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Adventures of Charles Hayden #3
Zu feindlichen Ufern: Roman (Charles-Hayden-Reihe 3)
Ein weiteres spannendes Abenteuer für Charles Hayden, Offizier der Royal Navy!
England, 1794. Charles Hayden, Offizier der Royal Navy und Kommandant der HMS Themis, erhält einen heiklen Er soll in Le Havre Kontakt mit einem britischen Spion aufnehmen. Dieser überbringt schlechte Nachrichten, denn Frankreichs Invasion in England steht offenbar unmittelbar bevor. Ein Wettlauf gegen die Zeit beginnt. Auf dem Rückweg wird die Themis jedoch vom Feind entdeckt und gekapert. Kann Hayden der Guillotine entkommen und England warnen, ehe es zu spät ist?
"Eine außergewöhnliche Seefahrer-Saga mit großartigen Schlachtszenen, starken Charakteren und einem feinen Gespür für Geschichte." Midwest Book
Die spannenden Seefahrerromane um Lieutenant Charles Hayden für alle Fans von Frank Adam, Patrick O'Brian, C.S. Forester und Julian
Band 1: Unter feindlicher Flagge Band 2: Die letzte Eskorte Band 3: Zu feindlichen Ufern Band 4: Gegen den Wind
eBooks von beTHRILLED - mörderisch gute Unterhaltung.
England, 1794. Charles Hayden, Offizier der Royal Navy und Kommandant der HMS Themis, erhält einen heiklen Er soll in Le Havre Kontakt mit einem britischen Spion aufnehmen. Dieser überbringt schlechte Nachrichten, denn Frankreichs Invasion in England steht offenbar unmittelbar bevor. Ein Wettlauf gegen die Zeit beginnt. Auf dem Rückweg wird die Themis jedoch vom Feind entdeckt und gekapert. Kann Hayden der Guillotine entkommen und England warnen, ehe es zu spät ist?
"Eine außergewöhnliche Seefahrer-Saga mit großartigen Schlachtszenen, starken Charakteren und einem feinen Gespür für Geschichte." Midwest Book
Die spannenden Seefahrerromane um Lieutenant Charles Hayden für alle Fans von Frank Adam, Patrick O'Brian, C.S. Forester und Julian
Band 1: Unter feindlicher Flagge Band 2: Die letzte Eskorte Band 3: Zu feindlichen Ufern Band 4: Gegen den Wind
eBooks von beTHRILLED - mörderisch gute Unterhaltung.
577 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 1, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 89 reviews
December 24, 2013
I've given this four stars because overall I did really enjoy it. I love Mr. Russell's writing and the characters he's created. I like the battles, the ships, the historical elements and the fact that he can make me like battles and warships and all the drama that surrounds them, is very impressive. I don't read these sorts of books generally!
I really liked the first two books but this one, I have to admit, had elements I didn't like as much.
The business with Henrietta and her family held no interest - slightly surprised by that as I adore Regency romances. But that element in the book just didn't ring true for me. It was a distraction I didn't need.
The other aspect that slightly niggled was the way the story felt almost piecemeal. The link obviously is Hayden and his men - even if the ship changed but I didn't feel a thread other than that.
But the various dramatic incidents - won't say what and spoil things - were brilliantly written. I was there right in the thick of it and breathlessly kept turning the page.
I really liked the first two books but this one, I have to admit, had elements I didn't like as much.
The business with Henrietta and her family held no interest - slightly surprised by that as I adore Regency romances. But that element in the book just didn't ring true for me. It was a distraction I didn't need.
The other aspect that slightly niggled was the way the story felt almost piecemeal. The link obviously is Hayden and his men - even if the ship changed but I didn't feel a thread other than that.
But the various dramatic incidents - won't say what and spoil things - were brilliantly written. I was there right in the thick of it and breathlessly kept turning the page.
September 23, 2014
I will confess to skimming all the chapters that featured Henrietta and her family. I have never been a fan of this particular part of the series and making it almost half of the book has led me to put this down as my least favorite book of the series so far.
I found almost the entire book to be boring and frustrating. Even those portions that took place at sea were not as good as before. A good old fashioned naval battle at the end was its saving grace.
