The Black Lung Captain: Tales of the Ketty Jay [Paperback]

Retribution falls was one of the most entertaining reads I've had in a long while and its sequel, Black Lung Captain, manages to surpass it. While I liked the characters in Falls, the sequel actually made me care about them too. I was really surprised to see what I thought were going to be two long running character arcs concluded in a surprising yet logical way but I guess Chris wants to go in other directions with those characters. The rest of the crew. outside of Frey, Jez and Crake get a stronger outing this time too and each of them has their own little arc or moment to shine (including the cat) - although it would be nice to see Malvery face his demons in the future.
The book has a brisk pace from start to finish and there's never a dull moment with a perfect blend of action, comedy and drama. The aerial combat sequences are also fun and well described giving a sense of chaos and believability. I also like how there is a "sciency" approach to the magic/daemonism in the series which fits well with the steampunk world.
I've no idea where the next adventure of the Ketty Jay will go but if it's anywhere near as fun as the first two I'll be looking forward to it. It's nice to read a modern fantasy that can be edgy and fun at the same time. Too many go down the dark and moody route these days.

The Black Lung Captain is the second book in the Tales of the Ketty Jay. The first book, Retribution Falls, was one of my favourite reads last year and I was keen, if not a little hesitant, to get back with Frey and his crew for another adventure. When you read a book you enjoy so much it's always a little worrying that you'll pick up another only to find it doesn't meet the expectations you have for it. Fortunately The Black Lung Captain met, and even exceeded, my expectations and proved that Chris Wooding can write a damned fine adventure novel with characters you'll come to love. Again.

As we rejoin the crew of the Ketty Jay it is clear that not all is well. Resorting to stealing from an orphanage, a simple job that even Frey and his crew manage to botch, highlights this fact to a tee. All becomes clear that each member of the crew are dealing with their own problems, from Jez and her hidden secret as part-Mane, to Crake and his unbearable guilt over the death (and subsequent reincarnation as a Golem) of his niece, Bess. Add to the mix an offer by Captain Grist of the Storm Dog to join him in the search of untold treasure on a remote and dangerous island and you've got a stonking story that goes from strength to strength.

Story-wise, The Black Lung Captain is high on double-crossings, action, adventure and a nice amount of intrigue. From the opening chapter where the Ketty Jay try to loot the aforementioned orphanage, and the mess they get in as a result, it's clear that Chris Wooding has brought everything that made Retribution Falls so good back to the table. When the story evolves into the treasure finding mission, then to the inevitable 'searching for the missing item to save lives', it's evident that we're getting a huge story here. With Manes, Awakeners, Tranica Dracken, the Century Knights, and Daemonism all present, there's very little not to like.

While the story initially sounds like a simple progression of events that lead Frey and the Ketty Jay from one place to another, it's far more than that. With further details emerging about the Manes and the Awakeners, Wooding is building the world and history very well indeed. There were aspects in Retribution Falls when I wished more time could be spent exploring them, but they've been raised and looked at in The Black Lung Captain, incorporated into the story to give strength to an already impressive plot.

The characters are all back and, with the inclusion of Captain Grist, make a fine contribution to the novel. We get to see more of the little details developed here, from Harkins and his ongoing troubles with Slag the cat, to Pinn's idolised love who he left at home long ago. Each character has the attention they deserve. Personally I found Jez's plight one of the best, the truth about her half-Mane heritage finally becoming common knowledge and just how the others react to that. However, Crake's breakdown because of his guilt over Bess' death is another well-handled development, showing strong characterisation on Wooding's part. Speaking of Bess, she steals the show every time we see her.

Perhaps the biggest, and most changed, relationship in The Black Lung Captain is between Frey and Tranica Dracken. Dracken, being Frey's jilted (at the altar) fiance from years past and central to the Ketty Jay's lack of fortune after the ending of Retribution Falls, is a much more central character in The Black Lung Captain. When Dracken's ship, the Delirium Trigger, steals the stolen goods from them, it all kicks off. But as the story progresses we start to see more interaction between Dracken and Frey, and much of this fills in the gaps of their history, but also shows different sides to both of them. Really good stuff!

Suffice to say that I enjoyed The Black Lung Captain enormously. It has everything I want from a good book - great characters, superb story, plenty of action, and all the little extras that add to the story. While I'd recommend this in a heartbeat, you really need to read Retribution Falls first to fully enjoy it. Don't worry, that's no chore either, and I'm sure you'll discover what I already have: Chris Wooding writes one hell of a novel!

Retribution Falls: Tales of the Ketty Jay (Tales of the Ketty Jay 1) was a brilliant book. It was basically a thriller set on a fantasy world where technology has achieved powered flight but folks still fight with cutlasses. It had the difficult job of introducing a lot of new characters, making them believable whilst at the same time providing an interesting plot. It did this in spades. Pathos, wit and adventure. Great stuff

So how is the next book in the series? The short answer is more of the same however it pretty much demands that you read Retribution Falls first. If you don't then Jez, Crake and Trinica are going to be baffling. The Black Lung Captain has less time devoted to character development and more time spent on action but that is not to say the characterisation has suffered. On the contrary, Jez, Crake and Frey all have a lot of development and there is daemonism galore.

The tale unfolds with Frey chasing a get rich quick scheme. All he has to do is go into the jungle, get Crake to open the door on an old aircraft and split the treasure 50:50. It doesn't work out that way and the chase is on. Manes, daemonism, airborne battles, century nights, awakeners - all are present and correct.

Brilliant fun and if there is another in the series I will buy it on sight.