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The Brethren of the Coast #2
The Blackbirder
In the wake of The Guardship comes the second in the Brethren of the Coast trilogy and the swash-buckling adventures of former pirate Thomas Marlowe.
In a blind rage, King James, ex-slave and now Marlowe's comrade in arms, slaughters the crew of a slave ship and makes himself the most wanted man in Virginia. The governor gives Marlowe a choice: Hunt James down and bring him back to hang or lose everything Marlowe has built for himself and his wife, Elizabeth.
Marlowe sets out in pursuit of the ex-slave turned pirate, struggling to maintain control over his crew -- rough privateers who care only for plunder -- and following James's trail of destruction. But Marlowe is not James's only threat, as factions aboard James's own ship vie for control and betrayal stalks him to the shores of Africa.
And it is in Africa, in the slave port of Whydah, that James and Marlowe must face a common threat and their own final showdown.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2001
71 people are currently reading
242 people want to read
About the author
James L. Nelson
64 books363 followersJames L. Nelson (1962-) is an American historical nautical novelist. He was born in Lewiston, Maine. In 1980, Nelson graduated from Lewiston High School. Nelson attended the University of Massachusetts, Amherst for two years, and then transferred to UCLA, with the ambition of becoming a film director. Nelson, his wife, Lisa, and their daughter Betsy lived for two years in Steubenville, Ohio, while Lisa attended Franciscan University. They also have two boys, Nate and Jack. They now live in Harpswell, Maine, where Nelson continues to write full time.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
June 27, 2020
Pirates privateers, slave traders and a rabid abolitionist
A good read but not as good as THE GUARDSHIP, volume one in Nelson's BRETHREN OF THE COAST series about pirates in Colonial America, particularly Virginia. This one takes the main characters across the Atlantic to the slave coast in West Africa. Another character takes a trip to Boston with a pirate as a companion and protector.
A good read but not as good as THE GUARDSHIP, volume one in Nelson's BRETHREN OF THE COAST series about pirates in Colonial America, particularly Virginia. This one takes the main characters across the Atlantic to the slave coast in West Africa. Another character takes a trip to Boston with a pirate as a companion and protector.
June 5, 2025
The action starts when Marlowe, a former pirate now living as a wealthy planter in the Virginia tidewater near the new capital, Williamsburg, is fitting out a privateer called the Elizabeth Galley to prey on Spanish shipping. War with Spain has broken out -- it's the early 1700's. A subplot from the previous book had Marlowe freeing the slaves he inherited along with the plantation, and he'd trained some of them in seamanship. He sends a crew of these freedmen to Newport News to deliver some equipment to another plantation he owns. They discover a slaver near the entrance to Chesapeake Bay and she's in distress. They come alongside and James, the freedman commanding the river sloop, loses his temper, remembering his time as a slave being transported to the New World, and kills the captain.
He knows he can't go back to Williamsburg but he sends the sloop back to inform Marlowe, while James takes over the slaver and tries to sail it back to Africa. Marlowe meets the Royal Governor and tells him the story. No letter of marque and reprisal, but an order to pursue the slaver, recapture Freedman James, and bring him back to be hanged.
At this point there are both authentic strands in the story and hard to believe elements. While the story holds your interest and has a lot of action, both seafaring and on shore, it's pretty hard to believe that James the ex-slave, even with help from one of the slaver's officers, could shape a good course for Africa after learning his seamanship on Chesapeake Bay. While Elizabeth Galley is a fast sailer and the slaver is badly damaged, having the former find the latter in the enormity of the Atlantic just beggars belief. The battleship Bismack evaded half the Royal Navy, equipped with airplanes and radar, for most of a week in World War II. Of course everything moved slower in 1710 but that meant you had to know where the quarry was going if you didn't have enough ships to form a scouting line. No way Marlowe could guess where in Africa James picked as the destination -- and the slaves' leader, member of the Krooman tribe that I know from earlier literature (spelled differently here), double crosses James and steers for Whydah, the slave port, which James wants to avoid.
However shaky the historical background, the story is fast moving and has no obvious technical deficiencies (keeping in mind I'm not as familiar with 18th century seafaring as I am with 19th).
It's an entertaining read, worth your time, and some of the tribal cultures are portrayed believably, probably even accurately.
He knows he can't go back to Williamsburg but he sends the sloop back to inform Marlowe, while James takes over the slaver and tries to sail it back to Africa. Marlowe meets the Royal Governor and tells him the story. No letter of marque and reprisal, but an order to pursue the slaver, recapture Freedman James, and bring him back to be hanged.
