Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.

Because the main characters' attention diverts, the romance in this book develops very slowly, which feels appropriate for the plot. Still, I found it to be a really enjoyable read, and I hope the planned sequels—which I was pleasantly delighted to learn about by reading the author's note—will see the relationship progress further.

Overall, this book comes highly recommended from me. It's a good, entertaining read.

4 stars. Recommend.

I rarely read naval/military fiction, but this book caught my eye on NetGalley, in large part because of its LGBTQ angle, plus I DO love historical fiction a lot. The book was well worth it, though for those mostly drawn for its LGBTQ+ storyline, just be forewarned that it's really a pretty minor part of the book. Having said that, it becomes pretty obvious at one point that there will be at least one sequel, so let's say that this book is the ultimate "slow burn" when it comes to its possible MM romance? I'm in.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital ARC of this excellent book in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to Katie Daysh and Canelo for the advance copy for review!

I will be the first to admit that I know absolutely nothing about ships, or the navy, or sailing. I don't ordinarily seek out books that feature any of those things given my lack of knowledge (and, to be honest, my fear of open water). However, I massively enjoyed Natasha Pulley's 'The Kingdom' and this sounded like it would have a similar vibe.

And I do think that it did! Whilst this one was definitely more realistic historical rather than fantastical, it is the comp I would make when recommending this book to someone. In short, Leeward follows Captain Hiram Nightingale, who commands the Scylla whilst it tries to track down & return a ship which has suffered a mutiny - though the book actually opens two years before this, when Nightingale is onboard a different ship and suffers a tragedy which will shape the decisions he makes throughout the story. On the Scylla, Nightingale is supported by two lieutenants - Hargreaves, and Courtney - the latter of whom he gets off to quite a rocky start with.

It was clear reading this that Katie Daysh either knows a lot about ships and sailing or has done a LOT of research. Whilst I can't speak to the accuracy, it definitely felt like she knew what she was talking about, and the battles and commands all felt realistic. Given that much of the book is description of ships or seafaring or naval warfare, I was wary that it would be quite disengaging when reading, however it didn't feel that way at all - in fact, I was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was to read! The characters are the heart of this novel, particularly Nightingale and all he has overcome and is still dealing with. I enjoyed Nightingale and Courtney's shifting relationship as they warmed to each other and began helping each other, and I enjoyed the relationships Nightingale built with other members of his crew - particularly with Rylance, Loom and Dr. Archer.

I do think that, perhaps, it was slightly too long and could have used a bit more editing - as I say, a LOT of the book was descriptions of ships or naval commands, which could probably have been culled for brevity. However, I really enjoyed this one and was very excited to find out at the end that it is only the first in a trilogy with these characters!! Will definitely be picking up the rest.

Instagram post here: https://www.instagram.com/p/CtodH2vL_Ce/?img_index=1

I did not know until this book just how much I could enjoy a book focused on the British navy circa 1800. The details of the ships, the crew and officers, the missions, the weather, the sea - it's all described here in beautiful detail without ever getting tedious or devolving into unnecessary world-building. The main character, Nightingale is a dutiful man who has had success in the navy but has also been beaten down by the experience. His father and other characters add to the weight of obligations and fear that are ever-present in his mind. He's annoyed at first by his new lieutenant, Courtney, and also doesn't trust him, though he doesn't really trust anyone other than his wife, for good reason. But gradually Nightingale and Courtney become allies and friends as they have to deal with the political machinations of others in the navy and in British colonial government. We only see the story through Nightingale's eyes but we get a sense of Courtney as well through their friendship. At first Courtney seems happy and overly confident, but his vulnerable side comes through as the story develops. By contrast, the stoic Nightingale is clearly longing for something more or different than what life has handed him, and is also grieving the loss of a good friend. He maintains his reserve throughout much of the story but his longing is nevertheless palpable. The reader can't help but hope for him to get a glimpse of happiness. What a debut novel, I'm excited to read more by this author. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC I received.

It has been a long time since I have been drawn into a book as deeply as I have with this one. The back and forth of the best and the present until it was all blurred together was just one of the things that kept me wanting for more.

The development of all the characters, let alone the main ones, was so well done, and the tragic backstory brought me to tears when I got to it. It hit exactly the way one would want it to hit. But damn, was I not ready for the impact of it.
All I'm saying is that tissues are your friend here.

The plot was on the slow side but you really barely even notice because it flows so nicely the whole time. If anything, this debut novel males me excited to read whatever the author does next.

If you are here for the romance, expect a slow-burn of one, but know that it will give you the warm and fuzzy feelings by the time the book gets to the end. Which is just another one of it's charms. Captain Nightingale's relationship with anyone and everyone in this book, be it platonic or romantic, play an important role to the overal story, but also to him as a person. His journy as a person is just as important as the sea voyage one. Something that I always love to see.

All in all, I would thoroughly recommend this book for anyone who doesn't mind a bit of a slow start in a book that more then makes up for it with everything else.

Leeward by Katie Daysh takes the reader up and plops them down onto a ship in the British Navy at the very beginning of the 19th century (IE just a hair before and then dead on in the year 1800). The main players of this novel are Hiram Nightingale, the newest captain of the Scylla after the death of the former to illness, and his First Lieutenant Arthur Courtney.

There's everything one could possibly want in this tale: a dastardly plot, the expanse of the open sea, the curious mix of freedom and rigidity that arises from being a sailor on a ship, and some explosive, cracking sea battles. Everything has been carefully, meticulously researched with special regards to nautical terminology and the sort of everyday life and extraordinary punishments meted out. The book is firm and solid and fully believable; I slipped away into the world as the story unfolded. I wanted Nightingale to find his peace after so much trauma and pain in the past as well as I wished to untangle the mystery of the Ulysses, which he was tasked to bring to heel.

Nightingale and Courtney start off with friction between them and slowly, with subtle touches here and gentle smiles there, grow closer and closer. Some readers may be put off that the romance was saved for the very end, but I liked it. Then again, I love slowburns the best of anything, so there's that. The promise of two additional books should do much to soothe any frustration in that area as well as whet the appetite for more, because by the end of it I DID want more. A lot more! It surprised me because at first, I thought it well-written even if it didn't fully hook me, yet at some point, I found myself thoroughly snagged and ensnared, so if anyone is wavering, DEFINITELY keep going and thank me later.

I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A deeply emotional personal journy in an Age of Sail naval adventure!

Leeward has on paper what you expect from a Napoleonic Wars sea story: an explosive naval battle opening, the unknown 18th century Carribean, a lot (and I mean a lot) of ship-related terms and traditions, political backstabbings, moral dilemmas, mutiny, hard decisions, storms, death.

The action and mystery is interesting, but usually takes a backseat to Captain Hiram Nightingale's personal journey: the battle he is fighting against his grief for the loss he suffered in Aboukir Bay, his doubts about his capabilities and self-acceptance, his struggle to get away from his father's invisible bonds, and his loyalty and determination to protect his crew.

With the Scylla, Nightingale also embarks on a journey that feels like final but in the end is the key to unlock himself in a sense. Arthur Courtney, his first lieutenant, is the push he needs more often than not and for me the best character of Leeward.

Most of the side characters are three-dimensional and complex, the author captures the bleak and harsh environment (and punishments) which were part of normal life in the era (hanging as a penalty, mutilation of limbs to save the patient's life, fever, disease, slavery) and while the twists aren't exactly ground-breaking they feel a natural part of human behaviour.

What's missing is that the romance was not developped that much for me, perhaps the hints here too subtle and Nightingale's headspace too angsty for the signs to pass to the reader.

Nevertheless, it's a great debut from Katie Daysh and I will for sure follow up the adventures of Hiram Nightingale and Arthur Courtney in her next books!

Thank you NetGalley and Canelo Adventures for the ARC!

It took me a while to finish this one, which with me is usually a bad sign... but not really with this one. I think it took longer for me because this book is so well researched (and as a writer and reader of historical fiction myself I truly appreciate) that I had a bit of trouble following up sometimes. But again, it´s entirely my fault because I´ve barely read about how was the life of marines in that century plus the language barrier.
But nevermind that, the narration is pretty light once you get the hang of it and I absolutely loved Hiram and Arthur´s relationship. I think my favorite parts on this was the fact that the captain´s trauma with his past battle / love interest was fully addressed before starting something new with someone else (and I´m a simp for slow burns, let me tell you) plus how well researched the plot was.
I didn´t know this author, but I´m glad this is going to be a series and we´ll get more of it. I´m curious where this will be going and I want to read what´s next.

Captain Hiram Nightingale has spent the last two years recovering from the physical wounds he sustained at the Battle of the Nile. He knows the mental wounds will never heal and he isn’t sure he wants to go back to sea or if he’s even able. Under pressure from his father and father-in-law, Nightingale agrees to travel to Trinidad to take over a naval support position. But at the last moment, his orders are changed and he is tasked with hunting down a mutinous crew whose whereabouts are unknown. Nightingale’s given charge of the Scylla, whose men have barely recovered from the yellow fever and the loss of their own, well-loved captain. With his crew more fit for the grave than for service and a belly full of self doubt, Nightingale must fulfill his duty or risk ruination.

Willful and initially belligerent, Scylla’s first lieutenant, Arthur Courtney, causes more than a few headaches for his new captain. But as they come to understand and respect one another, both men realize that lies and treachery stalk Scylla. Someone on the crew is working for a powerful enemy and doing so might get them all killed. Murder, mutiny, and hidden agendas threaten everything Nightingale hopes to achieve. But with Courtney at his side and the stout-hearted crew of the Scylla, Nightingale is determined to succeed or die trying.

I’m currently pursuing a Masters degree in Maritime and Naval Studies, so when I saw Leeward pop up for review, I grabbed it without hesitation. And I’m glad I did, because Leeward was hands down one of the best pieces of nautical-themed historical fiction I’ve read in a very long time. Leeward is in the tradition of Horatio Hornblower and Aubrey-Maturin, and is the debut novel by Katie Daysh and the first in an anticipated series involving Hiram Nightingale and Arthur Courtney. The writing was crisp and clean, while the pacing was spot on. With its taut action sequences and exceptionally engaging characters, Leeward was everything I wanted and so much more.

Nightingale is at the core of this book and his fragility and strength make him utterly compelling. With survivor’s guilt and PTSD threatening to unravel him, he somehow finds the inner strength to tackle rebuilding the crew of the Scylla and pursue a mutinous ship in a vast ocean bent upon destroying him. He is stern but fair, and leadership is a cloak that Nightingale wears naturally, if reluctantly; the bedraggled crew under his command respond to his forthright, unflinching manner. He and Courtney clash initially, but as respect turns to friendship and perhaps something deeper, both men balance and support one another as only comrades in arms can. The romance here is minimal and really doesn’t reveal itself until the end of the book, but it sets up the potential of something more for Nightingale and Courtney, both of whom deserve a little happiness by the time the book comes to a close.

Leeward was brilliantly written and its story is captivating and well crafted. Nightingale and his tenacious crew are the kind of characters that tug at your heart without seeming sappy or excessive. Leeward is a classic adventure tale with enough depth and detail to satisfy any historical fiction fan. Sufficed to say, I cannot recommend this one more highly and I eagerly await the next installment in the series.

I adored this book: it sucked me in and I could hardly put it down (and begrudged anything that meant I couldn't read just a little bit more). Think Aubrey and Maturin, but make it queer (or rather, make it queer on page) - a book that skilfully immerses the reader in 19th century maritime history, with a gorgeous slow burn love story weaving through the centre, and a twisty plot that amplifies the greed and machinations of the British Empire at the time.

Captain Nightingale, who has physical scars and mental / emotional trauma both from recent battle and other past events of his life, is given orders to captain a crew to track down and bring back a ship that mutinied off the West Indies, and which now appears to be heading down the coast of South America. He cannot be sure who his allies are, and is very aware that those senior to him have their own agendas. He is a man of integrity and courage, who is trying to do his best, both for himself and for those under his command, in the midst of hostility and, forever living under the threat of what might happen if people were to find out the truth about who he is, and who he loves. He is beautifully human, and I rooted for him from the very start. I loved how the book explores themes of responsibility, agency, courage and integrity, and in doing so creates a cast of fully rounded, flawed characters, none of whom, even the worst, are without humanity. Special shout out to Louisa (very much not a villain) - I loved her, and wanted to spend more time with her. There were several fist in the air moments for me as the stakes rose and the plot delivered. I also greatly appreciated the mental health, disability and queer rep (one of the best ace reps I've read). I was sad to finish the book, and delighted to find out that there are two more books in the series planned. I'll be pre-ordering as soon as it's possible to do so.

I enjoyed this action-packed naval historical novel, Leeward by Katie Daysh, with a gentle and subtle romance at its heart.
I received a copy this book for a free and unbiased opinion.
Hiram Nightingale is a man trapped by the conventions of his time- his sexuality could lead to his death and his father has no hesitation in controlling his life. He is still on a mission by his father and father-in-law even though he hasn’t recovered from his action at The Battle of the Nile and finds himself entangled in affairs that could cost him his career.
Hiram is well-rounded character, human and flawed and not with his weaknesses. When he takes command of the Scylla he orders the flogging of a crewmate although there are good reasons for this. I felt for him though as he struggled with the loss of good friend who he was secretly in love with the trauma of war and battle. But in 1800 men do not admit to weakness. In a way Leeward is a coming of middle age story as Hiram finally becomes his man towards the end of the book.
Hiram’s fate rests with men who have their own devious motives and have no hesitation in using Hiram to achieve this including his father and the mysterious Lord Fairholme.
The book is rich with well researched historical detail about life on board naval ships including the strict hierarchy of class and rank. There is plent ship based action including shipchases,mutiny,double-crosses and of course treasure( of sorts).
The book also has a few strong female characters including Courtney’s sister and Hiram’s wife.
The romance between Nightingale and Courtney is slow, gentle and realistic given the period it is set in. This is the first in a series of books featuring them both and I look forward to reading their further adventures.
Content warning
References to rape, suicide.

This was just very much not for me. There was nothing at all wrong with the writing. I did feel the story felt overly long, but I think that was more down to me not connecting with it than with pacing. There were only a couple of characters that I actually cared about and even they weren't enough to keep me engaged or interested. If historical fiction and naval warfare are your jam, you'll probably really enjoy this. If you're looking for romance at all, I think you'll come away feeling let down. This was just a case of the book not being the right fit for me as a reader. I didn't enjoy it, but I do think it was well written and that others might enjoy it.

I have always, always loved a good tale of adventure at sea. Pirate ship, naval ship, I don't care - If a part of it takes place on a sailing ship I'm sold. Unsurprisingly, I loved this.

Captain Nightingale is at the start a troubled man, ravaged by grief and loss and beset on all sides by meddling superiors. I really felt for him from the beginning, and especially as he showed his bravery and kindness on board the Scylla. This book was an outward journey, yes, chasing the mutinied Ulysses, but also an inward journey to self-acceptance and peace. And it was an absolute joy to read.

I really felt like I was there, at sea along with Captain Nightingale. The setting of ships and sea is drawn so well that I was tasting salt in the air, breathing the adventure. I never questioned any aspect of the setting or the historical details.

I love how Nightingale's and Louisa's relationship and sexuality are handled, and how his relationship with Courtney develops. It's slow and built on so much trust and understanding that it just feels right. There's nothing physical until the very end and even that is much tamer than a typical romance novel, but I liked that about it. I found the warmth and intimacy and trust between Courtney and Nightingale was much closer to my own idea of romance than more typical overly physical relationships built more on lust.

I was delighted to see that there are more adventures of Nightingale and Courtney planned. I look forward to reading them as soon as I can get my hands on them.

*Thanks to NetGalley and Canelo for providing an early copy for review.

I love historical books set at sea and this one didn't disappoint. It was engaging and the historical and naval elements were absolutely fascinating. It did feel a little exposition heavy in places but not enough to detract from my enjoyment of the novel.

I’ve had such a great run with books set at sea lately that I thought this would be right up my alley, but I found it incredibly boring most of the time.

I think if you’re interested in the details of sailing, you might enjoy this more, but I felt the characters and plot lacking intrigue.

Leeward by Katie Daysh was a definite 5/5 stars! Leeward was mysterious, fast-paced, and had lots of intrigue. I was hooked!
The setting of being on a ship was amazing! The writing was rich and I felt like I was there with the characters. The constantly changing tides within the sea and within the plot had me on the edge of my seat. I did not want this book to end.
I enjoyed Leeward immensely and will be anxiously awaiting the next installments of this series!

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

Hmm, a little torn about this one. There wasn't really anything wrong with it, and I like the way it dove into the details of seafaring and stuff, but somehow I couldn't really get into it, despite being a subject that I find extremely interesting. So: maybe not the best moment for me to read it, but it's not bad, and I expect that this review might change if I revisit it when I am a bit less tired and stressed.

I really enjoyed the depth of historical knowledge in this book. It was not quite as romance forward as I thought it would be from the copy but that's fine.

I was drawn to this book because the premise checked a lot of my favourite boxes: a captain in the British Navy during the Napoleonic Wars pursuing mutineers across the Atlantic. As I read, I discovered many other lovely bonuses, like political intrigue, disability and mental health rep, and a queer slow-burn romance.

The main characters are well developed, Captain Nightingale has such an interesting and tragic backstory that it makes you root for him from the first page. His relationships (with his family, superiors, and most importantly, his crew), play an important part in how he takes on this new assignment and how he deals with the losses he has suffered in battle and the resulting trauma. His journey of redemption and self-discovery is quite touching.

The plot itself is exciting, as the stakes are high and everything that could happen to a ship happens to the Scylla, Nightingale's command. The descriptions of storms, battles, even the becalming fog are flawlessly executed. While the constant use of first names between the officers threw me off, I have no other complaints about the writing. I was immediately immersed in the time period, and I can appreciate the amount of research the author must have undertaken to ensure that the technical aspects of sailing were accurately depicted. As an aside, I have read many books set on ships and each time it takes me a while to recall the terms, but it never detracts from my understanding and enjoyment of the story.

The romance in this book is extremely slow-burn, as the focus of the main characters is elsewhere and so it feels right for this story. It was nevertheless very satisfying to read, and I expect to see the relationship develop more in the planned sequels (which I was pleasantly surprised to discover reading the author's note).

All in all, I would thoroughly recommend this book. It is a sound, enjoyable read.

I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you NetGalley and Katie Daysh for the chance to read and review this book.