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The Colonial Series #5
Call of Empire
It is 1885. After a decade spent fighting for Queen and Country across the globe, Colonel Ian Steele is enjoying the quiet life in the colony of New South Wales, reunited with his friend Conan Curry and watching over his children and numerous business enterprises.
But the British Empire's pursuits are ceaseless, and when the colony's soldiers are required to assist a campaign in Sudan, North Africa, Ian's son Lieutenant Josiah Steele heeds the call, despite an ultimatum from the love of his life, Marian.
Meanwhile, Ian's younger son Samuel is learning the family business in the Pacific islands with his friend and colleague Ling Lee. However, Lee has become embroiled in a scheme to smuggle guns for the Chinese, which sees the pair sailing directly into danger in Singapore.
As the reign of Queen Victoria draws to a close and new battles loom on several frontiers, the Steele family must face loss and heartbreak like never before.
Praise for Call of Empire
'An adventure reader's delight' - Central Western Daily
But the British Empire's pursuits are ceaseless, and when the colony's soldiers are required to assist a campaign in Sudan, North Africa, Ian's son Lieutenant Josiah Steele heeds the call, despite an ultimatum from the love of his life, Marian.
Meanwhile, Ian's younger son Samuel is learning the family business in the Pacific islands with his friend and colleague Ling Lee. However, Lee has become embroiled in a scheme to smuggle guns for the Chinese, which sees the pair sailing directly into danger in Singapore.
As the reign of Queen Victoria draws to a close and new battles loom on several frontiers, the Steele family must face loss and heartbreak like never before.
Praise for Call of Empire
'An adventure reader's delight' - Central Western Daily
343 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 25, 2022
34 people are currently reading
47 people want to read
About the author
Peter Watt
57 books121 followersPeter Watt's life experiences have included time as a soldier, articled clerk to a solicitor, prawn trawler deckhand, builder's labourer, pipe layer, real estate salesman, private investigator, police sergeant and adviser to the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary. He has lived and worked with Aborigines, Islanders, Vietnamese and Papua New Guineans.
He speaks, reads and writes Vietnamese and Pidgin - and has a reasonable grasp of the English language. He currently lives in Maclean, on the Clarence River in Northern NSW.
Good friends, fine food, fishing and the vast open spaces of outback Queensland are his main interests in life. He also enjoys SCUBA diving, military history, crosswords (but not the cryptic kind) and teaching.
He is a member of the Australian Institute of Management, the Australian Institute of Training and Development and the Australian Society of Authors.
He holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree (University of Tasmania), Post Graduate Diploma of Training & Development (University of New England) and an Associate Diploma of Justice Administration (Sturt University).
He speaks, reads and writes Vietnamese and Pidgin - and has a reasonable grasp of the English language. He currently lives in Maclean, on the Clarence River in Northern NSW.
Good friends, fine food, fishing and the vast open spaces of outback Queensland are his main interests in life. He also enjoys SCUBA diving, military history, crosswords (but not the cryptic kind) and teaching.
He is a member of the Australian Institute of Management, the Australian Institute of Training and Development and the Australian Society of Authors.
He holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree (University of Tasmania), Post Graduate Diploma of Training & Development (University of New England) and an Associate Diploma of Justice Administration (Sturt University).
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
October 28, 2022
Thank you Pan Macmillan Australia for sending me a copy of this book to review.
This book was excellent. Although its number 5 in the series it can easily be read as a standalone. The book moves at a meduim pace and is easy to keep up with the story. Peter Watts writing style is easy to read and he is an exceptional storyteller. The chapters in the book are short and set in different countries all over the world. It starts in 1885 and involves different wars . I connected mainly with the father and his two sons as they are the main characters in the storyline. The characters involved in this book were from the same families but different generations.
This book was excellent. Although its number 5 in the series it can easily be read as a standalone. The book moves at a meduim pace and is easy to keep up with the story. Peter Watts writing style is easy to read and he is an exceptional storyteller. The chapters in the book are short and set in different countries all over the world. It starts in 1885 and involves different wars . I connected mainly with the father and his two sons as they are the main characters in the storyline. The characters involved in this book were from the same families but different generations.
