This book had such great vibes. A little silly, a lot of horny, and a lot of heart! I didn't make the comparison until I read the author's thank you in the back, but Alexandra referenced the humor being inspired by Terry Pratchett's writing --which fit! It was unique to see everything through Avra's eyes, with his luck and general outlook on life, but that also made Julien and Tev so much more fun, providing some grounding perspective to Avra's whims.
Pirates, plots, verbal foreplay, and beasties --if this is your jam, you should definitely check this one out!

Running Close to the Wind continues Alex Rowland's track record of picking up whichever writing style the next story in her universe demands and just rocking it.

RCW features Avra, an absolute dumpster rat gremlin of a main character and incredibly horny pansexual who is also the answer to a fascinating question: what would someone turn out to be if they were unnaturally lucky? Like all the time? And were also a scrawny, soggy rodent of a man who sort of kind of accidentally just stole the most expensive secret this fantasy world has to offer and is now trying to stay alive while hanging out on the pirate ship captained by always-his-ex, never-actually-married Teveri? While having to endure the unnatural sexiness of Julian, a monk passenger on said ship who for some reason has taken a horribly inconvenient vow of celibacy? Would said gremlin turn out to be absolutely insufferable? (yes) Would they still somehow be your new favorite child? (yes)

If you're up for gay pirates written in a Pratchett-like fantasy comedy style (if Pratchett were allowed to be a LOT hornier), pick this one up and read it somewhere where you won't get in trouble for bursting out laughing unexpectedly.

Extremely strong characters, layered worldbuilding, and a romp of a plot tying it all together made _Running Close to the Wind_ an absolute joy to read! The book kicks off with Avra, freshly-retired spy, making his escape from the country and agency he has loyally served for 15 years. His destination: as isolated an island as he can find, to quietly live out his days and _tell no one_ that he accidentally stole the most expensive trade secret in the world. First step: catch a ride on his ex Teveri az-Ḥaffār's pirate ship. Second step: reveal part of what he stole so that he isn't immediately tossed overboard. He's off to a great start! The cast's competing motivations and personalities quickly take center stage, and if you've ever had a frenemy, a sibling, or been on a road trip with one too many "I'm not touching you" moments, you'll find the first act hilarious.

Rowland is excellent at writing realistic interpersonal conflict that stems from personalities, hurts, and communication styles, just like real life. That skill is on full display in _Running Close to the Wind,_ especially in Avra and Teveri's recently-divorced-but-never-married dynamic. I had my reservations about Teveri after their introductory treatment of Avra, but came to love them very deeply, in part thanks to their Captain’s Log entries at the end of most chapters. I adored Julian and Avra from the beginning, and their dynamic was delightfully sweet; every time they were in a room together I was either blushing at their flirting or grinning at how well they got on! Teveri, Julian, and Avra are all hiding parts of themselves, and seeing them start to reveal their hearts to each other was unexpectedly moving. I was crying from all the emotions I experienced at only the halfway point!

The side characters are a colorful range from want-to-be to love-to-hate, and the cultural tensions on the Isles of Lost Souls were excellent social commentary and comedy in one.

The tone of the book is light overall, as befits a comedy, but there were plenty of moments that had me on the edge of my seat because of the action, suspense, or character interactions, and it packs a punch of emotional depth and social commentary. I was repeatedly impressed by how well Rowland tied in various hints from early in the book, and there were several extremely satisfying reveals that made me pause to stare at the wall in amazement and/or excitement. I was just as invested in the mystery of the trade secret as I was in the relationships! Most everything was there for a reason, and since I was already intrigued by small details, seeing them cashed in in the last act was very rewarding.

As with _A Taste of Gold and Iron_, the ending fell at a point where the central questions had been answered but I still wanted more; that is to say, it was well-placed and the characters felt like real people whose lives continue past the end of the book. I would be extremely thrilled to see more of any of them in Rowland's future work!

The bottom line: this book was one of my most anticipated reads, and not only did it live up to months of expectations, but the characters and future possibilities wormed their ways into my heart and haven’t let go in the month since I finished it (and I don’t expect they will any time soon). If you like chaotic, slightly rambly POV characters, grumps with hearts of gold, and mysteries that could upend the world economy, this is the queer pirate comedy for you.

Thank you to TorDotCom for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to Tor and Netgalley for an ARC copy of this title.
I've had this author on my to read list for a while and though I certainly enjoyed this book, I'm not sure I would have stuck with it if I'd picked it up later on my own.
This book is primarily dialogue and the main character is a chaotic gremlin (affectionate) who's speach pattern is to talk in spiraling circles. It can be a lot, and I struggled through the middle of the book as it continued and my patience for it was tested.
Despite that, the story is interesting, the world building and characterization well done, and overall a book I'd recommend to people who don't mind chaos and, I say this having not watched it, comedy similar to Our Flag Means Death.

I wanted so much to love this book because I love humorous/whimsical fantasy. Unfortunately, I was only able to get to about 40% into the book before I lost interest completely and could not bring myself to read any more. I think that this style of humor might work for some people, but for me, I felt like it relied too much on cheap, not funny, repetitive sex jokes. To be very clear, the issue is not that the jokes were about sex. The issue is that they were not funny the first time, and also not funny the tenth time. I tend to like the type of humor that has a serious "setup" then the "reveal"/"punchline" is what makes it funny (think Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy). In this book, the "humor" relied on the MCs (often) screaming or whining random things. I don't think our MCs had one single serious conversation in any page that I read, and this was frustrating to me, so I could never get invested in the characters or the plot.

A summary of RCTTW: the luckiest/silliest raccoon bastard in the world convinces his ex to help him avoid a treason charge and make a ton of money. Things go sideways immediately and frequently.

This book was so ridiculous, deeply unserious, over the top, entirely absurd. Very much not a grand fantasy, this book never went in the direction I expected. It starts with quite big, world shaking stakes but ends up quite cozy. It’s very horny but closed door. There’s consistent, nonstop flirting, but it’s not a romance. It’s almost sitcom? It’s ridiculous but finds so many opportunities to be clever.

I had an absolute blast reading this book. If you enjoy unserious fantasy stories or need a good laugh, put this book on your radar for June 13th of this year.

My thanks to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for an advance copy of this fantasy that deals with pirates, love, luck, sea creatures, a lot of humor and a bit of spice.

One of the subgenres I used to love reading most in fantasy were the ones that for lack of a better term were funny. Comedic fantasy I guess. Most of these had snappy dialogue, characters one cared about, an adventure that was strange, and lots and lots of humor, jokes and puns. Mythadventures more than Xanth stories. The stories were good, there was usually a reason why things happened and even more why things went wrong. Plus there was a little bit of heart, for as much as the characters might be driven crazy by each other's actions, they still cared, and would do anything for that character. This book is just like that. Only a lot more bawdy. Running Close to the Wind by Alexandra Rowland is a queer friendly pirate story about love, luck, lust, longing, loathing, looting, the sea, swashbuckling, and serpents. And lots of fun.

Avra Helvaçi has always been lucky. In live, love and as an agent, now retired for the Araşti Ministry of Intelligence, Avra has survived many angry suitors, traps and tribulations, and has now found that he has committed a little bit of treason, something that had never occurred to him. During a routine security check Avra was asked if had ever stolen anything, and it popped into his head, not until now, and stealing something, something big could help his plans of being a poet. A poor poet in appearance, but with enough of a financial stake to be comfortable and hide. Luck drops a set of keys and a secret, a secret so big Avra knows he will be set for life, and marked for death. The ship Avra flees on is seized by pirates led by the dread pirate captain Teveri az-Ḥaffār, who Avra once had a fling with. Or more than a fling, Which did not end well. Teveri is a pirate with a need for money as his ship is considered cursed, and a his crew is tired of working for no money. Avra shares his secret, and plans grudgingly, are made. However trouble awaits, from the crew, Avra's past employers, and from the depths of the sea itself.

A romp. That is the best description I could think of while reading this book, a very queer friendly romp full of characters who one either cheers for or want to see walk the plank, sometimes in the same paragraph. Rowland hooks the reader right from the beginning, and doesn't ever let off the pedal. This book is bawdy, just a warning for the more sensitive of readers, but is again a lot of fun, full of humor, and has a lot of world building that makes it interesting and exciting. Rowland has a good style, a way of hooking the reader, and does a very good job of developing the characters and the story. I have not read anything by Alexandra Rowland before, but I will have to change that. A very inclusive story that is very, very good.

This one was really not for me—I stuck with it because I was curious how everything would play out, but ultimately it did not work for me at all. I think it was significantly too long and too goofy, and would have benefitted a lot from being tightened up. I’m sure there are many books I love that read as too long and detailed to others, and I’m sure there are plenty of readers for whom this tone really works and who would have preferred even more of it. The idea had a lot of promise but it didn’t quite deliver for me.

Thank you Netgalley and Tor for the arc!

I'm going to start by saying that even though I didn't love this book I think it's a matter of taste. If you are looking for a very unhinged very horny comedy you will be thrilled.

However, let's go first with the positive: I absolutely love the world building, getting to see a different side of the same world from A Taste of Gold and Iron was very exciting, made me see things differently and made me eager for more books set in the same world. I also very much enjoyed Julian's rebel spirit, one of the three stars I'm rating this book is just for him and his speech at the end of the book.

This a character driven book and Alexandra's characters never fail to disappoint, although a bit annoying, the main character is compelling and the cast of side characters is delightful. But, sorry there's always a but, I was a bit disappointed that the comedic tone was kept through the whole book leaving very little room for serious conversations. I wish I could have seen a bit more of the real Avra, the mc, instead of more of his shenanigans. The comparison with OFMD is not the best, although it has the same horny queer chaotic spirit, I miss development and real connection between the characters, I was exasperated many times by Avra letting everyone humiliate him. One of the best things of OFMD is the found family and unfortunately I feel Running Close to the Wind did not get there.

Most of the book is focused on Avra, Tev (the captain) and Julian. Their relationship is based on sex, sexual tension, and bullying Avra. I found the flirting a bit too much and at times a bit uncomfortable (some characters do not really consent to it). My aceness maybe acting up, but Avra was deep in horny jail and this almost took his entire personality.

Due to the way Avra is portrayed I couldn't find believable his conversations with the ambassador. But I may be taking the plot more seriously than the book itself. There is a plot but it's very lost in all the chaos and the conclusion is not very satisfying.

Maybe I had different expectations or maybe the marketing didn't help but I'm sad to report this was not a 5 star read for me. I still very much love Alexandra's writing and can't wait for their next book.

Thanks to Netgalley for me e-ARC!

4.5 STARS!!! Imagine if Pirates of the Caribbean was gay and had a throuple!!

A whole star just for the plot, it was intriguing, Having a civil servant/worker, pirate, and priest-of-sorts meet in such an unlikely manner and have it work is a wonder and only great writing can accomplish that. Another whole star for the pacing—it had times of lull but usually comedic in nature, which still held my attention. I actually love breaks like that in the pace where it’s like “ohh commercial—er,, comedy break” because it endears the character to me while my brain stews on the misdirection to give the author more leeway for me to not guess what happens next!

Another whole star for the characters themselves! The main three characters stayed true to themselves and I absolutely loved that you can tell what their motivations are. Avra is very much Jack Sparrow, but not the pirate. He goes with his instincts and is very lucky (which is a kind of superpower to be honest). Teveri has a warm heart and is troubled financially, as most pirates are and Julian, is so mysterious and desirable for both of them. Unfortunately, although I loved the characters, I’m only giving half a star for character development because only Julian had a tangible change. Avra and Teveri pretty much stayed the same from the start of the book to the very end.

I am going to give another whole star for re-readability. I wish someone could give me amnesia to read this book again. I also never realized just how much I missed Pirates of the Caribbean until I finished this book. Alexandra Rowland, you’ve done it again! I love this book and I hope to read more of your works soon!!

Okay, it's a queer pirate fantasy. It's Our Flag Means Death. It's also absolutely hilarious. Like, pee your pants funny. You root for all the characters, even as they're doing the most absurd insane things. It's ridiculous. It's kind. It's a ROMP. It's a perfect book.

Peppered with amusing humor, the story has a cute premise. It feels like an easy 3-4 stars for the target with 5 for the right readers. I stopped at 6%.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor for the ARC.

This felt like such a whimsical read. I loved the story, the characters, and the entire book. It was a great time. I haven't read anything else by this author but now I want to.

I was given a copy of this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Tor and Netgalley.

I have read most of the author's other books before I picked up this book, so I was already inclined to view it favorably. I had also gotten a preview of the first 4 chapters ahead of time. I was incredibly excited to get this ARC.

If you read A Taste of Gold and Iron, and loved it mainly for its intrigue, romance, and serious character development and were hoping for more of the same, this is probably not the book for you. This is a very different book.

However, that being said, this book has some excellent characters, including Avra Helvaci, the main character, a man of many undignified mouth noises. Also there is some great worldbuilding, adventure at sea, and a plot-relevant cake competition. Plus queer pirates. And many, many sex jokes.

The book is hilarious. I was laughing very loudly while reading it, to the point that my partner and cats were concerned. I could not put this book down. It was the funniest thing I have read this year, probably this decade. I am still laughing about certain scenes!

I adored the book, and I hope you do as well.

Running Close to the Wind is a rolicking good time - definitely the cozy, queer pirate light-adventure novel that I always needed. It had me laughing out loud, and the way that Rowland explored the dynamic between Avra, Teveri, and Julian was expertly done. It's *very* different than A Taste of Gold and Iron (much more character driven than plot driven, and quite a deal lighter in terms of themes etc.), but Running Close to the Wind stands on its own as a comfort read that I know I'll come back to when I need a book that's packed to the gills with banter, hilarity, and a lot of wacky humor.

In Running Close to the Wind by Alexandra Rowland, readers are treated to a riotous adventure filled with queer pirates, irrepressible chaos, and heartfelt connections. At the center of the tale are Avra Helvaçi, a former Arasti spy with a penchant for mischief and self-discovery; Teveri az-Haffar, the stoic pirate captain whose unwavering loyalty belies his tumultuous relationship with Avra; and Brother Julian, a charismatic monk whose presence sparks tension and revelation aboard their ship. Rowland expertly navigates the dynamic between these characters, infusing the narrative with warmth, humor, and moments of introspection. While the novel occasionally struggles with tonal balance and pacing, its strengths lie in the richness of its characters and the depth of their relationships. Running Close to the Wind is a captivating journey that offers both laughter and heartfelt exploration of identity, belonging, and the bonds that unite us.

Running Close to the Wind by Alexandra Rowland is the definition of a good time. This cozy pirate fantasy pirate book has the energy of Our Flag Means Death and a chaos plot. The slow burn, closed door, polyamorous relationship between a surly nonbinary pirate captain, a failed spy (who succeeds anyway because he is supernaturally lucky), and a monk in the process of letting go of his vow of celibacy is my everything. This book is a series of unlikely but fortunate events thought up by a genius who knows what I want from literature. I could not recommend it enough.

When Avra Helvaçi, goes for a walk one night and accidentally steals state secrets, he knows he needs to leave his life as a spy behind and get out of dodge fast. As luck would have it, the ship he is escaping on is raided by none other than the ex who is currently very mad at him, pirate Captain Teveri az-Haffar. The captain only agrees to let Avra live because the information he has could save their financially falling ship. Luckily, the studious and handsome Brother Julian can understand the science behind Avra’s information. If you like pirate cake competitions, blasphemous embroidery, making fun of government officials, and messy queer courtship, boy do I have the book for you.

Thanks to Tor for providing an arc of Running Close to the Wind in exchange for an honest review. Running Close to the Wind by Alexandra Rowland is set to release on June 13, 2024.

So. Alexandra Rowland is one of my favourite authors ever, and I was soo excited for this book. And I did enjoy it!! It was a very enjoyable read, like genuinely. But that's about it. The things that I usually expect from a book from this author, were unfortunately missing. Character development, emotional bonds, a solid worldbuilding.... I really needed around a 100 odd pages interspersed in the book. But the ending was very soft, and once again, a very enjoyable read.

So. Alexandra Rowland is one of my favourite authors ever, and I was soo excited for this book. And I did enjoy it!! It was a very enjoyable read, like genuinely. But that's about it. The things that I usually expect from a book from this author, were unfortunately missing. Character development, emotional bonds, a solid worldbuilding.... I really needed around a 100 odd pages interspersed in the book. But the ending was very soft, and once again, a very enjoyable read.

Running Close to the Wind was one of the books I was most excited for this year, and A Taste of Gold and Iron is one of my absolute favorite books, so to say I had high expectations for this book would be an understatement. Whatever I was expecting, it certainly wasn’t this.

Now that I’ve gotten that out of the way, I can honestly say that this book took me by surprise in a really good way. Running Close to the Wind is absolutely HILARIOUS. It’s silly, and horny, and lovable, and a wild ride from start to finish. In between all of the jokes and shenanigans are flashes of humanity and emotions that caught me off guard, beautiful prose, tender character moments, fascinating worldbuilding details, and a poignant message about systems of power, the value of knowledge, and the radical act of claiming ownership over yourself and your story. I really hope that a sequel is in the works, because I want to see where this story goes, and I’ve fallen in love with these characters and their relationships with one another.

My only real critique is that I wish there was a little more emotional depth. There were snippets here and there, but I would’ve liked a few more serious moments, and maybe a couple of emotional scenes that didn’t immediately devolve into silly jokes or Avra’s incoherent noises. I think part of my reaction came from expecting another A Taste of Gold and Iron, in the sense of an emotional story with high levels of romance and angst, and this really wasn’t that. If you go into this expecting a fun romp and a lot of laughs, but not a lot of tears, you certainly won’t be disappointed!

Overall, Running Close to the Wind is a book that I would wholeheartedly recommend to anyone who loves pirates and shenanigans and doesn’t mind a few gratuitous horny jokes (or more than a few). Just go into it with realistic expectations of what kind of book it is, and isn’t, and get ready for the time of your life.