Set sail on a rip roaring adventure on the high seas! From the blue Caribbean to the wild North Atlantic, follow Captain Declan Ross and the fierce (but loveable) crew of the William Wallace. Originally forced to turn to piracy, Declan Ross seeks enough wealth to leave behind the so called “sweet trade” and settle down ashore with his daughter Anne.
Anne, however, does not share her father’s desire. To top it all off, the Wallace is short of supplies, leaking water, and caught in the hunting grounds of the worst pirate in history: Bartholomew Thorne. It couldn’t get much worse, right?
Until the discovery of a brutally beaten lad abandoned on an island, a fateful fight against Thorne’s second in command and a strange meeting with an even stranger Priest result in Declan Ross and the Wallace ranking number one on Thorne’s most wanted list. A desperate race to find the legendary treasure of Constantine could give Ross the wealth he seeks. If Thorne doesn’t find it first…
When Wayne Thomas Batson’s book Isle of Swords came out several years ago, I literally devoured it – flipping from page to page as fast and as long as I could! So, I figured it was high time I wrote a review. [Look for more reviews of Batson’s books in the future to celebrate the release of his newest novel – The Errant King, book 2 in the Dark Sea Annals.]
True to form, Isle of Swords opens with a bang. Writers often talk about putting their characters into the worst possible situations and letting them work their way out again. Batson leaves nothing to be desired in this respect. From the start, there is absolutely no doubt as to what is at stake.
Batson’s characters fairly jump off the page. Determined Declan Ross, headstrong Ann, and poor Cat who can’t even remember his own name! Not to mention the fierce Red Eye who can’t seem to collect enough weapons or Nubby (named for the stump of his missing arm) who serves as the Wallace’s cook and whose favorite dish is Iguana Stew.
Isle of Swords is a story full of color and spice that will whisk you out of your chair and transport you to the swaying deck of a ship or drop you into the overarching palms and thick underbrush of a muggy jungle. Quick paced action, vivid settings, and characters you can’t help but love, make Isle of Swords a story well worth reading. Recommended for readers 12+.
Anyone else read it? Leave a comment with your thoughts! :)
Hannah says
Oh, I just read this book and LOVED it! Cat was by far my favorite character. I love those mysterious heroes who come from dark pasts. Did you ever read the sequel, Isle of Fire? I really enjoyed it, though I felt like it got kind of rushed at the end. I'm ready for a third one in the series!
Gillian Adams says
Yes, I loved the sequel too. I don't know if Batson has any more pirate stories planned, but I would definitely be interested in reading them if he does!
Hannah says
You're so right about Mr. Batson writing under the rule "throw your character into action and keep 'em there till the end."