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Island at the Edge of War
Adriatic Tales: Island at the Edge of War is a story of individual choices set along the fault line between the European powers and the Ottoman Empire. After a 1571 battle between a Turkish fleet and local defenders in Korčula (in today's Croatia), Damir discovers a young foreign boy who seems to have washed ashore near the teen's village. Together, he and his friend Iskra must confront prejudices and their own doubts as they, eventually, decide to bring the boy from Korčula to a Turkish envoy in Dubrovnik, all the while pursued by men who want the boy for revenge or ransom. Together the two -- the son of an olive farmer and the daughter of an innkeeper -- take a journey across exotic landscapes and personal convictions in a story that touches on war, love, and tolerance and tells of individuals willing to challenge conventional biases.
208 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 6, 2020
4 people are currently reading
13 people want to read
About the author
Roger Malone
2 books5 followersA journalist and editor by profession, Roger Malone lives with his family in Zagreb, Croatia, and has spent many summers on the island of Korčula. Malone has a BA in journalism and an MA in international relations and economics. As a reporter and editor for newspapers and wire services, Malone traveled broadly throughout Asia, Europe, and North America. He has edited several management and economics books, including Knowledge Unplugged, The Price Advantage, and Time & Economics.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
June 14, 2023
Funny, quick-paced, clever, historic setting.
The setting: 16th century. The Korčula islanders warded off an attack from the enemy galleys. An early teen of the enemy is found stranded on the island. The island is part of the Venetian realm, just off the Dalmatian coast. The Habsburg’s and Ottoman Empire are big players.
The hero: Damir, a late teen, son of an olive-grower.
The heroine: Iskra, a late teen, daughter of an inn-keeper.
The quest: save the island, decide what to do with the boy, and do it. Turn him in? Protect him? Ransom him?
The writing suited me perfectly. It catered to a younger audience (teens). It was plot-based whilst keeping the historic atmosphere in small doses. There was high action. Some of my favourite snippets:
“Damir waved at the fishermen rowing their boats out from the bay that splashed between the town and the monastery. None waved back…”
that made me laugh. And then setting the geopolitical scene out:
“Korčula, to be sure, was rarely more than a minor token in these larger struggles, but a token that changed hands often and was occasionally battered in the transfer.”
Also, too long to quote but I loved the old man’s answer to, “do you hate the enemy?”
I can’t help myself but I am a geography nerd afterall, and this was my Croatia reading challenge book…but some characters are Herzegovinian not Herzegovian.
Overall, this was easy to read, fun and action-packed.
The setting: 16th century. The Korčula islanders warded off an attack from the enemy galleys. An early teen of the enemy is found stranded on the island. The island is part of the Venetian realm, just off the Dalmatian coast. The Habsburg’s and Ottoman Empire are big players.
The hero: Damir, a late teen, son of an olive-grower.
The heroine: Iskra, a late teen, daughter of an inn-keeper.
The quest: save the island, decide what to do with the boy, and do it. Turn him in? Protect him? Ransom him?
The writing suited me perfectly. It catered to a younger audience (teens). It was plot-based whilst keeping the historic atmosphere in small doses. There was high action. Some of my favourite snippets:
“Damir waved at the fishermen rowing their boats out from the bay that splashed between the town and the monastery. None waved back…”
that made me laugh. And then setting the geopolitical scene out:
“Korčula, to be sure, was rarely more than a minor token in these larger struggles, but a token that changed hands often and was occasionally battered in the transfer.”
Also, too long to quote but I loved the old man’s answer to, “do you hate the enemy?”
I can’t help myself but I am a geography nerd afterall, and this was my Croatia reading challenge book…but some characters are Herzegovinian not Herzegovian.
Overall, this was easy to read, fun and action-packed.
June 1, 2023
I'm always looking for books to give as gifts to young readers--originally my own children, but as they are now adults, friends' children. As a big believer in the power of historical fiction to transform readers (and especially young readers) into readers of non-fiction, I have added this title to my gift list as I can heartily recommend this YA adventure novel. The characters, both male and female, are lively and authentic in speech and actions and their adventures in rescuing a fellow youth draw one quickly into the story. And as with most (but not all) historical fiction, it depicts a true historical event.
The story opens in the 16th century, when the Pope, Venice, and Spain were amassing a fleet to confront the Ottomans and take control of the Mediterranean and Adriatic Seas. When the (Venetian-held) island of Korčula is suddenly threatened by the Ottomans (led by Uluj Ali, a famed Ottoman corsair--a true historical figure), it's defended by its rag-tag citizens, including women and children. A sudden storm turns up to turn the tide (no pun intended), that helps the defenders stave off the attackers, but leaves a young stranger on its shores. It is his story, and the story of the teenagers who find and rescue him, that form the plot, full of exciting twists and turns and details of this period of history that engaged even me--a very adult reader.
