Pirates & Privateers: Michael Aye's Books

With Britain at war with the American rebels and their French allies, Captain Sir Gabriel Anthony commands HMS Trident, a third rate ship of the line and the flagship of Rear Admiral Rupert Buck’s squadron. Convoy duty can be tedious, but each day brings Gabe closer to Barbados and time off to visit with his wife and newborn son. Duty intervenes, which causes a rift between Gabe and Faith, who sides with her countrymen in their bid for independence. Her threat to take their son home to America weighs heavy on his mind when he should focus on his assignment.

Thus begins Trident, the sixth title in The Fighting Anthonys series. After American privateers steal the army’s payroll, Gabe is tasked with rescuing the British officers imprisoned on St. Croix. Although the Danes claim neutrality in this revolution, they permit the Americans to come and go as they please. Gabe and his men succeed in their mission, but Lord Skalla of the Foreign Office learns from the freed prisoners that the American privateers plan to team up with French warships to prey on British merchant ships in the Indian Ocean. If successful, such a maneuver can devastate the British economy. Rather than patching things up with his wife, Gabe must sail half a world away to stop the enemy.

Three of Aye’s own poems introduce each part of the book, hinting at what is to come. He also includes a who’s who of characters, a glossary of nautical terms, and an historical note, which includes information about the pirates of Madagascar.

Even though I haven't read the previous books in this series, Trident easily works as a stand-alone. Aye vividly recreates life aboard an 18th-century warship, but abstains from inundating readers with ship-handling information. He expertly weaves in history and backstory to craft a nautical tale that immediately captures the reader, and his rousing sea battles bring us to the edge of our seats. Trident is a fast-paced, compelling story populated with memorable characters.

Meet the author

The Pyrate: The Rise of Cooper Cain
By Michael Aye
Boson Books, 2015, ISBN 978-1-938463-26-6, US $29.99
e-book ISBN 978-1-938463-27-3, US $9.99

His father’s gambling debts leave Cooper Cain beholden to his uncle, but Cooper’s presence gnaws at his jealous cousin. The rift grows until his cousin’s lie rouses his uncle’s ire, leaving eighteen-year-old Cooper with a facial scar and forced to flee his mother and their home. In January 1810, feeling betrayed and vowing revenge, he sails for Antigua where he hopes to one day reclaim his family’s plantation, which his uncle now controls.

Also aboard the ship are David MacArthur, a former lieutenant in the Royal Navy, and the lieutenant governor of Antigua, his wife, and three daughters. The trip proves uneventful until a sail is sighted. Before long, the ship, her crew, and her passengers find themselves at the mercy of pirates. When their captain, Eli Taylor, invites Cooper and Mac to join them, they are reluctant to become outlaws. Only the seizing of two of the governor’s daughters, who are to be held for ransom, sways them to go on the account, if only to protect the girls from harm.

Eli Taylor may be the captain of the Raven and her motley crew of pirates, but he’s also a gentleman. Nevertheless, he brooks no disobedience, a lesson Cooper and Mac quickly learn when one pirate goes against the captain’s orders. With the ship’s hold filled to the brim, the pirates head for Barataria to sell their plunder. During the voyage, Eli gauges the mettle and skills of both new recruits, who are treated as outcasts until they prove themselves to be true brethren of the seas. Mac’s training in the navy makes him a skilled navigator and ship’s master, while Cooper’s natural swordsmanship and quick thinking demonstrate his leadership abilities. Perhaps with the right kind of mentoring, he may one day become the Raven’s captain, for Eli wants to retire from pirating and become a respectable member of society.

At Barataria, Jean LaFitte sells their plunder and, while the Ravens disburse to spend their ill-gotten booty, Eli takes Cooper, Mac, and the girls to the home of Cindy Veigh, a respectable lady who will watch over the girls until their ransom is paid. During their stay, Cooper meets the exotic Sophia and falls in love. She is another man’s mistress and Cooper lacks sufficient funds to purchase her contract.

