Isle of Swords_Wayne Thomas Batson_Review
-
Portable_Panther
- Posts: 17
- Joined: 25 Oct 2013, 10:57
- Bookshelf Size: 0
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-portable-panther.html
Isle of Swords_Wayne Thomas Batson_Review
If you like adventures on the high seas, pirates, and everything that entails pick up Wayne Thomas Batson’s Isle of Swords. With sword clashes, cannons, and treasure spilling out of its pages, this is a must-read for any pirate enthusiasts out there. Although the characters and storyline are typical of such genres, readers will want to see this adventure through to the end.
Captain Declan Ross is a “good” pirate. His crew does not harm or kill, rape or massacre. Instead, they simply pillage for lost treasures, monies, and gold. When Ross’s spirited daughter, Anne, finds a mysterious boy washed ashore, the novel’s adventure begins to unfold. Cat is near death and suffering amnesia when he is taken under Captain Ross’s wing aboard the Robert Bruce. Through a series of unfortunate encounters, the Robert Bruce is forced to carry out a very important mission: taking Padre Dominguez to the Isle of Swords, an unknown island that is said to house the greatest treasure imaginable. There is only one problem: Bartholomew Thorne, the most feared pirate in the Caribbean, is intent on capturing the treasure as well. In a race to riches, Ross’s crew is about to undergo their most dangerous journey of all.
Batson’s work has the stereotypical characters found in most pirate-invested adventures: a fiery captain’s daughter, a Commodore in the British Navy, and a one-armed cook for starters. Anne Ross is forbidden to become a pirate—which means, of course, she is determined to become just that. Disobeying her father’s orders lands her and the crew into trouble, and Anne eventually begins to understand her father’s overprotective and constricting demands. The Captain himself is characteristic of the protagonists in similar stories: kind-hearted, loyal, and honor-bound, Captain Ross only wants to get out of piracy. Thrown into the mix is Commodore Blake, a commander in the British Navy who wants nothing more than to capture some pirates—especially Bartholomew Thorne. And then there is the crew member with missing parts who is most appropriately named Nubby—a must-have in any pirate adventure. Although ordinary, the readers will develop attachments to certain characters aboard the Robert Bruce, following them loyally into the fray.
The plot of Isle of Swords is nothing new, and readers will most likely not be surprised with its twists and turns. Cat’s identity is a short-lived mystery (most audience members will figure it out immediately) and it is no surprise when Anne lands herself in more trouble than she can handle. The main battle takes place upon the Isle of Swords itself, and the British Navy is thrown into the mix toward the end. All-in-all, the plot is anything but mysterious, but Batson’s adventurous tone makes it a worthwhile read. In fact, readers will most likely scurry to find the book’s sequel.
Although timeworn, Isle of Swords is a wonderful novel for anyone wanting a bit of adventure. It has everything one would want in a pirate story as well as charming characters that will make readers laugh, groan, and wince. So take a breath, step onboard, and prepare for a journey toward treasure.
Captain Declan Ross is a “good” pirate. His crew does not harm or kill, rape or massacre. Instead, they simply pillage for lost treasures, monies, and gold. When Ross’s spirited daughter, Anne, finds a mysterious boy washed ashore, the novel’s adventure begins to unfold. Cat is near death and suffering amnesia when he is taken under Captain Ross’s wing aboard the Robert Bruce. Through a series of unfortunate encounters, the Robert Bruce is forced to carry out a very important mission: taking Padre Dominguez to the Isle of Swords, an unknown island that is said to house the greatest treasure imaginable. There is only one problem: Bartholomew Thorne, the most feared pirate in the Caribbean, is intent on capturing the treasure as well. In a race to riches, Ross’s crew is about to undergo their most dangerous journey of all.
Batson’s work has the stereotypical characters found in most pirate-invested adventures: a fiery captain’s daughter, a Commodore in the British Navy, and a one-armed cook for starters. Anne Ross is forbidden to become a pirate—which means, of course, she is determined to become just that. Disobeying her father’s orders lands her and the crew into trouble, and Anne eventually begins to understand her father’s overprotective and constricting demands. The Captain himself is characteristic of the protagonists in similar stories: kind-hearted, loyal, and honor-bound, Captain Ross only wants to get out of piracy. Thrown into the mix is Commodore Blake, a commander in the British Navy who wants nothing more than to capture some pirates—especially Bartholomew Thorne. And then there is the crew member with missing parts who is most appropriately named Nubby—a must-have in any pirate adventure. Although ordinary, the readers will develop attachments to certain characters aboard the Robert Bruce, following them loyally into the fray.
The plot of Isle of Swords is nothing new, and readers will most likely not be surprised with its twists and turns. Cat’s identity is a short-lived mystery (most audience members will figure it out immediately) and it is no surprise when Anne lands herself in more trouble than she can handle. The main battle takes place upon the Isle of Swords itself, and the British Navy is thrown into the mix toward the end. All-in-all, the plot is anything but mysterious, but Batson’s adventurous tone makes it a worthwhile read. In fact, readers will most likely scurry to find the book’s sequel.
Although timeworn, Isle of Swords is a wonderful novel for anyone wanting a bit of adventure. It has everything one would want in a pirate story as well as charming characters that will make readers laugh, groan, and wince. So take a breath, step onboard, and prepare for a journey toward treasure.
