Blaggard's Moon

Polivka George Bryan

Description

From the author of the highly praised Trophy Chase Saga comes this exciting swashbuckling tale of a pirate sentenced to die for the crime of mutiny. As he awaits his fate, this pirate (none other than the delightful Smith Delaney from the Trophy Chase Saga) ponders his life and the events that have brought him to this fate. In the process of remembering, and in grappling with mercy and justice as they have been played out in his life, a tale is spun, a tale of true hearts wronged, noble love gone awry, dark deeds done for the sake of gold, and sacrifices made for love. In the end, our pirate will come face-to-face with himself, with his own death, and with a God who promises grace where none is deserved. Readers of Christian fantasy will once again be swept away by Bryan Polivka's compelling storytelling abilities. As Publisher's Weekly said of the author's first book, "Readers will be flipping pages eagerly."

Sujets

• Fantasy (canción de Mariah Carey)
• Fantasy

Informations

• Publié par: Harvest House Publishers, Inc.
• Date de parution: 01 septembre 2015
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9780736967389
• Langue: English

Extrait

Rave Reviews for George Bryan Polivka s Trophy Chase Trilogy .

Here s what readers and reviewers are saying about The Legend of the Firefish, book one in the Trophy Chase Trilogy
Swashbuckling is the best way to describe Book One of the Trophy Chase Trilogy. Without wasting time, Polivka s first novel drops readers into a fantasy world filled with action, where chivalry is alive and well, and sword fights are frequent With the nonstop action that cuts between multiple story lines, readers will be flipping pages eagerly.
-P UBLISHERS W EEKLY
A ripping yarn with the feel of the open sea and glimmers of eternal wisdom.
-K ATHY T YERS , AUTHOR OF S HIVERING W ORLD AND THE F IREBIRD TRILOGY
The Legend of the Firefish, first in the Trophy Chase Trilogy by George Bryan Polivka, is a winner This is a story filled with action, adventure, danger, intrigue, surprise, suspense. It will keep readers turning pages to find out what will happen next The characters Polivka created are fresh and interesting A must-read for fantasy lovers and a highly recommended rating for others who want a good story.
-R EBECCA L U E LLA M ILLER , A C HRISTIAN W ORLDVIEW OF F ICTION W EBSITE
This was one of the most amazing reads! I have to put this up there as one of my favorites! It s been a very long while since I ve picked up a book that I literally could NOT put down. My family was clamoring around me for milk, cookies, dinner, but no, all things had to wait because I could NOT put the book down.
-B ETH G ODDARD , AUTHOR OF S EASONS OF L OVE
I cannot say enough how much I enjoyed this read I would rank Polivka s novel with the elite in Christian fantasy and sci-fi. His is unique, but I enjoyed it just as much as C.S. Lewis s Narnia , and just as much as Walter M. Miller s A Canticle for Leibowitz .
-B RANDON B ARR , COAUTHOR OF W HEN THE S KY F ELL
George Bryan Polivka has effectively created a lush and rich world of life on the high seas filled with vivid descriptions and engaging dialogue. Polivka masterfully weaves a story that draws the reader into this mythical setting from page one.
-M IKE L YNCH , COAUTHOR OF W HEN THE S KY F ELL
The plot moves quickly, full of imaginative twists. The protagonists struggle with real-life issues dealing with guilt in the struggle to obey God but sometimes failing. Although the antagonist seems to embody evil, Polivka successfully brings a sympathetic element to her character as her story unfolds.
-C HRISTIAN L IBRARY J OURNAL
This book will be a surprise hit for many readers Highly recommended. Read it or be prepared to walk the plank!
-B OOKS -M OVIES -C HINESE F OOD.BLOGSPOT.COM
George Bryan Polivka has crafted an extraordinary tale of high sea adventure and peril that grabs on tightly and never lets go. Packer Throme s breathtaking journey is full of action, suspense, and inspiration, and his character is engaging and captivating. Polivka effortlessly transports readers into a new world of pirates and swordsmen, where evil is frighteningly real, and faith, honor, and love are worth fighting for. Fabulous heroes, creepy villains, scary sea monsters, epic sea battles this one has it all.
-B OOK S HELF R EVIEW.BLOGSPOT.COM
And praise for book two in the Trophy Chase Trilogy, The Hand That Bears the Sword
Polivka s characters are real. He makes these people come alive; gives them adequate motivation; shows their struggles, failures, successes, fears, hopes The plot is full of action and suspense, twists and surprises There is an unending list of what to like in this story.
-R EBECCA L U E LLA M ILLER , A C HRISTIAN W ORLDVIEW OF F ICTION WEBSITE
The Hand That Bears the Sword moves beyond adventure It capably takes its place beside those ageless, classic Christian novels which look profoundly into the deeper ideas of Christian philosophy. Even if you have not read the first story in the Trophy Chase Trilogy, The Hand That Bears the Sword will hold your interest, sending you back to the first one, The Legend of the Firefish .
-C HRISTIAN B OOK P REVIEWS.COM
Filled from the first page to the last with action, adventure, and a beautiful portrait of God s perfect love. I would highly recommend this book to all fantasy lovers.
-F LAMING N ET.COM
This book can be enjoyed by any adventure-seeker or those who enjoy reading about life on the high seas. It is wonderful to see that, through a very entertaining story, real truths about God s existence and faith through trials can be presented.
-R EADER V IEWS.COM
Wonderful words for the conclusion of the Trophy Chase Trilogy, The Battle for Vast Dominion
Polivka weaves piracy, adventure, fantasy, and faith together in such a compelling manner that readers may not immediately recognize they re simultaneously being taught biblical theology.
-CBA R ETAILERS R ESOURCES M AGAZINE
This story is fun, unexpected, powerful, satisfying. Of the three books in the trilogy, this one had the most tension, kept me engaged and eager to come back to it quickly, curious to see how it could all be resolved. And it was, in believable fashion.
-S PEC F AITH.RITERSBLOC.COM
HARVEST HOUSE PUBLISHERS
EUGENE, OREGON
Cover by Left Coast Design, Portland, Oregon
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or to events or locales, is entirely coincidental.
BLAGGARD S MOON
Copyright 2009 by George Bryan Polivka
Published by Harvest House Publishers
Eugene, Oregon 97402
www.harvesthousepublishers.com
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Polivka, Bryan.
Blaggard s moon / George Bryan Polivka.
p. cm.
ISBN 978-0-7369-2537-2 (pbk.)
ISBN 978-0-7369-6738-9 (eBook)
1. Pirates-Fiction. I. Title.
PS3616.O5677B55 2009
813 .6-dc22
2008045617
All rights reserved. No part of this electronic publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means-electronic, mechanical, digital, photocopy, recording, or any other-without the prior written permission of the publisher. The authorized purchaser has been granted a nontransferable, nonexclusive, and noncommercial right to access and view this electronic publication, and purchaser agrees to do so only in accordance with the terms of use under which it was purchased or transmitted. Participation in or encouragement of piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of author s and publisher s rights is strictly prohibited.
D EDICATION

