
Quibbles: How does one tack against a solar wind? Have radio and radar but only optical imaging? Projectile weapons on spaceships? Arm a petty officer who has never fired a pistol and add her to the assault team? A space elevator to low, not geosynchronous orbit? A dead body in public ignored? Or, ignore this and enjoy a fun read?
“As a senior sailor, you are now, in the eyes of the crew, officially part of the problem.” “What problem?” “Any problem. It’s always our fault, whether it is or not.”
Pirates and Aliens. Fun, fast young adult steampunk space opera. A mashup of Pride and Prejudice, Mission Impossible, and every Hornblower/Harrington/Aubrey book. What could go wrong?
It was a crazy idea, he knew, but . . . not without merit. And this entire mission had already dived deep into the realm of absurd.
Marred by poorly understood physics. (On a par with Star War/Trek. A low bar.) Misrepresents solar and orbital basics. Apparent understanding of space, war, and logistics seems derived from comic books or movies.
Like them, her own belt was heavy with a cutlass and a pistol. The sword was bigger than anything she was used to, and she’d never even fired a pistol before.
Quibbles: How does one tack against a solar wind? Have radio and radar but only optical imaging? Projectile weapons on spaceships? Arm a petty officer who has never fired a pistol and add her to the assault team? A space elevator to low, not geosynchronous orbit? A dead body in public ignored? Or, ignore this and enjoy a fun read?
“As a senior sailor, you are now, in the eyes of the crew, officially part of the problem.” “What problem?” “Any problem. It’s always our fault, whether it is or not.”
January 20, 2022
This was not my cup of tea. However, I am giving three stars because the book was not bad in itself.
January 6, 2019
SPECIAL THANKS TO THE PUBLISHER FOR THE GIVEAWAY!
Winds of Marque is fun. That’s what it seems everyone else who’s read it is saying about it, and a brief mention in the acknowledgments hints that “fun” was Bennett R. Coles’s chief goal.
Considering that, it succeeds. Sort of.
Our main character is Liam Blackwood, the chivalrous second-in-command selected to go on a spec ops mission aboard Daring under Commander Sophia Riverton. Along the way, he and Amelia Virtue (the quartermaster) are forced to deal with their growing feelings for each other. The book is told from both of their perspectives.
Like all first installments, the book has plenty of difficulties to overcome. And like too many first installments, it doesn’t really overcome them all.
First off, the reader has to become familiar with the characters. Authors struggle to give readers a good understanding of the characters while at the same time gripping the reader’s attention. This is definitely one of Winds of Marque’s problems. The pace winds up being slow at times, and even after two hundred pages the reader may find himself thirsting for more action. The book did promise swashbuckling pirate battles and whatnot, after all. But Coles focuses on integrating us into this new world, and may consequently lose some readers along the way.
Sadly, Coles doesn’t exactly succeed at enveloping us in his universe. Instead of creating nuanced characters with subtleties that any human could relate to, Coles gives us characters that are a little too one-dimensional to really relate to. There are too few eccentricities, making all of the characters feel a little too normal to be real. Somehow though, his many characters still remain distinct from each other, and the characterization is just apt enough for the audience to care about them.
But there is still a huge obstacle in our way to getting to know the characters: the formality that pervades the atmosphere. With a Canadian Navy background, Bennett R. Coles knows how to create a realistic naval setting. Sadly, we catch few breaks from the oppressive formality aboard-deck. Sure, there’s romance and the threat of mutiny (etc.), both of which are very important subplots, but even in those circumstances the characters are not fleshed-out enough to offer much respite. All of the formality preempts any intimacy with Liam and the crew. Much of what is said is said “carefully”. This professional distance is kept throughout most of the book, making the slow pace even harder to bear at times.
Granted, a lot of this Coles deemed necessary for the type of book he was writing. Ranks are respected, as well they should be. But it would’ve been enough just to get to know Liam better as the main character. However, we’re hardly told anything about his backstory, except that he’s a noble. There seem to be no scars from his past, or even anything from his past that defines who he presently is. Except for maybe his lower noble status that keeps him from being the Commander he so zealously wishes to be. What’s missing are the nuances, the subtleties that define great writers’ characters.
The world-building is also frustratingly bare. We’re introduced to a brand new world, but Coles doesn’t do much to make it feel new. Science fiction is a well-trod genre, though, and Coles does well enough.
Things pick up a little near the end. The action is okay, but not very high-stakes. Coles deals with some timely themes, crafting multiple strong female characters who are equal in every way to the male characters, and also injecting some interesting xenophobic elements.
The opposition is lacking, however. I was craving a formidable villain, but the pirates in this book have no face: they’re just an army, and only a couple even have lines at all. The book ends with a promise of a dynamic villain in the future, however. And really, that’s the best thing about Winds of Marque. True, it’s fun, but the most comforting part is the potential in the sequels. Now that Coles is through with the hardest part, his series has a bright future. That is, IF he capitalizes on the potential.
Writing: 6/10
Plot: 6/10
Characters: 5/10
Depth: 5/10
Enjoyment: 6/10
Overall: 2.8/5
Winds of Marque is fun. That’s what it seems everyone else who’s read it is saying about it, and a brief mention in the acknowledgments hints that “fun” was Bennett R. Coles’s chief goal.
Considering that, it succeeds. Sort of.
Our main character is Liam Blackwood, the chivalrous second-in-command selected to go on a spec ops mission aboard Daring under Commander Sophia Riverton. Along the way, he and Amelia Virtue (the quartermaster) are forced to deal with their growing feelings for each other. The book is told from both of their perspectives.
Like all first installments, the book has plenty of difficulties to overcome. And like too many first installments, it doesn’t really overcome them all.
First off, the reader has to become familiar with the characters. Authors struggle to give readers a good understanding of the characters while at the same time gripping the reader’s attention. This is definitely one of Winds of Marque’s problems. The pace winds up being slow at times, and even after two hundred pages the reader may find himself thirsting for more action. The book did promise swashbuckling pirate battles and whatnot, after all. But Coles focuses on integrating us into this new world, and may consequently lose some readers along the way.
Sadly, Coles doesn’t exactly succeed at enveloping us in his universe. Instead of creating nuanced characters with subtleties that any human could relate to, Coles gives us characters that are a little too one-dimensional to really relate to. There are too few eccentricities, making all of the characters feel a little too normal to be real. Somehow though, his many characters still remain distinct from each other, and the characterization is just apt enough for the audience to care about them.
But there is still a huge obstacle in our way to getting to know the characters: the formality that pervades the atmosphere. With a Canadian Navy background, Bennett R. Coles knows how to create a realistic naval setting. Sadly, we catch few breaks from the oppressive formality aboard-deck. Sure, there’s romance and the threat of mutiny (etc.), both of which are very important subplots, but even in those circumstances the characters are not fleshed-out enough to offer much respite. All of the formality preempts any intimacy with Liam and the crew. Much of what is said is said “carefully”. This professional distance is kept throughout most of the book, making the slow pace even harder to bear at times.
Granted, a lot of this Coles deemed necessary for the type of book he was writing. Ranks are respected, as well they should be. But it would’ve been enough just to get to know Liam better as the main character. However, we’re hardly told anything about his backstory, except that he’s a noble. There seem to be no scars from his past, or even anything from his past that defines who he presently is. Except for maybe his lower noble status that keeps him from being the Commander he so zealously wishes to be. What’s missing are the nuances, the subtleties that define great writers’ characters.
The world-building is also frustratingly bare. We’re introduced to a brand new world, but Coles doesn’t do much to make it feel new. Science fiction is a well-trod genre, though, and Coles does well enough.
Things pick up a little near the end. The action is okay, but not very high-stakes. Coles deals with some timely themes, crafting multiple strong female characters who are equal in every way to the male characters, and also injecting some interesting xenophobic elements.
The opposition is lacking, however. I was craving a formidable villain, but the pirates in this book have no face: they’re just an army, and only a couple even have lines at all. The book ends with a promise of a dynamic villain in the future, however. And really, that’s the best thing about Winds of Marque. True, it’s fun, but the most comforting part is the potential in the sequels. Now that Coles is through with the hardest part, his series has a bright future. That is, IF he capitalizes on the potential.
Writing: 6/10
Plot: 6/10
Characters: 5/10
Depth: 5/10
Enjoyment: 6/10
Overall: 2.8/5
September 13, 2020
Normally I don't give two-star reviews. If I don't like a book I just don't finish. But I really wanted to finish this because I am working on my own solar-sailing series, and am looking for comp titles. I also wanted to like it, because of course if it's good, that makes me look good by comparison.
This is the sort of thing I should like--it's swashbuckling, age of sail in space--but it's just not pulled off very well, in my opinion.
Worldbuilding: The science is never explained, and I don't think it's plausible at all. Solar sailing doesn't work the way he thinks it does, and he never gives any reason for why our characters are using swords and four-shot pistols when they clearly have advanced technology in other respects. Likewise, the empire in the book is a rough sketch of some kind of classist society with nobles, but nothing is ever explained. Like, how does the Navy function when any idiotic lordling can be captain and totally destroy a ship for no reason, and all the competent people can't get promoted? Classism is one thing, but the admirals appear to be completely stupid to allow this. That kind of thing.
Character: The two leads are about as basic as you come. They have no backstory. There's nothing they really want except to be good at their jobs, which they are. There's a romance going on, which proceeds smoothly without a hitch. I could not make myself care about either of them.
Themes: There are no themes. The characters just go along from adventure to adventure without giving much thought to anything. It's often mentioned that the society is classist and that's a problem, but nobody ever does anything about it, and when there's an attempted mutiny, we are expected to side with the captain. The pirates say that they are fighting for freedom, and I had a momentary glimmer of hope that our guys are really the baddies and they will reject the Empire and fight for freedom too, but . . . nope. That would require introspection and our heroes don't do that.
Ethics: our main hero beats up some prisoners at one point. But it's okay! He doesn't ENJOY it, okay. It's just a terrible necessity, because the pirates were such horrible baddies.
I should say something I liked about it, so I will say, there's plenty of action. I am not that excited by swordfights if I don't care about the people involved, but if you are, you're in luck: there are swordfights. I also found the beginning really cool, when the solar storm is raging and the sails are all creaking and it's very sailing-ship-y. (And unscientific because solar storms aren't LIKE that, but WHATEVER. It was still COOL.)
I recently read that this same premise is handled much better in the Alexis Carew books, so I'm going to try those next. Tall ships in space is such an excellent idea; it deserves much better treatment than this.
This is the sort of thing I should like--it's swashbuckling, age of sail in space--but it's just not pulled off very well, in my opinion.
Worldbuilding: The science is never explained, and I don't think it's plausible at all. Solar sailing doesn't work the way he thinks it does, and he never gives any reason for why our characters are using swords and four-shot pistols when they clearly have advanced technology in other respects. Likewise, the empire in the book is a rough sketch of some kind of classist society with nobles, but nothing is ever explained. Like, how does the Navy function when any idiotic lordling can be captain and totally destroy a ship for no reason, and all the competent people can't get promoted? Classism is one thing, but the admirals appear to be completely stupid to allow this. That kind of thing.
Character: The two leads are about as basic as you come. They have no backstory. There's nothing they really want except to be good at their jobs, which they are. There's a romance going on, which proceeds smoothly without a hitch. I could not make myself care about either of them.
Themes: There are no themes. The characters just go along from adventure to adventure without giving much thought to anything. It's often mentioned that the society is classist and that's a problem, but nobody ever does anything about it, and when there's an attempted mutiny, we are expected to side with the captain. The pirates say that they are fighting for freedom, and I had a momentary glimmer of hope that our guys are really the baddies and they will reject the Empire and fight for freedom too, but . . . nope. That would require introspection and our heroes don't do that.
Ethics: our main hero beats up some prisoners at one point. But it's okay! He doesn't ENJOY it, okay. It's just a terrible necessity, because the pirates were such horrible baddies.
I should say something I liked about it, so I will say, there's plenty of action. I am not that excited by swordfights if I don't care about the people involved, but if you are, you're in luck: there are swordfights. I also found the beginning really cool, when the solar storm is raging and the sails are all creaking and it's very sailing-ship-y. (And unscientific because solar storms aren't LIKE that, but WHATEVER. It was still COOL.)
I recently read that this same premise is handled much better in the Alexis Carew books, so I'm going to try those next. Tall ships in space is such an excellent idea; it deserves much better treatment than this.
December 1, 2018
In the first of a new series (an eARC I received from Edelweiss), Winds of Marque follows the adventures of a navy in the future. It belongs to an empire where the nobles are the captains of spaceships no matter their ability (and quite often their ability is lacking). On the HMSS Daring Captain Sophia Riverton is a noble who has only been in the diplomatic corps before. She recruits our main character Liam Blackwood, a minor noble who has only held executive officer positions and he recruits a commoner Amelia Virtue as his quartermaster. They are working outside of normal naval operations, basically given a 'letter of marque' which allows them to go after enemies and keep any prizes themselves. Of course if they get into any trouble, the government will deny that they are affiliated.
