Mad Kestrel

Mad Kestrel Kestrel has a secret talent that puts her life in danger, so she finds her safety as the quartermaster and second in command of a pirate ship. Her secret is not the only one that puts her in a deadly intrigue of rescue and deception, and her untimely attraction to the captain of an elegant ship gives her one more thing to manage as she sets out to save her captain and his ship. The pacing is excellent, the characters colorful, the plot as twisted as the rope in a bosun's chair. It's a lovely read, and I highly recommend it to all me hearties. Arrrrr!

This book is tons of fun! A perfect read for a rainy spring afternoon and well into the night. One thing that makes this book good is that Massey has left herself room to develop her world in the future. She is not locked in to something which may need to change as she grows and matures as an author and storyteller. Kestrel is a great heroine. She is brave, smart, skilled, feminine, tough, etc. without being a femi-nazi. Her relationships with her crew run the gamut from Shadd's close friendship to the herd behavior of others. (No spoiler here.) Pirate craze or not, Kestrel is a character who has the potential to keep going and blaze her own trail (or leave her own wake.)

This seagoing adventure feels both familiar and exotic at the same time, combining elements of historical fantasy with an otherworldly setting. You can lose yourself in the bustling harbor town of Eldraga, with its colorful inns and gritty back alleys, and there's plenty of swashbuckling action and a dash of pirate humor. But meanwhile, the looming presence of the unseen Danisoban mages adds an element of the supernatural even before we see how the subtle magic works its way into the story. The characters are particularly well-drawn, especially the aging Captain Binns, Kestrel herself, and the ragtag pirate crew. Their behavior is just what you'd expect from a bunch of nautical rogues, but the tale is full of unexpected turns as well. All in all, a fantastic first effort from Misty Massey. It ended too soon, but I won't complain, since now the stage is set for Kestrel's further adventures. Should appeal to fans of Scott Lynch's The Lies of Locke Lamora, as well as books like On Stranger Tides by Tim Powers and Michael Scott Rohan's Chase the Morning.

Rollicking good time is right! Some may say that the pirate craze is dying down, but what does it matter; Misty Massey's Mad Kestrel doesn't need a trend to make it excellent. To being with, her characters are excellent, intriguing, even. Big plus number one. No matter how exciting a book might otherwise be, I can't stand weakly fleshed out, limp characters. Not a problem here. Kestrel is a strongly conceived character without being obnoxiously "perfect." The secondary and even tertiary characters are strong enough in their own right that their presence can be felt, even when they're not directly involved in the scene. The plot is sufficiently convoluted to keep you guessing and on your toes and the resolutions of the minor sub-plots are all tied up deftly, though not in a contrived manner. Misty Massey has also built a fabulous world. You can feel the depth of detail and history, that is not told, affecting her characters. It was a grand story. I can only hope another book following Kestrel's adventures will be forthcoming soon!

I'm not typically a fantasy reader but had my reasons for picking this book up. That said, I was sad each time I had to put it down as the story of Kestrel and her quest to save her Captin was a pageturner. I was actually disappointed when I reached the end as I wanted the story to continue! An excellent tale and filled with adventure and unexpected twists.