I found almost the entire book to be boring and frustrating. Even those portions that took place at sea were not as good as before. A good old fashioned naval battle at the end was its saving grace.
June 22, 2015
THOMAS RUSSELL is a terrific writer of nautical adventures. TAKE, BURN or DESTROY is book three in the adventures of Captain Charles Hayden of the British Navy. This story takes place around 1794 primarily in England, France and off the coast of Brest (France). My only reason for giving it 4 stars and not 5 are the long interludes in England where Hayden's love interest, Henrietta, is going through her marital options.
Her confusion stems from two events - Hayden's supposed marriage to a young French woman (previous book) and Hayden's reported capture by the French and his death in a violent storm. Where Russell excels is in his descriptions of naval actions at sea, Hayden's captivity in France and the horrific storm Hayden and his crew battle. The characters populating this novel are well presented. The bad guys are few, the good guys numerous.
For fans of Alexander Kent, C.S. Forester and Patrick O'Brien, rejoice for there is another voice.
GO! BUY! READ!
Her confusion stems from two events - Hayden's supposed marriage to a young French woman (previous book) and Hayden's reported capture by the French and his death in a violent storm. Where Russell excels is in his descriptions of naval actions at sea, Hayden's captivity in France and the horrific storm Hayden and his crew battle. The characters populating this novel are well presented. The bad guys are few, the good guys numerous.
For fans of Alexander Kent, C.S. Forester and Patrick O'Brien, rejoice for there is another voice.
GO! BUY! READ!
June 26, 2018
c2012 (20) FWFTB: 1794, HMS Themis, frigate, prisoner, shipwreck. This was one of those books where I was close to DNFing but somehow the action/plot kept me turning the pages in spite of myself. There was a lot to dislike about some of the plot points and the side characters were actually much more enjoyable than the main ones. I certainly don't buy the French episode and I wonder if that was introduced more as something to be able to add in to later books that a way to make the 'hero' question his integrity. I preferred the title of the book that I read ie Ship of War and didn't realise that it was the third in a series. Hesitantly recommended to those in the crew that enjoy ship battles.
May 4, 2012
Sean Thomas Russell : A Ship of War
Review
I have to admit I looked forward to this read, having read Under Enemy Colours and A Battle Won I already knew that Sean Thomas Russell could write, what I was more surprised about (again) was the differing nature of the stories with the story, this truly was a multi layered book. Normally you will have plots and sub plots in a book, and you will have threads that pull together at points in the book like fine stitching, and this book in most respects was the same, and yet different. On the one hand you have the blistering action, the harsh reality of nature on the high seas and the comradeship of those on board ship, and yet on the other you have Henrietta and her family, the family and social dynamic of the period, and the love, betrayal and formality of her relationship with Hayden, at times they feel like different worlds and different stories.
Without giving any plot away I have to say that the scenes written around the ship wreck are among the most harrowing I have read, giving the reader a real sense of the danger, the fear, the heroics, the cold and the power of nature, truly a great section of the book.
I had thought that Julian Stockwin was the Master of this part of the Historical fiction genre, but I'm revisiting that opinion after this book, it seems he has some serious competition.
I very much recommend this book, it not all balls out action, it has heart, soul and passion as well as action, danger and heroics.
(Parm)
Who is the Author
Sean Russell was born 1952 in Toronto. At the age of three his family moved to the outskirts of the city, where they lived in a cottage at the beach of Lake Ontario. At the age of ten he decided to become an author, and the fantasy genre caught him years later, while reading J. R. R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings. After university, he moved to Vancouver, and two years later to Vancouver Island, where he still lives with his family. He published his first novel in 1991. His first historical naval novel Under Enemy Colours, published in 2007, introduced a new Royal Navy hero, Charles Hayden, and HMS Themis, a fictitious frigate.
Books
Adventures of Charles Hayden
1. Under Enemy Colors (2007)
2. A Battle Won (2010)
3. A Ship of War (2012)
A Ship of War : Product Description (From Back of Book)
1794, the height of the French Revolution.