On their relatively small ship they are looking for pirates and they want to find where they are located and if they are being commanded by the Sectoids (or 'Bugs'), an alien race that the humans have not become friendly with. This story is basically a old fashioned sailing ship story put into space. In some cases it doesn't seem reasonable -- the personal armaments are pistols and they somehow have a number of shootings where the spaceship is never compromised; the characters use telescopes to see stars and comets. They mention seeing fire coming out of blown up space ships although by the end the story seems to better follow outer space rules. This was a fun read but not one I couldn't put down.
On their relatively small ship they are looking for pirates and they want to find where they are located and if they are being commanded by the Sectoids (or 'Bugs'), an alien race that the humans have not become friendly with. This story is basically a old fashioned sailing ship story put into space. In some cases it doesn't seem reasonable -- the personal armaments are pistols and they somehow have a number of shootings where the spaceship is never compromised; the characters use telescopes to see stars and comets. They mention seeing fire coming out of blown up space ships although by the end the story seems to better follow outer space rules. This was a fun read but not one I couldn't put down.
November 23, 2021
7.5/10
A nice light sci-fi read. Interesting world building and a likeable cast of characters, with a really well written and believable romance between the two leads. The action is fast and fun, but I did find the final battle to be anticlimactic. Still an easy recommend.
A nice light sci-fi read. Interesting world building and a likeable cast of characters, with a really well written and believable romance between the two leads. The action is fast and fun, but I did find the final battle to be anticlimactic. Still an easy recommend.
July 15, 2022
An exhilarating space pirate adventure. The characters were engaging and the story kept a good pace. This was a fun read.
April 2, 2022
Have to admit that while this book is fairly enjoyable, it doesn't manage to be truly exciting or compelling, at least for me. The idea is to merge the classic "age of sail" European adventure story with the science fictional aspects of space travel, and the problem for me was that there was never any great effort to make sense of this combination - it's just accepted as the way of this universe that there are nobles and commoners in a spacefaring navy who use cutlasses and four-shot pistols while at the same time traveling on vessels that have airlocks and "solar sails", not to mention antigravity technology (!), occasional laser weapons, and even missiles (which they conveniently have to avoid using in favor of traditional "cannons" in order to keep a low profile for plot-related reasons). There are also at least four occasions of the incorrect use of the word “sheet” in the nautical sense (pp. 10, 23, 89, 96) - which admittedly occurs in probably 90% of all books involving sailing vessels, but remains irritating - and one bizarre use of the word “lanyard” (p. 200).
Anyway, I understand that there's a suspension of disbelief needed when reading speculative fiction, but for me it just doesn't work in this case. The interesting thing is that in spite of the blurb from friend-of-the-author Steven Erikson, who says "Coles may well have invented a whole new subgenre... Steam Space?" it actually has been done before, with the best example, in my opinion, being David Levine's Arabella series, in which the incongruous mixture of genres managed to seem not nearly as disjointed and unbelievable as this book. Much of the emphasis here is on the interactions among the characters, and this is probably the most effectively written aspect of the book, but even here things get implausible... for example, the attitude and motivations of Highcastle are all over the map, to the extent that the use of this character to suit the author's purpose is a bit too transparent. Given Riverton's too-secretive behavior, it seems unfair to blame Highcastle for trying to do the right thing in a suspicious situation, and in fact too charitable of Blackwood and the others to automatically accept her commands. The plot is not bad, and with a different approach to the writing style I can imagine this story being a bit more of a winner for me.
Anyway, I understand that there's a suspension of disbelief needed when reading speculative fiction, but for me it just doesn't work in this case. The interesting thing is that in spite of the blurb from friend-of-the-author Steven Erikson, who says "Coles may well have invented a whole new subgenre... Steam Space?" it actually has been done before, with the best example, in my opinion, being David Levine's Arabella series, in which the incongruous mixture of genres managed to seem not nearly as disjointed and unbelievable as this book. Much of the emphasis here is on the interactions among the characters, and this is probably the most effectively written aspect of the book, but even here things get implausible... for example, the attitude and motivations of Highcastle are all over the map, to the extent that the use of this character to suit the author's purpose is a bit too transparent. Given Riverton's too-secretive behavior, it seems unfair to blame Highcastle for trying to do the right thing in a suspicious situation, and in fact too charitable of Blackwood and the others to automatically accept her commands. The plot is not bad, and with a different approach to the writing style I can imagine this story being a bit more of a winner for me.
August 5, 2022
More reviews (and no fluff) on the blog http://surrealtalvi.wordpress.com/
I really like the concept here - taking 1800s British navy milieu and updating it for space. It makes for a relatable read and provides a solid known framework from which the author can build a storyline. Readers do have to suspend disbelief quite a bit - the author doesn't attempt to justify or explain the technology or setting but instead focuses solely on the characters. It's a story that you just enjoy the swashbuckling ride and don't think too hard.Story: Blackwood is second in command in a King's navy built around the nobility - for good or bad. As the son of a minor noble who already has an heir, his only recourse is to build a career in the military - though it feels like he is far too often passed over for promotion in favor of a better connected (and far less competent) nobleman. When he is given a mission that is daring, secretive, and important for the empire, he enlists the aid of former crewmate Virtue, a commoner woman who had proven remarkably capable in a recent difficult situation. Together with their cold-as-ice new captain, they will transform into freetraders and pirates in order to infiltrate and stop the pirates from starting a war with the alien Insectoids.
The story is fun - with a bit of humor and a great set of characters. The idea of masts to catch solar winds and having a canopy above the bridge so that you can use a spyglass to see the enemy ships is a bit hard to justify if you think too hard; it's best to remind yourself that teleporters, photon torpedoes, light year travel, etc. are also just as speculative and not realistic. Once you put that aside it's just a fun book with characters you enjoy following. All the British navy hallmarks are there - from scurvy, sanctity of rum, to the hierarchy. Expect plenty of boardings, canon firings, etc. There's even a romance to liven things up.
In all, I greatly enjoyed the book. The audible narrator did a good job and the production was fine.
December 19, 2018
I'm a big fan of Bennett R. Coles and I was thrilled to receive an ARC. This is a new series, quite different from from his previous military SF. It's a swashbuckling space adventure and it was absolute fun. I got swept up into a universe evocative of old sailing ships, but in space - I didn't worry about the technology behind it, and simply enjoyed the ride.
What I liked most, especially considering how this genre could lend itself to old-fashioned sexist and racist attitudes of the 18th century, was the presence of strong, complex and intelligent female characters who hold equal billing with their male counterparts. There was no agenda here, no real-world politics, just the presentation of men and women as equals in a fantastic, space-faring setting.
I understand that this is the first in a new series of space adventure novels by Mr. Coles. I can't wait for the next one!
