Greetings travelers. We’re in rough seas, but sometimes that’s where you can find the greatest phenomena, and the most spectacular myths and legends. Today, we’re bringing you to the history-bent world of author David Smith, who sends a few twists of the wheel to broaden what we know about Blackbeard and his treasure in some fun new ways. If that’s caught your attention, then gather up your wits and your steel, and get ready to Raise the Flag!
Raise the Flag is author David Smith’s debut speculative fiction release, but you’d be hard-pressed to see a single scratch of a beginner’s work here. That’s because Smith has a long and storied history of putting prose to poetry, in one way or another. Practice has led him here, to a wonderful first-in-a-series, where some of the greatest legendary figures and their fabled treasures have been rejiggered to fit the twists and turns that are worthy of a fantastic pirate adventure. Painting pictures with all five senses, Smith is able to capture a scene in catching detail, leading readers to feel as though they’re atop the creaking floorboards of a seaworthy vessel, or in danger of being set upon by dark magic.
Amidst stolen ships, pirated goods, and quests for untold riches, Captain Jacob Cutter commands the powerful Crimson Rose–a floating fortress of a vessel that demands respect and strikes fear into the hearts of all who dare cross its path. After seizing another ship, Cutter rescues a weathered old sailor who claims to possess the key to Blackbeard’s legendary treasure, a whispered tale that has captivated adventures’ imaginations for years.
As Cutter and his crew venture deeper into the mysteries surrounding Blackbeard’s treasure, they unearth truths far darker than imagined, discovering themselves entangled in the legacy of the Brotherhood of the Obsidian Blade–an ancient order harboring the secrets to world domination cloaked in dark magic and death. From the depths of pirate lore emerges the elusive Shadow Tiger, a manifestation of beauty, power, and lethal prowess, driven by her own agenda intertwined with the Brotherhood’s secret treasure. Both must work together to confront Captain Gareth Bayne, whose presence looms in the shadows, driven by an insatiable hunger for power and vengeance, wielding dark sorcery to annihilate all who stand in his way.
Ensnared in a deadly game of deception and dark magic, will they uncover the truth behind Blackbeard’s legendary treasure, or will they unleash a force more terrible than anything the seven seas have ever known?
Smith captures readers’ attention so easily because of a careful balance between established history, and the willingness to bend it to better suit his story. The Caribbean Sea and all the islands within it feel rich with detail, and it’s easy to believe that some of these things could have happened, even with greater supernatural elements at play. With a cast of charismatic characters at the helm, and a striking ship that feels like it rounds out the crew, there’s plenty of reasons to feel like you’d want to go along on this voyage. If that has you ready to hoist the sails and start belting out shanties, don’t waste any time. Check out Raise The Flag by David Smith on Amazon today!
