Very character driven and given the length this also has a solid plot. I was more focused on the characters as we meet a lot of them, and I assume that many would come in and out. I really enjoy hearing how John matures throughout the story, even though he seems to straddle a thin line of being the hero I want him to be. All of the characters are well developed and everyone’s story really gets you sucked into this world and connect with each of them.
The plot had everything I would expect a swashbuckler would want; gambling, duels, fighting, romance, a kidnapped family. This book is clearly setting up the world that Bettencourt is going to play in for what I hope to be more books. Nautical adventures are far from my normal reading but this was a great adventure and a lot of fun. Once I started I was hooked, plus I’m a sucker for a good revenge story. I’m glad that this wasn’t the Hollywood version of pirates and I assume more truthful to how things really were. This is book one in a series and while there is some resolution at the end the story is far from over and definitely ends on a cliff hanger.
I’m a huge fan of Travis Baldree’s narrations and think he does fantastic character voices. With the many different characters in this story he pulls out all the stops to do a truly awesome job with them. Paviat was one of my favorites. Baldree’s ability to quickly go back and forth within conversations between the different characters and keeping them consistent is really amazing. Baldree clearly had fun with this story and it really shows and added so much to the already great writing.
I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher.