Drake - Tudor Corsair

Elizabethan #1

by Tony Riches

From the author of the best-selling Tudor trilogy - the Elizabethan series begins.

1564: Devon sailor Francis Drake sets out on a journey of adventure.

Drake learns of routes used to transport Spanish silver and gold, and risks his life in an audacious plan to steal a fortune.

Queen Elizabeth is intrigued by Drake and secretly encourages his piracy. Her unlikely champion becomes a national hero, sailing around the world in the Golden Hind and attacking the Spanish fleet.

King Philip of Spain has enough of Drake’s plunder and orders an armada to threaten the future of England.

Reader Reviews:

Riches has a way of portraying history in a manner that is highly engaging. I could not put this book down. The descriptions of those treacherous sea journeys where often Drake was faced with disaster, danger and heartbreak were so vivid I had a tear in my eye on more than one occasion. Amy, Book Blogger

The sweeping narrative, the poetic prose and the vivid sense of time and place made this story not only a gripping read, but it really did feel like I had been transported back in time. The setting was so vivid that I fancied I could feel the rolling deck under my feet. I could hear the splash of the waves as it crashed against the bow of the ship. This is a book that fooled my senses into believing that what I was reading was actually happening, and that is something that I always look for in a novel.

The Coffee Pot Book Club

Genres: Historical Fiction, British Literature, Historical, Fiction, 16th Century

348 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 5, 2020

About the author

Tony Riches is a full-time author from Pembrokeshire, West Wales, an area full of inspiration for his writing.

Best known for his Tudor Trilogy, Tony's other international best sellers include 'Mary - Tudor Princess, 'Brandon - Tudor Knight' and 'Katherine - Tudor Duchess'.

In his spare time Tony enjoys sailing and sea kayaking. Visit Tony's website at www.tonyriches.com, Tony Riches Author on Facebook and follow him on Twitter @tonyriches.

Reviews

[Juliew. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This basically tells the story of how Francis Drake got involved with the crown and his quest for recognition and treasure.I enjoyed the author's inclusion of some of Sir Francis's back story and found this is my favorite book to date I have read from him.I loved all the onboard action and the resulting dramas with his crew and family.I came away thinking Sir Francis made an interesting subject and looking forward to exploring his life a little more.Much thanks to Mr Riches for giving me the opportunity to check this out for myself.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Francis Drake wishes for adventure on the sea.  He finds a place within a ship Captained by his cousin where Francis learns of the lure of the sea along with the dangers.  Francis' interactions with the Spanish on that trip fuel a lifelong rivalry.  Drake works his way up to Captaining his own fleet in search of Spanish Gold.  HIs adventures soon earn him an audience with Queen Elizabeth I who sends Drake on a mission of her own where he sets out to navigate the Strait of Magellan and ends up taking him around the world.  

Drake-Tudor Corsair is an exciting high seas adventure documenting the life of Francis Drake.  I didn't know much about Francis Drake and was delighted to read this history filled account.  Like all of Tony Riches' other books, this is brimming with historical detail and accuracy.  I enjoyed reading about Drake's voyages as well as his interactions with Queen Elizabeth I. All of the battles were exciting as well as exploring the many different lands.  I would have loved a map of each of Drake's voyages to follow along with, but was able to figure out many of the areas through context.  I was amazed by their life at sea and the constant dangers Drake and his crew faced.  More so, I enjoyed reading about the friendships Drake made with crewmates along the way.  I did have trouble connecting with Drake's motivations for his continued Spanish rivalry, especially after so many lost lives.  Of course, I was most interested in Drake's interactions with Queen Elizabeth I and her own motivations for encouraging Drake's piracy.  As always, it seems that Queen Elizabeth had her own intentions and kept them close at hand.  Drake-Tudor Corsair is a great start to Tony Riches The Elizabethan Series. 



This book was received for free in return for an honest review. 