At this point there are both authentic strands in the story and hard to believe elements. While the story holds your interest and has a lot of action, both seafaring and on shore, it's pretty hard to believe that James the ex-slave, even with help from one of the slaver's officers, could shape a good course for Africa after learning his seamanship on Chesapeake Bay. While Elizabeth Galley is a fast sailer and the slaver is badly damaged, having the former find the latter in the enormity of the Atlantic just beggars belief. The battleship Bismack evaded half the Royal Navy, equipped with airplanes and radar, for most of a week in World War II. Of course everything moved slower in 1710 but that meant you had to know where the quarry was going if you didn't have enough ships to form a scouting line. No way Marlowe could guess where in Africa James picked as the destination -- and the slaves' leader, member of the Krooman tribe that I know from earlier literature (spelled differently here), double crosses James and steers for Whydah, the slave port, which James wants to avoid.
However shaky the historical background, the story is fast moving and has no obvious technical deficiencies (keeping in mind I'm not as familiar with 18th century seafaring as I am with 19th).
It's an entertaining read, worth your time, and some of the tribal cultures are portrayed believably, probably even accurately.
July 6, 2025
1702, Thomas Marlowe, dismessi i panni del pirata, è ormai una personalità Virginiana affermata, vive con la propria moglie Elizabeth con la quale manda avanti una piantagione di tabacco grazie ai suoi schiavi emancipati, ció desta peró le ire di Frederick Dunmore, uomo spietato e convinto schiavista, lotta che porterà tanto Marlowe quanto la moglie a “incrociare le spade” per affermare le proprie idee.
“La nave degli schiavi”, pubblicato nel 2006 e secondo romanzo della “Saga dei pirati” scritta da James L. Nelson, prende il via da dove avevamo lasciato i protagonisti nel precedente racconto.
Questa volta peró non ci saranno lotte fra pirati bensì fra quelli che potevano essere considerati amici, infatti mentre Elizabeth lotterà contro il vero antagonista del romanzo, Frederick Dunmore, nel tentativo di affermare le proprie scelte sulla libertà degli schiavi, Marlowe si troverà a dover dare la caccia ad uno dei suoi più cari collaboratori, il nero King James, che nel tentativo di liberare una nave negriera si troverà, suo malgrado, a dover fuggire verso l’Africa per vedere avverati i suoi desideri.
Un racconto che come il predecessore si svolgerà equamente fra mare e terra seguendo addirittura tre line narrative, quella di Marlowe, di Elizabeth e di King James, ottimamente amalgamate.
Se peró nel romanzo precedente tutto ruotava intorno al protagonista, in questo lavoro si darà maggior spazio ad altri personaggi, appunto la moglie e King James.
Un romanzo ben articolato che non fa rimpiangere il precedente lavoro e che lascia piacevolmente colpiti per gli argomenti narrati, la schiavitù, la voglia di libertà ma anche a cosa puó portare l’avidità e la sete di potere.
“La nave degli schiavi”, pubblicato nel 2006 e secondo romanzo della “Saga dei pirati” scritta da James L. Nelson, prende il via da dove avevamo lasciato i protagonisti nel precedente racconto.
Questa volta peró non ci saranno lotte fra pirati bensì fra quelli che potevano essere considerati amici, infatti mentre Elizabeth lotterà contro il vero antagonista del romanzo, Frederick Dunmore, nel tentativo di affermare le proprie scelte sulla libertà degli schiavi, Marlowe si troverà a dover dare la caccia ad uno dei suoi più cari collaboratori, il nero King James, che nel tentativo di liberare una nave negriera si troverà, suo malgrado, a dover fuggire verso l’Africa per vedere avverati i suoi desideri.
Un racconto che come il predecessore si svolgerà equamente fra mare e terra seguendo addirittura tre line narrative, quella di Marlowe, di Elizabeth e di King James, ottimamente amalgamate.
Se peró nel romanzo precedente tutto ruotava intorno al protagonista, in questo lavoro si darà maggior spazio ad altri personaggi, appunto la moglie e King James.
Un romanzo ben articolato che non fa rimpiangere il precedente lavoro e che lascia piacevolmente colpiti per gli argomenti narrati, la schiavitù, la voglia di libertà ma anche a cosa puó portare l’avidità e la sete di potere.
January 2, 2019
Unlike the first book, the main conflict in this one is set up within the first three chapters. The events which cause King James to go on the run are described immediately, and the implications of his actions are fully understood by the other characters and the reader. As a result, the book starts on a high note, and the momentum only continues to gain. The stakes grow as King James' situation only becomes worse and worse, with enemies all around him, and not just those that would see him hang for his original crimes. Likewise, Marlowe must deal with problems of his own as he tracks down James.
