The Jade Lion | SMoss | Book Review | Captain Blackpool Trilogy

The Jade Lion by SMoss is the third and final book in “The Captain Blackpool Trilogy“. A historical action adventure, this book features the deceptively dangerous Captain Blackpool who is on the quest to retrieve a Jade Lion, symbol of the royal house of Jaipur, for the exiled Princess Radiant. So, read the book summary, 5 fun facts about The Jade Lion book, books in “The Captain Blackpool Trilogy”, book quotes, and book review of The Jade Lion by SMoss in this post below.

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The Jade Lion by SMoss Book Review:

The Jade Lion by SMoss is the third book in “The Captain Blackpool trilogy”. But despite being part of a series, it can be read as a standalone. This I can attest to since I read this one without having read the previous two books, and still didn’t feel any loss of interest. The author has provided a brief backstory at the start of the book which helped in understanding the characters more. However, in my opinion, it is always better to read books in a series in order to get the maximum enjoyment.

I got attracted towards SMoss’ books with “The Hacker“, and then went on to read his other engaging reads like “Hack is Back” and “Arborea“. A writer who writes books across genres from mystery, romantic thriller to this series that is a historical adventure, SMoss is a talented author. So, his books, despite being from a variety of genres, all share a few things in common like they are all well-researched with splendid world building, and a learning experience. And The Jade Lion is no different.

Things I liked:

Extensive research and splendid world building:

The author has done his research. This shows in his fluid, and engrossing world building that easily transported me to the eighteenth century. I enjoyed following Captain Blackpool across the globe. So, sat engrossed as he traveled from the glitz of Paris to the wilderness of South America to the shores of London to the mystical corners of India. Then I was further astounded by the depth of knowledge of the author. He easily blended fiction with history in this book. And to add to a readers’ knowledge also shares interesting facts about the historical events and character at the end of each chapter.

Character Introduction and an episodic story:

Then another thing that I liked in this book was the inclusion of a character introduction at the start. Here SMoss has introduced all the players in this story briefly that helps in connecting with them better.

This book is written in an episodic format. It first appeared on Kindle Vella platform in a serialized fashion. So, it can be read and savored per episode or read in one go. I savored this book and read it one episode at a time. With all the changing scenery, and historical characters, I adored researching the events in more detail on the internet! So, The Jade Lion not only entertained me but also enhanced my historical knowledge!

Complex characters:

Captain Blackpool is an adventurer who has traveled the world, fought pirates, thieves, and other dangerous criminals. Then he also possesses the power to read a person’s mind. This he gained from the Gurkhas who taught him discipline of the mind and body. So, this is a complex character with hidden depths. And one who is seen ruminating his life’s choices in this book. An enigmatic, charming yet lonely man, I felt sad for him as I watched him going down memory lane and thinking about his life adventures so far. He is a man yearning for peace and the comfort of companionship away from the dangers of his unpredictable life so far.

Also loved meeting his children and their contribution to history was so seamlessly woven with real history.

Then the character of Princess Radiant, and Ynez Delacroix Rossetti represent strong women characters each holding their own. One is an exiled princess living in Paris yearning to return home and determined to acquire the Jade lion, and another is a wealthy woman of the isle of Barbados who rules the island. Both have been in a romantic relationship with Captain Blackpool.

Laudable take on avoiding guns in preference to non-violent ways to solve a problem.

India through a foreigner’s eyes:

SMoss’ love for India is evident in all his books that are either staged in India or have prominent Indian characters. So, it is no wonder that here, too, he features India prominently. Captain Blackpool is said to have spent a lot of his childhood in India, in the royal house of Jaipur. He has been friends with the Prince of Rajasthan, and Princess Radiant is his childhood love. Then he traverses the mountains of Uttarakhand in search of his mentor, and finds clarity there. Also his training with the Gurkhas leaves him with mental and physical disciple, leading to his power of reading minds.

It is so fascinating going down history to experience India in its magnificent glory with enlightened saints, mystical warriors, boundless wealth, and indulgent rulers.

Then we also see the extreme with corrupt kings, social divide, and blind superstition.

Things that could be better:

While I enjoyed this book, I did feel a few things could be made better to increase the story’s hold on a reader’s heart and mind. The first was a lack of action. All of Captain Blackpool’s adventures like his heroic riddance of the island in Barbados from the clutches of the evil Lafitte who was trafficking goods and humans were told in passing. I wanted to see some live action and witness the Captain in his element. This story flows smoothly like a gentle river with no shocks, and thrills. Had more action, some twists, and the thrill of seeking the jade lion thrown in more prominence this would be an exciting read. For now it is an intelligent book which takes the readers back in time and teaches us more of history across countries.

Even the romance part is mellow. Also there are no emotional highs here. Captain Blackpool is too contained, and all other characters are also too staid. There is no emotional upheaval in this book. And I could not really connect emotionally to any of the characters. So, the romance element is bland, and this book lacks an exciting energy.

However, despite this I sat engrossed and interested to know what happened next. Then the end will have you analyzing your future like Captain Blackpool does and like his arch-enemy Pierrepont does.

Conclusion:

All in all, The Jade Lion by SMoss is an intelligent and immersive book with a human protagonist who has lived a dangerous life. A book that will have you chasing an elusive thief Pierrepont who is just one step ahead of Captain Blackpool, this book had me revisiting history from the comfort of my home. Right from the grandeur of Jaipur royal house to the wilderness of South America to the glamour of Paris, this book will engage you throughout. And then leave you wanting to know more of the historical time period of this book. So, 3.5 stars out of 5 to it and Njkinny recommends this book to all historical adventure fiction lovers.

Buy From:

AMAZON

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