[Rosemary Griggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tony Riches has a brilliant way of taking original sources from the historical record and weaving a thrilling story around the known events. He brings vivid details of shipboard life into this fast-moving story which takes us from Drake’s humble beginnings, through his rise to become a successful sea captain, all over the world until his death on board his ship off the coast of Panama in 1596.
Drake emerges as a more complex figure than the swaggering pirate in search of personal riches we might expect. To the end he seems rather self-conscious about his lowly birth and struggles for acceptance, although drawn on by a thirst for adventure, ambition and love of the sea. Drake’s relationships with the Queen and his two wives are well drawn. Each wife copes with his long absences at sea and his desire for a son in different ways. The last scene where Drake, a devout protestant, reads from his father’s Bible on his deathbed, will stay with me as I try to fathom this interesting character. I recommend this book to anyone interested in England’s naval history and the long running rivalry with Spain that dominated Elizabethan politics. Tony has given us an honest account of the life of a man of his time who achieved great things.

[Maya Ch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Drake by Tony Riches
A fictional account of Francis Drake’s life and raise to prominence.
The book is written as the first person narrative, quite reserved and simple, as Drake positions himself. It almost reads as a captain’s log of the voyage, where his entire life is such a voyage.
Book explores his childhood and birth of love towards sea adventures, his first voyage, his raise to commanding a ship, piracy(privateering) and being a consultant to Elizabeth I on the seafarers matters. For a humble beginning as a son of village preacher, his path seem unusually lucky in different aspects. He had the woman he loved, his found passion and profession, attention of the Queen, enormous wealth and privileges. Of course, there were other things, that might have been better: he lost many of his relatives and friends to sea adventures, he did not have kids of his own, experienced look downs on him from nobility, blamed for bringing trophies/not bringing enough trophies/angering the Spanish.
Still, his life is a poem of longing for new experiences and reaching them.
He was the first Englishman to circumnavigate the globe, although not intentionally. He befriended locals in new lands, tried out novelty food, seen world wonders and became experienced sailor, commander, cartographer, strategist.
Author outlined interesting personal characteristics, which led me to think of Francis Drake as an observant person, good manager for his crew, with strategic planning and ability to learn on mistakes of others.
I became very much engaged with the story and by the last pages I did not want him to die, even the outcome is known for hundreds of years. Nevertheless even his death seems proper - a sailor parts with the world near far lands at his beloved sea.

[Annette · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Thoughts:
I love sea adventure stories and this is my favorite aspect of Drake: Tudor Corsair. As a young man, Francis Drake had piloted ships to safe harbor, but he had the ambition to sail the ocean. He began working for the privateer, seaman, and slave trader John Hawkins. Most of the story is in preparing the ship for a journey, sailing the ocean, and skirmishes with the Spanish and Portuguese. The actual day to day duties on a ship is not described in-depth as I’d liked. However, I understand better the English ambition for gold and silver made in the slave trade. I understand better the terrible conditions for the African people who were caught, transported to another land, and sold. The story shows a glimpse of uncomfortableness Drake felt about the slave trade, but it did not stop his activities.
I’ve read a little about Sir Francis Drake. I feel Drake: Tudor Corsair has characterized Drake as a likable person. A person who is heroic. He did have strong accomplishments. For example, he was the first Englishman to circumnavigate the earth. I have to remember, and other readers must remember, this is a historical period where many saw wealth as more important than human life. The African’s lives were expendable. It is difficult for me to wrap-my-mind around “that” type of thinking, but this is history, they lived differently than we do.
The personal life of Drake is shared in the story. I wonder if a fictional account of Drake’s first wife is possible? Her story is enticing and I wonder how she felt about his long absences? What did she know about his travels? How did she feel about how he made his wealth?
One of my favorite scenes in the story is when Drake met Queen Elizabeth. His description and impression of her is priceless.
Over-all this is a splendid story. I feel it gave me a solid education of what life at sea was like in the mid to late 1500s.
Source: I received a complimentary eBook copy from Tony Riches, I was not required to write a positive review.

