Dragonfrigate Wizard Halcyon Blithe

by James M. Ward

Book Overview

The 'Halcyon Blithe' are nautical tales rich in magic and intrigue set against a panorama of fantastic naval battles as we follow the career of a young midshipwizard as he moves up through the ranks... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0765312549
• ISBN13: 9780765312549
• Release Date: November 2006
• Publisher: Tor Books
• Length: 319 Pages
• Weight: 1.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 5.9" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Classic Fantasy

I recently picked up this book on a whim. It was well worth while. I devoured it and it's predecessor in a weekend upsetting my wife. But then the following week I began reading it aloud to my 8 year old son. James Ward's shows his depth of knowledge as he introduces and colorfully describes the detail of a multitude of introductory topics of classic fantasy. From the intricacies of shipboard life to sword practice and use, the world of Halcyon Blythe is fantastically described. The plot flows at a fast pace keeping the reader on the edge of their seat without neglecting to develop a strong core of characters and their capabilities. Halcyon Blythe has entertained myself while engaging, educating and entertaining my son. A Fantastic Find!

Excellent book - where's the sequel??

I really enjoyed reading this book, but it leaves you without much closure and so I was hoping there was a sequel out already. Is there a sequel coming out, and if so, when? (because I want to read it!)

Entertaining series off to a great start

James M. Ward has done a very good job of translating nautical fiction into a fantasy world, ala Noami Novik's Temeraire novels. While Novik's books are better crafted, Ward knows his subject well, and has obviously spent a lot of time reading Patrick O'Brien, Alexander Kent, and the Hornblower saga. His characters and plot twists are well executed and these books are a fun read. A couple of reviewers have pointed out Ward's writing flaws, and they are real - the most apparent being the rapid switch from one point of view to another. At first I couldn't believe that any editor would allow a book to be published with an exceptional error in prose like that - I mean, at LEAST seperate the paragraphs with a double space to warn readers it's no longer one character thinking but another. Aside from this at times annoying habit, one Ward will hopefully rectify when someone points it out to him, all other points are extremely minor and I find that the books are a good enough read to be able to ignore these violations of the sometimes ultra-rigid Hoyle's of writing. It just goes to show that a good story will overcome even glaring mistakes. God bless Tor and their writer-friendly editors who know their audience better than more uptight companies. For a writer of role playing games and RPG novels, Ward shines like a diamond in the rough - there's a whole list of these who do not, and couldn't carry off a book like this.

A worthy sequel to "Midshipman Halcyon Blithe"

Combining elements of Horatio Hornblower with Harry Potter, and Robert Louis Stevenson with Robin Hobb, "Dragonfrigate Wizard Halcyon Blithe" is a nautical tale rich in magic and intrigue, set against a panorama of fantastic naval battles. It is the second book in the series, and sequel to "Midshipman Halcyon Blithe". Halcyon Blithe, a young man of good breeding and lineage--endowed with great potential, is ready to seek his fortune among those who tend and sail the awesome nautical juggernauts--the dragonships which harness the bodies and strength of living dragons with seafaring technology. In the latest chapter of the young wizard's nautical education, he finds himself second in command of a captured enemy vessel that must engage a demonship in combat before returning to port--whereupon he is assigned duty on a dwarven dragonship. It is on this very ship that he and his shipmates must fight against crooked politics to regain the security of their Arcanian dragonship and trusted crewmates. James M. Ward does an excellent job of spinning a tale that is fast paced, filled with drama, and highly entertaining. An exceptionally fine book, that is highly recommended.

Even Better Than The First Blithe Book

James Ward aptly continues the adventures of Blithe, who manages to land a promotion in this sequel. The character grows during the adventure, leaving the reader wanting another book. The dwarves are particularly well done. Recommended!