Pirates and Privateers
The History of Maritime
Piracy
Cindy Vallar, Editor
& Reviewer
P.O. Box 425,
Keller, TX 76244-0425
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Books for
Adults ~ Futuristic Fiction
![Cover Art: The Arkanaut's Oath](ArkanautsOath.jpg)
The Arkanaut’s Oath
by Guy Haley
Black Library, 2022, ebook ASIN B0B7RFRQQV, US $ 9.99
Also available in other formats
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Drekki Flynt,
swashbuckler extraordinaire. A Kharadron
privateer, he captains Aelsling,
the fastest sky-cutter in the Skyshoals
and named for his wife . . . er ex-wife,
whom he hopes will return to him soon. He
and his fellow skyfarers have come to the
filthy, lawless Bavardia to meet with his
former father-in-law who has a long tally
of grudges against Drekki. (Not least of
which are that Drekki stole his daughter
and his ship.) But if Drekki accepts this
venture, Throkki will wipe the slate clean
and stop sending assassins to kill Drekki.
Such an offer tempts Drekki as much as
treasure for the taking. Of course, there
has to be a catch. Nothing comes easily
for him and his fellow skyfarers. This
time around, he is chosen for this venture
because he is the best and he is
expendable should things go awry (which is
a given when Drekki is involved). Lady
Sanahsa Lerarus, a human mage, must
retrieve the last Talisman of Achromia
before the current one protecting the old
empire’s surviving city against daemons
and other dark magic fails.
Naturally, they will not be the only ones
searching for the Talisman and some will
try to stop them. Oh, did I mention that
the hidden vault that holds the Talisman
is located somewhere in a derelict city
infested with grots, the ancestral enemies
of duardins, which is what Drekki and many
of his skyfarers are? Nor is the vault
simply a vault; it has special powers such
as turning intruders into stone. Not only
can’t Drekki refuse this job; there also
is no aether-gold for him and his fellow
skyfarers. But fear not, Drekki has ways
and means of finding treasure in the least
likely of places.
He also has a knack for finding trouble,
and this time around trouble abounds.
There are gargantuan squigs, snotlings,
daemons, witch hunters, screamers, disc
riders, unnatural storms, harkraken, a
shipwreck, and Kaptain Blackheart who
dares to fly the Jolly Orruk! Not
to mention a spy aboard Drekki’s vessel,
or the immense vortex that is slowly
pulling them inside.
In the true fashion of swashbuckling
novels of yore, The Arkanaut’s Oath
takes readers on a breathtaking, daring
adventure reminiscent of the largest,
twistiest, and most exhilarating roller
coaster imaginable. The imagery of
Drekki’s world is masterfully drawn with
words that are far better than the poetic
verses crafted by Drekki’s ship’s poet.
Interwoven with serious topics of war and
strip-mining are humorous episodes, such
as the security guard who also collects
autographs. This may be Drekki Flynt’s
first full-length novel, but I certainly
hope it will not be his last. He may be
used to being unpopular, but he’s also one
of a kind and he and his fellow skyfarers
are just the right sort to have with you
when things get dicey.
Review Copyright ©2024 Cindy Vallar
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