[Mercedes Rochelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ironically, like many of us armchair historians, my most vivid image of Sir Francis Drake was the story of him playing bowls at Plymouth while learning that the Spanish Armada had been sighted—and wanting to finish his game before doing anything about it. Another great legend shattered! As expected, Tony Riches gives us the accurate story of this famous figure, a bit less dramatic than the myths but much more believable. A good portion of the book concerns Drake’s adventures at sea and presents a lot less interaction between him and Queen Elizabeth than I thought we’d see, though there was plenty of courtly intrigue. We don’t witness a flamboyant and dashing presence in the Elizabethan court; this Drake was all business and not prone to showy antics. In fact, at one point the ostentatious Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex was foisted on him, much to his displeasure. But he had to please the queen, after all.

I found the book to be more of an episodic novel than a plot-filled adventure. We get a lot of action:

"The urgent clanging of church bells echoed in the darkness like a death knell, telling us the alarm had been raised in the town. Our raid would be more dangerous now, but we’d come too far and waited too long; there would be no going back.

John drew his sword and gave me a nod, then took his sixteen men to the marketplace. I led the rest of our men up the broad street and gave the order to light our fire-pikes. We marched like an invading army to the beat of our drums, blazing torches on the pikes lighting our way.

As before, our attack relied on bluster and bravado, as we were certain to be outnumbered by the Spanish militia. I had no wish to injure any of the townspeople, but if they needed an excuse to abandon the town, we were ready to offer them one.

The sharp crack of my brother’s arquebus was the signal for our trumpeters, who began their fanfare. The Spanish militia would be forgiven for fleeing such an attack, and we helped them on their way with a fusillade of arquebus fire, aimed high into the air."

There were many stops along the way as Drake harassed the Spanish—sometimes with great success, other times, not so much. I must say, because of my lack of geographic knowledge, I frequently lost track of where they were because I didn’t recognize the city names. A map would have helped. Luckily, all roads led to Plymouth, which was Drake’s home territory. He had a long-suffering wife who he adored, and a strong local standing which was very important to him. This Drake was totally relatable, flawed as most famous men really are, and quite likeable. I took away a much clearer vision of the Spanish/Elizabethan conflict, which was much broader than the typical “heroic queen” story we are fed in the movies.

[Mary Yarde · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘Do you have any idea, Captain Drake, of the difficulty your adventuring,’ he made the word sound disparaging, ‘causes your country?’

He may have had an inkling, but El Draque was not quite finished with his game of cat-and-mouse with the Spanish. And besides, he had the Queen’s favour, and there were still kingdoms to be discovered and treasures to be claimed, or taken, whichever came first was of no consequence.

Sir Francis Drake had salt running through his veins, and he never felt more alive as he did when he was sailing in uncharted waters. The money and the fame were an added incentive to leave the safety of the harbour and the woman he loved.

However, despite his success, despite his rise in station, Sir Francis would never quite be one of them. For the aristocracy had very little patience with this Devon nobody.

But when England’s sovereignty is threatened, it will take more than a stirring speech from the Queen, to deter Spain’s Great Armada. What England will need is her greatest Naval officer…

From a young man’s dream of adventure to the making of one of the most infamous naval officers of all time, Drake - Tudor Corsair (The Elizabethan Series Book 1) by Tony Riches is the utterly enthralling rags-to-riches story of Sir Francis Drake.

I was so looking forward to reading this book, not only because Tony Riches is one of my favourite Historical Fiction authors, but because I have never come across a book in which Sir Francis Drake does not take second place to the illustrious Virgin Queen, Elizabeth I. Drakes story is one that has been overlooked for far too long, and I am glad that Riches has decided to give his readers an insight into this man’s life, and also an insight into what life was like for sailors during this age of discovery.

With lavish attention to detail and a historical appreciation of the period, Riches has given his readers a book that is rich in historical detail. His understanding of the political landscape of the period is etched within the most exquisite sentences. We witness the taut relationship between England and Spain who spend the entirety of this novel, either trading with each other, stealing from each other, and finally, of course, going to war with each other. Likewise, Riches understands the workings of these greatly majestic sailing ships that paved the way for exploration, exploitation, and the expansion of an empire. No one could have written this book with more emotion, passion, excitement, and historical accuracy than Riches has.

