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The Guardship
The Guardship
Mar 25, 2026 5:01 PM

Author:James Nelson

The Guardship

If you like Patrick O'Brian and Bernard Cornwell, you will love this exciting, action-packed maritime adventure from bestselling author James Nelson.

"A master both of his period and of the English language" -- PATRICK O'BRIAN

"Brilliant...Readers will gladly be swept along by a wonderful plot" -- PUBLISHERS WEEKLY

"Don't just buy this one to see if you like it, get the three at once and cancel any engagements for the next several days." -- ***** Reader review

"Read it far too quickly" -- ***** Reader review

"Superb" -- ***** Reader review

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WHEN THE PAST THREATENS TO CATCH UP WITH HIM, CAN HE MUSTER THE STRENGTH HE NEEDS?

When Thomas Marlowe decides to renounce his life as a pirate - and keep it a secret, he uses the bounty he has amassed to purchase a fine Virginia plantation from a beautiful young widow, Elizabeth Tinling.

While defending her honour, he kills the favourite son of one of the colony's most powerful families. But in a clever piece of manoeuvring, he manages to win command of the Plymouth Prize, the colony's decrepit guardship, and is charged with leading the King's sailors in battle against the cutthroats who infest the waters off Virginia's shores.

A threat from his illicit past appears, however, as an old pirate enemy plots to seize the colony's wealth, forcing Marlowe to choose between losing all - or facing the one man he fears.

The Guardshipis the first book of the Brethren of the Coast trilogy. Marlowe's story continues in The Blackbirder.

Reviews

'A master both of his period and of the English language'

—— Patrick O'Brian

'Brilliant...Readers will gladly be swept along by a wonderful plot'

—— Publishers Weekly

Entertaining, keenly observed, incisive

—— New York Times

Compelling… Galassi propels his readers forward on a thought-provoking, often hilarious, bittersweet ride… A bravura first novel

—— Los Angeles Review of Books

Accomplished, entertaining, affecting

—— New York Journal of Books

Muse is quintessentially stylish, as well as a poetic contemplation on the mythologising of authors…and the impact of fame on life

—— Observer

There is throughout this book a combination of delicacy and vigour.

—— Maureen N. McLane , Vice UK

[Galassi] writes with the fluency and authority of someone who has lived within the circles and scenes he typifies.

—— Claire Hazelton , Guardian

[A] smart, satirical debut.

—— Caroline Leeming , Sunday Express

Brimming with insider details…the book is a testament to the purity of the written word and the turmoil that can be required to get it on paper.

—— New Yorker

Galassi paints a lively portrait of the New York publishing scene

—— Emily Rhodes , Spectator

A witty tale of the book world, writers, muses and the vagaries of the intellectual mind.

—— Love Reading

Outré and witty

—— Madeleine Kingsley , Jewish Chronicle

This is a deft, shrewd, frequently anguished, occasionally hilarious investigation into the endless ways in which we make ourselves miserable

—— Sarah Crown , The Times Literary Supplement

With implacable wit and a dramatist’s sense of timing, Reza offers snapshots from the psyches of eighteen characters… The tone is wry, warm, and accepting

—— New Yorker

An addictive and intoxicating coming-of-age tale with a dark and serious edge

—— The Bookseller

Intense and emotionally charged . . . A fascinating cast and a relentless plot . . . Intriguing

—— The Bookseller

A brilliantly gripping and atmospheric novel of sudden revelations as memories surface . . . Characters are vivid and engaging, the plot is compelling and unpredictable and the mood is, in turn, humorous, romantic, magical, dangerous, frightening and haunting

—— Magpies

Stylishly written, highly engaging and utterly captivating, The Accident Season heralds the arrival of one the most original and striking voices in YA fiction for decades

—— Daisy Chain Book Reviews

A brilliant, eerie debut

—— Mumsnet

There’s a lot of buzz about this book, and I can see why. From the first chapter you’re immediately drawn in. There’s a sense of danger from the outset . . . This is an incredibly haunting debut and I’m looking forward to seeing more from Fowley-Doyle

—— Askews & Holts

Thrilling, exciting, twisted, engaging and unique. As a slightly darker book, the storyline keeps the reader on the edge of their seat and eager to read on . . . perfect for someone who enjoys riveting stories and is a must-read for any keen readers like myself

—— Bridie, 15 , Big Issue

Fowley-Doyle’s stunning debut novel weaves the temporal and the spiritual into a seamless reality, rich in emotional impact . . . Will cast its spell over older teens and adults alike

—— School Library Journal

A haunting and atmospheric coming of age story whose offbeat characters and lyrical prose style beguile the reader from the first page. An arresting & memorable debut

—— Peters Newsletter

The whole package: teenage angst (but of course), broken families, strong friendships, a sprinkle of romance and a lot of mystery

—— Star

An extremely cool and quirky science fiction adventure, stacked full of hilarious and fitting pop culture references. Cline has created a fast paced and engaging story using a perfect blend of humour, futuristic tech and video-game like action sequences.

—— Brit Book Boy

Ernest Cline is a genius in every sense of the word…This was truly wonderful, everything I had hoped it would be, and then heaps and heaps more.

—— Tea and Book Reviews

Release your inner nerd and rejoice!

—— The Fancy Octopus

Armada is a gamer’s fantasy come true.

—— Read at Midnight

thriller-like plotting…immensely readable

—— SFX

It’s a hoot, from beginning to end

—— Christoria

Literally everything I could ask for

—— Emma's Bookery

A highly rewarding journey…thoroughly enjoyable fiction.

—— SF Book

Armada is a journey towards emotional intelligence and understanding, a journey towards some questions answered, others posed – huge questions they are too. Armada’s a good ‘un.

—— Frost

A surprising thriller, a coming of age, space-fighting adventure which will thrill sci-fi fans and gamers alike.

—— Metro

It is often said that the best novels are those that don’t waste any time – the ones that grip the reader from the very first line. Armada does this better than perhaps any other book I’ve read.This book is a love-letter to the science fiction genre. It’s a concentrated shot of sci-fi nerdery that’s definitely worth experiencing.

—— One Giant Read

Armada is fun, so go enjoy it for the first time… or the second.

—— Geekdad
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