By Dufaux & Jérémy
Publisher: Cinebook
ISBN: 9781849181921
It’s three years later and the youngsters left behind at Puerto Blanco have matured and adapted in different ways to the enforced changes of direction in their lives. Maria has married the abusive and wealthy slave trader who once terrorised her and now dominates him, exploiting his desperate need to be loved by her. Emilio is still passing himself off as female thanks to his feminine looks and physique, protected somewhat by the attentions of Flynn, while Raffy is bitter and temperamental at being left behind while his father seeks the Kashar diamond.
Maria has become a distant, controlling figure, taking advantage of her husband’s wealth as she builds a power base on the island. It was because of Maria’s actions that Raffy was forced to stay on the island, and when they meet again it is a dangerous moment that transforms anger into passion. Raffy was at the end of his tether, so the unexpected solace he finds in Maria’s arms goes quite some way to rectify his descent. Meanwhile, Emilio has grown ever closer to Flynn and the two of them begin an affair only for it to be interrupted by the arrival of Morkam, a heavily scarred black-clad pirate with a thirst to avenge himself in a duel. It’s not the first time he and Flynn have battled, but it has been some time, so Flynn seeks out assistance with his swordplay with an island recluse.
To be clear, an awful lot happens between the front and back cover here, with histories being filled in, new characters introduced, threats, missions, vengeance, not to mention a recital. The promise of the first book is rather overshadowed by the incredible amount going on in this one, and I can’t help but feel that it could have benefitted by giving the characters much more space to breathe and develop. As it is, the older versions of the three main characters come across as unsympathetic, which may well be the intention in preparation for the next act.
It doesn’t make for a bad book, but it does take the shine off what came before, so here’s hoping that some form of redemption warms the pages to come. So if you enjoyed volume one you should certainly still give this one a try, but bear in mind there’s another book to follow.
And if you liked that: Pick up the excellent Long John Silver series
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