Eli’s legitimate business ventures have made him wealthy and, with his guidance and backing, Cooper pursues his new life in hopes of one day gaining the wealth he requires to reclaim his birthright and to make Sophia his wife. To that end they return to plundering, among which are the merchant ships in his uncle’s fleet. This provides Cooper with the first opportunity to begin wreaking vengeance on his uncle and cousin. The pirates’ success also brings Cooper new enemies, especially when he thwarts the plans of El Diablo. Doing so makes Cooper a marked man, for this bloodthirsty and cruel pirate promises to make him pay for his interference.

The Pyrate hosts a long list of characters, some of whom are real historical personages, whiles others are fictional. The real smugglers and pirates/privateers of Barataria include Jean and Pierre Laffite, Dominique Youx, Louis “Nez Coupé” Chighizola, Renato Beluche, and Vincent Gambi. The legendary José Gaspar also appears. It is the great cast of minor characters – with memorable names like Rooster, Spurlock, and Quang – who truly bring the story to life. A few characters from Aye’s other series – the Fighting Anthonys and War of 1812 – also make appearances.

The themes that Aye explores in The Pyrate, the first novel in a new historical trilogy, are meant for adults. The topics are authentic and entertaining, but brutal and explicit. Revenge is the one theme that is never fully developed, even though the opening of the story implies it will be a key factor in Cooper’s life.* There are only occasional references to indicate that he achieves some payback against his uncle and cousin, but the confrontational climax fails to occur. In spite of this minor flaw, The Pyrate is filled with action and adventure, as well as a bit of romance, and is sure to please readers who enjoy gritty realism and historical accuracy in their piratical tales.

*Special note: Michael Aye assures me that the revenge theme will be carried out through all three books with Cooper's final blow against his cousin occurring in the final book.

Meet the author

The Reaper
By Michael Aye
Boson Books, 2017, ISBN 978-1-932482-56-0, US $16.95
e-book ISBN 978-1-932482-57-7, US $9.95

After preventing pirates from capturing a convoy of East India Company (EIC) ships, Captain Gilbert Anthony finds his life and career in the Royal Navy forever altered. Newspapers tout his bravery and honor throughout the kingdom. A grateful EIC honors him with gold coins and a ceremonial sword. The king bestows on him a knighthood. His father entrusts him with training his half brother, Midshipman Gabriel Anthony, to become a naval officer. This last task also involves inheriting Gabe’s uncle, who seems to be Gabe’s protector, but Dagan is a skilled topman with sharp eyes, which makes him an asset aboard Gil’s ship.

On his father’s death, Gil becomes the Earl of Deerfield, but the Admiralty has need of him far from England’s shores. Colonial grievances have been mounting and the possibility of war looms. A more immediate threat is the pirates preying on merchant ships in the Caribbean and off the coast of America. With his recent success against such rogues, the Admiralty thinks he’s the best one to confront this menace. To aid in this endeavor Gil assumes command of HMS Drakkar, one of the realm’s largest frigates captured in 1759 from the French. Gabe will serve as the senior midshipman; among the other gentlemen joining the crew are a young boy named Mr. Davy and Fourth Lieutenant Witzenfeld.

Soon after the frigate sails for Antigua, Witzenfeld reveals his true character – a cruel tyrant with a temper and a vulgar mouth to match. He continually persecutes Davy, which brings the lieutenant into contention with Gabe. Problems escalate, forcing Gil to find a tactful way to deal with the problem and convince the crew that they can trust him while demonstrating no favoritism or permitting abuse.

A second complication comes when they sight two schooners plundering a barque. One woman who survives the attack is Lady Deborah McKean, to whom Gil finds himself attracted – a thought that irks him since she just witnessed the murder of her husband, as well as the brutal rapes and murders of the other women aboard the merchant ship. Turning his attention to his purpose for coming to the West Indies, Gil gathers what scant information he can of the attack, leaving him with more questions than answers. That trend continues after further encounters with the pirates, including rumors of a fifty-gun black ship with black sails. Might there be someone ashore in league with the pirates? Why do they rarely leave survivors, even those who might garner high ransoms? Or is there a more nefarious purpose behind the attacks? When a coded letter falls into Gil’s hands, he acquires vital information that might lead to answers . . . if they can decode the message.