The sweeping narrative, the poetic prose and the vivid sense of time and place made this story not only a gripping read, but it really did feel like I had been transported back in time. The setting was so vivid that I fancied I could feel the rolling deck under my feet. I could hear the splash of the waves as it crashed against the bow of the ship. This is a book that fooled my senses into believing that what I was reading was actually happening, and that is something that I always look for in a novel. I want to not only read a great story, but I also want to experience it, and Riches has delivered such a book, as he always delivers. I did not read this book — I lived it!

Riches has given his readers a very insightful, sincere portrayal of Sir Francis Drake. In this story, Drake is astoundingly ambitious, and this ambition is what drives him to achieve the wealth and recognition that he so desires. In a period where breeding and bloodlines meant everything, Drake must have been like a breath of fresh air, or perhaps more a hurricane to the ordered court of Elizabeth I – how could she have not been drawn towards this charismatic figure who went where angels feared to tread? As history tells us, Drake came from nothing and died a celebrated hero. And yet, despite his success, and despite his fame, he still wanted to be admired by the aristocracy, even though he knew that he would always be looked down upon, and this Riches has explored in mesmerising detail.

However, Riches’ Drake is also something of a contradiction — despite his pirating tendencies, he does not agree with stealing lives and abhors slavery. Likewise, he is more than happy to blackmail and coerce his opponents into doing what he wants them to, but then there is an entirely different side to him that feels guilt, responsibility, compassion and love. Riches’ Drake may act a good game, but underneath the façade, he is, despite appearances, a man of integrity. I thought these contradictions made for some fascinating reading, and I really felt that I had gotten to know a little about the man behind the legend.

If you are looking for your next Tudor fix, then look no further. Drake - Tudor Corsair (The Elizabethan Series Book 1) by Tony Riches is a novel that will enthral you with its brilliance and leave you gasping for more. My only question now is – which historical character will Riches pick to shine a light on in The Elizabethan Series Book 2?

This novel is a definite must, not only for those who enjoy quality Historical Fiction set in the Tudor era but also for those who adored C. S. Forester's unforgettable Hornblower series.

I Highly Recommend.

Review by Mary Anne Yarde.
The Coffee Pot Book Club.

[Heidi Malagisi · Rating 5 out of 5]

When we think of pirates, we tend to think of Caribbean pirates that are popular in fiction and in movies. They are swashbuckling rogues who are only looking out for themselves, booze, and treasure. We tend to think about the 1600s-1800s as the height of piracy on the open seas, but there were pirates that existed even earlier than that. In England, they were known as corsairs, and one of the best during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I was the suave and debonair Sir Francis Drake. Although he did circumnavigate the world and helped the English defeat the Spanish Armada, his story is rarely told in novels. That is until now. In the first book in his Elizabethan series, Tony Riches takes on the challenge to explore what Drake’s life was like and what kinds of adventures he took in order to protect his beloved homeland. This is Tony Riches’ latest novel, “Drake- Tudor Corsair”.

I would like to thank Tony Riches for sending me a copy of his latest novel. I have enjoyed Tony’s novels in the past and when I found out that he was doing an Elizabethan series and had a new book about Sir Francis Drake, I knew I wanted to read it. I did not know much about Sir Francis Drake and his adventures, except that he traveled the world and helped defeat the Spanish Armada before I read this book so I was excited to learn more.

We are introduced to Francis Drake when he is a young lad, dreaming of adventure and far away lands. He wants to sail the high seas, but things are not as picture-perfect as he imagined. He is involved in the slave trade, which is something that he comes to deplore later in life. Drake tries to think about the well-being of the slaves and will become friends with a former slave named Diego. However, Drake does contradict his own beliefs when it comes to slavery and taking someone’s life when his beloved country England is in danger from the Spanish, who he finds diabolical and does not mind attacking them whenever he discovers the location of their ships. This complex dynamic makes him more of a believable, three-dimensional character.

At the heart of this novel is the countless adventures Drake and his crew of corsairs partake in on different ships, including the famous The Golden Hind. As a connoisseur of Tony Riches’ novels, I know that he doesn’t do a ton of action sequences in his novel as he tends to focus on the relationships between characters, yet he is able to transport the reader into high action battle scenes where you wonder if Drake and his crew will survive. Since many Tudor novels tend to focus on England and Europe during the reign of this infamous dynasty, it is a breath of fresh air to explore the world with Drake and his men. Whether it is fighting the Spanish sailors or fighting indigenous people from far away lands, there is always a perilous adventure for Drake and his crew to embark on. What never changes is Drake’s faith and how his religious views are a constant comfort to his even when things become dire.

