On The Blockade

First off, I didn't realize it was a third book in a series, so that may be part of why others enjoyed it more than me.

Second, I think it contains the funniest typo I have ever seen, where he thinks perhaps he should go wear “ashcloth and sashes” instead of sackcloth and ashes! Oh, what a mental picture.

Overall, the plot was really confusing because the characters kept getting called by the titles (the commander, the captain) and with each conquest of a new ship the positions change. Christy himself is barely out of school and is smarter than all the other captains combined. While it's nice he is that smart, it gets told to us over and over again, until it begins to seem really disrespectful of all the other veterans who have been on the high seas for years.

Lastly, the characters that people the pages are extremely one-dimensional and function only as mere figures and puppets for the action of the story, and most emotions are seen through the opinions of other characters.

I had tried one Optic book when I was young and wasn't able to finish it. This simply confirms my opinion that his writing is not and will never be in my style.