Piracy. Romance. Revenge. Across the seas of the seventeenth century, two seafarers are forced to fight for their love and their lives. The sequel to The City of Tears, The Ghost Ship is the third novel in The Joubert Family Chronicles from bestselling author Kate Mosse.
The Barbary Coast, 1621. A mysterious vessel floats silently on the water. It is known only as the Ghost Ship. For months, its captain - Louise Reydon-Joubert - and her courageous crew has hunted pirates to liberate those enslaved during the course of their merciless raids.
But now the Ghost Ship is under attack – its hull splintered, its sails tattered and burnt, and the crew at risk of capture. But the bravest among them are not who they seem. Louise is fleeing a miscarriage of justice; her lover, Gilles Barenton, is at risk of being exposed - she is forced to masquerade as her brother. The stakes could not be higher: if arrested, they will be hanged for their crimes. Can they survive the journey and escape their fate?
A sweeping and epic queer love story, ranging from France in 1610 to Amsterdam and the Canary Islands in the 1620s, The Ghost Ship is a thrilling novel of adventure and buccaneering, love and revenge, stolen fortunes and hidden secrets on the High Seas. Most of all, it is a tale of defiant women in a man's world.
I'm delighted to be hosting the blog tour for The Ghost Ship today. Many thanks to Kate Mosse, Pan Macmillan and Anne Cater from Random Things Tours for inviting me and for my advance digital copy of the novel.
The Ghost Ship is the third novel in the Joubert Family Chronicles; it's the first I've read and can be enjoyed as a stand-alone story – although I'm sure some of the early chapters will hold particular emotional resonance for those who have read the previous books. There is a list of the principal characters at the start for those who appreciate having a guide to hand.
In her author's note, Kate Mosse admits that Louise Reydon-Joubert's exploits on her 'ghost ship' are unlikely but perhaps one of the great joys of fiction is that it allows tales to be told which, through the weaving of a well-structured narrative and excellent characterisation, allow readers to believe the story presented to them. The Ghost Ship isn't a book to race through, it deserves to be savoured but as I became increasingly captivated by Louise's stirring deeds, I must admit that I found it impossible to put down.
The sweeping storyline initially gives us a brief glimpse into Louise's early years leading up to the time when she is finally due her considerable inheritance. Even though these opening chapters are undoubtedly poignant, it's the decisions she makes when she is an independent woman which really drive the narrative. As a ten-year-old, she lost her heart to the sea's promise of adventure and freedom and was distraught to be told that life on a ship wasn't open to women. Thanks to the emotive, portentous prologue, we already know that Louise ends up fulfilling her wish but this is no fairytale and the storyline gradually reveals what eventually leads her to the hopeless predicament we first find her in.
As she travels from Amsterdam to Carcassonne and La Rochelle to the Canary Islands, the rich descriptions bring each location vividly to life. With every sense evoked, this meticulously researched exploration of a tumultuous period of history is utterly engrossing. The chapters on board the Old Moon are arguably the most compelling, both from a dramatic and more emotional viewpoint. The love affair which develops between Louise and Gilles Barenton is beautifully portrayed but the potential repercussions should their secrets be exposed, ensures the novel is often nerve-rackingly tense. Louise is a woman in a man's world and her determination not to let anybody stand in her way is stirring, however, Gilles' own courage is equally as moving. He is a quieter character, forced to hide who he really is and the juxtaposition between the pair – one who confronts the world and one who tries to meld into the background is fascinating. Both are such resolute, principled, courageous characters, I couldn't help but fall in love with them.
Their change of direction from running a merchant ship to swaggering piracy which becomes the stuff of legends is riveting. I'm always a little bemused by the romanticism which surrounds pirates but Kate Mosse cleverly finds a way for the crew of the Old Moon to become the feared sailors on board the mysterious Ghost Ship without them losing their integrity. The often turbulent seas are not the most dangerous element Louise has to face, however, and although nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition, the Catholic Canary Islands in 1621 are a dangerous place to be, particularly for those who live outside society's expectations.
As I reached the end of the book, I was reminded that the word 'refugee' comes from a term first used to describe the Huguenot diaspora, forced to leave their homes. It's impossible not to consider that restricting women's choices, gender nonconformity, persecution of religious or cultural beliefs and the ongoing threats and challenges to refugees aren't new phenomena at all. The Ghost Ship then does what the best historical fiction can do; it opens a door into the past, giving readers an insight into what it might have been like to live back then while holding up a mirror to the present day. Exciting, immersive and thoughtful, The Ghost Ship is a wonderful read from start to finish; I highly recommend it.
The Ghost Ship is published by Mantle Books, purchasing links can be found here but please support independent bookshops whenever possible.
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Thanks for the blog tour support. We would be really grateful if you could share your review on Amazon
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