What I liked most, especially considering how this genre could lend itself to old-fashioned sexist and racist attitudes of the 18th century, was the presence of strong, complex and intelligent female characters who hold equal billing with their male counterparts. There was no agenda here, no real-world politics, just the presentation of men and women as equals in a fantastic, space-faring setting.
I understand that this is the first in a new series of space adventure novels by Mr. Coles. I can't wait for the next one!
May 3, 2019
If you like the Alexis Carew series by J.A. Sutherland or the Seafort Sage by David Feintuch then this story is for you.
You will get the space battles, the archaic speech and the obscure ranks that those series have. But unlike those series, this book lacks the explanation that explains the essential Whys
Why you would be fighting with cannon - Why does space has winds - Why was this form of address picked up. Without answering this question the story feels like a lesser caliber the then aforementioned novels.
***
3/4 of the way through and a scene happened that just made me throw my hands in the air in disgust (The MC's stupid reaction to something) I almost DNF the rest.
You will get the space battles, the archaic speech and the obscure ranks that those series have. But unlike those series, this book lacks the explanation that explains the essential Whys
Why you would be fighting with cannon - Why does space has winds - Why was this form of address picked up. Without answering this question the story feels like a lesser caliber the then aforementioned novels.
***
3/4 of the way through and a scene happened that just made me throw my hands in the air in disgust (The MC's stupid reaction to something) I almost DNF the rest.
February 11, 2019
A fun and inventive mash-up of science fiction and high seas adventure. If you like old-fashioned pirate tales, steampunk, and/or space opera, you will enjoy.
July 28, 2020
excellent reading.
September 22, 2023
This book was a huge dose of fun. I had some minor issues with some minor aspects of it, but it never ceased to be entertaining and engaging. Some books don't need to have a deep, philosophical aspect to them and this is a great example.
Some of the minor issues were: I wish I had heard more backstory about the universe in which all these events and characters are placed, some of the dialogue was a little cringeworthy (especially the romance), and I was a little confused about things like why sailors were struggling to load cargo under the influence of artificial gravity when they could just turn the gravity off and push the cargo in zero-g. Additionally, it was never explained why the warships in this book were equipped with lasers and digital technology while also using black gunpowder and lanterns. Similarly, it wasn't explained how cannon are being fired from the presumably pressurized space where the gunners were loading them out into vacuum without breaking containment and exposing everyone to vacuum. It was a great setting, and it felt interesting and homey, but some explanation would've made this easier to suspend disbelief for a great yarn.
On to the positive aspects of this book, of which there were many. First, I would say that for a sci-fi book the characters were pretty well fleshed-out. I felt as those Bennett R. Coles, the author cared about each of his characters enough to make them significantly more than cookie cutters on which to hang dialogue. Another thing that Coles does really well is to make the motivations of the characters who we're following clear, but leaving the others' motivations a little obscured to give himself room to maneuver the plot and keep the reader invested. Coles also did a great job of giving us just enough descriptive writing to feel as though we're on the ship with the sailors in his story without droning on. This can be a real drawback for naval stories, as many authors get enamored with the admittedly spectacular settings to the detriment of the plot. The author here has chosen to be pretty succinct, but flavored the expositional passages with intriguing foreshadowing or interesting aspects of spaceship life that the reader may not have thought of before.
Finally, the plot was engrossing, quick-paced, and driving. Every scene felt impactful and necessary, and I was very curious as to how the climax was going to resolve. Without providing spoilers, I was very happy with the balance Coles found between leaving something to pick up on in the next book and wrapping up the plot of this book in a satisfying way.
Upon reading the author's note in the back of the book, I see that he was in the Royal Canadian Navy for years. This lends to the authenticity of his writing of sailors and their interactions with each other and civilians. I would recommend this to anybody who enjoys space sci-fi or naval fiction with a little flair. I will be picking up the second book whenever I come across it.
Some of the minor issues were: I wish I had heard more backstory about the universe in which all these events and characters are placed, some of the dialogue was a little cringeworthy (especially the romance), and I was a little confused about things like why sailors were struggling to load cargo under the influence of artificial gravity when they could just turn the gravity off and push the cargo in zero-g. Additionally, it was never explained why the warships in this book were equipped with lasers and digital technology while also using black gunpowder and lanterns. Similarly, it wasn't explained how cannon are being fired from the presumably pressurized space where the gunners were loading them out into vacuum without breaking containment and exposing everyone to vacuum. It was a great setting, and it felt interesting and homey, but some explanation would've made this easier to suspend disbelief for a great yarn.
On to the positive aspects of this book, of which there were many. First, I would say that for a sci-fi book the characters were pretty well fleshed-out. I felt as those Bennett R. Coles, the author cared about each of his characters enough to make them significantly more than cookie cutters on which to hang dialogue. Another thing that Coles does really well is to make the motivations of the characters who we're following clear, but leaving the others' motivations a little obscured to give himself room to maneuver the plot and keep the reader invested. Coles also did a great job of giving us just enough descriptive writing to feel as though we're on the ship with the sailors in his story without droning on. This can be a real drawback for naval stories, as many authors get enamored with the admittedly spectacular settings to the detriment of the plot. The author here has chosen to be pretty succinct, but flavored the expositional passages with intriguing foreshadowing or interesting aspects of spaceship life that the reader may not have thought of before.
Finally, the plot was engrossing, quick-paced, and driving. Every scene felt impactful and necessary, and I was very curious as to how the climax was going to resolve. Without providing spoilers, I was very happy with the balance Coles found between leaving something to pick up on in the next book and wrapping up the plot of this book in a satisfying way.
Upon reading the author's note in the back of the book, I see that he was in the Royal Canadian Navy for years. This lends to the authenticity of his writing of sailors and their interactions with each other and civilians. I would recommend this to anybody who enjoys space sci-fi or naval fiction with a little flair. I will be picking up the second book whenever I come across it.
January 11, 2021
With war on the horizon, the Empire must discover who is passing inside information to the pirates, helping disrupt their commerce. The HMSS Daring is sent in to gather intelligence, hiding their true allegiance under a false flag.
Sub-commander Liam Blackwood will be second-in-command, eager to gain enough prize money to perhaps buy his own ship, tired of being overlooked by his superiors. He gathers the best people from his former ship, including Amelia Virtue, now the Daring's quartermaster.
Deep in the pirates' territory, Liam and Amelia become closer as they build the ship's cover story and gather intelligence about the pirates, searching for their base of operations. Things are going well despite the danger. Then Commander Sophia Riverton makes a series of questionable actions that endanger the crew's loyalty. Especially with another lord disputing every action taken without reason or experience to back his complaints.
The author brings a deep level of knowledge and authority to this tale thanks to his background as an officer in the Royal Canadian Navy and his degree in naval history. Coles has taken that knowledge and turned it into a combination of 19th Century British Empire's Navy and space adventure.
There's a really nice pacing here, from the action packed scenes to the quieter, more introspective moments, keeping the most casual reader's interest and engagement. The mission itself develops at a slower pace, allowing the reader time to know the various members of the crew, as well as how they fit together or not.
AS to those characters, I found all of them intriguing, even that self-entitled twat, Highcastle. Maybe it is due to my love and fond memories of the Horatio Hornblower series, both the books and the A&E television series (back when A&E stood for Arts & Entertainment instead of Aliens & Eww), not to mention many other military seafaring book series, but I was hoping for redemption and change. It could happen. Sometimes. Maybe.
Then there is Riverton. Tough, closed-off, secretive. She forces the reader to pay attention, to delve deep into her story, making us demand to know more. We hope she isn't dangerous to the ship, the crew, or the mission. She honestly would steal scenes she was present in, and lurk in the shadows of scenes she wasn't. Fascinating a character.
A magnificent tale of spies and rollicking adventure, of mysteries and love, of pending war and unexpected allies. The book synopsis references MASTER AND COMMANDER, but while there are similarities, I found myself harking back to HORATIO HORNBLOWER instead. A wonderful read that, while the start of a series, can also be read as a standalone. Fantastical adventure from start to finish. 4.5 out of 5.
Sub-commander Liam Blackwood will be second-in-command, eager to gain enough prize money to perhaps buy his own ship, tired of being overlooked by his superiors. He gathers the best people from his former ship, including Amelia Virtue, now the Daring's quartermaster.
Deep in the pirates' territory, Liam and Amelia become closer as they build the ship's cover story and gather intelligence about the pirates, searching for their base of operations. Things are going well despite the danger. Then Commander Sophia Riverton makes a series of questionable actions that endanger the crew's loyalty. Especially with another lord disputing every action taken without reason or experience to back his complaints.
The author brings a deep level of knowledge and authority to this tale thanks to his background as an officer in the Royal Canadian Navy and his degree in naval history. Coles has taken that knowledge and turned it into a combination of 19th Century British Empire's Navy and space adventure.
There's a really nice pacing here, from the action packed scenes to the quieter, more introspective moments, keeping the most casual reader's interest and engagement. The mission itself develops at a slower pace, allowing the reader time to know the various members of the crew, as well as how they fit together or not.
AS to those characters, I found all of them intriguing, even that self-entitled twat, Highcastle. Maybe it is due to my love and fond memories of the Horatio Hornblower series, both the books and the A&E television series (back when A&E stood for Arts & Entertainment instead of Aliens & Eww), not to mention many other military seafaring book series, but I was hoping for redemption and change. It could happen. Sometimes. Maybe.
Then there is Riverton. Tough, closed-off, secretive. She forces the reader to pay attention, to delve deep into her story, making us demand to know more. We hope she isn't dangerous to the ship, the crew, or the mission. She honestly would steal scenes she was present in, and lurk in the shadows of scenes she wasn't. Fascinating a character.
A magnificent tale of spies and rollicking adventure, of mysteries and love, of pending war and unexpected allies. The book synopsis references MASTER AND COMMANDER, but while there are similarities, I found myself harking back to HORATIO HORNBLOWER instead. A wonderful read that, while the start of a series, can also be read as a standalone. Fantastical adventure from start to finish. 4.5 out of 5.
January 8, 2021
Thanks to William Morrow and Goodreads for the Kindle copy of the book!
I had a lot of fun reading this one. Fairly compact at just over 350 pages, I finished the book in a matter of days, and was compelled to keep reading as I was enjoying myself so much. Regency-era Navy swashbuckling in space, what could possibly go wrong?
Luckily, not too much. The book is well-written and flows well, expertly paced, and entertaining as hell. The science is a little light, and conversely the book is rather heavy on military sailing jargon, but I was easily able to suspend my disbelief, overlook the Navy terms I wasn't familiar with, and just enjoy the ride. Although the plot isn't terribly complex and there's a twist I saw coming from a safe distance, it didn't detract from my enjoyment of the story.
The greatest detractor here is that I just don't think Coles is very good at writing romance. Maybe it's because the two main characters aren't terribly fleshed out beyond their surface characteristics and roles, or maybe it's because there's not much at stake in their relationship, but there was no chemistry between them. I did like that their attraction grew from mutual respect and admiration, and it seems like the next installment will be testing their relationship so I'm hoping that, with stakes raised, the romance will spark more.
Luckily, the story had plenty beyond the tepid romance to keep me engaged. Alien races, space pirates, mutineering nobles, action scenes aplenty keep the book chugging along at a good clip. I'm excited for the next book in the series to delve more into the divide between the socioeconomic classes - I hope it's handled well! I'll definitely be picking up the sequel as I've really enjoyed the world Coles has created here and I'm looking forward to returning.
I had a lot of fun reading this one. Fairly compact at just over 350 pages, I finished the book in a matter of days, and was compelled to keep reading as I was enjoying myself so much. Regency-era Navy swashbuckling in space, what could possibly go wrong?
Luckily, not too much. The book is well-written and flows well, expertly paced, and entertaining as hell. The science is a little light, and conversely the book is rather heavy on military sailing jargon, but I was easily able to suspend my disbelief, overlook the Navy terms I wasn't familiar with, and just enjoy the ride. Although the plot isn't terribly complex and there's a twist I saw coming from a safe distance, it didn't detract from my enjoyment of the story.
The greatest detractor here is that I just don't think Coles is very good at writing romance. Maybe it's because the two main characters aren't terribly fleshed out beyond their surface characteristics and roles, or maybe it's because there's not much at stake in their relationship, but there was no chemistry between them. I did like that their attraction grew from mutual respect and admiration, and it seems like the next installment will be testing their relationship so I'm hoping that, with stakes raised, the romance will spark more.
Luckily, the story had plenty beyond the tepid romance to keep me engaged. Alien races, space pirates, mutineering nobles, action scenes aplenty keep the book chugging along at a good clip. I'm excited for the next book in the series to delve more into the divide between the socioeconomic classes - I hope it's handled well! I'll definitely be picking up the sequel as I've really enjoyed the world Coles has created here and I'm looking forward to returning.
January 13, 2021
Swashbuckling in space. It SOUNDS like a great genre-bending idea, and the story was reasonably engaging and the writing style was fine. We had some fun characters the story was generally fun.
BUT. I could not get past the suspension of disbelief on the worldbuilding, which seemed to me to have some glaring holes.
