Review of Shanghai'd

[Paschaline Anah]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Shanghai'd" by Curtis Stephen Burdick.]

---

5 out of 5 stars

---

Share This Review

---

Shanghai'd: The Adventures Begin by Curtis Stephen Burdick, an enthralling historical fiction, narrates the tale of Joshua Cabot, a scientist who graduated from Harvard. He received an exciting offer from his father's friend, a wealthy businessman, to embark on an expedition to California during the Gold Rush. The businessman promised to compensate Joshua and provide him with enough money to support his lifelong dreams of setting up his own scientific laboratory. Joshua agreed to this arrangement.

However, he undergoes a very disheartening and demoralising situation, which left him downtrodden, and he resorted to alcohol as a source of solace, and this led to him unconditionally being aboard a merchant ship with an odd crew bound for the Far East. Joshua experiences several dangerous encounters, from being seasick and fighting pirates to forming a wonderful friendship with Ethan, who played a crucial role in supporting him on the voyage. He also used his knowledge of metals to come up with a repair for the ship in time of danger. The book also highlighted the highs and lows of his relationship with Annabelle Whitman.

The author's meticulous attention to detail and forthcoming character development stood out for me in this book, as this gives the reader a backstory of recent happenings in the present. The choice of words is appropriate for the era, which is the nineteenth century, and the pacing of the story is as it should be, with the author increasing tempo whenever there is a challenging situation. Also, the author provided adequate information on the scientific aspects of the book, making the book not just adventurous but also educative.

I personally do not dislike anything about the book. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the book because it made an emotional impact on me. The book contained few errors, demonstrating professional editing.

I rate the book 5 out of 5 stars, and recommend it to lovers of adventure fiction and people who are interested in scientific innovation.

******
Shanghai'd
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon