{"product_id":"winds-of-marque-blackwood-virtue-9780062820358","title":"Winds of Marque: Blackwood \u0026 Virtue","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\"Bennett R. Coles ranks among my go-to list in SF. Entertaining and intelligent storytelling and terrific characters. In \u003cem\u003eWinds of Marque\u003c\/em\u003e, Coles may well have invented a whole new subgenre that has me scrambling for a description--Steam Space? Whatever you call it, a blast to read. Here's hoping that many more adventures are in the offing for Blackwood and company.\" \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e--\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSteven Erikson, \u003cem\u003eNew York Times \u003c\/em\u003ebestselling author\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe first novel in an exciting science fiction series--\u003cem\u003eMaster and Commander\u003c\/em\u003e in space--a swashbuckling space adventure in which a crew of misfit individuals in the king's navy are sent to dismantle a dangerous ring of pirate raiders. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn a dense star cluster, the solar winds blow fiercely. The star sailing ship HMSS \u003cem\u003eDaring\u003c\/em\u003e is running at full sheet with a letter of marque allowing them to capture enemy vessels involved in illegal trading. Sailing under a false flag to protect the ship and its mission, \u003cem\u003eDaring\u003c\/em\u003e's crew must gather intelligence that will lead them to the pirates' base.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePosing as traders, \u003cem\u003eDaring\u003c\/em\u003e's dashing second-in-command Liam Blackwood and brilliant quartermaster Amelia Virtue infiltrate shady civilian merchant networks, believing one will lead them to their quarry. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBut their mission is threatened from within their own ranks when \u003cem\u003eDaring\u003c\/em\u003e's enigmatic captain makes a series of questionable choices, and rumblings of discontent start bubbling up from below decks, putting the crew on edge and destroying morale. On top of it all, Liam and Amelia must grapple with their growing feelings for each other.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFacing danger from unexpected quarters that could steer the expedition off course, Blackwood and Virtue must identify the real enemy threat and discover the truth about their commander--and their mission--before \u003cem\u003eDaring\u003c\/em\u003e falls prey to the very pirates she's meant to be tracking.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eColes, Bennett R.:\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e - \u003cp\u003eBennett R. Coles has a degree in naval history and served fifteen years as an officer in the Royal Canadian Navy. His first novel, \u003cem\u003eVirtues of War\u003c\/em\u003e, won the Cygnus Award grand prize for science fiction and spawned two follow-up novels, as well as a short story in the 2017 anthology \u003cem\u003eInfinite Stars\u003c\/em\u003e. He lives in Victoria, British Columbia, with his wife and two sons. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Harper Voyager","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50318011662610,"sku":"9780062820358","price":14.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_20941f99-1338-4cb5-aa3a-0e3baa017090.jpg?v=1727545283","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/winds-of-marque-blackwood-virtue-9780062820358","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}