Donland: Devil's Wind

by Perry Comer

They called the wind a sirocco, a wind borne sandstorm from the Sahara Desert that blackens the day. Donland called it a DEVIL’S WIND. It was just one of the perils he faces on The Slave Coast of Africa.He is on his own with only half of Oxford’s crew and with half of her guns. Upon arrival on the Slave Coast the newly married Donland is ordered by the tyrannical governor to dispatch a Spanish frigate captured by pirates who prey on the slave traders. How hard is it to hide a frigate? The Slave Coast of Africa is honeycombed with rivers and coves, each has to be searched and each holds hidden dangers. Donland navigates the perils of sea and land while contending with betray and deceit.“A trap always assumes the prey will react in a certain manner, if the trap is discovered before it is sprung then the prey decides a course of action. That action might be to lay a trap of his own, run away or barge right in with overwhelming force. The key is to spot the trap before it is sprung.”“Still, taking the frigate will be no easy task especially if the brig is able to lend assistance. We will be hard pressed to survive.”“Aye, but as I said, once we see the trap then we can turn it to our advantage.”Powell said, “Sharp eyes and the patience of a hawk will be required.”Patience was required but also daring to find and defeat the pirates. Donland has learned patience and his daring is never in short supply. He is a fighting man, as cunning as his foes and does not tolerate fools. When the trap is sprung it is a matter of victory or defeat.

185 pages, Paperback

Published April 7, 2021

Reviews

[Christopher Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty solid book, Donland has grown a lot and is more the captain than the fire eater lieutenant earlier on in the Hornet. I do like how this series takes its time, he was in a sloop for like 8 books. There are steady formatting errors (missing quote closures, a few typos) but nothing that takes away from the read. Mainly its a bit of a fantasy series compared to other sea novels where things generally just go right for the heroes with minimal disaster.

This book has Donland being given a crap job because of his actions in the previous book (basically politics, he solved something rather than letting the admiralty decide what to do) and his ship is cut down to act as a transport for soldiers to the African slave coast, removing half his guns and half his sailors and officers. OK fine, its peace time, he shouldn't need it right?

Except when he arrives on station he learns of an old captured frigate and brig that pirates are using and now he's outgunned...

[David E McDonald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book

Seems I have come to end of the 10 books, most are very good and worth the time. Only complaint is that they are a little short,
But never the less some good yarns

[Phillip Mclaughlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

And the story continues.
I so enjoy this series , there are no pages of filler, it’s full on story, connections, and just guts when the time comes to overcome the adversity of the situation.
This time the African coast in a lull with the ongoing French wars.
Pirates, and a petty tyrant, and spies as well as a half crew and half armament.
Gotta love it

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adequate

Most descriptive on the area described, and the period when slavery ran rampant. Adventure, indeed and the good guys win. Too bad about the spelling and editorial errors, but that’s what the halls of academe seem to produce lately.

[DonLallier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent story,with action

I enjoyed the story and the excellent story line. Good historical work that follows the specific time line in detail.Look forward to more books by Perry Comer.

[mark white · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent series

The series of 11 books is very enjoyable. I hope this is not the last although currently this is 11th of 11.

[Chaplain Stanley Chapin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another sailing\action story

The characterization and action remembrances a more elementary aspect than most sailing action, but interesting enough to read and enjoy.

[Mrs Diana Caplin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gripping, as always.

Each time I put it down, I couldn’t wait to get back to it. Believable characters, believable storyline, great writing.