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Talleyman: Thrilling historical naval fiction (The Victorian Maritime Adventure Series Book 1) Kindle Edition

3.6 out of 5 stars 800 ratings

Don’t miss this classic Victorian nautical adventure novel! Perfect for fans of Dewey Lambdin, Julian Stockwin and Patrick O’Brian.

Talleyman is caught up in a deadly uprising…

1848, Ireland

With ten years at sea already under his belt,
Lieutenant Thomas Talleyman of Her Majesty’s Royal Navy joins his first steamship, Santorin, with orders to sail from Portsmouth to distribute cornmeal among the poor in Ireland.

On their arrival into Coulagh Bay, County Cork, the crew of the
Santorin find the country in the grip of a deadly famine, the people abandoned; hunger and despair driving the tenant farmers to acts of rebellion.

When Talleyman intercepts a shipment of weapons smuggled from America into Ireland under the guise of famine relief, and uncovers plans for a major insurrection, he is driven by his training and loyalty to his service to take sides.

But which side will he choose? And will he survive the uprising?

As tensions escalate, Talleyman knows that it is not just lives that are at stake, but the future of Ireland itself...

TALLEYMAN is the first book in The Victorian Maritime Adventure Series: thrilling historical adventures stuffed to the gunwales with authentic detail of nineteenth-century seafaring.

‘A nifty naval novel’ –
Kirkus Reviews

The Victorian Maritime Adventure Series:
BOOK 1: Talleyman
BOOK 2: Talleyman in the Ice

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There are 2 books in this series.
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B09FXYKVS4
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Sapere Books
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 9, 2021
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1.9 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 320 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1800554368
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Book 1 of 2 ‏ : ‎ The Victorian Maritime Adventure Series
  • Customer Reviews:
    3.6 out of 5 stars 800 ratings

About the author

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John James
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Customer reviews

3.6 out of 5 stars
800 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers have mixed opinions about the pacing of the book, with several noting it's not naval fiction at all. The character variety receives negative feedback, with customers finding them confusing.

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5 customers mention "Pacing"3 positive2 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the pacing of the book, with some noting it is not naval fiction at all.

"...to life in the Victorian era Royal Navy, and an intricate compelling depiction of life and conditions in Ireland in the midst of the terrible potato..." Read more

"This book was not naval fiction at all. It was 95% about a British naval officer who spent the whole book in Ireland on land...." Read more

"...Truly engrossing story." Read more

"...This was not a thrilling naval fiction.I don't" Read more

3 customers mention "Character variety"0 positive3 negative

Customers find the character variety confusing in the book.

"...I had a hard time differentiating the characters and often had to go back reread sections in order to follow the story...." Read more

"...If that wasn't bad enough the characters were confusing,even their names were confusing and relationships were even more confusing...." Read more

"It’s been a long time since I read a worst book. The characters were so disassociated it was hard to keep up with." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on November 26, 2021
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Anyone who loves the Foster’s Hornblower books and doesn’t mind the introduction of steam engines to sailing ships will enjoy this series of adventures!
  • Reviewed in the United States on April 22, 2022
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Fascinating introduction to life in the Victorian era Royal Navy, and an intricate compelling depiction of life and conditions in Ireland in the midst of the terrible potato blight famine. The book cover bears no relation to the story, and if you’re looking for standard implausible tales with frequent naval engagements you won’t find it here. This is more akin to O’Brien's “Post Captain”. I'm definitely not saying this book is at the Master's level of of storytelling, but it is at least worthy of comparison, which is a tremendous accomplishment for the author. Well done, Sir!
  • Reviewed in the United States on January 13, 2022
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    If you look for naval fiction you get here Irish history. Given very wel worked out. Even the cover picture does not show the steamer. The running of first steam ships was very interesting.
    2 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on June 12, 2022
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Seemed a realistic description of conditions and how the British Navy got involved.
    2 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on July 7, 2022
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    I was anticipating a storyline based on thrilling historical naval fiction. What I found was a somewhat good book about a conflicted English naval officer uncertain of his duties, his family, and his friends. The author‘s writing encouraged me to research more about the potato famine and its horrendous impact on the lives of the impoverished and starving Irish families.
    I had a hard time differentiating the characters and often had to go back reread sections in order to follow the story. The vernacular made the story hard to follow as well.
    I’m hoping book 2 in the series will both involve thrilling naval fiction and will improve my understanding of the character development. I had purchased both books at the same time. Unfortunately after reading only book 1, I cannot recommend this book.
    2 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on October 24, 2021
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    First part of a series, this tells the story of fourth lieutenant Talleyman of the Royal Navy. Also paints vivid pictures of life at sea, what's required for rank progression, and life in general. All aboard one of the first sailing ships outfitted with the new experimental steam engines. Truly engrossing story.
    4 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on October 18, 2021
    Format: Paperback
    An odd mix of intelligent prose and discerning characterization, coupled with jumbled narrative and confusion transition between viewpoints. Also lacking in much nautical flavor, relative to an intense focus on Ireland during the potato famine. I would give the series a second try because this is a period under-covered in nautical fiction and the author can turn an elegant phrase. I would hope to see more editing amd a focus on the sea.
    2 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on September 26, 2022
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    This book was not naval fiction at all. It was 95% about a British naval officer who spent the whole book in Ireland on land. If I wanted a book on the Irish rebellion then I would’ve read one specifically about that.

Top reviews from other countries

  • Goldy Oldy
    4.0 out of 5 stars Very boring
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 2, 2024
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    To mutch woffell
  • Tom7737
    4.0 out of 5 stars Well Worth Reading
    Reviewed in Canada on February 2, 2022
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    This is more about the Irish potato famine than "thrilling historical naval fiction" but it was still an interesting read. The characters are compelling and I look forward to the next in the series.
  • brian richardson
    3.0 out of 5 stars irish history
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 27, 2023
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    if you want to learn about victorian ireland this is the book!
  • Chris
    2.0 out of 5 stars Chris's fire
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 18, 2022
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    It does certainly not live up to the title. Even the the picture on the front cover is misleading. The story is neither thrilling nor Naval it is a boring tale with little substance and in many places so relying on the vernacular that both reading and understanding is almost impossible
  • Amazon Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars An interesting and well written story.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 22, 2022
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    A likeable character. The story is a little slow but the plot works well.

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