Review: The Battle of All the Ages by J. D. Davies – Historic Naval Fiction

I always look forward to a new instalment in the ‘Journals of Matthew Quinton’ by historian J. D. Davies as I always learn something new about the navies and history of the period. The latest instalment, The Battle of All the Ages, did not disappoint.

The book gets off to an action filled start with Matthew and his crew in the thick of the fighting during the The Four Days’ Battle of 1666, a drawn out and fierce action of the Anglo-Dutch wars and a defeat for the English fleet. The Captain’s of the typical ‘Napoleonic’ novel tend to be a Nelson character from more humble beginnings yet in this earlier era Quinton is a courtier and heir to an Earldom. Even so Davies has created a very believable and likeable character who you can empathise with.

As I have said before the navies of the 1660’s were very different so it is not surprising that after his return from the battle at the whim of the King Matthew finds himself with a senior rank in an early incarnation of the Royal marines and on his way to Plymouth to root out the source of the false intelligence that caused the division of the English fleet before the battle and many lives.

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The Massacre of Innocents HC – Historic Naval Fiction

Alan Lawrence recently released the first book in a new series ‘The Continuing Voyages of HMS Surprise’. The Massacre of Innocents is now available worldwide in Hardcover.

Captain Pat O’Connor, Lieutenant Duncan Macleod and Doctor Simon Ferguson return from half-pay to command the frigate HMS Surprise, returned to service after long years ‘in ordinary’ at Plymouth Dock.

HMS Surprise escorts Lord Byron to Cephalonia and then aids the fledgling Greek navy against the crushing Ottoman fleet superiority. Fighting for the cause of Greek independence amidst the destruction and massacres of the sackings of Kasos and Psara, this fictional tale is based on the actual historical events of 1823 and 1824.

Struggling to retain their sanity and humanity as initial jubilation with their return to sea is replaced by doubt and anxiety as crew losses mount, O’Connor, Macleod and Ferguson bring HMS Surprise to action in the thrilling and climactic battle to defend Samos from Turk invasion.

via The Massacre of Innocents HC – Historic Naval Fiction.

Attack of the HMS Nimrod PB/K – Historic Naval Fiction

J. North Conway & Jesse Dubuc recently released a new book about the Attack of the HMS Nimrod: Wareham and the War of 1812. It is now available worldwide in Paperback and for Kindle download.

On the morning of June 13, 1814, the British warship HMS Nimrod attacked the town of Wareham, Massachusetts. As a center for shipbuilding and iron, Wareham was a perfect target for the British fleet. When the lead barge deceptively appeared with a white flag at its bow, Wareham never suspected anything but a truce and was ill prepared for the attack. A raiding party with six barges and two hundred men burned the town’s cotton mill, destroyed its vessels and took its citizens as hostages. When Nimrod tried to flee the shores, it ran aground and had to throw its cannons and guns overboard in order to lighten its load and sail away. Wareham was left smoldering in its wake. Follow authors J. North Conway and Jesse Dubuc as they trace the attack from the initial spotting of the British fleet to the discovery of the lost Nimrod cannons.

via Attack of the HMS Nimrod PB/K – Historic Naval Fiction.

The Marvellous Sea K – Historic Naval Fiction

A new book in Peter Smalley’s popular ‘HMS Expedient’ series has been long awaited. The Marvellous Sea which continues the adventured of Captain William Rennie and Lieutenant, James Hayter was recently released and is now available in ebook format only.

The year is 1793 and while England mobilises her navy and looks East across the Channel and into the Mediterranean, a mission is being planned by Mr. Brough Mappin, administrator of the Secret Service Fund.

Once again in command of the frigate HMS Expedient 36 Captain William Rennie and his Lieutenant, James Hayter, find themselves under secret orders and with an independent commission steering a course deep into the South Atlantic.

Their objective, a resource all parties to this war will need in great quantity, has fueled the dreams of men as well and William Rennie is no exception.

via The Marvellous Sea K – Historic Naval Fiction.

Pasha HC – Historic Naval Fiction

Author Julian Stockwin’s new novel, Pasha, will be released in hardcover in the UK on 9 October 2014 and in the US on 1 November 2014. It is now available for pre-order.

An Admiralty summons to England cuts short Thomas Kydd’s service in the turquoise waters of the Caribbean. While the crew of L’Aurore can look forward to liberty and prize money, a shadow hangs over their captain: the impending court martial of his one-time commander, Commodore Popham, who led a doomed attack on South America.

Following Nelson’s death two years earlier, England is in desperate need of heroes and Kydd’s Caribbean exploits are the talk of London. Feted by the king and a grateful country, Kydd is soon on detachment in a new and dangerous sphere of interest: the Dardanelles, connecting the Mediterranean Sea to the Black Sea and providing a route to India. The French have long coveted this route, knowing that it could be the key to toppling the British Empire in India. When they successfully whip up such strong anti-English sentiment that the British ambassador to Constantinople has to flee to L’Aurore, a deadly stand-off ensues.

Meanwhile Kydd’s closest friend, Nicholas Renzi, has assumed a new role that he can never make public. Sent under alias on a mission to Constantinople, Renzi must engineer a coup that will turn the tables on the French. But when he’s taken prisoner, only Kydd’s superb seamanship and sheer bravado can save the day.

via Pasha HC – Historic Naval Fiction.

Review: The Wrath of Brotherhood by Ozgur K. Sahin – Historic Naval Fiction

For fans of pirate fiction there is a worthy new addition to the genre from Ozgur K. Sahin, The Wrath of Brotherhood. Set in the Caribbean at the time of the Restoration, the book, which is the first of a new series, introduces us to Captain Roy Toppings an English gentleman bent on revenge for the death of his sister for which he blames the Spanish.

Roy and his first mate, an ex-slave, recruit a crew of local men and a native South American, later enhanced by some dutchmen, and set out to plunder Spanish possessions and shipping, but as he uncovers their invasion plot he must unite with other English ships to counter the threat.

The book had a well written plot featuring both land and sea action and I particularly enjoyed the unusual mix of characters the author created. It held my attention well and I look forward to reading of their further adventures.Recommended.

via Review: The Wrath of Brotherhood by Ozgur K. Sahin – Historic Naval Fiction.