This twelfth installment in the Thomas Kydd series provides an exotic locale that is vividly recreated by Stockwin. The perils and beauty are keenly experienced, and the adventures, both at sea and on land, are riveting. . . . Conquest is thrilling adventure with high stakes.
— Pirates and Privateers
An exciting and suspenseful historical loaded with action, intrigue, treachery, and the bloody gore of 1805 warfare. . . . [Offers] vivid and lush descriptions of colonial South Africa, professional seamanship, bold leadership, and . . . the perils of life at sea in the Royal Navy.
(Previous Edition Praise)— Publishers Weekly
A rousingly exciting and delicious full-immersion in the perils of seafaring and society during the great Age of Sail!
— Dewey Lambdin, author of the Alan Lewrie series
Comparable to C.C. Humphreys’s Jack Absolute series and the naval tales of the great Patrick O’Brian.
— Library Journal
Well-written mixture of high-seas adventure and character-based drama . . . impossible not to enjoy.
— Booklist
The vantage point of the common sailor gives the nautical novel a fresh twist. In Stockwin’s hands the sea story will continue to entrance readers across the world.
— The Guardian
Stockwin's writing is enriched by his own experiences in the Royal Navy, which gives scenes of fighting and tempest an authenticity to delight anyone who shares his passion for the sea.
— Daily Telegraph
Elegantly plotted . . . the writing has the power of a broadside at close range.
— Oxford Times
Stockwin's descriptions of the bloody reality of naval combat 200 years ago are memorably vivid, and reveal a profound respect for the seamen who were willing to sacrifice their lives to help save their country.
— Yorkshire Evening Post
Written with authoritative detail by a gifted storyteller who is passionate about the Great Age of Sail.
— Western Morning News
Likable Tom and his shipmates make a snug fit in that page-turning Forester and O'Brian tradition—thanks to retired Royal Navy author Stockwin.
— Kirkus Reviews
Stockwin continues to display his talents in transporting his audience from the 21st century to the chaotic worlds of Kydd, Renzi, and their imperiled homeland. . . . [He] goes into action with swords drawn and cannons and carronades blasting.
— Historical Novels Review Online