First issued in 2005, The Reaper is the first book in The Fighting Anthonys series and this new edition has been revised. Readers are quickly drawn into this high seas adventure, rife with action and interwoven with romance. It even includes some original poetry by Aye. While no decisive indication of the time frame is provided, it occurs sometime after the Battle of Quiberon Bay (November 1759) and July 1775 when the epilogue takes place. If there is any drawback at all in the story, it is that it ends too soon. The Reaper definitely snares the reader into wanting to read the second volume, HMS Seawolf. The Reaper is, indeed, a worthy addition to the growing collection of nautical fiction.

Meet the author

HMS SeaWolf
By Michael Aye
Boson Books, 2008, print ISBN 978-1-932482-52-2, US $16.95
e-book ISBN 978-1-932482-53-9, US $9.95

Set early in the Revolutionary War, HMS SeaWolf is the second installment in The Fighting Anthonys saga. It recounts a fictional version of the very real threat that American privateers posed, attacking merchant shipping to acquire much needed gunpowder and armament for General Washington’s Continental Army, but seen from the perspective of the men and officers of the Royal Navy.

Stationed in the north Atlantic, Admiral Lord Gilbert Anthony’s squadron must cruise from Nantucket to Sable Island, east of Nova Scotia. His orders are to protect merchant shipping convoys from privateers who consider these waters their personal raiding grounds. Although he misses his half brother, who is in the Caribbean, he also realizes that keeping him close hinders Gabe’s career.

Lieutenant Gabriel Anthony doesn’t necessarily agree with the war between the American colonies and the British, but that doesn’t keep him from doing his duty. His current assignment has taken him to Barbados to deliver dispatches, which is why the commander in the Caribbean slightly alters those orders. His Majesty’s troops stationed in Halifax have dire need of the convoy slated to deliver gunpowder and troops there. Under no circumstances can the Royal Navy afford to lose another cargo to the rebels, which is why Gabe finds himself inching his way northward playing nursemaid to the ships. HMS SeaWolf and her men prefer to run free, but can only go as fast as the slowest vessel under their protection.

One master disregards Gabe’s commands and sets out ahead of the convoy. As all the vessels head toward Charleston, South Carolina, they encounter a storm that separates the ships where the enemy privateers are known to hunt. When all but Turtle are accounted for, Gabe suspects that her master may be in league with strange sails sighted by the lookout. As SeaWolf pursues, his suspicions are confirmed. During the offloading of the precious cargo by the enemy, Gabe attempts a daring plan to retake Turtle. An unexpected consequence results in an explosion that sends Gabe, the men who accompany him aboard the wayward vessel, and Turtle’s master to kingdom come.

Aboard SeaWolf everyone mourns Gabe’s loss, except for his uncle. Although chances of surviving the conflagration are slim, Dagan Dupree is certain his nephew yet lives, but he is unable to do anything about it. It is wrong for Lord Anthony to hear the news from anyone else’s lips. Reluctantly, Dagan sails north with the rest of the convoy, while at the same time vowing to return to find Gabe and bring him home.

A few early scenes are a bit disjointed; their purpose for inclusion is uncertain and they aren’t connected to the main plot. Nor are pronouns always clear as to who is who, as in the scene with a commodore before the convoy leaves Barbados. In the e-book format that I read, there were several explanatory notes, but the numbers aren’t linked to the endnotes, requiring readers to manually go to the end of the book and then return to the story where they left off reading.

Aside from these minor issues, Aye weaves together the intriguing topics of gunpowder thefts, white slavery, sexual abuse, romance, and a planned invasion of Nova Scotia to craft a fast-paced novel that holds the reader’s attention from first page to last. Original poetry introduces each part of the story, and Aye also includes a glossary for those unfamiliar with nautical terminology. He further spices the tale with a strange alliance between enemies with Dagan on one side and Francis Marion, the Swamp Fox, on the other. Equally satisfying are resolutions to several questions that Gil and Gabe were left to ponder when the first book in the series ended. Whether old fans or new, HMS SeaWolf is a delightful addition to the stories about the Anthony brothers and the men of the Royal Navy who served with them.

