Running Close to the Wind
Ratings5
Average rating3.9
Avra Helvaçi, former field agent of the Araşti Ministry of Intelligence, has accidentally stolen the single most expensive secret in the world—and the only place to flee with a secret that big is the open sea.
To find a buyer with deep enough pockets, Avra must ask for help from his on-again, off-again ex, the pirate Captain Teveri az-Ḥaffār. They are far from happy to see him, but together, they hatch a plan: take the information to the isolated pirate republic of the Isles of Lost Souls, fence it, profit. The only things in their way? A calculating new Araşti ambassador to the Isles of Lost Souls who’s got his eyes on Avra’s every move; Brother Julian, a beautiful, mysterious new member of the crew with secrets of his own and a frankly inconvenient vow of celibacy; the fact that they’re sailing straight into sea serpent breeding season and almost certain doom.
But if they can find a way to survive and sell the secret on the black market, they’ll all be as wealthy as kings—and, more important, they’ll be legends.
At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
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I listened to this audio book for two reasons. First, I heard the author speak at a book festival and they described how this novel fits well into a genre the author themselves coined - "hopepunk." And second, the plot was (accurately I'd say) described as similar to the show about queer pirates I enjoyed - "Our Flag Means Death." The reader of the audiobook was excellent in bringing the voices alive - especially Avra - the goofy, yet deeply loveable main character. The plot moves slowly at first and it took me a while to enter into the story-world. It's not a page turning thriller by any means, yet it kept me engaged through out. The constant bantering about sex was funny at first and then a bit tedious as the story continued. I did like the relationships at the center of this ultimately heartwarming adjacent story.
It's a 4 but like a really high 4. This book was so much fun!
A very different vibe than A Taste of Gold and Iron but I think I liked it even more? The audiobook had me laughing within the first 4% and overall the humor really worked for me.
Not only did I really like our main characters but I also really enjoyed the dynamic of the ships crew. I also really liked the fantasy aspects of the book, we see ghosts, glowing dogs, and more.
Overall I would say this is a silly fun good time with lots of raunchy humor.
The book had TJ Klune vibes but with more hilarity. I was laughing so hard at the banter.
The writing was excellent and the storyline... GENIUS! It's a queer pirate fantasy book and I was so entertained I ordered my hubs a copy on amazon and he is almost done and he is the world slowest reader.
Cannot recommend this book enough and the narrator.... Perfection. I could listen to them all day long.
4 stars! I felt it could have been a bit shorter.
