John Pearce, newly returned to England from revolutionary France, is on the run from the authorities for the seditious views of his father, who remains in France. He stops in a seaside tavern to elude his pursuit ... and is caught up in an illegal press by a frigate captain desperate for hands.

Soon Pearce is among a gang of pressed men on HMS Brilliant, captained by a man, Ralph Barclay, who is eager to restore former glory and to impress his beautiful young wife, Emily, who sails with him.

This begins yet another nautical series by author David Donachie, who has a deft hand at penning believable shipboard scenes. He clearly describes the setting, filling in the blanks for naval novices as Pearce and his new shipmates literally learn the ropes. For folks, like me, who love the sea but know next to nothing about life on a wooden ship, this book contains some thorough explanations of a seaman's life and duties.

And the life is hard, as Pearce and his mates quickly learn. It doesn't help that they're lead by a vainglorious captain, nor that a midshipman with a grudge has the ability to make their lives hell. Fortunately, Pearce proves to be competent at his job -- he's a natural leader among the men who share his fate -- and he meets a few compassionate officers and reliable mates who make his new life a little more bearable.

And then a raid to recapture a French-held English merchantman goes badly....

The difference between this novel and the many others in the Age of Sail niche is that Pearce has more education and comes from a higher social class than one would normally find serving before the mast. In fact, he could easily secure his freedom, if only he had the means of contacting the proper authorities ashore.

He doesn't, though, so his future is bleak.

But his story is good reading. And, since the series is already more than a dozen books long, I'll wager he doesn't return to land any time soon.