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Persephone cover art

Persephone

By: Julian Stockwin
Narrated by: Christian Rodska
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Summary

Compelling naval action from the master of the sea story.

November 1807. Captain Sir Thomas Kydd must sail to Lisbon to aid the Portuguese Royal Family's evacuation in the face of Napoleon's ruthless advance through Iberia. In the chaos of the threatened city, an old passion is reawakened when he meets Persephone Lockwood, a beautiful and determined admiral's daughter from his past. But the Royal Family's destination is Brazil, Perspehone's England, and it seems Kydd's chance has gone again. Only later he discovers Persephone has another suitor - and if he wants to win her hand, he must enter the highest echelons of London society.

Mixing with aristocracy and royalty brings other responsibilities. The Prince of Wales asks him to take temporary command of the Royal Yacht. Sailing to Yarmouth, Kydd realises they are being stalked by French privateers. The terrible threat of a prince of the blood being captured sees Kydd call on daring seamanship of the highest order.

©2017 Julian Stockwin (P)2017 Hodder & Stoughton

Critic reviews

"In Stockwin's hands the sea story will continue to entrance readers across the world." ( Guardian)

What listeners say about Persephone

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  • Overall
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The Eye of the Storm - We Hope!

It’s been a thrilling ride throughout this series, Stockwin has re-produced some of England’s finest naval history through the eyes of his lead, Sir Thomas Kydd. He’s balanced fantastic action with some of the wider aspects of social history all backed up by his wonderful knowledge and meticulous research. I don’t think I was alone though in having some misgivings after the last book “Inferno” where the choice of the Siege of Copenhagen necessarily side-lined Kydd for most of the book. It still delivered some great action but by and large it didn’t feel like a Kydd novel.

Hoping for a return to form and some great adventures for Kydd now that he has his heart’s desire in the Tyger this was a book I anticipated very keenly. Firstly I can say on the positive side that Christian Rodska is still as good as ever and delivers what’s in front of him with his usual excellence. There are also some very well-written scenes involving some of our favourite characters. The problem for me is that having sidelined Kydd in “Inferno” regular fans of the series would be expecting Kydd and his ship to have spectacular adventures in this one. The balance though runs contrary to that, although action does sporadically threaten to break out it is usually quickly quashed. The story is almost entirely the rather unpredictable love story of Kydd and his old flame Persephone Lockwood. Towards the end Kydd gets embroiled in what seems to be a classic “Kydd” situation but this is dropped almost without ceremony making the experience a little frustrating. The love story angle seems to have strangled the other very good ideas that were vying for attention within the overall plot.

So, the Kydd series is a massive favourite of mine and always will be but for my tastes at least Stockwin needs to adjust course a bit and let Kydd and Tyger have more of the adventures that the series is famous for. So yes I’m hoping that these last two books represent the eye of the storm and that we’ll soon pass through it and experience the exuberant force of nature that we all know Kydd can be!

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Another Outstanding Superyarn.

Superlative cast of characters amazingly delivered by Christian Rodska.......do I need say more....really?

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1 person found this helpful

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Great Listen

Another great listen Julian. Long live Thomas Kyd. I can't wait to start the next installment.

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A change from sea routine

Although Kydd doesn't spend a great deal of time at sea in this book - instead he mixes with the great and the good - Stockwin still creates as vivid a story and set of characters as ever (and there are still a few sea skirmishes!). Rodska's narration is - as is to be expected - excellent as always.

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  • j
  • 23-05-17

loved it

so many twists and turns and ups and down,really keeps you wanting to listen. stunning performance by christian rodska again

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    1 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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awful

I have listened to all the kidd stories up to now and without doubt,in my opinion,this is by far the worse if you are looking for action do not bother with this .

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Rare misstep in an otherwise excellent series.

There is something rather inevitable in the plot of this book with key characters having been set up during the past 10 or so. I don't want to go further just in case somebody reading this is skipping ahead and it qualifies as a spoiler. Duty listening only.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Can’t wait

Can’t wait for another read as I have read the Kydd story over and over again

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Confidence restored

A roaringly good take, well told and whose multitude of threads have been successfully drawn to a climatic conclusion. After what I thought was an uncharacteristic stumble in the previous books story and performance, this has met the spot once again.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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thoroughly enjoyable

Didn't want to stop listening, if I'd had the time if have done it all in one day.
More trials and tribulations for Kydd and his friends.

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