For Weeks and Lag, and Eeker, for Rodge, for Mark and Dan, and Jimmy, and for all the fellow pirates of my youth.
A CKNOWLEDGMENTS
I d like to acknowledge all the wonderful folks at Harvest House Publishers for their support.
Specifically, Bob Hawkins, president of Harvest House
LaRae Weikert and her excellent editorial team
Barb Sherrill and her fantastic marketing department
John Constance and his energetic sales department
Gary Lineburg and the creative guys in design and layout
Jenn Butenschoen and the very efficient production staff
And all the behind-the-scenes people at Harvest House who work hard to make a book successful.

A special thanks to Paul Gossard for his invaluable input on copy and story
And to Aime Polivka, for her nautical knowledge and know-how
And to Nick Harrison, whose editing and encouragement are always energizing.
C ONTENTS

Rave Reviews for George Bryan Polivka s Trophy Chase Trilogy
Dedication
Acknowledgments
1. Onka Din Botlay
2. The Defender
3. A Woman of Secrets
4. Savage Grace
5. Avery s End
6. Aces over Queens
7. Hell s Gatemen
8. Tranquility
9. Piracy, Incorporated
10. Skaelington City
11. Pirate s Poker
12. Widows Might
13. Slow Slim s Revenge
14. The Cleaver and Fork
15. Success
16. Shalamon
17. Mumtown
18. Autumn
19. The Hants
Epilogue
What happens next?
About the Author
About the Publisher
The Lord hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.
-T HE B OOK OF P ROVERBS , 16:4
C HAPTER O NE
ONKA DIN BOTLAY
O N A POST . In a pond.
Delaney said the words aloud, not because anyone could hear him but because the words needed saying. He wished his small declaration could create a bit of sympathy from a crewmate, or a native, or even one of the cutthroats who had left him here. But he was alone.
It wasn t the post to which he d been abandoned that troubled him, though it was troubling enough. The post was worn and unsteady, about eight inches across at the top where his behind was perched, and it jutted eight feet or so up from the still water below him. His shins hugged its pocked and ragged sides; his feet were knotted at the ankles behind him for balance. Delaney was a sailor, and this was not much different than dock posts in port where he d sat many times to take his lunch. He was young enough not to be troubled with a little pain in the backside, old enough to have felt his share of it. No, the post wasn t the problem.
The pond from which the post jutted was not terribly troublesome either. It was a lagoon, really, less than a hundred yards across, no more than fifty yards to shore in any direction. He could swim that distance easily. He peered down through the water, past its smooth, still surface, and eyed the silver-green flash of scales, lit bright by the noonday sun.
The piranha, now, they were somewhat vexing.
Nasty little fishies, he said aloud. They were a particularly grumpy strain of the meat-eating little monsters. They were so grumpy that he wasn t even sure they were piranha. Each one was about the size of a bluegill, not much bigger than Delaney s hand, and each boasted an impressive set of teeth. But where piranha were flat side to side, these were flat top to bottom. And while piranha had small mouths and a few sharp teeth, these had wide mouth