Charles Hayden sets off aboard the ill-fated HMS Themis with orders to destroy a French frigate sailing from Le Havre and to gather intelligence from a royalist spy. On discovering French plans for an imminent invasion of England , Hayden must return to Portsmouth to give warning before it's too late.
But the enemy have been lying in wait for him, and so begins a dangerous chase out into the Atlantic and into the clutches of a powerful French squadron. After a failed attempt to masquerade as French sailors, Hayden and his officers are taken prisoner. A shipwreck following a storm and a case of mistaken identity befall Hayden and his men as they try in desperation to escape in order to warn the Lords of the Admiralty. Failure will mean the invasion of England - and the guillotine for Hayden.
Review
I have to admit I looked forward to this read, having read Under Enemy Colours and A Battle Won I already knew that Sean Thomas Russell could write, what I was more surprised about (again) was the differing nature of the stories with the story, this truly was a multi layered book. Normally you will have plots and sub plots in a book, and you will have threads that pull together at points in the book like fine stitching, and this book in most respects was the same, and yet different. On the one hand you have the blistering action, the harsh reality of nature on the high seas and the comradeship of those on board ship, and yet on the other you have Henrietta and her family, the family and social dynamic of the period, and the love, betrayal and formality of her relationship with Hayden, at times they feel like different worlds and different stories.
Without giving any plot away I have to say that the scenes written around the ship wreck are among the most harrowing I have read, giving the reader a real sense of the danger, the fear, the heroics, the cold and the power of nature, truly a great section of the book.
I had thought that Julian Stockwin was the Master of this part of the Historical fiction genre, but I'm revisiting that opinion after this book, it seems he has some serious competition.
I very much recommend this book, it not all balls out action, it has heart, soul and passion as well as action, danger and heroics.
(Parm)
Who is the Author
Sean Russell was born 1952 in Toronto. At the age of three his family moved to the outskirts of the city, where they lived in a cottage at the beach of Lake Ontario. At the age of ten he decided to become an author, and the fantasy genre caught him years later, while reading J. R. R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings. After university, he moved to Vancouver, and two years later to Vancouver Island, where he still lives with his family. He published his first novel in 1991. His first historical naval novel Under Enemy Colours, published in 2007, introduced a new Royal Navy hero, Charles Hayden, and HMS Themis, a fictitious frigate.
Books
Adventures of Charles Hayden
1. Under Enemy Colors (2007)
2. A Battle Won (2010)
3. A Ship of War (2012)
A Ship of War : Product Description (From Back of Book)
1794, the height of the French Revolution.
Charles Hayden sets off aboard the ill-fated HMS Themis with orders to destroy a French frigate sailing from Le Havre and to gather intelligence from a royalist spy. On discovering French plans for an imminent invasion of England , Hayden must return to Portsmouth to give warning before it's too late.
But the enemy have been lying in wait for him, and so begins a dangerous chase out into the Atlantic and into the clutches of a powerful French squadron. After a failed attempt to masquerade as French sailors, Hayden and his officers are taken prisoner. A shipwreck following a storm and a case of mistaken identity befall Hayden and his men as they try in desperation to escape in order to warn the Lords of the Admiralty. Failure will mean the invasion of England - and the guillotine for Hayden.
May 17, 2013
Russell has dropped the ball, and I don't know if he is going to recover it. This series started strong with a lot of action. But since then it has become encumbered with long passages that take for ever to resolve. It often seems like we are watching water boil, waiting for the period Russell is guiding us through to move on.
Here we have two sequences, a battle, well handled at the end of the book, but before that, in the early part, a storm. And this interminable. Russell has had this trouble before and perhaps he is just not aware that we can only keep engaged for so long until we want to pull our hair out.
As readers we know a few things. When we get to the end of the book, our hero will be alive. So often life and death sequences are charged, but we know there is a light at the end of the tunnel. With the way Russell handles 80 page long chapters, the tunnel extends so long that we stop caring.
Further, there are a few asides that we really don't care about, and by investing us in them, takes away from what we do want to know. He has his female lead on stage as a POV character, and her cousin/confidante as well. This is all good if the time we invest in them has something for us, that they will emerge as leads as well, but they aren't. They are supporting and their ultimate actions end up not supporting our hero. We could have had all we needed from them in third person without long sequences of what was happening in their lives.
