Early Review: Wake of the Bloody Angel

Wake of the Bloody Angel (Eddie LaCrosse #4)

-       Alex Bledsoe

Publisher: Tor (Published 3^rd July 2012)

Ecopy courtesy of netgalley and Tor Books

Twenty years ago, a barmaid in a harbor town fell for a young sailor who turned pirate to make his fortune. But what truly became of Black Edward Tew remains a mystery—one that has just fallen into the lap of freelance sword jockey Eddie LaCrosse.
For years, Eddie has kept his office above Angelina’s tavern, so when Angelina herself asks him to find out what happened to the dashing pirate who stole her heart, he can hardly say no—even though the trail is two decades old. Some say Black Edward and his ship, The Bloody Angel, went to bottom of the sea, taking with it a king’s fortune in treasure. Others say he rules a wealthy, secret pirate kingdom. And a few believe he still sails under a ghostly flag with a crew of the damned.
To find the truth, and earn his twenty-five gold pieces a day, Eddie must take to sea in the company of a former pirate queen in search of the infamous Black Edward Tew…and his even more legendary treasure

I didn’t realise when I first requested this book that it was the fourth book following the adventures of sword-jockey, Eddie LaCrosse – a cross between a mercenary and detective. Luckily this book can be read as a complete stand-alone, although a couple of small references to pass adventures do have me curious and on the basis of this story, I will be catching up with Eddie again soon.

Angeline, the owner Eddie’s local bar – and his office landlady asks Eddie to discover what happened to her former sweetheart, a pirate who went missing twenty years earlier. With the help of fellow sword-jockey Jane Argo, Eddie enters the world of pirates, sea-monsters and lost treasure. On the high seas, the line between pirate and pirate-hunter is thin and can crossed easily – especially when rumours of Black Edward’s treasure starts circulating...

Despite the fantasy setting, this reads much more like an Urban Fantasy to me. Eddie has been hired for a job and he is determined to do his best to discover what happened to Black Edward and if he might still be alive. To this end he hires Jane Argo, a former pirate herself turned pirate hunter turned sword-jockey to help guide him at sea. I loved how determined Eddie was to do his job – he wasn’t distracted by talk of treasure at all. He was honourable and smart. Eddie and Jane’s adventure takes them to the sea where superstitions run riot and pirates threaten.

There is plenty of action in this story to keep the adrenaline going and some very atmospheric scenes at sea that will send a shiver down your spine. Without wanting to give too much away, I was on the edge of my seat a lot and completely immersed in the story – I read in within a day and enjoyed every word! Eddie is a great hero and a guy I would like to meet. He already know who he is so there is little soul searching. I was as keen as Eddie to find out had happened to Black Edward – it kept me guessing to the end. Fun and entertaining from beginning to end.

Recommended for fans of Sarah J Maas and Rachel Aaron. 8 out of 10.