I thought this was going to be a three star book for a long time. It takes an age to get going and the plot is unusually convoluted for Woodman, but it pulls it all back with an excellent third act. Drinkwater has obviously been in scrapes and desperate situations before, but this time it feels different - the visceral horror of naval warfare in this era is more keenly felt than in prior books and its effect on captain and crew are explored in greater detail and depth. How much longer can Nat bear to live this life?