This series needs an injection of action and planning if it is to continue. I hope that Russell can pull things around and make our hero and his companions achieve something better in the fourth book.
Here we have two sequences, a battle, well handled at the end of the book, but before that, in the early part, a storm. And this interminable. Russell has had this trouble before and perhaps he is just not aware that we can only keep engaged for so long until we want to pull our hair out.
As readers we know a few things. When we get to the end of the book, our hero will be alive. So often life and death sequences are charged, but we know there is a light at the end of the tunnel. With the way Russell handles 80 page long chapters, the tunnel extends so long that we stop caring.
Further, there are a few asides that we really don't care about, and by investing us in them, takes away from what we do want to know. He has his female lead on stage as a POV character, and her cousin/confidante as well. This is all good if the time we invest in them has something for us, that they will emerge as leads as well, but they aren't. They are supporting and their ultimate actions end up not supporting our hero. We could have had all we needed from them in third person without long sequences of what was happening in their lives.
This series needs an injection of action and planning if it is to continue. I hope that Russell can pull things around and make our hero and his companions achieve something better in the fourth book.
May 21, 2013
Fans of the Patrick O'Brien will wonder if any seafaring fiction can match his masterful work. Probably nothing can, but this novel is good and an enjoyable read. Charles Hayden is the ship's commander at the onset of the war with the French. Hayden's mission goes awry and he is captured by the enemy. He speaks perfect French so he is able for a time to portray himself as a shipwrecked French sea captain. He is eventually discovered, but is returned to England in gratitude for his efforts to save French seaman from a foundering ship. Likely? Doesn't seem so. He has a sort of romantic interlude while in France which also seemed to stretch believability a bit.
Hayden has romance problems at home which are ultimately resolved, but this, too, seemed added just for balance. This part pales when compared to Aubrey's and Maturin's female relationships in O'Brien's novels.
These criticisms, however, are offset by the seagoing scenes in this book. They are detailed, vivid and exciting. (You might want to have your lexicon of naval terms handy as you read these adventures.)
Although not as good as the incomparable O'Brien, all in all, quite a good story. I would still read others in this series
Hayden has romance problems at home which are ultimately resolved, but this, too, seemed added just for balance. This part pales when compared to Aubrey's and Maturin's female relationships in O'Brien's novels.
These criticisms, however, are offset by the seagoing scenes in this book. They are detailed, vivid and exciting. (You might want to have your lexicon of naval terms handy as you read these adventures.)
Although not as good as the incomparable O'Brien, all in all, quite a good story. I would still read others in this series
October 22, 2014
This is book three in the Hayden Series. Captain Charles Hayden is the son of a British Post Captain and a French mother. Hayden is fluent in French as he spoke it all his life. The time of the story is during the French Revolution with England and France at war again.
Hayden’s orders was to take the HMS Themis to a spot off the French coast to met a spy and then get the message immediately back to the Admiralty. The message was that the French have a naval fleet and 100,000 soldiers to invade England. The HMS Themis is captured after a daring chase and the French 79 gun ship runs aground while being chased by two British Naval Ships. The book has lots of sea action both from ship to ship battles as well as with storms at sea. Lots of suspense as the French thinks Hayden is a French Royalist that has gone over to the British. This is an excellent sea faring adventure.
I understand that Russell wrote Sci-fi/fantasy novels under pen names and going into historical seafaring adventure novels is new to him. I read this as an audio book downloaded from Audible. Nick Boulton did a good job narrating the story.
Hayden’s orders was to take the HMS Themis to a spot off the French coast to met a spy and then get the message immediately back to the Admiralty. The message was that the French have a naval fleet and 100,000 soldiers to invade England. The HMS Themis is captured after a daring chase and the French 79 gun ship runs aground while being chased by two British Naval Ships. The book has lots of sea action both from ship to ship battles as well as with storms at sea. Lots of suspense as the French thinks Hayden is a French Royalist that has gone over to the British. This is an excellent sea faring adventure.