If I did have a small area of concern it would be that Riches does include modern names for locations and items found around the world so that modern readers would understand what is going on. I am not sure if the factual Francis Drake and his crew knew the names of these locations and mysterious objects while they were traveling or if the names came afterward.

Like any stellar novel by Tony Riches, he does focus on Drake’s relationships with the people who are closest to him. Drake was married to two different women, Mary and Elizabeth, and it is quite interesting to see how both women react differently to his life full of risk and danger on the high seas. Then there are his relationships in the Elizabethan court. Of course, there is his relationship with Queen Elizabeth I, since he is considered to be one of her favorites at court, yet it is not always smooth sailing for Drake. He also interacts quite a bit with Sir William Cecil and Sir Francis Walsingham to make sure England is secure. Drake wants to be included in court life, but although he looks the part, he knows that he will never be one of the colorful courtiers.

Francis Drake has always been a side character, never the gallant corsair hero. Tony Riches has changed all of that. He has thrown open the doors to a colorful and treacherous world of the seas with his first book in the Elizabethan series. Drake is so real and raw. You can understand why he made the decisions that he did to protect his crew and his homeland. This is an absolutely captivating read that will bring the adventures of this distinguished Elizabethan corsair to life. If you want an enthralling Tudor historical fiction novel that takes you to places unknown and where there are dangers galore with a caring and charismatic hero at the heart of all of the adventures, I highly recommend you read Tony Riches’ latest novel, “Drake- Tudor Corsair”. A true triumph and a brilliant way to start a brand new series. I cannot wait for the second novel in this Elizabethan series.

[Yvonne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Drake – Tudor Corsair recounts the rise of Francis Drake from penniless sailor to celebrated seafaring hero, wealthy and knighted.

The story begins when Drake is 23 years old and sets sail under Captain John Hawkins to the coast of Guinea and then onto the West Indies to sell slaves. This trip is a disaster. Engagement with the Spanish and the Portuguese results in crewmen and ships lost. Drake vows to return to the West Indies to avenge those crewmen. So begins his harassment of the Spanish, for which he is branded a pirate by King Philip of Spain and a bounty offered for his capture or death.

Drake's early career is helped along by his relatives, the Hawkins brothers. He, in turn, takes his own brothers, John and Joseph, on subsequent voyages, and when they are old enough, his nephew John, and Jonas, his wife's relation, also accompany him. It seems an adventurous spirit runs in the family.

While always on the look out for a likely victim on the horizon, some of the action takes place on land. Drake avails himself of any opportunity to strike at the Spanish and makes allies wherever he can. Ambushing mule trains carrying gold and silver, raiding and pillaging towns, and skirmishes with natives are all part of the great treasure hunt. However, not all the voyages he commands are a success. Drake has his fair share of setbacks: loss of lives, ships, mutiny and betrayal.

With long absences from home, he never knew what awaited him on his return and tried to forestall unfavourable reports reaching England ahead of him which could damage his reputation. To lose the goodwill of capricious Queen Elizabeth or her minsters, Cecil and Walsingham, was not an option on his road to fame and fortune.

Sir Francis Drake was one of the historical figures I learnt about in school. His circumnavigation of the world, his involvement in the defeat of the Spanish Armada and his reputedly playing bowls when the armada was sighted in the English Channel are the three pieces of information I remember from those lessons. After finishing this novel, I'm amazed at the life he led and his other achievements. I am disappointed that there is no corroboration of his playing bowls. True or not, it will always be a part of his legend.

Tony Riches presents a complex man, rising to prominence but not quite gaining the acceptance he desired due to his lowly birth. Some of Drake's exploits are controversial by today's standards; however, his portrayal here is of a likeable man, deserving of the many honours accorded him.

Once again Riches has used his unique writing style to entertain and inform. I was totally immersed in this world of barques, caravels and galleons as they sailed the Spanish Main and other faraway places. This is my favourite of his books so far. Fans of nautical and biographical fiction will certainly be captivated by this tale of courage and adventure. It is a great start to a new series.

