Nicholas Fallon is captain of the schooner Sea Dog, a privateer that is fast, beautiful and deadly. Unbound by Royal Navy tradition, Fallon enjoys total independence in where he goes, how he fights, and whom he takes as crew. A woman—Beauty McFarland—is his first lieutenant. It’s 1796, and Sea Dog‘s owner, Ezra Somers, employs Fallon to protect his Caribbean salt trade from French privateers and pirates. Wicked Jak Clayton is especially ruthless. When the two meet just off the Bahamas, even Fallon’s cunning can’t overcome their mismatch in firepower and desertion by a cowardly ally. Later, in Bermuda, Fallon is enlisted by the Royal Navy to intercept a Spanish flotilla carrying gold and silver to France. But a massive hurricane halts the British attack on the Spanish transports, driving several ships, including Fallon’s, onto the Florida shore. Held by Spanish soldiers, Fallon and the surviving crew escape by turning enemies into friends. Once free, only one mission remains. Wicked Jak Clayton must die!
The Bermuda Privateer is an action-filled sea story with layered storylines and a modern storyteller’s voice.
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Sexual Content - 3/5
3/5
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Violence - 4/5
4/5
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Language - 5/5
5/5
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Drugs and Alcohol - 3/5
3/5
Summary
Nicholas Fallon is captain of the Sea Dog, and he is very good at what he does. When he learns of Wicked Jack Clayton is terrorizing the shipping lines, he throws his lot in to help bring the man down. Sea battles, traitors, cowardly allies, and life or death fights follow.
The story put me in mind of Rafael Sabatini's pirate novels, only with more blood and A LOT more swearing. So, I was left feeling divided by the story. On the one hand, it is a nice start to a series about a character, Fallon, who is a believable privateer. However, the swearing was a major turn off, although it probably is accurate for the time period.
Fallon is a good captain, one who cares about the crew. He is very clever, which was an excellent quality for a captain. To be honest, though, none of the side characters were memorable at all, save for Clayton. Overall, the story is paced well and written well.
For readers who enjoy a sea adventure and don't mind the constant use of the 'F' word, this may be the series for you.
I received an ARC from Net Galley for reviewing purposes.