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Reviewed by Saifunnissa Hassam for Readers' Favorite
Thomas M. Wing's novel In Harm's Way: Book One of The Sea Hawkes Chronicles is an action-packed and riveting historical novel based on the American War of Independence against the British. The story was inspired by actual naval battles. The story begins in 1775 off the coast of Norfolk, Virginia. Captain Jonas Hawke returns home to Norfolk after several months of trading in the Indies and the Caribbean. He finds that Norfolk and other Atlantic colonial ports are blockaded by the British in retaliation for the colonists' rebellion. Jonas is inevitably drawn into the rebellion. In 1776, Jonas readied his ship, Resolute, to sail as a privateer for the American Continental Congress, challenging the British Navy's control of the open seas.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading In Harm's Way for its compelling characters and richly imagined storyline. I particularly liked the character development of Captain Jonas Hawke. I became immersed in the story quickly, as the early chapters interweave the colonists' emerging rebellion, the British blockade in retaliation, and the impact on the lives of ordinary people, with the focus on Norfolk. Compelling and deeply moving, the introductory chapters reveal Jonas's love for his family and the courage of the ordinary people of Norfolk to fight the British Navy. Through Jonas' actions, thoughts, and emotions, I could follow his decision to return to sea. The tension, the excitement, the action, and the dangers build, expressed through powerful and vivid narration. The well-crafted scenes of life aboard the ship reveal Jonas's excellent seamanship. The dangerous situations he faces show vividly his courage and his determination to protect his men's lives. The story gained great depth as key secondary characters emerge, the details being woven into their daily life at sea and the battles. When a storm hit the ship, the sea itself became a character for me. The descriptions are riveting, and the narration paints a vivid picture of the terrifying challenges ships and sailors faced in the grip of a deadly storm. The story turns and twists to the very end; the tension remains high, almost unbearable. Thomas M. Wing offers a great naval story.