February 2, 2024
This read gives a small account of wars Australians fought under the British flag before the ones that a widely referred to now where Australians fought under their own flag as is today.
Britain was in pursuit of widening its territories which meant that conflict came from Sudan, to protect the Suez Canal and British financial interests, wars against the Boers and the Boxer Rebellion also saw Australian involvement.
The read centres around the successful Steele family, wealth gained through shipping and trading. Patriarch Ian Steele and his friend Conan hide a secret that isn't revealed until the end when after Sam's friend is murdered and retribution is planned a letter that was sent to Detective Paull on Ian's death stops Sam from irrational revenge. Aided by his brother Joshua the cowardice that had been portrayed while in battle when Sam's corporal is killed due to poor decisions and other cowardly acts comes to public attention his nemises commits suicide.
There is a small but not insignificant part of the read where Sam and his friend Ling Lee arrive in British Singapore. This is Sam's first encounter of a multi cultural society and is amazed at the pace and people. However, this trip proves to be a disaster with their cargo confiscated by pirates.
Britain was in pursuit of widening its territories which meant that conflict came from Sudan, to protect the Suez Canal and British financial interests, wars against the Boers and the Boxer Rebellion also saw Australian involvement.
The read centres around the successful Steele family, wealth gained through shipping and trading. Patriarch Ian Steele and his friend Conan hide a secret that isn't revealed until the end when after Sam's friend is murdered and retribution is planned a letter that was sent to Detective Paull on Ian's death stops Sam from irrational revenge. Aided by his brother Joshua the cowardice that had been portrayed while in battle when Sam's corporal is killed due to poor decisions and other cowardly acts comes to public attention his nemises commits suicide.
There is a small but not insignificant part of the read where Sam and his friend Ling Lee arrive in British Singapore. This is Sam's first encounter of a multi cultural society and is amazed at the pace and people. However, this trip proves to be a disaster with their cargo confiscated by pirates.
November 9, 2022
War and fate
Another great story by this author hence the 5 stars. There enemies in the ranks as well as in front off you. Orders are made which have to be complied with. The families learn the truth but who is the good guy and who is the bad guy. You will need to read the books to find out enjoy.
Another great story by this author hence the 5 stars. There enemies in the ranks as well as in front off you. Orders are made which have to be complied with. The families learn the truth but who is the good guy and who is the bad guy. You will need to read the books to find out enjoy.
April 23, 2023
Another excellent book by Peter Watt but I have to admit I felt at times I had read what I was reading before as further Steel family members go to war however the author writes in a compelling way that I can’t put the stories down
I also feel there is more to the Steel family stories and bring them on
😊😊
I also feel there is more to the Steel family stories and bring them on
😊😊
August 20, 2023
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. It appears 'Call of Empire' was the last in Peter Watt's Colonial series, and that's a shame. What a brilliant saga, from the first book to the fifth. Memorable characters - men and women behaving well and behaving badly - plenty of globe-spanning action and intrigue, and a wonderful glimpse into Australia's colonial past.
January 3, 2023
Another in the colonial series. I did enjoy the call backs to earlier books, particularly where our protagonists are at fault.
An interesting read about some of the conflicts Australians have been involved in that don't necessarily get the media attention.
An interesting read about some of the conflicts Australians have been involved in that don't necessarily get the media attention.
September 2, 2023
As aAlways an Excellent Book by Peter Watt
Typical quality and content. The author quickly “gets you hooked” with content and it characters, his literary descriptions and events make it hard to quit reading.
This is typical realistic writing by a talented author.
Typical quality and content. The author quickly “gets you hooked” with content and it characters, his literary descriptions and events make it hard to quit reading.
This is typical realistic writing by a talented author.
November 9, 2022
Excellent read covering the formation of Australia and early deployment of Australian troops. Entertaining to the end.
February 3, 2023
wonderful read cant wait for the next one
March 13, 2023
Not quite the same grit as Duffy - McIntosh 1-3 but a strong read nonetheless. In fact, each book in this series gets better and better. A great Aussie novelist.
August 9, 2023
Fantastic reading and interesting view of events in Australian history.