Fact #1. Space travel exists. It takes a week or so to travel between planets. Humans have been traveling in space for centuries.
Fact #2. Non-hostile intelligent alien life exists, and we have made use of some of their technology.
Fact #3. Interplanetary, and even inter-solar space travel is possible due to giant sails harnessing solar winds. Now this just seems patently impossible, but if that was the only leap, I'd be okay with it.
Fact #4. Most non-military ships have ship-to-ship weapons consisting of... cannons? With actual gunpowder? And cannons seem to be somewhat standard issue for merchant vessels.
Fact #5. Personnel stationed aboard said ships are commonly armed with 4-shot pistols, again using gunpowder and bullets.
Fact #6. At least sometimes, bullets go through spaceships.
Fact #7. When boarding another vessel, boarding teams do not wear vacuum suits.
So let's just recap for a moment. We have spaceships that are vulnerable to bullets, and people armed with bullets, who don't wear anything to protect themselves against the vacuum of space, which is a hazard they are likely to encounter due to the aforementioned bullets.
Fact #8. Boarding teams are also armed with swords.
Fact #9. There is no advanced medical technology that helps someone recover from a sword or bullet wound aside from rum, opium, and bandages.
Fact #10. And yet, there is advanced technology like artificial gravity.
BUT. I could not get past the suspension of disbelief on the worldbuilding, which seemed to me to have some glaring holes.
Fact #1. Space travel exists. It takes a week or so to travel between planets. Humans have been traveling in space for centuries.
Fact #2. Non-hostile intelligent alien life exists, and we have made use of some of their technology.
Fact #3. Interplanetary, and even inter-solar space travel is possible due to giant sails harnessing solar winds. Now this just seems patently impossible, but if that was the only leap, I'd be okay with it.
Fact #4. Most non-military ships have ship-to-ship weapons consisting of... cannons? With actual gunpowder? And cannons seem to be somewhat standard issue for merchant vessels.
Fact #5. Personnel stationed aboard said ships are commonly armed with 4-shot pistols, again using gunpowder and bullets.
Fact #6. At least sometimes, bullets go through spaceships.
Fact #7. When boarding another vessel, boarding teams do not wear vacuum suits.
So let's just recap for a moment. We have spaceships that are vulnerable to bullets, and people armed with bullets, who don't wear anything to protect themselves against the vacuum of space, which is a hazard they are likely to encounter due to the aforementioned bullets.
Fact #8. Boarding teams are also armed with swords.
Fact #9. There is no advanced medical technology that helps someone recover from a sword or bullet wound aside from rum, opium, and bandages.
Fact #10. And yet, there is advanced technology like artificial gravity.
December 10, 2019
Written by a former Royal Canadian Naval officer, this first book in a series basically takes the template of classic 18th-19th century naval fiction (Patrick O'Brian, C.S. Forester, Dudley Pope, Alexander Kent, etc...) and applies it to outer space. The resulting work is one that will likely disappoint fans of those nautical authors, as well as fans of science fiction where all the physics has been worked out realistically, etc... In order to enjoy this book, you have to be OK with the idea that interstellar travel happens by sailing solar winds, and that ships mostly fight with traditional powder cannons (lasers and missiles are mostly reserved for times of war), and that hand-to-hand fighting with cutlasses and 4-shot pistols is the standard, and that there is an "Empire" run by nobles who dominate space.
If you are on board for that, and are also OK with some standard archetypes (the haughty noble captain, the capable hero #2, the tough professional marine, the newbie officer, the mysterious diplomat, etc...), the book is quite enjoyable. The plot revolves around a hush-hush imperial navy effort to put a stop to piracy by sending out a Navy vessel disguised as a merchant cargo ship, and then luring the pirates in and destroying them. (Yes -- that was a real-life tactic, as well as a well-worn fictional one.) Again, if you pick this up in the right generous spirit, it's all a reasonably fun light entertainment -- even with the requisite romantic subplot. Just don't expect anything particularly original or fresh.
If you are on board for that, and are also OK with some standard archetypes (the haughty noble captain, the capable hero #2, the tough professional marine, the newbie officer, the mysterious diplomat, etc...), the book is quite enjoyable. The plot revolves around a hush-hush imperial navy effort to put a stop to piracy by sending out a Navy vessel disguised as a merchant cargo ship, and then luring the pirates in and destroying them. (Yes -- that was a real-life tactic, as well as a well-worn fictional one.) Again, if you pick this up in the right generous spirit, it's all a reasonably fun light entertainment -- even with the requisite romantic subplot. Just don't expect anything particularly original or fresh.
January 16, 2024
This book reminded me of David Drake's Leary and Mundy series quite a bit. It's not quite as good, but it certainly holds up well as a comparison. Liam Blackwood is an XO, stuck under a Captain who as a Noble, has no idea of how to properly captain a ship, and is obeyed simply due to Liam's efforts. After a race that damages his ship simply so he can meet a Princess at a Ball, Liam decides to leave the Captain after receiving an offer to transfer to an undercover ship being sent on a secret mission to track down pirates.
The Navy has been trying to locate the Pirate base for ages, with no success, so the HMSS Daring, a frigate disguised as a merchantman, is sent on her mission with a crew pulled from several different ships. Liam falls in love with Amelia, the quartermaster, and has to deal with a mutiny by a Noble Cadet, Sectoid Bugs that may or may not be involved with the pirates, unscrupulous merchants, and the pirates as the crew seek to discover where the pirate base is located.
There are a few nice twists and turns along the way, but the end is always predictable, while leaving it open for a sequel that I look forward to reading.
The Navy has been trying to locate the Pirate base for ages, with no success, so the HMSS Daring, a frigate disguised as a merchantman, is sent on her mission with a crew pulled from several different ships. Liam falls in love with Amelia, the quartermaster, and has to deal with a mutiny by a Noble Cadet, Sectoid Bugs that may or may not be involved with the pirates, unscrupulous merchants, and the pirates as the crew seek to discover where the pirate base is located.
There are a few nice twists and turns along the way, but the end is always predictable, while leaving it open for a sequel that I look forward to reading.
April 30, 2019
Originally published at Reading Reality
The blurbs and the reviews for this book say the same two things fairly consistently. One, that it’s a whole lot of fun. Two, that it’s Aubrey and Maturin (Master and Commander) in space.
The first thing is definitely true. Winds of Marque is a whole lot of fun. I’m a bit less sure about the second thing – and I’m saying that as someone who read the entire Aubrey and Maturin series.
What makes this so much fun is that it is a romp of swashbuckling derring-do, but set in space in the distant future – on a Navy ship under letters of marque (government-licensed piracy) with a mission to find the real pirates and wipe them out before humans end up in a war with the insect-like Sectoids.