I understand that Russell wrote Sci-fi/fantasy novels under pen names and going into historical seafaring adventure novels is new to him. I read this as an audio book downloaded from Audible. Nick Boulton did a good job narrating the story.
January 14, 2013
Oh, what a treat! The third in the Captain Charles Hayden series of novels, and by no means the 'least'. Although rather slower in some parts than Russell's two prior 'Hayden' publications - A Battle Won, and Under Enemy Colours - this novel moved along quickly through its 500 pages, culminating in a sea battle so large and vividly described that you couldn't help but feel you were 'in it'. Well thought out, beautifully conveyed, and vividly depicted. Thank you Mr. Russell .... I just pray there will be further episodes of Captain Hayden's adventures, on land and sea, in the not too distant future! Please keep up the great work and reader-enjoyment!
October 6, 2014
It's Horatio Hornblower meets Elizabeth Bennet. It's a great combination, and Russell has somehow managed to do very well with both genres. Excellent crafted scenes at sea in the Age of Sail, matching the best of a C.S. Forester with the with the witty banter found in a Jane Austen back on shore in the English countryside.
I don't understand those who might criticize it for this. Regardless of which you may prefer or be more familiar with, if you open yourself to something new it's the best of both worlds.
I don't understand those who might criticize it for this. Regardless of which you may prefer or be more familiar with, if you open yourself to something new it's the best of both worlds.
June 11, 2013
Russell does a good job weaving together the naval action and home front stories. It's quickly paced and my only complaints concern a few forced plot points and a couple underdeveloped characters but otherwise I enjoyed it.
April 1, 2017
Well researched, well written, and an absorbing story.
November 22, 2021
This is a short historical naval action series, only 4 books. This is the 3rd book and I'm reading the 4th already. The whole series runs together so I can't really give a precise summary of the events in this book.
Spoilers ahead:
And actually in this case this book doesn't end where it seems like it should but continues a little bit. One of the main events in this book is where the protagonist Captain Hayden is captured by the French when his frigate sails into a French fleet during a fog. He is put into the French ship of the line Droits de l'Homme (the Rights of Man). It's an actual historical event where Captain Pellew of the Indefatigable chases the Droits during heavy seas and drives it ashore on the French coast. We get to see it from the French point of view since Hayden is on board. Once onshore we get a whiff of the terrors during the reign of the Committee of Public Safety (a reign where ironically no one is safe) as he shelters at the home of a local.
I really like the author. His writing is easy to read and follow and his plot(s) are definitely out of the box. Another main event in the book is one where he is chased by 2 frigates for days. You might think that a long segment on sailing back and forth without action would be boring but I got to learn a lot about the wind and wooden sailing ships. There have also been mini-segments in his book about religion or where the captain teaches a landsman about starboard and larboard protocol. The characters are rich and colorful if a little bit cliched.
All the books in the series are long and have a lot of events in them. They are not intense and focused like the Hornblower series (which to me are still the benchmark). One thing I did not like was the romantic side plot between Hayden and his lady love. I basically fast read and then skipped the romance chapters. I didn't miss a bit as I caught it all up during the last romantic segment. I have no idea why the author thinks that a person reading a historical naval action book would be interested in romance. And worse, it was all manufactured element of conflict drama. Most people identify with the protagonist and want him to be happy. Who wants the protagonist to have angst and heartbreak thrown his way?
The final subplot is action during the Glorious First of June, I think the first I've read in all of the historical naval series I've read so far. Lots of action and less gore than Bolitho (thank goodness).
Overall, a good author with plenty of ideas. Great action scenes, good characters, a bit long winded and unnecessary lengthy romantic subplot(s).
Spoilers ahead:
And actually in this case this book doesn't end where it seems like it should but continues a little bit. One of the main events in this book is where the protagonist Captain Hayden is captured by the French when his frigate sails into a French fleet during a fog. He is put into the French ship of the line Droits de l'Homme (the Rights of Man). It's an actual historical event where Captain Pellew of the Indefatigable chases the Droits during heavy seas and drives it ashore on the French coast. We get to see it from the French point of view since Hayden is on board. Once onshore we get a whiff of the terrors during the reign of the Committee of Public Safety (a reign where ironically no one is safe) as he shelters at the home of a local.