What sets this book apart is Elizabeth's major role in it. There are really three plots happening at once, one with James at its center, one with Marlowe, and one with Elizabeth as she must go on a journey of her own to save Marlowe House in her husband's absence. I enjoyed reading her perspective, and it was nice to get to know her more, especially since she only played a minor role in the first book.
I would have liked to see more developments with the relationship between Marlowe and Bickerstaff. The first book explained how they met and everything, but I wanted to see their relationship grow or lessen. I just wanted it to be more dynamic. It felt rather flat. I have a feeling my wish will be granted in the third book, and I hope I'm not wrong.
This was a quick read and I could not put it down. A suitable sequel to The Guardship, with King James at the forefront. You'll learn more about him as he takes the reigns in this book. You won't be disappointed.
What sets this book apart is Elizabeth's major role in it. There are really three plots happening at once, one with James at its center, one with Marlowe, and one with Elizabeth as she must go on a journey of her own to save Marlowe House in her husband's absence. I enjoyed reading her perspective, and it was nice to get to know her more, especially since she only played a minor role in the first book.
I would have liked to see more developments with the relationship between Marlowe and Bickerstaff. The first book explained how they met and everything, but I wanted to see their relationship grow or lessen. I just wanted it to be more dynamic. It felt rather flat. I have a feeling my wish will be granted in the third book, and I hope I'm not wrong.
This was a quick read and I could not put it down. A suitable sequel to The Guardship, with King James at the forefront. You'll learn more about him as he takes the reigns in this book. You won't be disappointed.
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September 8, 2025The second in the "Brethren of the Coast" trilogy returns to late 18th-century Williamsburg, Virginia where pirate turned gentleman Thomas Marlowe is getting bored being one of the landed gentry. With the possibility of letters of marque being issued to British captains willing to tackle French and Spanish targets, he outfits a vessel to return to sea. But before that happens, his sort-of friend, the freed African King James has a run-in with French slavers that results in James reluctantly leading a boat full of freed slaves to the open sea and back toward Africa.
And so Marlowe must reluctantly track him down before he can start adventuring as a legitimate privateer. Meanwhile, back on land, Marlowe's wife has to contend with a nasty newcomer to Williamsburg who intends to arrest and hang all of the enslaved people Marlowe previously freed. So you've got one plotline that involves her battle of wills with him and eventual journey to Boston to dog into his past, with the help of her pirate friend (and former lover), another that follows Marlowe at sea trying to find King James, and a third following King James as he faces off with one of the freed Africans who turns out to be a nasty villain.
As in the first book, there's plenty of ship-to-ship and hand-to-hand action to satisfy readers of historical adventures. The plot is more sprawling and less generally plausible than the first book, and so suffers a little in comparison, but I'll still read the last in the series.
And so Marlowe must reluctantly track him down before he can start adventuring as a legitimate privateer. Meanwhile, back on land, Marlowe's wife has to contend with a nasty newcomer to Williamsburg who intends to arrest and hang all of the enslaved people Marlowe previously freed. So you've got one plotline that involves her battle of wills with him and eventual journey to Boston to dog into his past, with the help of her pirate friend (and former lover), another that follows Marlowe at sea trying to find King James, and a third following King James as he faces off with one of the freed Africans who turns out to be a nasty villain.
As in the first book, there's plenty of ship-to-ship and hand-to-hand action to satisfy readers of historical adventures. The plot is more sprawling and less generally plausible than the first book, and so suffers a little in comparison, but I'll still read the last in the series.
April 25, 2022
What a sea-sailing adventure!
However Thomas Marlowe freeing his slaves in the early 1700's would have been EXTREMELY RARE IF NOT UNHEARD OF.
You can't make a fictional character set in the 1700s attractive, have an attractive wife, successful pirate/privateer, successful business/plantation owner AND morally righteous by 21st century standards. It was unnecessary and drew me out of the book.
The interwoven plot lines were awesome and I appreciated the well-written book.
The Guardship and The Blackbirder have been hands down the best fictional pirate books I've read.
However Thomas Marlowe freeing his slaves in the early 1700's would have been EXTREMELY RARE IF NOT UNHEARD OF.
You can't make a fictional character set in the 1700s attractive, have an attractive wife, successful pirate/privateer, successful business/plantation owner AND morally righteous by 21st century standards. It was unnecessary and drew me out of the book.
The interwoven plot lines were awesome and I appreciated the well-written book.
The Guardship and The Blackbirder have been hands down the best fictional pirate books I've read.
