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I know the author has more to tell about these characters, but it felt like there was a lack of closure. But overall, these two issues did not deter from the enjoyable read. If you can't get enough of pirates, I highly recommend this book. I picked this book up for free on Amazon. I must say that I quickly became engrossed in the story. The story is dark. It envolves kidnapping individuals called pressed into service in order to have enough men for the crew of the ship. This was how William and his father ended up in "His Majesty's" service. The sailors are also treated poorly with any perceived insubordination quelled by severe whippings.
As I picked this book up for free on Amazon. As if this isn't bad enough, there's a shipwreck and the crew has to board the merchant vessel they are guarding. Then, this vessel is attacked by pirates. This is a story of individuals overcoming almost insurmountable odds and making the best of truly deplorable conditions. I would recommend it for anyone who enjoys a good adventure book with a little romance and a dab of the paranormal thrown in. This book reminds me of the Bloody Jack series by Louis Meyer - both feature pirates and high sea adventures during early 18th-century London, but there the similarity ends.
This is a well-written entertaining adventure tale. The year is and Tess,the daughter of a Doctor in England, is birthmarked with a special sign that she has psychic gifts. An old Crone recognizes her as the one who is the next Quintspinner. As she lays dying she gives Tess a ring that magnifies her gifts. Follows a huge adventure as Tess and her family travel aboard ship to the West Indies, and are taken over by pirates.
I give it 4 stars. Another free book with my Kindle subscription. Upon witnessing a murder, priviledged Tess Willoughby's life takes a sudden turn for bizarre and adventuresome. As if the death of the renowned London seer isn't shocking enough, Tess is now charged with the keeping of the dead seer's prophetic spinner ring, and a dangerous chain of events begins. There's the revelation of a terrible family secret, Tess's trapping on a merchant ship, and before she knows it, she's unwittingly betrothed to the murderer himself, a man who wants nothing more tha Upon witnessing a murder, priviledged Tess Willoughby's life takes a sudden turn for bizarre and adventuresome.
There's the revelation of a terrible family secret, Tess's trapping on a merchant ship, and before she knows it, she's unwittingly betrothed to the murderer himself, a man who wants nothing more than the power bestowed by the ring. Enter Will, an anomaly among the dirty, unpolished sailors, and the real heart-stopping adventure begins. When sagas break with huge cliffhangers, it tends to drive me a bit nuts.
Still, I was left with a lot of questions, and some aspects of the story seemed to be forgotten in favor of the romantic aspect. I will say I was a bit disappointed in the overall dark feeling of the book. I know that's not exactly unheard of in young adult stories, especially not one that begins with a murder, but I expected something a little more lighthearted, even with the lurking danger that seemed to spring up from every crevice.
Instead, there was a feeling of constant dread throughout the story, pained situations and scenes that were interrupted only by more danger, and while I enjoyed the infrequent moments of levity and hope, they were few and far between. There was violence, rape, and other harsh realities not really appropriate for younger readers.
It's a great story, but I'm not sure I'd recommend it to those on the youngest end of the young adult age group. Quintspinner is a fast-paced tale of heart-stopping adventure and redeeming romance. She's an easy heroine to love, so it's no wonder Will was taken with her. Will is also easy to love, his respect for Tess's engagement speaking well of his character. His chemistry with and devotion to Tess helped lighten the otherwise dark and at times cruel tale.
Lovers of fantasy may be a little disappointed, as that aspect of the story seems to be little more than a backdrop, with the romance and relationship side taking center stage, but I suspect that may be more fully explored as the series continues. Even though the book wasn't what I expected, it was still an incredibly enjoyable read, fraught with tension and action and edge-of-your-seat suspense, and I can't wait to see where it goes in Deadly Misfortune.
Even so, we're far too opinionated to let a freebie influence our thoughts or the contents of the reviews we post here. Mar 19, Gaele rated it really liked it Shelves: This story was slower to start but providing a sense of the time and place as we meet Tess and see her perspective is important as the story continues.
From the smells of London back alleys to the cramped quarters aboard ship, through battles and danger, the place and worlds are well-crafted and layered with factual references and language that add to the reality of the story. This story is darker, but focus seems to be on the relationships and the connection between the characters, and the characters are very real with frailties and insecurities that balance their strengths.
William is a lovely character: I know that is the first in a three-part story, and while one mystery is solved and sorted, there are other questions still to be answered and I expect they will come in the further installments. The few issues that I had were small and not dramatic enough to halt the flow of the story or my enjoyment.
