While I found this book to be at best, mildly interesting, my overall feeling is one of disapointment. This effort would have been better served had it been split into two seperate books. This would have allowed for a more focused plot development. I found the numerous side stories to be a distraction, and felt they detracted from the overall focus of the book. This book had potential, which was never realized, due, in my opinion, to the reader never really being able to determine what the main storyline was supposed to be. The most interesting and informative portion of the book is the Afterword, where the Author outlined the figures from History who were the inspiration for the different charachters within the fragmented, unfocused, and otherwise un-remarkable book. Wow, did I love this amazing book! It truly was like a James Clavell or Leon Uris historical novel where a great deal of research has gone into the accurate historical background, and the fiction and fictional characters were created to fit into the history--rather than recreating history to fit the whims of the author's fiction. I know, because this book had me bouncing all over the internet reading maps and histories to delve deeper into the stories. I should have been awarded three college credits for how much I learned before I was done and I now know more about the Puritan Reformation and Caribbean history than I will ever need to know again. It was a complex story that could have been written in two volumes, but wasn't, and even though it was a double-sized story, I was still heart-broken to finish it knowing how hard it would be to move on to lesser books, but, hey, give me a few years, and I'll be reading it again. I do have some criticisms--like wasn't the hero just a bit too noble and patient for a dissolute smuggler--but they are outweighed by the sheer enjoyment of the adventure, indeed, battles and adventure galore. This is a book for lovers of historical fiction who love history, rather than lovers of "historical fiction" who love bodice-rippers. It may be more of a "man's book" than chick lit, but that's okay with me; I like grit but not mush.
What do You think about Caribee (2000)?
Very enjoyable historical romance novel that kept me turning pages til the end.
—JermMan89
So far, not bad. Only about 1/4 way into it.
—eden