Our plucky heroes are Subcommander Liam Blackwood and Petty Officer Amelia Virtue. Fraternizing between the ranks is about to become the least of their problems.
Blackwood, second-son of the nobility and Executive Office (XO) of the HMSS Daring, has a reputation for coddling, chivying and generally outmaneuvering dunderheaded noble Captains so that they manage not to kill their entire crews in acts of noble idiocy. He’s unfortunately good at his job – because it’s bad for his career. Someone has to take the blame for the untouchable nobles’ disasters, and it’s generally their frustrated XO.
Virtue is the newly promoted quartermaster of the Daring. She’s relatively young, hyper-competent, and has the combined duty of making sure the Daring is fully supplied without resorting to Naval stores while instructing Blackwood in just how different the life of a commoner ranking sailor is from that of even a second-born noble son.
It’s probably going to be the making of him, if they survive the mess they are currently in.
Because nothing about their mission is exactly what it seems. Not the inexperienced but not unintelligent Captain Lady Sophia Riverton, not the pirates and certainly not the Sectoids.
That there’s a noble fop on board who is just dead certain that he can do everything better than his Naval superiors but social inferiors is nearly the deadly icing on a very explosive cake.
And it’s a blast from beginning to end.
Escape Rating B+: I had a great time while I was reading this. The verve and drive of the narrative really sweeps the reader along. But, I’m not sure how well it holds up upon further reflection. Not that I won’t pick up the next book in the series when it comes out. I did have a great time.
Part of the problem for this reader may be in all those comparisons to the Aubrey and Maturin series. Which was marvelous and excellent and terrific and if you enjoy naval stories or Napoleonic war stories is highly recommended. The audio is particularly good.
One issue, at least so far, is that Blackwood is not analogous to Aubrey (neither is Riverton) and there is no Maturin, at least so far. And that one aspect of the story, the Napoleonic wars in space, has been done before by David Weber in the Honor Harrington series. (It’s also been done in fantasy in the Temeraire series by Naomi Novik!)
Where it is similar to the Aubrey and Maturin series is in its detailed descriptions of the working of the ship. That the Daring is a ship powered by “solar sails” makes that resemblance more pronounced, but also a bit out of place. I’m not sure whether it’s that we’ve become so used to FTL (Faster Than Light) ships being sleek and powered internally that solar sails feel less possible (not that FTL drives in general are possible at the present) or that the whole “sailing” aspect feels like an artificial way for the author to insert sailing jargon and terminology that would not otherwise be present.
One aspect of the story, although not the primary aspect, is the developing romance between Blackwood and Virtue. As much as I like both characters, there doesn’t feel like there’s enough there to sell the romance. While it does take a reasonable amount of time for them to fall in love, because the story is told from Blackwood’s perspective we don’t see enough of Virtue’s thought processes to “feel” their romance. It’s a not nearly enough significant glances and conversations about ship’s business that fall into bed – or rather office floor at a crisis point.
Although this is a navy that has given up on anti-fraternization regulations, these are people from two different worlds that don’t mix. If they are going to be together, there need to be a whole lot more conversations about how that’s going to work. Because what Virtue tells Blackwood is correct – as a noble he can do anything at all to her, up to and possibly including murder but certainly including rape and assault – and he will never be punished because he’s a member of the aristocracy and she’s a commoner. That power imbalance is going to require one hell of a reckoning at some point.
The book this reminds me of the most is The Guns Above by Robyn Bennis. That book incorporates its equivalent ship jargon much more smoothly. Transferring the terminology of sailing vessels to an airship that sails the air felt smoother even if the war they are flying in is just as deadly. That story also includes a noble fop, but that one manages to get better – if not less foppish – as the adventure goes along.
The situation that the Daring finds herself in is a well-worn and well-loved trope. The ship of misfit naval personnel go rogue with official sanction but no official backing to do a job that desperately needs to be done – but that no one in the official navy wants to be caught dirtying their hands to actually get done. If they complete their mission someone else will get the glory, but if they fail the survivors will take all the blame.
And it’s so much fun that none of them can resist signing up for another mission. Readers won’t be resisting either!
The blurbs and the reviews for this book say the same two things fairly consistently. One, that it’s a whole lot of fun. Two, that it’s Aubrey and Maturin (Master and Commander) in space.
The first thing is definitely true. Winds of Marque is a whole lot of fun. I’m a bit less sure about the second thing – and I’m saying that as someone who read the entire Aubrey and Maturin series.
What makes this so much fun is that it is a romp of swashbuckling derring-do, but set in space in the distant future – on a Navy ship under letters of marque (government-licensed piracy) with a mission to find the real pirates and wipe them out before humans end up in a war with the insect-like Sectoids.
Our plucky heroes are Subcommander Liam Blackwood and Petty Officer Amelia Virtue. Fraternizing between the ranks is about to become the least of their problems.
Blackwood, second-son of the nobility and Executive Office (XO) of the HMSS Daring, has a reputation for coddling, chivying and generally outmaneuvering dunderheaded noble Captains so that they manage not to kill their entire crews in acts of noble idiocy. He’s unfortunately good at his job – because it’s bad for his career. Someone has to take the blame for the untouchable nobles’ disasters, and it’s generally their frustrated XO.
Virtue is the newly promoted quartermaster of the Daring. She’s relatively young, hyper-competent, and has the combined duty of making sure the Daring is fully supplied without resorting to Naval stores while instructing Blackwood in just how different the life of a commoner ranking sailor is from that of even a second-born noble son.
It’s probably going to be the making of him, if they survive the mess they are currently in.
Because nothing about their mission is exactly what it seems. Not the inexperienced but not unintelligent Captain Lady Sophia Riverton, not the pirates and certainly not the Sectoids.
That there’s a noble fop on board who is just dead certain that he can do everything better than his Naval superiors but social inferiors is nearly the deadly icing on a very explosive cake.
And it’s a blast from beginning to end.
Escape Rating B+: I had a great time while I was reading this. The verve and drive of the narrative really sweeps the reader along. But, I’m not sure how well it holds up upon further reflection. Not that I won’t pick up the next book in the series when it comes out. I did have a great time.
Part of the problem for this reader may be in all those comparisons to the Aubrey and Maturin series. Which was marvelous and excellent and terrific and if you enjoy naval stories or Napoleonic war stories is highly recommended. The audio is particularly good.
One issue, at least so far, is that Blackwood is not analogous to Aubrey (neither is Riverton) and there is no Maturin, at least so far. And that one aspect of the story, the Napoleonic wars in space, has been done before by David Weber in the Honor Harrington series. (It’s also been done in fantasy in the Temeraire series by Naomi Novik!)
