The Daredevil (The Dawn of America series Book 3) by Regan Walker follows a young merchant captain named Samuel Tucker who refuses to stay idle after learning that war has broken out between Britain and the Colonies.
The Royal Navy can use men like Samuel and has offered him a commission in the army or command in the Royal Navy. The atmosphere is saturated with talk of similar commissions for those who’ll show loyalty. But much to many people's surprise, Sam turns the offer down, citing a commission that he already has in his conscience. He is a man who will surprise you with how loud he prefers to pray, and how willing he wants to be part of history, something many people would want to evade especially when it involves missions that are likely to end in capture or death. What starts after he is offered information by his key ally, Robert Morris, about General Washington forming a small fleet of armed schooners to harry British supply ships and gain stores for the army, soon sees him given the schooner Franklin and later, a small fleet before moving to greater commands. As you journey with him, you discover that he is a real daredevil; for instance, when he boards enemy ships with a broken blade, as well as when he uses the fog to slip withing striking distance of enemy convoys. But through it all, something spectacular continues to grow beneath the battle. That is, the steady glow of his love for Mary Gatchell, a woman who stitches a pine tree flag for his first command, and whose letters he deeply craves as he sails across the Atlantic. Through her, we get a sense of the weight of a relationship forged in absence, with a man who constantly is called back to the sea time and again, as well as the heavy burden on soldiers' wives, of sacrifice and bringing up children alone, as their spouses answer the call of liberty.
Sam is the kind of captain you want to sail with. He prays for his men, risks himself for them, and treats prisoners with humanity. Additionally, Washington is the kind of boss you would want to have. He promotes and appreciates merit, shares hardships with his men, and we even see him trusting them to make major decisions according to their own judgement. Of worthy note is Mary, who isn't shown as an impulsive romantic figure, but rather a steadfast, faithful and deeply supportive partner. Through her, Walker allows us to see the many forms of sacrifice, and to appreciate the many-times hidden support that sustains the daredevils whose victories everyone else sees. As you read on, you appreciate Walker's depth in acknowledging the men who bore great responsibilities in the revolution without seeking glory. She also profoundly conveys the true meaning and measure of leadership, not by victories as is widely held, but by how a man carries a loss. She does this through a deliberate structure and rhythm, even as she brings life to sea and land, one moment charging up the sea action and the next breaking it down by returning us to Mary's world. She also remarkably allows time to move in seasons rather than a typical straight line, a choice that accurately mirrors the cycles of waiting and loss that defined the era.
Quill says: The Daredevil by Regan Walker is a book that gives voice to the home-front. It is also one that carries a profound atmospheric detail across its chapters, which makes the reader feel present. But what especially sets this book apart is how it makes you learn history almost without noticing. It presents you with a hero you would root for anytime, a partnership you can't help but envy, and a faith that might leave you inspired to work on your own. And lastly, among the books that tackle the Revolutionary War, it stands out for never forgetting that the war stood for liberty and a chance to build a life worth coming home to.
For more information about The Daredevil, please visit the author's website at: reganwalkerauthor.com/
