Rousing adventure yarns transport readers to different eras and plant them in the middle of magnificent scenery and risky quests. Kirkus Indie recently reviewed books that invite the audience to join a 1,200-mile ocean voyage; the pursuit of a pirate ship in the Caribbean; and a treacherous treasure hunt in western Asia.
Susan Conrad’s Inside My Sea of Dreams focuses on a young seafarer’s journey from Washington state to Alaska along the coastal water trail called the Inside Passage. Navigating her rainbow-colored kayak named Kami, Suz sees intriguing sights like “steep-walled fjords, just a sliver on the sea.” According to our reviewer, the picture book—illustrated by Rebecca Rothman—delivers “a dynamic adventure tale, based on a true story, told in evocative images and prose.”
The daughter of pirates embarks on a dangerous mission in Dan E. Hendrickson’s Brandy, set in the 19th century. Brandy—who runs a tavern with her uncle—discovers that the murderous villain who captured her parents’ pirate ship, The Red Witch, plans to expand the slave trade in the Caribbean. While she decides to stop him by claiming her legacy, she also must deal with a complex personal matter: She has fallen for first mate John Edwards of The Morning Star. The “briskly paced” pirate tale “seamlessly blends action and a love story,” our critic writes.
In Circle of Dreams by Robert E. Ferguson, two pals seek a priceless religious artifact: the holy robe of Jesus. This third installment of a trilogy stars Granger Lawton and Bobby McAllister. They sail with their team of archaeologists and bodyguards to various places—including Jerusalem and Istanbul—looking for clues and dodging armed religious zealots. Then a team member ends up fatally shot. Our reviewer calls the novel an “entertaining finale to a rewarding treasure-hunting series.”
Myra Forsberg is an Indie editor.
