Ronovan Hester

4.5 stars

REVIEW : https://kyrosmagica.wordpress.com/2016/06/04/my-kyrosmagica-review-of-amber-wake...

I really enjoyed Amber Wake - Gabriel Falling by P.S. Bartlett and Ronovan Hester. This pirate tale oozes excitement, the fight scenes are first class, and the touches of humour had me chuckling like a pirate!! I'd recommend it for readers who enjoy a fast paced adventure on the high seas, lots of camaraderie, and splashes and splashes of thrills. It's a very entertaining read, a well written show more and plotted book. Its strength lies in its thrilling passages, excellent characterisation, and sense of place. You really do feel that you are one of the crew, going off on an adventure, to an uncertain future, and perhaps sticky end. These elements make the book truly shine.

Towards the end of the middle section the momentum of the narrative slows down a little to explore the once honourable Royal Navy Captain’s motivations: Gabriel Wallace’s sense of justice, his fear that his character is changing, developing into something that perhaps he fears to become. This is an interesting aspect of the novel, suggesting his internal struggle to cast off his pirate persona, to overturn the wrongs done by Admiral Chambers. He longs to be a better man, and all the while he is changing into a man he does not recognise – a pirate! This goes more than skin deep, but is evident in his change of name: Rasmus, the changing names of the ships he captures, his pirate lingo, and his growing goatee beard, etc. This part of the novel reminded me of a kind of Robin Hood pirate of the high seas, this once respectable, gallant Captain, desires to protect those deemed to be at risk from the Admiral’s greed. I enjoyed this but I did feel that this reflective section could have perhaps been a bit shorter. I must be a bit of a devil because I preferred the fast paced excitement of the fight scenes! Ha Ha!! I confess I'm a bit of a rogue…

Also there are strong similarities to Robin Hood/Maid Marian in Gabriel’s desire to protect and preserve the innocence of women - those who may fall prey to the lasciviousness and wantonness of pirates of folklore. Though having said that he isn't an angel either!

My recommendation: Definitely read Amber Wake - Gabriel Falling, especially if you enjoy the sea…. Go on a pirate adventure, sail the high seas, taste that salty water.... but whatever you do don't rile pirate Captain Rasmus aka Gabriel or you might end up walking the plank! show less

The book opens with Royal Navy Captain Gabriel Wallace who finds himself coerced into a situation that jeopardizes his career and everything else that he holds dear. Captain Wallace’s hand is forced by Admiral Chambers who court-martials him in front of his peers.

Captain Wallace knows his days are numbered and he makes the decision to leave England with his navy vessel, the Majesty’s Venture, to escape the wrath of the Admiral, known to the rest of the British Navy as the “Chambers of show more Hell!” The Royal Navy retaliates and in no time is after the now nefarious Captain Wallace and his crew.

However, the captain is not without his friends. The ship’s crew follow their captain with a loyalty that is unrivaled in the whole of England even though Captain Wallace has a secret plan which only he knows. Only the captain’s best friend, Miles Jacobs knows the darkness that lurks inside the captain.

With few options left to them, Captain Wallace and his men chart a course for the American Colonies and the Caribbean, branded as pirates by men they once proudly served with, while in the Royal Navy. Their main objective … to wage war on Admiral Chambers and to expose him for what he truly was – the bloodiest pirate of them all!

Recommendation:

I thoroughly enjoyed Amber Wake and the set of circumstances that brought Royal Navy Captain Gabriel Wallace to find himself a reluctant pirate. When I said this was not your typical pirate tale, I wasn’t kidding.

This seafaring tale is really the study of a man finding himself in a situation where his quick wits and sense of right and wrong lead you on a rollicking good adventure. The captain is clearly the star of the book and you get a clear sense of his internal struggle where he is obliged to reveal the darkness that lurks within himself.

I loved the depth that each of the characters portrayed. I was able to step inside of their minds and live the story through their eyes. History came alive and showed the chivalry this group of men possessed not only for the crew but for others as well.

When the raging sea battles ensued I found I could not put the book down. I had to know what was going to happen next! I discovered many surprises along the way which made the book totally unpredictable, a real plus. Always present was the battle that raged between good and evil leading you into an adventure on the high seas filled with risks and peril, and the struggles of men.

I do not usually give many 5 star ratings on my reviews. When I do, you know the book touched me deeply. For me, the book was all about the internal battles of the captain dealing with his feelings of vengeance against the Admiral that ruined him. It was the story of a man balancing his duties and becoming a real “man.”

If you love adventure tales with a historic flare you will love Amber Wake as it sweeps you up into a
tale filled with suspense and intrigue!

Character Believability: 5
Flow and Pace: 5
Reader Engagement: 5
Reader Enrichment: 5
Reader Enjoyment: 5
Overall Rate: 5 out of 5 stars show less