I've read all of the Kydd nautical adventures and this is my least favorite. Too much time spent in Kydd's activities on land and not enough on the sea. Needs more storms, chases, clashes, and BOOMING CANNONS!! ( )

Entertaining romp, even if sea-time gives way to a lot of land time in this story. Captain Thomas Kydd finds himself knighted for his heroism in the Caribbean while his friend Nicholas Renzi is unexpectedly elevated to the peerage. Left no time to come to terms with their precipitous rise in rank, Kydd is sent off to the Mediterranean to join a naval expedition to run the Dardanelles and pressure the Turks into abandoning their flirtation with France, while unbeknown to him, Renzi is dispatched to Constantinople on the same mission. The sea scenes are good, running the Dardanelles is tense and exciting, however, there arent enough of them, there are no sea battles of note and most of the action occurrs in admiral's cabins and on land. That said, it remains a fast, exciting and well-written story, I look forward to reading more of the series. ( )

(Reviewing Tyger) What a fantastic selection! While I have read other nautical adventure stories (Horatio Hornblower, Aubrey / Maturin, etc.), this was my first foray into the Kidd series, and I was not disappointed. It contained a great mixture of flight-of-fancy and realism, with exactly the right degree of technical detail to keep the story flowing while making the action visceral for the reader. As others have noted, the one downside was that, without having read the others in the series, I felt like I was "missing something" every time Kidd's previous adventures were mentioned (which, unfortunately, was a rather frequent occurrence). That being said, I feel it is my duty to pursue the other volumes in the series posthaste! ( )

This is actually a review for Tyger, the 16th Kydd Sea Adventure. For some reason, Pasha is the book that's linked in Early Reviewers and I want to make sure I get credit for my review. Hence the review on the wrong work.

This was the first Kydd Sea Adventure I read and when I saw that it was #16, I had my doubts about how much I would understand or enjoy it without 15 books worth of previous events. I needn't have worried.

First, the book begins with a natural transition -- Kydd's beloved ship is drydocked for repairs and he's given command of the mutinous Tyger as punishment for some politically unwise remarks. Any backstory from the previous books is touched upon just enough for understanding the current situation.

It's a gripping read as Kydd tries to win over his new crew and save his career. He's involved in several different missions, which give a good view of the scope of the Napoleonic wars. I must admit to holding my breath in the aftermath of the final battle and shedding a tear or two by the end.

The author uses lots of seafaring & Regency lingo, but there's a glossary in the back. I might not go back and read the previous books, but I probably will continue the series going forward.

Stockwin is a master storyteller, giving us plots that in the context of the age of sail period, work well, whilst he gives his main character the chance to remain at sea. He however has begun to suffer because of his buddy sidekick subplot. The Nicholas Renzi plots stopped working many novels ago, and yet Stockwin continues to beat this dead horse.

Kydd is a wonderful 'Tar' hero. But Renzi who has been a morose anchor for so many books looked like he could be written out. But no, he returns against all logic and reason to be on seen again. In the author notes Stockwin even tells us he moved around events in history so that his Renzi, spy, character could be witness to them.

Sorry Julian, a first rate book loses a star because you need to either give plausible credence for the character, or let him stay at home in England making heirs with Kydd's sister. There is plenty of intrigue in Parliament during this period that Nicholas could be involved in while Kydd sails the seas making them safe for England. ( )