A great story recommendation for the older teen reader who wants something different, or fans of historical fiction and YA titles, this book will provide a good escape and open doors to other genres for those unfamiliar with historical fiction. I received an eBook from the author for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: Nov 16, Catie rated it it was amazing Shelves: A Pirate's Quest' by Dianne Greenlay was an extremely riveting novel!
It is set in on the streets of London. This is about the time impressment gangs came around kidnapping men of age to serve in the navy. That's all I'm going to say about the book's plot line, because I don't want to give anything away and you can read the summary above. Basically, I liked the time and setting of the story, as it was very thrilling. The book was set at a fast pace, and nothing was ever boring. There wasn't ever a time I felt during my read that I should put this book down.
The ideas were ingenious and I can tell the author did lots of background research to provide accurate descriptions for the time period. Before I explain the things I disapproved of in the book, keep in mind, I understand that it was relevant for the setting, however it is simply a matter of personal opinion. The few things I didn't like: It did help to thicken the plot, but like I said, it is a personal dislike.
There was quite a bit of cursing. It felt like there was a least on curse word a paragraph. I'm sure that's not true, but that is how it felt. I think that was all I came up with, but if I remember anything else, I will be sure to update the review. Even with these few things I disapproved of, I still rated this book 5 stars because of its endless entertainment and suspense. All in all, a novel well done!!
I will definitely be waiting in anticipation for book two!!! Received for Free through GoodReads Giveaways!!! When I received "Quintspinner" from the author, Dianne Greenlay, it came well recommended: All very well and good but I have had bad luck with highly lauded and award winning books lately so a grain of salt was warranted here. It has been said that I devour books and rightly so. I did not devour this novel When I received "Quintspinner" from the author, Dianne Greenlay, it came well recommended: I did not devour this novel, however.
Just look at the front cover: It made me happy to look at. And then I opened it and was introduced to an era of hard times and strong people; of superstition, adventure and romance; magic rings, the high seas and pirates that would eat perhaps literally Captain Jack Sparrow for lunch and go looking for more. I will say that I was a little lost for the first couple of chapters but stick with it.
It all comes together and pretty soon you will be drawn in just as I was. I wasn't even half way through the pages when I started hoping there would be a sequel. I knew I wouldn't be ready to let the characters go at the end of this amazing book. Appropriate for older teens and adults, this pirate's quest makes a great foil to the overdone vampire and werewolf stories out there. Trust me - keep your eye on this author, she's a keeper! I thought this was a fun and very entertaining book.
It takes the reader from adventure to next, exciting adventure. The author created interesting characters that keep you interested in them and rooting for their success. We have the evil villain, the doctor, two headstrong young ladies, a farmer and his stubborn son, a wise old granny, and LOTS of Pirates! There are also several others including Gerta, whom I became especially fond of. The plot was well thought out and I enjoyed the various lo I thought this was a fun and very entertaining book. The plot was well thought out and I enjoyed the various locales we were taken to during the course of the story.
It is obvious that Ms. Greenlay did a lot of research on the ships and the various terminology that goes along with them. This attention to detail adds to the charm of this story. Her medical background also shows in the writing of scenes between the doctor and the main character Tess while they are tending to various wounds and ailments. Legend and mentions of the mysteries of the title "spinner rings" are weaved throughout this story.
I wanted to learn more about them. While this book had a great ending, I think the author left room to continue with the storyline. I am really hoping there will be a second book as this has the beginnings of a really good series. The realism of the background immediately pulls the reader into a known world, and makes the transition to fantasy an easy one.
While perfectly suitable for young adults, the realism makes it a great book for older readers as well. The characters, even the minor characters, are very believable and have all the frailties and strengths of real people.
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Tess is a young girl who quickly becomes a strong woman with very understandable moments of self-doubt of her abilities and disbelief in her gift. Hanley, the household helper and much more , has a storehouse of practical wisdom mixed with superstition, all overlaid with a healthy instinct for self-preservation.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and recommend it to anyone looking for a well-written, well-edited story. I look forward to reading the sequel. Yet another one picked up free from Kindle I love that I can do that. Immediately, it didn't strike me as something that I would like, but decided as I hadn't had to shell out hard cash on it, I might as well try and expand my horizons a mite this year. Especially, as my reading tally was well down on my projected target last year. However, I would say from about the first Chapter I was interested, and by about five chapters in I c Yet another one picked up free from Kindle I love that I can do that.
I was interested, and by about five chapters in I couldn't put the book down. I love the main character Tess, and was fascinated with the inter-play between her and Cassie, and her growing feels for William. Additionally, there is the journey that Tess travels to discover the powers that lay will eventually be hers. Strongly recommended that you give the whole series a try, I know I am going to. A heady mix of histroical, with some romance, but a magical and mythical twist. I awarded it 5 stars on Amazon, but they don't go higher. The nine of us, as well as three strangers, climbed into the boat, all decked out in the snazzy, tangerine full-body life preserver suits.
Outside the harbour, the captain opened up the motors and we tore into the ocean waves, all of us bouncing wildly about in the boat. He carefully maneuvered our boat through the four-foot waves, to a spot just ahead of the traveling pod and then killed the motor. He explained that it was provincial law that boats had to maintain a certain distance from all known marine life when their motors were running.
Even the boys were paying attention now. One Orca surfaced about 20 feet from our boat, spouted and dove. Everyone in the boat cheered with excitement.
Quintspinner: A Pirate's Quest
Even from 20 feet away the Orcas looked enormous. Without warning, our boat shuddered and the starboard side shot out of the water. Grabbing the seats to keep ourselves from sliding sideways, we screamed as a mountainous wall of glistening black dorsal fin rose out of the water, tilting our boat and pushing the starboard side even higher. One second later, a waterfall of freezing ocean water crashed down upon us, nearly swamping our boat, as the huge Orca spouted and then dove under the boat, bumping it again as it passed beneath.
Ocean water sloshed up to our knees. The captain started the motors and we bailed as fast as we could.
- Quintspinner: A Pirate's Quest by Dianne Greenlay.
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He steered the boat back in the direction that we had come from and we roared away from the spot. We were all still shaking from the adrenaline rush when, a few moments later, the motors whined, sputtered, and died. The motors are plugged! He radioed our position to the coast guard while we continued to madly bail out the boat. Drenched as we were, and in the ocean wind, our hands soon cooled to the point that it was difficult to hold onto the bailing containers. The orange suits that we had earlier joked about were now conserving our body temperatures, as we sat huddled together, awaiting rescue.
As the captain continued to work feverishly on the motors, we were blown towards a rocky crag that rose out of the water. Even though it was covered in sea bird droppings and smelled horrible, it looked good to me, but not so to our captain. As we veered towards its edge, a seeming miracle happened: Ever so slowly, we made our way around the rocky crag and back towards the shore. An hour later, we spilled from the Zodiac and onto firm dry land, our eyes stinging and our faces coated white from the ocean salt.
Back at their office, as we wearily hung up our orange suits, I noticed their motto printed in large black letters on a wall poster. And you can get started on that adventure right here! Well the blog hop has begun and it runs until Sunday, March 30th! Your help sharing the March Book Frenzy would be greatly appreciated. This March Book Frenzy is brought to you by http: March Book Frenzy Readers.
Increase your chances to win by visiting as many of the blogs on the book tour as possible. Find the list of participating blogs by clicking here. Why not click around and visit these blog sites? And all of them are full of really great reading suggestions. The hosts have a huge collection of posts from authors, as well as many, many book reviews.
One month ago, Tess Willoughby was the daughter of a well-to-do physician in London, and she witnessed the murder of an old seer. One week ago, she met a sailor and experienced the thrill of being in love for the first time. Two days ago, she realized that such a secret love would endanger them both, and, heart-broken , she was forced to choose her loyalty.
Today, she is plotting to save her own life and perhaps to take his in retribution. Greenlay is also a playwright, producer, and Creative Director of the long-running community theater group, Darkhorse Theatre. She is fluent in at least her mother tongue and she thanks her fierce English teachers for that. Connect With Dianne Here: Author , blog tour , book blog , ebooks , pirates , prizes , reading , writing. The view from the top of the crater on that day had been spectacular. On one side of the island, smoke from the plantation sugar mill had risen in a lumpy rope that stretched up into the sky.
Dangerous to all black people, especially the escaped slaves, the Maroons, and probably to themselves as well, now that they had lived with the Maroons. It was a place where slaves and indentured workers were forced to toil endless hours in the fields and in the sugar mill. William had noted that escape from the island would not be possible from that side, even though the bay offered a natural harbor for ships.
There was too much activity there. It had not looked accessible by ship from up there. It had been a depressing conclusion. He watched Smith stride over to his own hut. Sea-hardened sailor that he was, Samuel Smith was absolutely smitten with his wife and their newborn child. Not his child, William corrected himself. Not that it mattered at all to Smith.
William could hardly believe the change. Once again William was stabbed in his chest by the shard of recollection of his own family members. He had loved them all, quietly in his own way, but never more so than when they had become lost to him. Even at the age of nearly eighteen, however, he knew that this was the way things were. The way life was. No one lasted forever. A man should enjoy what pleasures he has for as long as he has them. A forceful nudge at his elbow redirected his attention. Now that the small goat was maturing, she was ravenous.
