Birds Of Prey (The Courtneys)

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He watched the bird fold its wings and plunge downwards, and each bird that followed began its dive at the same point in the air, to strike the dark water in a burst of lacy foam. The seamen that crowded the Lady Edwina’s deck and rigging were silent now, unable to meet each other’s eyes.

These documents were issued to privateer captains, essentially giving them permission to attack any antagonistic vessel, port, town, or city. I’m kind of wondering at this point why I slept for so long on Smith’s books as they are thoroughly entertaining and, if not classic literature, written well. At first he moved stiffly, his muscles cramped and chilled after the long vigil, but he soon warmed up and swung down lithely.

Blood enemies from their first boyhood encounter, Manfred De La Rey and Shasa Courtney find themselves adversaries in a war of age-old savagery to seize the sword of power in their land. They moved sluggishly – they had been too long in these warm southern waters, and their timbers were infested with the Toredo worm. Showing us the tribes/customs, and a crucial plot point (she warns Hal of pending execution as a result of his "fierce spear" or some such).

After being sentenced to a prison camp, the entire crew find a means escape, but only after learning the extent to the Dutch punitive measures. Hal needed no telescope to aid his bright young eyes – besides, only one of these costly instruments was aboard.He wondered how long the men’s buoyant mood could last, for they were down to a mug of water twice a day. The characters were pretty shallow as far as characters go and our young hero not necessarily very charming -though we are induces to believe that he is, he kind of doesn't charm much out of you.

This entry is set during the 17th century and does a great job of using English, Dutch, and Islamic history to move the story.Sir Francis was a devout man who believed that the fortunes of war could be influenced by the god-fearing behaviour of every man aboard. A cable’s length off the starboard bow he saw the flash of wings high enough in the sky to catch the first rays of the sun, a long flight of gannets coming out from the land, snowy chests and heads of black and yellow. I am eager to tackle more of Hal's adventures and learn of those who followed him, as South Africa became so important to this family. For that you have to be young and stupid,’ Ned Tyler growled, but shook his head fondly as he leaned against the whipstaff and stared up.

An unexpected betrayal will mean the men on board will face greater peril than they have ever faced before - and many good men may never see home again . Set in the East African coast during the Anglo Dutch war, I felt like I was lost in an old pirate film with everything that goes with it: tragedy, love stories, murder and manslaughter, villains and heroes. Sir Francis changed their crews regularly, for neither the tough West Country men nor the Welsh nor the even hardier ex-slaves that made up most of his crew could endure the conditions aboard those little ships for long and still be fit for a fight at the end of it.His heart tripped as he caught the gleam of a sail, a tall ship square-rigged, only a league to the eastward. There are some moments that shine, but overall, I'd say River God was a better example of Wilbur Smith's talent. We are caught up in a broad historical sweep, nothing less than the destabilisation of one entire continent .