[Gwendalyn Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was received from the Author, and Publisher, in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

Drake Tudor Corsair by Tony Riches, is the first installment in his newest Elizabethan Series

Francis Drake adventurous tale begins when he is twenty three years old. Sailing under Captain Thomas Hawkins, who happens to also be Drake’s cousin.
Leaving everything behind, he pursues his seafaring dreams on the high seas.
His experience with the Spanish on this first pirating trip, sets him on a path that will ultimately be his driving force in his future.

Written in first person, Tony Riches allows the reader to see through eyes of this illustrious historical figure. We see Drake as he rises from humble obscurity to become a force to be reckoned with. He takes his life in his own hands and rises through the ranks to become one of the most notorious sea captains.

This absorbing book allows the reader an intimate look at Sir Francis Drake’s incredible dogged determination that ensured he rose to the top as one of the most feared sea captains. He hunted down and raided every Spanish ship that came he came across his path. His exploits made him a legend and hero with Queen Elizabeth l, and the English. His dominance also led to his being known to Spanish as El Draque.
we are taken along through his trials, tribulations and rewards for procuring vast amount wealth for the English crown.
Francis Drake comes to life in under Riches discerning eye, with meticulous researched details you will immersed into this enjoyable storyline.

Mastery written, the author transports you with his vibrant atmospheric imagery.
I was completely drawn into Francis Drakes escapades, as he takes on the English’s sea rival in this swashbuckling riveting book.
Even though he becomes wealthy and a knighted subject, he is never actually excepted amongst nobility. A son of a Devin tenant farmer, along with his relatives that exhibit pirate characteristics as they are driven to seek out and blunder other ships to expand the English presence on the seas.

This was by far my favorites of Tony Riches reads. This thought provoking novel is the perfect example that makes Tony Riches an extraordinary historical fiction author.
If you are lover of intelligently invigorating books, this is by far one you do not want to pass you by.

This is a non spoiler review, because you as reader need to read this book. Also, I feel sometimes I have in the past gave away to much of the plot line. This has diminished the pleasure for would be readers

-Historical Note-
English admiral Sir Francis Drake circumnavigated the globe from 1577-1580, helped defeat the Spanish Armada of 1588 and was the most renowned seaman of the Elizabethan era.

[Carolina Casas · Rating 5 out of 5]

A man trapped by time, fueled by ambition and a strong sense of adventure. That is what this novel bottles down to. Often, I will come across novels with attractive covers and an enticing summary that promise to take the reader back in time to an era that will no longer seem so dissimilar from the one we live in. The problem with this is that the lead characters are turned into something else completely different from the real ones. Thankfully this isn't the case with "Drake."
Tony Riches has given us a Francis Drake that is the closest thing readers will get to the real historical figure. Furthermore, the author is brutally honest in his portrayal of this time period. There is no white washing or needless justification of characters' actions or prejudices we don't approve of and rightfully condemn today. And this brings me to my final point: when writing historical fiction, especially centered around legendary figures like Sir Francis Drake, the best way to do them justice is by being direct. With that directness comes heavy detail. Despite this time period being written and shown about to death in pop culture, there's still a lot of misinformation. As a result, novelists must go above and beyond to put everything into context, and bring to life this time period while also keeping their readers hooked from start to finish.

Drake's life encompasses several turning points in English naval history. His sentiment is mirrored by several other members of his crew, including the various captains he's served under. As a consequence, his initial contempt towards Elizabethan statesmen like William Cecil, Lord Burghley, is perfectly understandable. The statesmen of theate Elizabethan regime and the early reign of the first Stuart king of England had an uneasy business relationship with corsairs, naval adventurers, and others of the sort like Hawkins and Drake. So it was great to see this being portrayed here in a way that feels as if the brief exchanges between these characters actually happened.

Another thing I greatly enjoyed was how the author captured Drake's religiosity as well as the religious divisions of Europeans and their colonial subjects. Drake's reading of bible verses and psalms was a perfect juxtaposition to the grim and amoral world at sea.
If you are a big fan of the renaissance or early modern history in general, pick up this book. You won't be disappointed.

[Whispering Bookworm · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had, of course, heard of Sir Francis Drake, but apart from his role defeating the Spanish Armada, I didn't know that much about him. This novel has shined a light on the man and his life. I thought the depiction of Sir Francis Drake was realistic and strangely relatable. He is a man of action and remarkable courage. I thought Tony Riches did an excellent job at his portrayal.

Tony Riches is a new author for me, but this book won't be the last of his I read.

*I received a copy of this book from the author for review consideration.

[Rick Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sir Francis Lives

This author brought the details and adventure of el Drako to life. I knew theroad strokes of this man's life, but Mr. Riches has brought more than I ever knew to his narrative. The luster of the Tudor upper class matched to the common sailor is wonderful. The rise of a man with strength, courage and a humble heart is amazing for the time and culture in which he rises to the heights of society.

A throughly enjoyable work of high historical accuracy and fiction.

[Amy McElroy · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a huge fan of Tony Riches I have been looking forward to this book! Tony Riches has a way of portraying history in a manner that is highly engaging. I could not put this book down and am happy to learn it is the first in Tony's Elizabethan series.

For those who would like to learn more about Drake or have an interest in this era I definitely recommend giving Drake a read.

Full review shortly on my blog endotheroad on WordPress

[Anthea Ramsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have loved all the books that Tony Riches has written, and this one certainly didn’t disappoint. Well researched and beautifully written as always, it tells the story of how from humble beginnings Sir Francis Drake became a favourite of Queen Elizabeth and eventually a daring sea captain, explorer, and pirate. I certainly learnt a lot about this amazing man that I was previously unaware of. If you enjoy reading about Tudor times, you will love this book.

[patricia ann miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an adventure

Loved everything about this book, I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. Sir Francis Drake was a fearless man , I am sorry he died childless. He really gave the Spanish a run for their money !

[Sekhar N Banerjee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent read

I knew very little about Drake, except that he was a privateer during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. This book filled the gap in my knowledge. It was very readable at the same time full of facts.

[Alan Porter · Rating 2 out of 5]

I cannot understand were these previous reviews are from.....I found the book boring and completely devoid of Atmosphere and excitement ....it almost reads like a young children's first history sea adventure...extremely disappointed ..as an avid historical fiction reader.

[Jen Freeman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Drake is delightful

A good beginning book on the life of Sir Francis Drake. Trying to cover so much was hard but done pretty successfully. It gives a good base timeline of his life to build from.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I surprised myself reading this book. I could hardly put it down. Revealing so much detail about the time. The writing style is amazing allowing me to project a movie of the events in my mind. I highly recommend this book.

[Bruce Ullman · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointing

Narrative jumps around too much and leaves out potentially interesting information such as the deaths of Drake's brothers. Did not bother to finish.

[Lorna Buchanan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great research

Excellent historical book I really enjoyed the whole book the details were so cleverly written into the hole story that you never got bored with them

[Paul Bennett · Rating 4 out of 5]

BLURB
1564
Devon sailor Francis Drake sets out on a journey of adventure.
Drake learns of routes used to transport Spanish silver and gold, and risks his life in an audacious plan to steal a fortune.
Queen Elizabeth is intrigued by Drake and secretly encourages his piracy. Her unlikely champion becomes a national hero, sailing around the world in the Golden Hind and attacking the Spanish fleet.
King Philip of Spain has enough of Drake’s plunder and orders an armada to threaten the future of England.
REVIEW
An engaging tale of discovery and survival on the high seas, Drake navigates the sometimes turbulent oceans, and the always tricky life at the court of a Tudor Queen. Loaded with action, and characters alive with the time, the tale is much like a Letter of Marque carrying warship as it transports the reader along the story lines...primed for engagement, tacking into the wind, changing course with the twists and plot surprises. It was a perilous occupation, hunting for treasure in uncharted waters with a price on your head, and the author has provided an entertaining, page turning look at one of history's heroes of that turbulent age. 4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

[Rosie Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant read highly recommend fast pacing story of Sir Francis Drake