September 20, 2022
Il libro non è male, ma ha un problema importante a livello di avversari. Se i Wilkenson erano nemici interessanti e diversi tra loro, per via delle differenze tra George e Jacob, qua gli avversari sono troppo simili. L'unica differenza è il grado di follia che li caratterizza, più alto in uno rispetto all'altro, ma per il resto basta, sono perfettamente sovrapponibili. E risultano ridondanti ancor di più se si fa caso alla somiglianza con uno dei Wilkenson.
October 23, 2022
Best if read after The Guardship, the first in this trilogy. Same interesting characters, and a window into an ugly time in American history, or, for that matter, European history. A wonderful character in King James, a liberated slave who overcomes his hatred to become our hero Marlowe's ally.
June 12, 2025
King James, mi personaje favorito sin dudas. Medio ingenuo, sí, pero también un excelente líder.
Madshaka, un verdadero hijo de puta, aunque.. no voy a mentir y decir que no lo comprendo. Cualquier negro con la oportunidad que tuvo él justo en aquella época, hubiera hecho lo mismo. Sí, un traidor en todos los sentidos, pero también el personaje más inteligente de la obra en mi opinión.
Madshaka, un verdadero hijo de puta, aunque.. no voy a mentir y decir que no lo comprendo. Cualquier negro con la oportunidad que tuvo él justo en aquella época, hubiera hecho lo mismo. Sí, un traidor en todos los sentidos, pero también el personaje más inteligente de la obra en mi opinión.
July 24, 2019
A quick and enjoyable read. James L. Nelson doesn't pull any punches when he depicts slavery in the colonies near the turn of the 18th century. You get a diverse perspective of that horrific institution from the slaves to the white masters and then to the tribal viewpoint of blacks who sold other blacks into slavery.
As interesting as the slavery aspect was the strength of this book and the series was the seafaring action. I enjoyed the character Billy Bird, a sort of Capt. Jack Sparrow rascal. Another thing I noted was that Mr. Nelson does not take the "easy" way out. I saw a path for a totally happy ending, but Mr. Nelson was more realistic and it was well done. Overall, I think I liked it more that the first of the series, "The Guardship".
As interesting as the slavery aspect was the strength of this book and the series was the seafaring action. I enjoyed the character Billy Bird, a sort of Capt. Jack Sparrow rascal. Another thing I noted was that Mr. Nelson does not take the "easy" way out. I saw a path for a totally happy ending, but Mr. Nelson was more realistic and it was well done. Overall, I think I liked it more that the first of the series, "The Guardship".
July 27, 2021
I must admit that the first 2 books in this trilogy have really been excellent .
What an excellent storyline, wonderful adventure scenarios stretching from
the southern coast's of Virginia to the Golf coast of Africa
What an excellent storyline, wonderful adventure scenarios stretching from
the southern coast's of Virginia to the Golf coast of Africa
March 15, 2022
honesty and morality
A great book. A chilling set of plot lines followed through very well. Wonderful character development. Strong female characters. Well written. Fantastic ending. Good trumps evil.
A great book. A chilling set of plot lines followed through very well. Wonderful character development. Strong female characters. Well written. Fantastic ending. Good trumps evil.
January 4, 2024
An entertaining and interesting sequel, that takes on a different perspective; concentrating on Malowe's renegade ship-mate King James, and his wife Elizabeth Marlowe, rather than himself. Personally I preferred the first book, but look forward to the next instalment.
October 23, 2024
One of the most unique books I have read. Kept my attention from beginning to end and the attention to detail in this book is immaculate, the plot twists and the characters I enjoyed thoroughly and definitely will not be my last read from Mr Nelson!
January 6, 2020
OK fun read but not as good as O'Brian or the Alexander Kent books.
January 9, 2021
This second book of the coast brotherhood continues the suspense of a pursuit of a slave ship. Lots of nautical adventure brought to life.
December 20, 2021
Just not enjoying it so not worth my time
August 31, 2024
An epic second installment in this series. Loved the dilemma that launched this story and the high seas adventure that followed. How has this not been adapted into a TV series yet?
October 2, 2025
A perfect pirate adventure, coupled with some excellent historical descriptions and vivid battle scenes at sea. 4 stars-
January 15, 2015
3.5 stars
This book was slower paced than from the first book. Also, there was a kind of a repetitive theme from the first book here. Again, we have another character who hates blacks and to add insult to injury the free slaves of the Marlowe plantation. Elizabeth has to hold off attempts to have the free-slaves of her plantation from being illegally arrested while Marlowe is out chasing down King James for killing an officer of a slave ship. King James, who knows he has screwed up in a major way, is trying to guild the ship of slaves back to Africa. He is confronted with a man on the ship with an agenda of his own.
The story, as historical fiction, highlights the fear the colonists had of an uprising of the slaves against them. This fear only fuels the racism between white and black people of the times. In contrast, aboard ships at sea the racism is less and nearly nearly nonexistent among pirates. At sea, each man is his brother's keeper regardless of the color of his skin. A more pragmatic view of life. As in many writings, plight of the African people on slave ships is not glossed over here. The horrible conditions cost many their lives and left emotional scars on the survivors.
Overall, great story!
This book was slower paced than from the first book. Also, there was a kind of a repetitive theme from the first book here. Again, we have another character who hates blacks and to add insult to injury the free slaves of the Marlowe plantation. Elizabeth has to hold off attempts to have the free-slaves of her plantation from being illegally arrested while Marlowe is out chasing down King James for killing an officer of a slave ship. King James, who knows he has screwed up in a major way, is trying to guild the ship of slaves back to Africa. He is confronted with a man on the ship with an agenda of his own.
The story, as historical fiction, highlights the fear the colonists had of an uprising of the slaves against them. This fear only fuels the racism between white and black people of the times. In contrast, aboard ships at sea the racism is less and nearly nearly nonexistent among pirates. At sea, each man is his brother's keeper regardless of the color of his skin. A more pragmatic view of life. As in many writings, plight of the African people on slave ships is not glossed over here. The horrible conditions cost many their lives and left emotional scars on the survivors.
Overall, great story!
August 13, 2016
The Blackbirder deals with a difficult subject. It's not easy to depict slavery in a historically accurate manner that will also sit right with modern rationality and morality. While I admit that I'm just a "white dude", this book seemed to straddle that divide well. There are disreputable African villains, and there are glorious acts of African heroism. In short, the slaves and potential slaves are treated like real people who are being treated extremely inhumanly.
While this lone adventure obviously doesn't abolish the disgusting practice of slavery, the heroes do their tiny part to save who they can.
While this lone adventure obviously doesn't abolish the disgusting practice of slavery, the heroes do their tiny part to save who they can.
March 2, 2014
One of my favourite books, have read this at least three times, it's so full of adventure. In fact, I think it would make a marvellous film. The author has created a wonderful character in Marlowe and I also fell in love with Billy Bird. Elizabeth isn't your run of the mill 'oh woah is me, I'm a helpless woman', she has spunk is clever and loves her husband dearly. I could go on and on. If you want piracy, adventure and moments where you want to throw something at the mean characters then this is the book for you.
August 11, 2008
It seems that you can’t toss a brick these days without hitting some kind of pirate reference (especially in children’s books and tv), except in the world of fiction. James L. Nelson set out to change that with his “Brethren of the Coast” series.
http://fireandsword.blogspot.com/2006...
http://fireandsword.blogspot.com/2006...
March 5, 2011
I picked this up in a charity shop; it looked like a 'swashbuckler', which isn't my usual genre, but suffice to say that when I realised it was the 2nd in a series, I instantly bought books 1 & 3; am planning to read some of his other books as soon as I've whittled down my pile of unread books (and reduced the Kindle list)
October 4, 2021
Una historia complicada sobre un amo y su esclavo; un negrero y una huída.
Creo que es impresionante como la narración te atrapa aunque, al menos para mi, el vocabulario era difícil.
Las descripciones de Nelson hicieron que estuviera en la misma historia, que lograra sintir el mismo olor que los personajes, la adrenalina y la bronca de King James.
Recomiendo totalmente.
Creo que es impresionante como la narración te atrapa aunque, al menos para mi, el vocabulario era difícil.
Las descripciones de Nelson hicieron que estuviera en la misma historia, que lograra sintir el mismo olor que los personajes, la adrenalina y la bronca de King James.
Recomiendo totalmente.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 16, 2010
King James, a freed former slave kills a "Blackbirder," the captain of a slave ship filled with the dead and dying. James goes on the run knowing he is going to be hanged if caught. Suspenseful and accurate historical fiction of the early 18th Century.
October 23, 2010
I read this book in 2 days. I could hardly put it down. I enjoyed the different stories being told at the same time. You have Marlowe with his not so legal privateer, King James on his adventure, and Elizabeth on hers. I liked it.
September 18, 2013
An excellent story and by all estimation thoroughly researched. The chief weakness is the characterisation, which I found a little unconvincing. However this is a thoroughly enjoyable read, and the author certainly knows his period and his subject very well.
July 17, 2011
A better than average tale of piracy and the slave trade in early 18th century America.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews