Orphan Kit Faulkner, who was fortunate to be taken aboard a merchant ship and trained to be a sailor, finds himself rising through the ranks, facing challenges of a life at sea, and faced with tough decisions as England edges closer to civil war. - (Baker & Taylor)

Bristol, England, 1618. Kit Faulkner is a young vagrant orphan, but his life changes forever when two gentlemen spot his potential and he is taken aboard their merchant ship, The Swallow, to be trained for a life at sea. As he rises through the ranks, he risks all in encounters with pirates and French corsairs. Meanwhile, England edges ever closer to civil war, and very soon Kit must chose which side he will fight for. A thrilling maritime adventure, the first in a new series set against the backdrop of the English Civil War. - (Baker & Taylor)

Booklist Reviews

Woodman, master of both maritime nonfiction and fiction, launches a new series set in the roiling waters of the English Civil War era. In 1618, orphaned wharf-rat Kit Faulkner has an encounter with two seafaring toffs that dramatically alters the course of his life. Apprenticed to Captains Henry Mainwaring and Gideon Strange, he sets sail on one of their merchant ships to learn the business of seamanship from the bottom up. A quick study with a natural affinity for all things nautical, he rises quickly through the ranks. Later, on land, he clerks for the politically connected Mainwaring, acquiring the polish of a gentleman and catching the eye of the comely Katherine Villiers. As war looms large on the horizon, Kit must make a series of decisions that will test his loyalty and affect the futures of his family, his business interests, and his country. This salty adventure is deepened by the introduction of real-life characters and the author's considerable knowledge of British naval and mercantile shipping history. Copyright 2011 Booklist Reviews.