Deadmen Walking by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Captain Paden Jack supposedly went down with his ship off the coast of Florida in 1715. It is now 1716 and his sister, Cameron, has sailed to Jamaica with a special sword hilt that belongs to her brother that he somehow mailed to her after his death.  She seeks out the one man who can help her: Captian Devln Bane.  Seeing that the piece belonged to a Seraphim's sword causes Bane to have Cameron escorted onto his ship the Sea Witch for her protection.

The crew is made up of damned souls who have been given a second chance by Thorn, the Devil's son, who rebelled against his father and fights for the side of the angels who treat him like crap because when they see him they see his father.  Every one of them carries the deadman's mark which ties them to Thorn. Thorn can take them back to Hell at any time.  Otherwise, they can't die, though if their bodies are obliterated they will wind up in Hell again, or if someone else comes along with the power to send them back to Hell or if a creature comes looking for a host to live in they might lose their bodies and find themselves in Hell.  The idea is that they will do enough good that they will erase the deadman's mark and earn a real human life and a second chance.

Among those on board are Mr. Death, the proper quartermaster, Kalder, a merman, Belle Morte, the doctor, Sancha, the drunk surly woman at the wheel, Simon, a shapeshifter, and Roach, the wily Frenchman.  Also, there is the ship herself, Mara who is a Deruvian or one of the tree folk.  She can take human form as well as her tree or wooden form.  The Captain is a sorcerer supreme among other things who will do anything for his ship or his crew whose main mission has been to fight demons who have been escaping from the several gates of Hell trying to hold them in.  The gates are straining to open and Vine, Mara's sister, and Devln's ex-wife, who killed him is trying to break through one of the gates and come through and take over the world.  She now has Paden and is torturing him to get the missing piece from his sword and to try to turn him.  But when Cameron accidentally uses the hilt and saves the crew she alerts Vine to her presence and Vine sends others to get her.

Devln and Mara fight like cats and dogs.  Their lives are bound to each other since they met over a thousand years ago and she cast a binding spell on him hoping to take him down with her, but instead, he spared both their lives.  If one of them dies or is injured the other one feels it or dies.  The way the two of them fight you honestly don't believe that they will ever want to get together.  But in this swashbucklingly good tale, anything is possible.  Kenyon does throw in some things from her other books but you won't feel too lost as she explains what you need to know about the characters she uses.  I really loved this book. The characters were ones you could believe in and fall in love with and the plot kept the pages turning well into the night.  I can't wait for the next one as this one ended on a sad note and I'm in a hurry to see that situation change as soon as possible.

Quotes

He always said that education is an ornament in prosperity and a refuge during adversity. And that a learned mind is the only wealth worth hoarding, as it is the sole treasure that can never be stolen.

-Sherrilyn Kenyon (Deadmen Walking p 184)

We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark, but the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light.  When we refuse to see the truth that lies before us because facing it is too hard and scary for us.  Because when we acknowledge that light, then we see monsters the dark no longer hides and we are honor bound to do something to stop them.  It’s easy to lock your heart with hatred. But only when it’s free will you be able to move forward without anchoring you to a past that’s holding you back.

-Sherrilyn Kenyon (Deadmen Walking p 241)

“One more thing, Captain…any pointers on how we’re to win this?” “Don’t die. Be the last man standing.” “Good to know. Pointers on how to kill them, then?” “Cut off the head. If that doesn’t work? Run like hell, preferably faster than the poor bloke beside you. Might want to consider tripping him if he proves to be faster.” “Beautiful. I so look forward to these deep, meaningful discussions and motivational speeches from you that leave me bullocks completely shrunk and shriveled.” “Better the bullocks than the brains. And better the both than your courage.” “Not sure about that. Especially given what’s coming at us. In case I go down and forget to say it…been an honor serving with you, sir.”

-Sherrilyn Kenyon (Deadmen Walking p 346)

Link to Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Deadmen-Walking-Deadmans-Cross-Novel-ebook/dp/B01MDK3O4F/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1507119679&sr=8-3&keywords=dead+men+walking