This second Young
Adult book in the Pirate’s Calling series continues
the tale of Sam Every, an unlikely hero from the
twenty-first century, who was transported through
time to the Age of Pirates. He was brought there by
a girl named Sarah to defeat Jem Slayer, an evil
conjurer with great powers. Now, Sam must continue
this struggle after learning that Sarah and a
comrade – two people he fully trusted – have
deceived him. In addition, he is grievously injured
in a fight against Slayer.
Once again, former
pirate Ben Hornigold and some friends from Sam’s time
period join in his quest. Together they travel through
magical realms and Caribbean waters in a continuing
effort to defeat Slayer.
Although Sam has
been in this fight for a while, he continues to doubt
his abilities and his courage like the orchestra-nerd
he was when Sarah first met him. Instead of being
hardened by all he has experienced, the fact he was
defeated once by Slayer and the disabling injuries he
sustained have left him questioning his chances for
success.
Sam’s powers guide
Hornigold’s ship through a magical realm and into an
open sea. But Slayer is waiting for them, commanding a
Royal Navy warship. A sea battle ensues with Slayer
and Sam unleashing magic projectiles at each ship.
Most of Hornigold’s crew are killed and the rest
tragically abandoned on the sinking ship when Slayer
wins the day. Hornigold, Sam, and Sam’s friends are
taken prisoner.
An unconscious Sam
awakens to find himself wrapped in chains that cut
into his skin and imprisoned in a cell aboard Slayer’s
ship. Hurt, alone and in the dark, Sam despairs of his
chances for success or ever returning home again. Then
he thinks of the pirate crew and that they, like
others, all died trying to help him. With grim
determination he stops doubting himself and vows to
defeat Slayer.
Strangely, Sam’s
guards are dressed as Royal Marines, but worship Lord
Slayer. Sam realizes Slayer controls their minds, but
not his. He also realizes he’s being kept alive for a
reason but what?
Unwilling to become
Slayer’s ally, Sam is told they will reach land that
day and he will hang in the morning. His Royal Marine
guards transfer him to a dungeon ashore where he
awaits his fate and searches for a way to prevent it.
Two other famous
pirates from history now enter the story: a
cross-dressing woman and her captain. Together they
help Sam escape and begin a new quest announced in a
cryptic note. To succeed they battle a vicious sea
monster guarding a magical island and rescue Sarah’s
sister. Realizing Slayer has moved his plans forward,
they head straight to London and a final confrontation
with Slayer. Their hunt takes them into the Tower of
London, passing through open gates in thick walls, and
crossing a moat before entering the castle where
Slayer awaits them.
Will Sarah help Sam
after seeing her sister? Do Sam and his friends return
to their own time? Will Slayer get defeated or will
Sam meet his Maker?
Does anyone live happily ever after? You’ll
have to read it for yourself to find out!
Readers of this
book will be caught up in the action. All kinds of
characters come to life within these pages. The
pirates sound and act like pirates and even the demons
and creatures seem real. The vivid descriptions
effortlessly paint pictures of the surroundings and
many mortal struggles that take place. Like Sam,
you’ll rush from one danger to another in this great
page-turner that’s better than the first book in the
series.
Review
copyrighted ©2018 Irwin Bryan
Pirates
and Privateers
