Synopsis

The Barbary Coast, 1621.

A mysterious vessel floats silently on the water. It is known only as the Ghost Ship. For months it has hunted pirates to liberate those enslaved by corsairs, manned by a courageous crew of mariners from Italy and France, Holland and the Canary Islands.

But the bravest men on board are not who they seem. And the stakes could not be higher. If arrested, they will be hanged for their crimes. Can they survive the journey and escape their fate?

Review

Kate Mosse is one of my favourite authors and her attention to detail is outstanding – she once mentioned the importance of checking light in alleyways to make sure people can hide successfully, without their shadow giving them away.

This is what makes The Ghost Ship such a vivid story. From on board ship, to a dank prison cell in the Canary Islands and noble houses in La Rochelle, everything is believable and richly woven together. Characters have so much depth, but allow you to form your own opinions about them; at the same time, you can’t help but root for them, immediately drawn to their cause.

Gilles and Louise are well-rounded, determined people. Their love is fierce yet tender; fraught with danger, their partnership strengthens over time and we see them both grow in their designated roles, challenging the expected life assigned to them at birth. It’s beautiful, casual queerness. Their fellow crew members are also relatable and support the two women with admirable loyalty.

Religion is a topic I find fascinating, especially throughout history when there was so much upheaval, as the smallest mistake could see you burned for heresy, or even as a witch. The story also looks at piracy, international trade and the role of women in the seventeenth century and is driven as much by its plot as by its characters.

The refugees we’ve followed throughout the Joubert Chronicles are as much old friends as they are characters and we cannot help but be invested in their journey. It’s a perfect blend of fact and fiction that inspires us to learn more about the places we’ve visited through the pages.

Labyrinth will always be my favourite of Kate’s books, but The Ghost Ship is a close second and I can’t wait to read the next instalment.

Thanks to Mantle Books and BookBreak for my proof copy. Opinions my own.