Where it is similar to the Aubrey and Maturin series is in its detailed descriptions of the working of the ship. That the Daring is a ship powered by “solar sails” makes that resemblance more pronounced, but also a bit out of place. I’m not sure whether it’s that we’ve become so used to FTL (Faster Than Light) ships being sleek and powered internally that solar sails feel less possible (not that FTL drives in general are possible at the present) or that the whole “sailing” aspect feels like an artificial way for the author to insert sailing jargon and terminology that would not otherwise be present.
One aspect of the story, although not the primary aspect, is the developing romance between Blackwood and Virtue. As much as I like both characters, there doesn’t feel like there’s enough there to sell the romance. While it does take a reasonable amount of time for them to fall in love, because the story is told from Blackwood’s perspective we don’t see enough of Virtue’s thought processes to “feel” their romance. It’s a not nearly enough significant glances and conversations about ship’s business that fall into bed – or rather office floor at a crisis point.
Although this is a navy that has given up on anti-fraternization regulations, these are people from two different worlds that don’t mix. If they are going to be together, there need to be a whole lot more conversations about how that’s going to work. Because what Virtue tells Blackwood is correct – as a noble he can do anything at all to her, up to and possibly including murder but certainly including rape and assault – and he will never be punished because he’s a member of the aristocracy and she’s a commoner. That power imbalance is going to require one hell of a reckoning at some point.
The book this reminds me of the most is The Guns Above by Robyn Bennis. That book incorporates its equivalent ship jargon much more smoothly. Transferring the terminology of sailing vessels to an airship that sails the air felt smoother even if the war they are flying in is just as deadly. That story also includes a noble fop, but that one manages to get better – if not less foppish – as the adventure goes along.
The situation that the Daring finds herself in is a well-worn and well-loved trope. The ship of misfit naval personnel go rogue with official sanction but no official backing to do a job that desperately needs to be done – but that no one in the official navy wants to be caught dirtying their hands to actually get done. If they complete their mission someone else will get the glory, but if they fail the survivors will take all the blame.
And it’s so much fun that none of them can resist signing up for another mission. Readers won’t be resisting either!
November 10, 2021
I struggled with suspension of disbelief (really? Sailing ships powered by solar wind in the center of the galaxy? How about vacuum and weightlessness, so casually disregarded? Planets and objects in space easily spotted via hand-held telescopes?). Ugh.
Also, the transportation of British noble culture to space seemed pretty clumsy, and the class warfare lurking in the background seemed like an afterthought, placed there for expansion in sequels I will not read. The Naval structure and hierarchy was weak and senseless. Naomi Novik did a much better job of transporting it to dragons than Bennett Coles does moving it into space. Ugh.
So how did I give this three stars? It was a rollicking fun read. Like a guilty pleasure. It could have used a bit spicier dialog, and the tropes are all well-used and recognized. But it held together surprisingly well given all that. I don't recommend it, but I don't regret reading it.
Also, the transportation of British noble culture to space seemed pretty clumsy, and the class warfare lurking in the background seemed like an afterthought, placed there for expansion in sequels I will not read. The Naval structure and hierarchy was weak and senseless. Naomi Novik did a much better job of transporting it to dragons than Bennett Coles does moving it into space. Ugh.
So how did I give this three stars? It was a rollicking fun read. Like a guilty pleasure. It could have used a bit spicier dialog, and the tropes are all well-used and recognized. But it held together surprisingly well given all that. I don't recommend it, but I don't regret reading it.
August 24, 2020
I recently won a copy of Winds of Marque by Bennett Coles in a Goodreads giveaway. This is a naval space adventure with roots going back to the Horatio Hornblower sailing stories but set in space in the future. The hero is a second born nobleman who is the executive officer of a ship sent out to fight space pirates. The empire is run by a nobility that seems mostly inept except for some few who keep the navy going and making the nobles look good. The story was a simple one and it was easy to follow. The characters were interesting for the most part but somewhat one dimensional. I do wish there was more background on the empire and more information about the aliens in the book but I believe that will be revealed in upcoming stories. Winds of Marque was a good starter for the Blackwood and Virtue series and a goodread. 3.5 out of 5 stars.
April 12, 2023
Well-written but preposterous. Sails in space for fast interstellar travel? For warships? No explanation. Emperor with an empire - well, maybe. Cannons loaded with bags of powder and plungers - not since the 1800s. Cannons for inter-ship warfare? Unlikely even if they used shells with autoloaders unless the were VERY close - too easy to dodge a salvo. Navy promotion based on social class rather than ability? Maybe in a 3rd world empire, which this isn't set in. And finally, enlisted crew raising a knuckle to their forehead in salute - is this the 16th century?
Don't bother unless you have a large reservoir of belief suspension or you're prepared to reimagine this on the high seas in the days of sail while you read.
Don't bother unless you have a large reservoir of belief suspension or you're prepared to reimagine this on the high seas in the days of sail while you read.
March 4, 2021
A Napoleonic-era naval adventure transported to a section of space where the stellar wind allows space-ships to spread sails for propulsion. But, instead of retaining the coherent tactics of history, the author makes additions that really add little in the way of interest. What is retained is the most stupid of societal organizations - the nobility - and everything that comes with it. The purpose of this seems to make the main character (a noble, but a good guy, really, he is) seem better and more interesting than he actually is. Really, it just makes the romance of officer and underling even creepier.
April 27, 2023
I like nautical books, so I think that was the only reason I was able to stick with this. With the exception of updated technology, alien species, and, you know, outer space, this book really didn't go far from the standard nautical fare. You have your nobles vs commoners, your empire vs Others. The romance was uninspiring and the characters a bit lacking.
March 17, 2024
Really enjoyed this opening salvo! Not sure how space travel works in this universe (there's talk of winds...solar winds? Exploding star winds? It's never explained), but if you can suspend belief and enjoy the narrative of cannons shooting through sails in space, it's fun. And a very slow burn romance, with no sex on the page, which I really appreciated. I like it when the romance is a part of the story, but not THE STORY, if you know what I mean. You also have to suspend belief that any space-faring folk would transport a 16-17th century class structure into space...but hey! It's space opera at it's best. I'm starting book 2 tonight. Enjoy!
February 28, 2021
I won this through goodreads and truly enjoyed the story. It's an exciting space adventure. Imagine space ships with solar sails, much like old fashioned sailing vessels with grappling hooks, boarding boats and cannons! Add in insect like aliens, pirates and a touch of romance! What more could you ask for? Non stop action ensues as the Empire's navy is on the verge of war.
I'm excited to read the next book in the series. Thanks!
I'm excited to read the next book in the series. Thanks!
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