The Blackbirder: Book Two of the Brethren of the Coast

By James L. Nelson

In a blind rage, King James, ex-slave and now Marlowe's comrade in arms, slaughters the crew of a slave ship and makes himself the most wanted man in Virginia. The governor gives Marlowe a choice: Hunt James down and bring him back to hang or lose everything Marlowe has built for himself and his wife, Elizabeth.

Marlowe sets out in pursuit of the ex-slave turned pirate, struggling to maintain control over his crew -- rough privateers who care only for plunder -- and following James's trail of destruction. But Marlowe is not James's only threat, as factions aboard James's own ship vie for control and betrayal stalks him to the shores of Africa.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Release date: Oct 13, 2009
• ISBN: 9780061857270

James L. Nelson

James L. Nelson has served as a seaman, rigger, boatswain, and officer on a number of sailing vessels. He is the author of By Force of Arms, The Maddest Idea, The Continental Risque, Lords of the Ocean, and All the Brave Fellows -- the five books of his Revolution at Sea Saga. -- as well as The Guardship: Book One of the Brethren of the Coast. He lives with his wife and children in Harpswell, Maine.

Reviews for The Blackbirder

[neilsantos_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Book two was much better than book one, though the main character still isn't terribly interesting. Oh, and he's a pirate. I freakin' hate pirates. I'm hoping book three will focus on Francis Bickerstaff (great name), swordsman, scholar and moral compass. Just like me... except for that swordsman nonsense. What these books are not is nautical adventure. So if you are looking for Hornblower, Ramage, Aubrey, Bolitho or Lewrie (my personal fav), then pass on these. They are a vaguely historical fiction in a time period that often gets overlooked in both history and fiction: the American Colonies seventy years before the New World sees the taint of Independence.I think I will look into the author's Revolution at Sea saga. I only hope he picks the correct side and shows those colonial upstarts to be the base curs they are.