Moreover, it can be the first stepping stone to other volumes that have been known to woo youth to more 'productive' reading, such as Richard Crowley's excellent Empires of the Sea: The Contest for the Center of the World, (Empires of the Sea: The Final Battle for the Mediterranean, 1521 - 1580) that continues the story that includes the largest naval battle in Western history since classical antiquity--the Battle of Lepanto, when the Holy League finally subdues the Ottoman empire.
The story opens in the 16th century, when the Pope, Venice, and Spain were amassing a fleet to confront the Ottomans and take control of the Mediterranean and Adriatic Seas. When the (Venetian-held) island of Korčula is suddenly threatened by the Ottomans (led by Uluj Ali, a famed Ottoman corsair--a true historical figure), it's defended by its rag-tag citizens, including women and children. A sudden storm turns up to turn the tide (no pun intended), that helps the defenders stave off the attackers, but leaves a young stranger on its shores. It is his story, and the story of the teenagers who find and rescue him, that form the plot, full of exciting twists and turns and details of this period of history that engaged even me--a very adult reader.
Moreover, it can be the first stepping stone to other volumes that have been known to woo youth to more 'productive' reading, such as Richard Crowley's excellent Empires of the Sea: The Contest for the Center of the World, (Empires of the Sea: The Final Battle for the Mediterranean, 1521 - 1580) that continues the story that includes the largest naval battle in Western history since classical antiquity--the Battle of Lepanto, when the Holy League finally subdues the Ottoman empire.
September 11, 2022
Malone does a great job with his debut YA novel. The characters are teenagers with flaws, but good hearts. One of the leading characters is a bright, powerful young woman. He blends in history and geography quite seemlessly. The book is ideal for readers who enjoy getaway fiction., especially those traveling to the Dalmation coast.
April 6, 2020
This is a charming coming of age story, set in the 16th century, following a young adult, Damir, from his parochial home of Bradat on a quiet Dalmatian island to the island’s capital of Korcula and onto the cosmopolitan centre of the Ragusan Empire, Dubrovnik. Damir’s quest is the return of a young Turkish boy to his family after he was parted from them during an attempted invasion of Korcula by an Ottoman raiding party lead by the infamous Uluj Ali.
Along the way Damir is faced with many challenges: courage and cowardice on the city’s battlements in the face of the Ottoman attack and along the road to Dubrovnik; friendship and love, not least of his confederate Iskra; good and evil within his own community and religious intolerance towards his charge. He comes to terms with all this under the hot Croatian sun, by land and sea, with bandits and other nefarious characters trying to stop him.
This story could be set anywhere but as a fellow frequent visitor to Korcula I’m delighted to re-encounter the bays, forests, hilltops, towns and trails. The author faithfully captures the landscape, the history, the architecture (much of it still intact today), the Croatian characters and the island’s owls (chuke). This book is a fun read but possibly aimed at someone slightly younger than myself!
Along the way Damir is faced with many challenges: courage and cowardice on the city’s battlements in the face of the Ottoman attack and along the road to Dubrovnik; friendship and love, not least of his confederate Iskra; good and evil within his own community and religious intolerance towards his charge. He comes to terms with all this under the hot Croatian sun, by land and sea, with bandits and other nefarious characters trying to stop him.
This story could be set anywhere but as a fellow frequent visitor to Korcula I’m delighted to re-encounter the bays, forests, hilltops, towns and trails. The author faithfully captures the landscape, the history, the architecture (much of it still intact today), the Croatian characters and the island’s owls (chuke). This book is a fun read but possibly aimed at someone slightly younger than myself!
April 8, 2020
Roger Malone's debut novel takes us along an Adriatic adventure with a trio of teenagers as they make their way through walled cities, bazaars and well-worn paths that hug the scenic ridge lines along the island of Korcula, off the southern coast of today's Croatia. The adolescents devise clever ploys to trick young and old folks, friends and foes, sultans and soldiers into letting them sneak their new foreign friend past the guards stationed at various city gates and across the sea to a trusted Sultan in Dubrovnik.
Set among the wider realm of 16th century great power politics, this coming of age story highlights the impact of one, or rather three persistent young adolescents who never give up on doing the right thing. In the end, 17-year old Damir who works as an olive farmer, his childhood crush Iskra and their new Ottoman friend Orhan, discover timeless lessons of embracing diversity, teamwork, loyalty, and friendship. An engaging read for people of all ages.
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Set among the wider realm of 16th century great power politics, this coming of age story highlights the impact of one, or rather three persistent young adolescents who never give up on doing the right thing. In the end, 17-year old Damir who works as an olive farmer, his childhood crush Iskra and their new Ottoman friend Orhan, discover timeless lessons of embracing diversity, teamwork, loyalty, and friendship. An engaging read for people of all ages.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews