Review by Jill Williamson
The story opens with a man named Delaney sitting on a post in the middle of a jungle lake that is infested with piranah and horrible mermonkeys. As Delaney ponders how he came to be in such a predicament, the reader drifts with his memory and into a wonderful adventure. We come to know the story of a girl named Jenta who was low born but brought up as a lady. We learn of a young man named Damrick who stands up to defend the common folk from pirates by forming the Hell’s Gatemen. As Damrick and his men take to the seas, we meet many pirates such as Sharkbit Sutter, Conch Imbry, Dancer Clang, Skeel Baris, and Belisar the Whale. All of these ingreedients combine to form a very interesting and extremely entertaining adventure.
This book was engaging. It took a few chapters to get me into the author’s style, though. It was interesting to experience a story through one man’s memory of another man’s tale, but it worked very well with this pirate novel. Polivka’s characters were dynamic. I could see them and hear them. I could relate to how they got to where they were in life and why they did the things they did. I really liked one of the themes of how the love and encouragement and prayer of one person can change another’s life. I’ll be thinking of this one for a while.
This book not only had wonderful characters, the plot was smart and I couldn’t guess how the author was going to pull all his story threads together. That in itself makes it so satisfying in the end, though it’s not the happiest of tales. I highly recommend this one to just about everyone.
Age Range: 16 and up
Genre: Fantasy
Part of a Series: no
Pages: 373
Publisher: Harvest House
Released: 2009
Check out what other CSFF bloggers are saying about Blaggard’s Moon.
Brandon Barr, Jennifer Bogart, Keanan Brand, Melissa Carswell, Amy Cruson, CSFF Blog Tour, Stacey Dale, D. G. D. Davidson, Jeff Draper, April Erwin, Karina Fabian, Alex Field, Marcus Goodyear, Todd Michael Greene, Ryan Heart, Timothy Hicks, Cris Jesse, Jason Joyner, Kait, Carol Keen, Mike Lynch, Magma, Margaret, Melissa Meeks, Rebecca LuElla Miller, Nissa, John W. Otte, Steve Rice, Crista Richey, Chawna Schroeder, James Somers, Rachel Starr Thomson, Steve Trower, Speculative Faith, Jason Waguespack, Fred Warren, Phyllis Wheeler, Jill Williamson
Great review, Jill.
I was especially interested in what others on the tour thought of the unique story structure. I was fascinated by this inventive format. And truly, once I connected with the characters (and it didn’t take me long to connect with Jenta), I thought the way the story unfolded added to the suspense.
Becky
Hey Jill,
I really enjoyed this book as well…Polivka writes my kind of fiction.
I like how you put it…”the plot was smart”. I couldn’t agree more.
I was totally shocked at some of the characters passing away….I could hardly believe it. The story wasn’t predictable at all for me.
Lately, it seems, books have had a hard task to get my attention, but I was into this one from the first page. Couldn’t quite tell you why, but (shrug) I grabbed the rope and hung on for the ride.
Glad you liked it!
I’ve always loved the story structure where the author weaves several different stories and viewpoints together since I first read it in “Holes.”