Fortunes of War [Paperback]

Mel Keegan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 2001

In 1588, two young men fall in love; Dermot, an Irish mercenary serving the Spanish Ambassador in London and Robin, son of an English Earl. Seperated by seven years of war, the two meet up again in the Caribbean, where Dermot now commands a privateer. The couple's adventures on the Spanish Main make a swashbuckling romance in the best pirate tradition. A rip-roaring yarn from the author of Ice Wind and Fire, Death's Head, Equinox and Aquamarine.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Mel Keegan has been at the top of The Gay Mens' Press best-seller list for years. Other publications include Ice, Wind and Fire; Death's Head; Equinox and Aquamarine.

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: GMP; 1 edition (May 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1902852087
• ISBN-13: 978-1902852089
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,679,061 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best of the genre, February 23, 2002

By 

Maries "Maries" (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Fortunes of War (Paperback)

I've read Aquamarine and Ice, Wind, and Fire, and thought they were just so-so - but Fortunes of War is one of the best historical romances I've ever read, gay or straight (and I've read a lot of them). And if anyone is sick of the cliches of the standard heterosexual romance novel, this book is a great breather, very fresh and unique. The plot is not as predictable or naive as in some other Keegan novels, and there are more twists and turns than I would normally expect from him. The characters in this book are painstakingly developed, the setting feels completely authentic, and the writing is really a notch above that in Aquamarine and Ice. There are also fewer typos.

What's best about the novel is the intensity of the relationship between the heroes. They are hot, they are passionate, they are believable, and their relationship is believable. It makes sense that they are in love, a point a lot of romance novels neglect. The sex is hot too - not as ubiquitous as in Ice, and better, more intense, than in Aquamarine.

Somewhere among the pirates, battles and other thrills and adventures, there is a more serious gay theme. The heroes suffer for their love and are forced to make hard choices and big sacrifices in a world where homosexual love is not always welcome.

As usual, Keegan's dialogue is a bit stilted and odd in places, and some of the secondary characters are a little shallow, but whatever weaknesses this novel has are swept away by the desparate intensity of the heroes' relationship. It's impossible not to fall in love with them both, and little flaws can easily be overlooked when you're in love.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The things I do for Mel..., November 25, 1997

By 

Drew Brainiard "watchword" (Buffalo, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fortunes of War (Paperback)

I'm a fan of Mel Keegan, one of the world's most irritatingly non-prolific writers, so I get lured into reading things I ordinarily would not. Like--er--pirate stories.

In FORTUNE'S OF WAR Keegan abandons contemporary thrillers (please don't do this, Mel!) and sci fi thrillers to turn his attention to historical adventure. This is the tale of half-Spanish mercenary Dermot Channon and his love for young Robert Armagh, the son of an English earl. As the blurb on the back of the book puts it, "The couple's adventures together on the Spanish Main make a swashbuckling romance in the best gay pirate tradition." That reads for sex, dueling, sex, sea battles, sex, revenge, deadly fevers...did I mention sex? In short, plenty of action of all descriptions.

Keegan has a keen eye for sensuous detail, and a gift for creating warriors with a tender side. His stories are wildly imaginative, romantic and fun.

So am I now a fan of pirate stories? No. But I'm still a fan of Mel Keegan.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply pure delight !, July 18, 2002

By 

R.Parklane (Tokyo, Japan) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Fortunes of War (Paperback)

Fortunes of War was my first Keegan's book. It is so good that it prompted me to acquire all other Keegan's books which are available. Sadly none has come close to Fortunes of War. I do not care for the Spain vs England background. It is the story of the two lovers which gripped me and held me till the end. Our two lovers are such likable beautiful young men, their characters solid and almost real. When they were forced to be separated I felt a tug at my heart and just had to keep on reading until 3 in the morning to savor their reunion. Their love for each other is lusty, breathless yet tender and touching. I am a straight woman and have not touched a romance novels for years. However Fortunes of War has become one of my top ten favorites. I hope the book will be savored by a wider audience and not just men in love with each other.