The Price of Redemption

Taking a page from the classic naval novels of C.S. Forrester and Alexander Kent, debut novelist Carpenter opens his Tides of Magic series by tossing a mage and a commander into a series of entertaining nautical escapades in a fantasy setting reminiscent of the French Revolution. Enid, Marquise d’Tancreville, flees the Theocratic Republic that now rules her homeland. Aiding her escape, Capt. Rue Nath of Albion offers Enid the post of mage aboard his ship, the Alarum. A successful commander responsible for the daring capture of many enemy vessels, Nath has a harder time navigating the political waters of the Admiralty. Carpenter supplies all the required elements—witty banter, swashbuckling action, dramatic speeches, wild weather—and throws in a dash of magic to spice up the briny brew. The two leads display enough vulnerability and flaws to keep readers from being too certain of their victories. Carpenter’s off to a promising start. Agent: Caitlin Blasdell, Liza Dawson Assoc. (July)