Meet the author

Barracuda
By Michael Aye
Boson Books, 2008, print ISBN 978-1-932482-61-4, US $16.95
b-book ISBN 978-1-932482-62-1, US $9.95

A mail packet pounded to bits, a flagship sunk, and a devastating attack on a sixty-four-gun ship send Admiral Lord Gilbert Anthony and his squadron to Saint Augustine, Florida. His mission is twofold: protect the British port and its merchant shipping, and stop American privateers’ raids in 1776. Gil and his men enjoy the warmer climate after a stint in the North Atlantic during winter, but these waters are prime hunting grounds that also provide excellent hiding places for the rebels and their allies.

After delivering dispatches on their way to Florida, Lieutenant Gabriel Anthony, captain of HMS SeaWolf, and his longtime friend, Lieutenant Francis Markham of HMS Swan, investigate distant gunfire. What they witness are two ships attacking a brig. The red and yellow sails identify one of the attackers as a Spanish frigate; instead of allowing the prey to surrender, the Spaniard pounds the brig into oblivion. Only twenty-seven men survive.

Nor is this the Royal Navy’s only encounter with the Spanish “ghost ship,” as she becomes known, because the frigate always seems to vanish afterward. Although the reason for such viciousness and the identity of her master are unknown, the Anthony brothers realize they must stop this Spaniard and his vendetta against the British. When patrols prove fruitless, Gil alters his strategy. They will seek out as much intelligence as possible before launching any attacks. Information provides clues that lead them to the Keys, but it will take skill and cunning, as well as luck, to bring the enemy to heel.

This third installment in this nautical series weaves together high action with numerous subplots providing vivid glimpses into rivalries, long absences from family, life at sea and in port, love between enemies, and a court martial involving ear biting. There are some minor irks – a wounded character who miraculously heals, incorrect words (i.e., “to” for too, “partial” for “parcel”), and a climactic battle that ends too quickly – but the humor, longing, and adventures overcome these. Fans will enjoy this fast-paced and satisfying episode in the saga of the Fighting Anthonys.

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Seahorse
By Michael Aye
Boson Books, 2010, ISBN 978-0-917990-90-8, US $18.95
Ebook ISBN 978-1-917990-91-5, US $9.99

An alert seaman hears the sound of gunfire. Out of the dense fog blanketing Carlisle Bay a fireship emerges. Those aboard HMS Prudent must deal with this threat before they can assist the anchored convoy. Only later is it revealed just how successful the ruse worked. It is but the latest of the daring raids by enemy privateers on British shipping in 1777.

Admiral Lord Gilbert Anthony savors his time ashore in England, getting to know his new daughter and renewing his acquaintance with his wife, Lady Deborah. While they enjoy their rare moments alone, his half brother Gabriel savors his recent promotion to Captain and eagerly awaits his upcoming nuptials with Faith Montique, whom he rescued from her nefarious uncle’s evil doings in South Carolina.

Such idyllic leisure ends much sooner than expected when both men receive new orders. Given a new flagship, Gil is to take up command of the Windward Islands and transport Lord Ragland to his new post as governor of Barbados. Gabe also receives a new, but unhappy, ship. Half of HMS Peregrine’s crew have deserted and the other half requested transfers. Refusing to be left ashore once again, both their wives declare that they will accompany their husbands on this voyage and then take up residence at Lady Deborah’s home on Antigua.

Before they depart, thugs posing as highwaymen attempt to assassinate Gil. A letter from Gabe’s uncle, Dagan, who stayed behind in the colonies to visit with family and his new lady love, warns of approaching ill winds and that he will rendezvous with them in the Caribbean. Soon after the squadron departs Plymouth, escorting a convoy of merchant ships, the brothers discover just how cocky and daring the rebel privateers are after strange sails are sighted, vanish, and then launch a surprise attack. On their arrival in the West Indies, the news worsens as the war progresses. General Burgoyne surrenders, the British are preparing to evacuate Philadelphia, and the evidence confirms that soon after the New Year the French will join the Americans, which means the Spanish will as well.

The saga of The Fighting Anthonys continues in this fourth book in the series. As always, readers are treated to original poetry (such as “The Forgotten Salt”) from the author. These serve to introduce each of the three parts that make up the story. Unlike previous installments, this one is less even in the telling. What happens after the white flag is hoisted in chapter 15 is never clearly stated. Aside from Gabe’s first boarding of Peregrine, readers never see how he turns an unhappy ship into a happy one. While the scene depicting a lightning strike is astonishing, it lacks sufficient tension and Gil’s recovery is too quickly dispensed with. The ball scene flits from one character to another and Lord Ragland’s comment about not knowing what comes over a minor character’s behavior is one the reader will readily understand. There is no hint of this trait prior to its occurrence; nor does it surface anywhere else in the story. Some readers may also find the occasional interruptions in dialogue and narrative to explain nautical words – such as “sweeps (long oars)” – annoying. The book includes a glossary, where some of these words, but not others, are defined.

On the other hand, Seahorse is fraught with danger both on land and at sea. The assassination attempt on Gil is but the first “ill wind” they encounter; an enemy from the past carries out a vendetta against the brothers and anyone they love is fair game. There’s a perilous duel and a suspenseful sea battle. Not to mention a brief cameo by Captain Horatio Nelson. Fans of this series should enjoy this addition to The Fighting Anthonys.

Meet the author

Peregrine
By Michael Aye
Boson Books, 2012, print ISBN 978-0-917990-74-8, US $20.99
e-book ISBN 978-0-917990-73-1, US $9.99

The arrival of the French fleet off Sandy Hook, New York in 1778, becomes a waiting game as the British face their new enemy across a sand bar during the American Revolution. When conditions finally permit the French to advance, they opt not to engage in a battle of broadsides and sail away. No one knows why, but their absence allows Lieutenant George “Jep” Jepson to head south for Barbados to deliver his passenger, Sir Victor MacNeil, who works for the Foreign Office.

Sir Victor needs the assistance of Vice Admiral Lord Gilbert Anthony and his squadron. They are to collect colonial prisoners of war from St. Augustine, Florida and deliver them to Norfolk, Virginia for a prisoner exchange. The mission has added importance for Sir Victor. Among those to be reclaimed are British spies and should their true identities be discovered, they will face dire consequences. Gil’s presence is needed because of his acquaintanceship with the rebels’ representative, whom he met earlier in St. Augustine.

No matter how much planning takes place, something always goes awry. Something is amiss with Bart, Gil’s coxswain and longtime friend, and when the truth is uncovered, his life is in grave jeopardy. Aside from keeping a wary eye out for French privateers, distant gunfire alerts men aboard Captain Gabriel Anthony’s Peregrine of danger. When he sends a boat to discover what the fog conceals, they discover a dead body minus its uniform. Later, they come upon an American brigantine that has taken a British frigate. When Gabe and his men draw close, one of the captured seamen is tossed over the side before the brigantine sails away. The rescued victim delivers a chilling message that resurrects haunting images from the past for Gabe, his uncle Dagan, and Lieutenant Davy.

This book is the fifth entry in The Fighting Anthonys series. It opens with a list of characters in the series and ends with a glossary. Poems by the author introduce each section of the story, which is divided into three parts. One caveat regarding the character list is that it doesn’t include all of them. This volume introduces Sir Victor’s servant, but his name is not mentioned in his first scene. When he reappears, it’s disconcerting for readers to meet him by name and not immediately know who he is.

The unfolding of this adventure is uneven in the telling. Readers expecting Gil and Gabe to take center stage, as has been the case in previous volumes, will find that this title is more a tale about men who serve with them, such as Bart, Jep, and Dagan. Gabe doesn’t become a truly integral character until late in the story. There are also occasions where misspellings and poor wording interfere with the flow of sentences.

Otherwise, Aye’s medical background and naval experience provide tense scenes, sometimes with unexpected twists. This is especially true in those involving Bart’s operation and Dagan’s handling of their new nemesis who has ties to the past. Fans of the series will enjoy Peregrine, but readers new to the series will probably prefer starting with earlier titles to get a better feel for the characters and their adventures.

Meet the author

Leopard
By Michael Aye
Boson Books, 2017, print ISBN 978-1-938463-30-3, US $20.99
e-book ISBN 978-1-938463-31-0, US $9.99

The seventh book in The Fighting Anthonys series opens with a captain from Grand Cayman complaining to Vice Admiral Lord Gilbert Anthony about the audacious American privateer who sails right into Georgetown Harbor and takes the captain and others prisoner, and then ransoms their ships back to them, minus everything but their hulls. He dares to give them a certificate to show to other privateers exempting them from being taken again during the next forty-two days. There is little Gil or the Royal Navy can do, since they are already stretched to the limit, but he sets sail with a small fleet to make life miserable for these American upstarts.

Captain Sir Gabriel Anthony finds himself betwixt wind and water, for overstepping his authority, risking his ship and men, in an adventure that took them far from the Caribbean. Vowing to ruin Gabe, Admiral Sir Winston Kirkstatter writes a scathing letter to the Admiralty, then sets sail aboard the prize warship Gabe captured, leaving Gabe to wait to see what his fate will be. In the meantime, Gil can’t afford to lose either Gabe or his men, so Trident is sent to Antigua for repairs. Along the way, they happen upon flotsam, dead bodies floating in the water, and the jury-rigged HMS Leopard, a vessel providing escort to a merchant convoy. At the time of the attack, those aboard Leopard didn’t know that Spain had declared war on England in support of her ally, France, who had joined with the Americans in their fight for independence. The Dons decimated the convoy and killed or wounded the more senior officers aboard Leopard.

Upon reaching Antigua, the crews of Trident and Leopard band together to staff the latter and Gabe is ordered to seek out his brother to let him know that the Dons are allied with the traitorous Americans. This information is combined with news from the ransomed merchant captain about a fleet of French warships carrying 6,000 troops to aid the rebels in their fight and the growing menace of American privateers on the prowl. Gil and his officers seek out the enemy, but finding them isn’t an easy task in the Caribbean.

The story, which takes place in 1780, includes several nail-biting sea battles and an unsuspected dupe used by a spy, as well as a wedding and an appearance by Rear Admiral Lord Cornwallis. Two new lieutenants join the series: one is the son of a Scottish lord and a Creek princess; the other is a black naval officer, who is referred to numerous times before finally making his appearance halfway through the book. The resolution of Gabe’s quandary is deftly resolved with a twist of fate that has a profound effect on Admiral Kirkstatter.

Rather than a tale seamlessly woven together, Leopard is more a series of vignettes sewn together, which at times give the story a disjointed feeling. It also disrupts the cohesive flow from one event to the next, making it hard for readers to connect with the characters. The book lacks a good proofing, which would have caught instances like "Shouting down to the gun deck, Gabe shouted to Lieutenant Bufford to be ready" (tells the reader twice that Gabe has to shout), or "Captain Davy, who’d had little more than a quick honeymoon with Ariel before weighing anchor," (incomplete sentence), as well as occasional missing or misspelled words. (161 and 176, respectively)

The shining moments in the story are Michael Aye’s original poetry, which is presented at the beginning of each of the three parts of this book, and his depiction of the Great Hurricane of 1780, which is estimated to have been a Category 5 storm with winds in excess of 200 miles per hour. Not only do readers witness the storm while aboard the navy’s ships, but they also get to experience it from the perspectives of Gil’s and Gabe’s families and friends who go on a picnic the day the hurricane hits. The poem “Oh Blow You Hurricane” perfectly captures the mood of what transpires in the story.

Meet the author