Brethren: Raised By Wolves, Volume One

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Editorial Reviews:

Product Description
John Williams, the Viscount of Marsdale, libertine, duelist, dilettante, haphazard philanthropist and philosopher, is asked by his estranged father to start a plantation in Jamaica in 1667. He doesn't realize that he is going to the right island for the wrong reasons until he meets buccaneers and learns he has far more in common with the wild Brethren of the Coast than he does with the nobility of Christendom. Still, he questions joining them and leaving his title and the plantation behind, until he meets Gaston the Ghoul, a mysterious French buccaneer who is purportedly mad. He quickly decides that the freedom of the buccaneer life and even the mere chance of love that a man such as Gaston might offer are better than anything he could ever inherit. But even though Gaston seems intrigued by him, can the crazy Frenchman ever love him?

Customer Reviews: Read 22 more reviews...

5 out of 5 stars

Unbelievable! October 25, 2006
24 out of 24 found this review helpful

"Brethren" is the first in a projected four book series and it is historical fiction at its finest. A rich epic set in the Caribbean in the late 1600's, this is the story of the roguish William Marsdale. Readers will be hooked from the page one. Will left home to escape an abusive relationship, and to see the world. He becomes an accomplished swordsman and duelist, as well as a seasoned traveller. When he finally returns home to England, he is sent by his father to Jamaica to manage a new sugar plantation. Of course, he promptly puts someone in charge of it and joins a buccaneer crew! Buccaneer's have some "questionable" traditions, such at Matelotage. It is a partnership between two men to support each other in battle, share fiscal responsibilities and to provide company. These relationships were often sexual, but not always. Will unintentionally finds himself with a matelot. The bitter-sweet love that eventually develops between he and Gaston is believable and has great potential (which is explored in Volume 2, Matelots: Raised By Wolves, Volume Two).

The cast of supporting characters are all fully developed and help propel the storyline as well as provide humor. Stryker and Pete are especially fun, and integral to the plot. Hoffman has done a lot of research into the time period and subject matter and it shows. The dialog and language are representative of the time, and extremely well written - I never felt lost with the old-fashioned terminology or phrasing. Her descriptions of the world and people are detailed without bogging a reader down. With a a lot of action, and an engrossing plot, this is a fantastic adventure story. I read this massive novel in only two days and can hardly wait for the rest of the quadrilogy. Volume 3, "Raised by Wolves: Treasure" is due in April/May 2008, and the final volume, "Raised by Wolves: Wolves: is due in Spring 2009.

I also highly recommend Ransom, an exciting adventure about 3 british naval officers captured by pirates.

5 out of 5 stars

Mesmerizing Historical Gay Romance. Love this! January 2, 2007
15 out of 15 found this review helpful

This historical gay romance set in the West Indies pirate world is a gem of a story. The plot is fascinating and pulled you in from page 1. There is never a dull moment as these buccaneers love, hate and live freely, their matelots world arousing and enviable.

The characters of Will and Gaston are truly mesmerizing, their love story bitter sweet, gripping, captivating and deeply moving. Will and Gaston are tormented men, ostracized from their noble families and haunted by their pasts. They are sensitive, vulnerable yet so strong in character. Their love story is also a healing story of their wounded souls as they found solace in each other and grew to love each other deeply. Their love is all the more amazing as one is gay while the other may not have the same inclination. And I cannot remember the last time when the exchange of words between 2 lovers could be so meaningful and charged with emotions.

"Brethren" is all the more effective as it is narrated by Will whose voice lent so much life and emotional depth into the story.

This may be Vol 1 of a Trilogy but it is complete by itself and does not leave a cliff hanger which I hate. However it does leave me craving for much more and I hope "Matelots: Raised by Wolves Vol 2" will be available soon. If you are into gay or M/M romance you are missing a lot if you pass this.

5 out of 5 stars

Read this book! August 19, 2006
14 out of 15 found this review helpful

You are in the hands of a skillful storyteller with this one. It's a great adventure story and a great love story all rolled into one. It completely transports you to another time and place and you become so invested in these characters that you never want the story to end!

The whole cast of characters is great but I just fell in love with both Will and Gaston, deeply troubled men who come to love each other in spite of their demons. There are so many sweet, tender moments between them throughout the book - that have nothing to do with sex - that you really feel that these men come to fully know and love each other. I can think of few books where the love interests have such meaningful conversations with each other. The reader is really privy to why and how they come to love each other so deeply. It's not just told to us as something to accept. We are in on the whole process. These men truly need each other and seem destined to be together, to help each other heal.

I second the other reviewer's suggestion that you don't avoid this book because it is the first of three. The story is complete and satisfying as is. I just can't wait for more!

5 out of 5 stars

Best. Book. EVER! February 15, 2007
13 out of 13 found this review helpful

Yes, I say that and I mean it. This is my favorite book, period. I have read it three times, the first time only taking two days (and only that long because I had to go to work both days... how dare work interfere with literary obsession?!). I don't usually re-read a book, no matter how much I like it, let alone three times in a row, so that should say something about how addictive this book is!

If you are anything like me, you will be sucked into this book and in love with the characters (especially Will and Gaston... and to clarify one of the earlier reviews, Will = Marsdale). The storytelling is wonderful, the attention to historical accuracy is obvious, and the love story will make you wish you were so lucky to find a love like that! You don't have to enjoy gay romance to enjoy this book. I had never read a gay romance before this one. The fact that they are two men is not the point, really, it's just the best love story EVER (imho, of course, but nothing I've read... and I'm a huge bibliophile... comes close). I cannot reccommend this book enough. I've been on pins and needles for the next one as soon as I finished the first, and not because it's so much a cliffhanger as I just... wanted... MORE! Which is why, of course, I've re-read this one a couple of times.

I cannot explain adequately the wonderfulness of this book. Read it for yourself and see!!!

5 out of 5 stars

Judge Not By The Cover! January 21, 2008
8 out of 8 found this review helpful

For the sake of honesty, I must say that this is not a book I would have ever picked up for myself. I'm not into pirates, or even that much into historical settings. A friend, however, gifted me this book and impressed on me the need to read it. I'm extremely happy I did. This book, which might not have gotten the love and attention it deserves from a larger House, exemplifies the art that can come from small, independent publishing Houses.

Ms. Hoffman has not created characters for us to enjoy, no... she has created people, humans complete as we ride around in the main character's head and experience the rich vividness of his life. These people are complete, with honesty and viciousness, simple kindnesses and foibles. The relationships are honest, well thought out and true... this isn't a story book romance. It's far more gritty, and the road blocks more complex than any thorn hedge or magic spell. Ms. Hoffman also manages, with exquisite skill, to relate the issues with which these men dealt with the issues we are still dealing with today.

For any to whom historical accurateness is important, fear not. Not that I am an expert, mind, but the book has a bibliography and is obviously well researched. Well researched to the point of my being astounded that this culture existed as such and it is not common knowledge.

From whatever point of view you approach this book, buy it. Want romance? It's there. Some of the most tender scenes I have ever read are contained in this book. Want the buccaneer feel and the fighting? It's here too... tight action that puts you at the edge of your seat. More to the point, this book is a life contained between two covers, a vivid and visceral telling of one man's journey that should not be missed. I'd give it 10 stars more if it were possible.

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