November 9, 2025
another great read following on from the colonial series
November 21, 2022
I received a copy of Call of Empire from Pan Macmillan Australia to review.
Rating of 4.5.
Australia’s master of the historical adventure returns with another deeply exciting and highly intriguing character driven read that follows one historical family as they embark on war and adventure across the world, Call of Empire by Peter Watt.
Starting in 1885, several years after the conclusion of The Colonial’s Son, Call of Empire sees protagonist Ian Steele finally living the quiet life in New South Wales, enjoying time with his family and friends, and expanding his business empire. However, the British Empire is constantly finding itself in conflict across the globe, and soon the young New South Wales colony is called upon to send troops to assist the British campaign in Sudan.
Determined to serve the Empire once again, Ian’s oldest son, Josiah, takes a commission in the New South Wales army and journeys to Africa to fight the Sudanese forces for the British. However, his decision will alienate him from the love of his life, Marian Curry, who is determined that he stop fighting in imperialistic wars. At the same time, Ian’s younger son, Samuel, is learning the family business out in the Pacific with the family’s friend, Ling Lee. However, Samuel and Lee are soon dragged into a dangerous plot to smuggle guns for the Chinese, as Lee’s obsession with freeing China from European control leads them into mortal danger.
Soon the entire Steele family finds themselves in deep trouble across the world, and only the most daring of actions will help them survive. But as the Empire’s wars continue and the Steele family and their friends are drawn into even more conflicts, can even their legendary luck continue? Death and tragedy awaits them all, and soon the Steele family will face a loss they never expected.
This was another fantastic and deeply exciting novel from Watt, who continues to dazzle with his fast-paced writing and impressive historical insights. I loved the awesome story contained in Call of Empire, and I ended up powering through this book in less than a day.
To see the full review, click on the link below:
https://unseenlibrary.com/2022/11/15/...
An abridged review of this book also ran in the Canberra Weekly on 17 November 2022:
https://unseenlibrary.com/2022/11/21/...
For other exciting reviews and content, check out my blog at:
https://unseenlibrary.com/
Rating of 4.5.
Australia’s master of the historical adventure returns with another deeply exciting and highly intriguing character driven read that follows one historical family as they embark on war and adventure across the world, Call of Empire by Peter Watt.
Starting in 1885, several years after the conclusion of The Colonial’s Son, Call of Empire sees protagonist Ian Steele finally living the quiet life in New South Wales, enjoying time with his family and friends, and expanding his business empire. However, the British Empire is constantly finding itself in conflict across the globe, and soon the young New South Wales colony is called upon to send troops to assist the British campaign in Sudan.
Determined to serve the Empire once again, Ian’s oldest son, Josiah, takes a commission in the New South Wales army and journeys to Africa to fight the Sudanese forces for the British. However, his decision will alienate him from the love of his life, Marian Curry, who is determined that he stop fighting in imperialistic wars. At the same time, Ian’s younger son, Samuel, is learning the family business out in the Pacific with the family’s friend, Ling Lee. However, Samuel and Lee are soon dragged into a dangerous plot to smuggle guns for the Chinese, as Lee’s obsession with freeing China from European control leads them into mortal danger.
Soon the entire Steele family finds themselves in deep trouble across the world, and only the most daring of actions will help them survive. But as the Empire’s wars continue and the Steele family and their friends are drawn into even more conflicts, can even their legendary luck continue? Death and tragedy awaits them all, and soon the Steele family will face a loss they never expected.
This was another fantastic and deeply exciting novel from Watt, who continues to dazzle with his fast-paced writing and impressive historical insights. I loved the awesome story contained in Call of Empire, and I ended up powering through this book in less than a day.
To see the full review, click on the link below:
https://unseenlibrary.com/2022/11/15/...
An abridged review of this book also ran in the Canberra Weekly on 17 November 2022:
https://unseenlibrary.com/2022/11/21/...
For other exciting reviews and content, check out my blog at:
https://unseenlibrary.com/
January 8, 2023
A true blue Aussie legend Peter Watt has provided readers with another well researched exciting page turner. Thanks Pete, looking forward to reading your next upcoming hit.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews