Synopses & Reviews
The young seafaring hero Thomas Paine Kydd is back on board in Seaflower, the third installment in Julian Stockwin's thrilling naval adventure series set in the Great Age of Sail.
England, 1794. Kydd and the crew of shipwrecked sailors have returned to England for the court-martial of the sole surviving officer of Her Majesty's frigate Artemis. Kydd, who was on duty as quartermaster of the starboard watch, knows what happened the night Artemis went down. His evidence can destroy an officer's career -- and, as it turns out, his own.
When Kydd and his mate Nicholas Renzi are forcibly shipped off to the Caribbean, a whole new set of challenges lies in wait. From the dockyards of Antigua to the shores of Guadeloupe, from warring French and English battleships to a death-defying voyage aboard the plucky naval cutter Seaflower, Kydd's mettle under fire -- as a sailor and a man -- will receive the ultimate test. How he and Renzi survive the primal forces of nature at sea, and among their fellow men, is at the heart of this exhilarating, rewarding journey.
Review
"Likable Tom and his shipmates make a snug fit in that page-turning Forester and O'Brian tradition." Kirkus Reviews
Synopsis
The third installment in a rousing naval-adventure series, this historical saga follows the shipwrecked Thomas Kydd and the rest of the crew from the ill-fated HMS Artemis. Returning to England for the court-martial of the sole-surviving officer from that voyage, Kydd has evidence that could destroy the officer's career, as well as his own. In a political act to shield the officer's reputation, Kydd and his mate find themselves forcibly shipped off to the Caribbean where they encounter a new set of challenges, including warring French and English battleships, a death-defying voyage aboard the plucky naval cutter Seaflower, and the ultimate challenge that will test their mettle. Loaded with nautical history and lore, this riveting tale strikes on universal themes of bravery, loyalty, friendship, and love.
About the Author
Julian Stockwin is a graduate of TS (Training Ship) Indefatigable, a sea-training school. He joined the British Navy at age 15 and retired from the Royal Navy Reserve with the rank of Lieutenant Commander. He is the author of The Kydd Sea Adventures series, which includes The Admiral's Daughter, Command, Mutiny, Quarterdeck, and Tenacious.