Offering her only a small, precious piece of raw sugar cane, William then waved his hand in a horizontal swipe. Seeing the gesture, Gerta gave up on her begging and settled down by his side, munching contentedly on her sweet treat. Nearly transparent flesh, the web of skin was a family trait—his father had borne the same peculiarity—and both of them had been the objects of fear and violence generated by the superstitious sailors aboard the ill-fated Mary Jane.
The doeling was devoted to him now. Even so, her good behavior was still erratic. He glanced down at her, surprised that she continued to lie still. Maybe the discipline is improving …. William slapped and waved at a cloud of determined mosquitoes, then squinted again at Smith and Cassie. On the other side of the clearing, Cassie lay curled on a woven ground mat. She stirred from her fever-laced sleep, and smiled up at Smith before shutting her eyes and falling back into a light doze. William contemplated their sleeping forms and felt his tension return.
Tess stared too, and tried to reign in her resentment. Even so, the girls had grown up as close as blood sisters, sharing everything, until the desperate sea voyage had dealt them each a set of far different circumstances to cope with. Her mouth stretched into a small, unconscious smile. Her grandmother was her lifeline. Ever the optimist, the boisterous Emma Hanley Lancaster was a walking collection of folklore, numerology, superstitions, and she dispensed a generous dollop of good old common sense at every opportunity. For the first time in her life, Tess now wore her hair either loose in soft coppery ripples that trailed down her back, or gathered it up in a luscious pile on the top of her head.
Relaxing with the pleasant sensation of her hair being coiled, Tess turned her attention once more to William.
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She studied him without appearing to do so, only lifting her head ever so slightly, gazing at him through her fringe of eyelashes. His skin had become deeply bronzed by their months here in the tropical sun, and his body, already hardened by the physical demands of the lengthy, if ill-fated sea journey, had become further chiseled with the lifestyle of the maroon camp and its scant food supplies. William continued to stare across the clearing, lost in his own thoughts.
A wash of prickly jealousy swept over Tess. She had agreed to be his wife. She loved this man. And still his raw desire was unfulfilled. Tess swallowed hard and hoped it was a passing phase. They had so much in common but this one thing threatened to drive her from his bed. The one thing he so desperately desired brought Tess only fear.
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And even though the two of them had not talked about it, had not ever spoken about the issue out loud, Tess knew. Chapter preview , Deadly Misfortune , pirates. Warm as it was, the damned wind on the island blew to some degree every day. The morning rains saturated everything. Lancaster, had done what they could to reinforce their own pitiful huts, making do with the basics of nature that surrounded them. But in fact, everything was in short supply—food, clothing, medicines, and weapons. In spite of the double thatching, both the swampy winds and the driving sheets of rain had managed to invade their primitive shelters.
Lost in his own thoughts, William startled when a voice sounded behind him. It followed us back here. Releasing his grip on William, he nodded toward the outermost row of huts. But what about the child Cassie bore, sired by him? The son you now call your own? Smith seemed as devoted to the child as he was to Cassie. The marriage ceremony, if it could be called that— Crikey, it was a weird thing!
It had taken place under a shimmering canopy of stars, when the sky had been under the dark influence of a new moon. Each couple had been bound, tied face to face, in the centre of a circle, its boundaries outlined with a collection of fruits, giant seed pods, shells, and flowers. Led by Mambo, the Maroons chanted in a foreign tongue, and had begun to dance around them, with feet and hands keeping time to a steady rhythm played out by a trio of men who had clicked their tongues and pounded on a collection of hollowed out logs and dried stems.
Having grabbed a stick from the ever burning fire pit, Mambo had held it high over head and whirled around them, spraying the helpless couples with a shower of sparks and chunks of glowing embers. Thought it might be lame, but I have to say, bring out the next one. I'll even type it for you!
Quintspinner: A Pirate's Quest (Quintspinner Series Book 1) by Dianne Greenlay | BookLife
One of the best reads EVER. Wow- here is a fiction novel that has it all: Murder, Mystery, Suspense, Action, Fantasy and a bit of magic thrown in to make it a very engaging read! A fast and furious ride from the first page to the last! In the first of what appears to be a series, Dianne Greenlay's "Quintspinner A Pirate's Quest" is a fantastic historical-fiction adventure, with a hint of fantasy thrown in. This newbie author has created a wonderfully entertaining page turner filled with dark magical lore, murder, pirates and romance.
And I thought, a chapter or two ago, everybody was gonna live happily ever after--But no, here it is--big time, blood, guts and gore.