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reviews_and_ramblings
If I have to be true, I didn’t like so much Peter Thorton, the English office that in the previous book converted to the Muslim religion and the Sallee republic; I was actually not sure if the conversion happened for a real belief or more for convenience. Plus Peter was first in love with fellow officer Perry, then fell in lust (not love) with Captain Tangle, the Sallee captain who half kidnapped, half saved Peter by his sure tragic fate in the English Army. From what I gathered, Peter is not exactly subtle in hiding his passion for trousers, and I’m not referring to a dress choice. Anyway, at the end of the previous book, Peter meets Shakil, and when I said at the end, I mean more or less in the last page; enough to titillate my appetite, but not to give me the full view of this possible relationship. So it was with joy, and hope, that I found Peter and Shakil in bed together at the beginning of this second book; now don’t get me wrong, how Pirates of the Narrow Seas Book 1 was far from being explicit, so it’s book 2, and mostly due to Shakil’s nature. Shakil is a island of peace in the middle of the whirlwind of events that is this novel. Shakil always represents the right choice, the one Peter should lead to, but, again, Peter is not exactly your romance hero, neither in this second book.
Someone could point out that Shakil being so perfect and always right, he is maybe boring, and Peter instead is searching for the thrill of adventure in the arms of Tangle or Perry; I have to disagree with this perspective. I think Shakil is way a better man than Peter, and he represents the perfect life, and happiness, Peter is searching and will never achieve if he doesn’t change his attitude. Even if he is now a Muslim, I think Peter remained an Englishman in every other side of his persona. I think the author has a great respect for the Muslim culture, and this respect is reflected in Shakil’s character. Even if he is not the “hero” of this series, Peter Thorton maybe has the right to this role, I think Shakil is for sure the best man; he is maybe not an heroic officer, he is maybe a downplayed character, but I had the feeling that most of this second novel turned around him.
It’s clear that this series was planned to have more books, and for this reason I’m trying to imagine what is the final purpose of Peter Thorton; as you have probably understood, I’m cheering for him to understand that Shakil has to be that purpose, but I’m not sure Peter is of my same mind. I’m not sure if this second book achieved his goal with me or not, meaning that I’m not satisfied with the romance side of it, but in a way the book leaves me with the desire to proceed with the series to see if in book 3 things will change.
I spent a lot of time talking about the “personal” side of the story, the relationships among the men, love and friendship, and not so much on the setting and the history; as before, after (and while) reading this book, I searched for info on Henrique, Duke of Coimbra, claimant to the throne of Portugal, the man Shakil and Peter help in this novel; or I didn’t search on the right source, or this is a fictional character. But as before, the author gave enough info to make the “history” believable without being boring. Atop of that, considering that M. Kei is a sea man, the marine part of the story, aboard and around, is probably more than perfect. http://www.bcpinepress.com/upcoming_releases.php
Amazon: Pirates of the Narrow Seas 2: Men of Honor
Series: Pirates of the Narrow Seas
1) The Sallee Rovers: http://elisa-rolle.livejournal.com/941530.html
2) Men of Honor
Reading List:
http://www.librarything.com/catalog_bott