I really like the author. His writing is easy to read and follow and his plot(s) are definitely out of the box. Another main event in the book is one where he is chased by 2 frigates for days. You might think that a long segment on sailing back and forth without action would be boring but I got to learn a lot about the wind and wooden sailing ships. There have also been mini-segments in his book about religion or where the captain teaches a landsman about starboard and larboard protocol. The characters are rich and colorful if a little bit cliched.
All the books in the series are long and have a lot of events in them. They are not intense and focused like the Hornblower series (which to me are still the benchmark). One thing I did not like was the romantic side plot between Hayden and his lady love. I basically fast read and then skipped the romance chapters. I didn't miss a bit as I caught it all up during the last romantic segment. I have no idea why the author thinks that a person reading a historical naval action book would be interested in romance. And worse, it was all manufactured element of conflict drama. Most people identify with the protagonist and want him to be happy. Who wants the protagonist to have angst and heartbreak thrown his way?
The final subplot is action during the Glorious First of June, I think the first I've read in all of the historical naval series I've read so far. Lots of action and less gore than Bolitho (thank goodness).
Overall, a good author with plenty of ideas. Great action scenes, good characters, a bit long winded and unnecessary lengthy romantic subplot(s).
July 29, 2017
"Take, Burn or Destroy," the third installment of the Charles Hayden series reads something akin to Patrick O'Brian's Post Captain. For fans of Jane Austen who appreciate the idea of nautical heroes set ashore and finding love to be a fair trade off for excitement at sea, it's not my idea of a great nautical read. Which is to say "not what I came for."
Where Post Captain sacrifices its more nautical elements in favor of exploring sailors set ashore with half-pay, it also allows its protagonists a chance to set up romances that are key to the series at large, some twenty books. Take, Burn or Destroy splits its narrative between Hayden, his love interest Henrietta (who readers of my previous reviews will recall I don't like very much) and Beacher, a new character created just to allow for a love triangle between the trio. While the adventure Hayden experiences makes for a tense and harrowing read, cutting from a perilous moment to "golly gee, I wish Henrietta cared about ME and not that dashing sea captain" from a character we've just met and have no real reason to care about is eyeroll-inducing at best.
Three stars. The characters and storytelling are all still very good, I just loathe the romantic subplot. (Odd because I usually don't mind them, but this one was just terribly forced in. Maybe Russell is just bad at writing believable, likable women.)
SPOILERS: My only consolation and the saving grace of the series is the resolution to the love triangle. We had to suffer an entire book about her for Russell to write the Henrietta character out but I hope she's gone for good. You don't need her Charles, carry on.
Where Post Captain sacrifices its more nautical elements in favor of exploring sailors set ashore with half-pay, it also allows its protagonists a chance to set up romances that are key to the series at large, some twenty books. Take, Burn or Destroy splits its narrative between Hayden, his love interest Henrietta (who readers of my previous reviews will recall I don't like very much) and Beacher, a new character created just to allow for a love triangle between the trio. While the adventure Hayden experiences makes for a tense and harrowing read, cutting from a perilous moment to "golly gee, I wish Henrietta cared about ME and not that dashing sea captain" from a character we've just met and have no real reason to care about is eyeroll-inducing at best.
Three stars. The characters and storytelling are all still very good, I just loathe the romantic subplot. (Odd because I usually don't mind them, but this one was just terribly forced in. Maybe Russell is just bad at writing believable, likable women.)
SPOILERS: My only consolation and the saving grace of the series is the resolution to the love triangle. We had to suffer an entire book about her for Russell to write the Henrietta character out but I hope she's gone for good. You don't need her Charles, carry on.
December 19, 2019
It took me a little time to get adjusted to the archaic phrases of a Napoleonic era British ship. The speech patterns sound (and probably are) very authentic to the period and can slow down the read if you allow it to. Much like the jargon-istic tech talk of a Tom Clancy novel, you just have to accept it and glide on past. Once you've freed yourself from trying to understand every nuanced syllable, the book was enjoying to read.
The camaraderie of the men felt real, and I couldn't help but be reminded of the Patrick O'Brien stories. Unlike many of the reviews, I didn't find the alternate chapters involving Henrietta to be a distraction for the story. However it would be appropriate if they were, because that was the state of mind that Hayden was in throughout his ordeals. He couldn't stop thinking about her long enough to properly concentrate on enemy ships, so it's possibly intended that we (the reader) had to do the same. I actually thought it was a nice change of pace and juxtaposed the mundane things that an English household might be consumed by while their men were fighting a war. I do agree that the great battle at the end of the book seemed a little rushed.
The camaraderie of the men felt real, and I couldn't help but be reminded of the Patrick O'Brien stories. Unlike many of the reviews, I didn't find the alternate chapters involving Henrietta to be a distraction for the story. However it would be appropriate if they were, because that was the state of mind that Hayden was in throughout his ordeals. He couldn't stop thinking about her long enough to properly concentrate on enemy ships, so it's possibly intended that we (the reader) had to do the same. I actually thought it was a nice change of pace and juxtaposed the mundane things that an English household might be consumed by while their men were fighting a war. I do agree that the great battle at the end of the book seemed a little rushed.
April 19, 2024
An oddly constructed book. It switches back and forth between intense action aboard ship and an Austenesque domestic drama. I like Jane Austen, but that's not what I picked up this book for!
The author cleverly works his fictional captain, ship and crew into two real historical sea battles. But the second of these, occupying the last quarter of the book, seems like something of an afterthought. It doesn't tie strongly into the rest of the story.
Nevertheless, the writing is very good throughout, with the horror of battle described at least as vividly as in O'Brian, Kent, et al. I particularly appreciated the consistent attention to the problems of ship handling: whether tacking is possible in high wind or with full sail set; brailing up the mizzen and spanker to allow bearing away; limitations on maneuvers when the rigging is damaged. Fascinating.
The author cleverly works his fictional captain, ship and crew into two real historical sea battles. But the second of these, occupying the last quarter of the book, seems like something of an afterthought. It doesn't tie strongly into the rest of the story.
Nevertheless, the writing is very good throughout, with the horror of battle described at least as vividly as in O'Brian, Kent, et al. I particularly appreciated the consistent attention to the problems of ship handling: whether tacking is possible in high wind or with full sail set; brailing up the mizzen and spanker to allow bearing away; limitations on maneuvers when the rigging is damaged. Fascinating.
February 10, 2018
The naval writing is actually very good. Possibly not as good as his first book, but certainly nothing to complain about. Whilst the plot might be slightly similar to the formula of all the other Napoleonic era historical navy fiction it is ok. Essentially the book ends with his small involvement in the glorious first of June.
Interspersed with the naval bits, however, are chapters concerning the love life of various shore-based ladies. These, in my opinion, dont add much and dont display the same quality of writing - they lack a realistic characterisation. It's almost as if he's trying to emulate the boring 18th century romantic writers....
So a bit of a mixed bag, I hope he gets back to concentrating on the naval bits which he does well.
Interspersed with the naval bits, however, are chapters concerning the love life of various shore-based ladies. These, in my opinion, dont add much and dont display the same quality of writing - they lack a realistic characterisation. It's almost as if he's trying to emulate the boring 18th century romantic writers....
So a bit of a mixed bag, I hope he gets back to concentrating on the naval bits which he does well.
May 8, 2017
Its official. This is now my favourite Age of Sail series. I adore Hayden and all his regular crew. This book was also fun because it cut between Hayden's adventures and the drama going on with his [almost] betrothed Henrietta, and I enjoyed that even if Mr. Russell's seamanship is excellent and I love his descriptions of the battles and maneuvers, it all feels quite real.
I actually started this series with the fourth book, so now that I've gleefully run through them all I do hope Mr. Russell will come out with a 5th book soon!
I actually started this series with the fourth book, so now that I've gleefully run through them all I do hope Mr. Russell will come out with a 5th book soon!
