Reviews: Mistress of the Sea (2)

This is a rare example of a historical adventure story that stays within the perimeters of probability. The heroine is strong-willed enough to put her risky plan into action, but in other ways she does not behave like a 21st-century woman in fancy dress, but as a product of her own period, with all the restrictions that imposes on women in particular. The lush descriptions of Central America come across as authentic and well-researched.

I wasn't totally blown away by this book (hence four stars, rather than five), but I would be quite prepared to read another by the same author.

From the vivid opening scenes of bear baiting, the reader is transported into an Elizabethan England far from the usual Court locations and characters. The initial setting for Mistress of the Sea is Plymouth and soon moves to the dangers of the exotic New World where the ruthless Spaniards and inhospitable terrain taunt Will Doonan, Ellyn Cooksley, Francis Drake and the rest of the privateers.

Jenny Barden captures all the smells, sights, sounds and customs of sixteenth century life with consummate skill. This, combined with the heart-stopping action of the battle and torture scenes and the wiil-they-won't-they love story between Will and Ellyn bought this epic tale to life and I didn't want it to end. Even though I have read this book in its earlier drafts (something I only do if the story is worth it), I couldn't put it down. A book to buy and treasure.