May 27, 2018
Disappointed, in that this one is somewhat burdened by the sort of “romantic” regent-style pageantry that is so unpalatable. All the more so here given the contrast between what Hayden must endure in his military service and the silly intrigues of Henrietta and her family at home. Let us hope that whatever fever induced the author to infect his work with such nonsense has passed prior to his completion of the fourth book, which I will certainly read because I will say that as soon as Hayden and Henrietta parted ways and Hayden was back at port preparing a new ship for sail, I was again giddy with excitement.
Docked one star for this suitorship crap. Otherwise, a five star book.
Docked one star for this suitorship crap. Otherwise, a five star book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 26, 2018
I'm afraid I have to agree with the other negative comments made about this book. The story would be much improved had the POV stayed with Hayden and the whole of the Carthew house goings-on removed.
Every character seemed to second-guess themselves and their feelings were all negative; worry, angst, anger, moroseness, weariness, etc.
There was also a lot of needless repetition and even more characters introduced whose names began with the letter "H".
Fortunately the end of the book, from page 317 on, was much more enjoyable.
Every character seemed to second-guess themselves and their feelings were all negative; worry, angst, anger, moroseness, weariness, etc.
There was also a lot of needless repetition and even more characters introduced whose names began with the letter "H".
Fortunately the end of the book, from page 317 on, was much more enjoyable.
August 7, 2022
Another absolute cracker by A. Thomas Russell in the Hornblower, Kydd and Ramage tradition. The plot is action-packed and, with the exception of interludes featuring Captain Hayden's love interest ashore, sweeps one along, at times at breakneck speed. The action sequences are exquisitely researched and written and authentic. Hayden and his crew are all well-crafted characters and totally credible.
Anyone who enjoys rip-roaring naval tales of the 18th and early 19th century will love this one.
Anyone who enjoys rip-roaring naval tales of the 18th and early 19th century will love this one.
December 14, 2018
Great entry in this series, depicting the Glorious 1st of June battle and the sinking of the the french national ship "The Rights of Man". If you like Napoleonic war British Navy series this is a great one. Having a half French half British Captain as the protagonist is a new take on these stories and well worth the read.
February 24, 2019
Very good book. Probably my favorite of the series so far. The naval battle sections were excellent. They were annoyingly interspersed with goings-on on land, with Hayden's love interest, but those were easily skimmed to get back to the naval adventures. This is shaping up to be more entertaining than the O'Brian novels....
October 10, 2019
Another enjoyable read, although the issue that I have with all of the books in the series concerns the various sub-spots occurring outside of ship activities. And several plot-threads from all 3 books simply disappear, never a word as to the outcome. The battle scenes are done masterfully, the saving grace of all 3 books to date.
August 12, 2020
A well researched book. Even though it is a novel it follows the War of 1794 very closely. The irony of his being sent home by the French Captain along with his officers was based on a true happening. I think he was very lucky to be shed of Henrietta, she made a very difficult decision about marrying a naval man at that time in history, for good reasons.
October 24, 2021
3.5 stars. There's a quick plot twist that felt very out of character for Hayden and which made me roll my eyes & not particularly want to keep reading. I also have a really hard time enjoying outdated notions of romance, which a fair amount of the novel focuses on so it wasn't as lovely a read as the other books.
February 5, 2022
Excellent English Sailing Adventure
The main difference between this book and the first two: more “love story.” I have to say it was quite well done which makes the overall series more interesting. The final battle was thrilling and left you sailing straight to the fourth book without pause.
The main difference between this book and the first two: more “love story.” I have to say it was quite well done which makes the overall series more interesting. The final battle was thrilling and left you sailing straight to the fourth book without pause.
March 21, 2025
Excellent.
SPOILER BELOW
I think the final scene where the French fleet retreats was pretty odd. They had a 2-1 advantage, why run? This may have been part of a larger tactical situation that was going on where they needed to get back to the channel or to their home port.... It just seemed odd.
SPOILER BELOW
I think the final scene where the French fleet retreats was pretty odd. They had a 2-1 advantage, why run? This may have been part of a larger tactical situation that was going on where they needed to get back to the channel or to their home port.... It just seemed odd.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 16, 2018
I have loved every one of this series, this is the best of the tradition starting with Hornblower.
April 16, 2018
Russell is better at Naval encounters than love stories.
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