I purchased Leeward before reading The Devil to Pay, and I'm so glad I did. TDTP follows on about 2 years from the events of Leeward and follows Courtney and Nightingale once again, but this time from Courtney's POV. At first it looks like we're going to get to watch them build a version of a life together, but that's interrupted when Courtney is called back to service. I absolutely adored both books, with Leeward easily being a favourite of 2024, and TDTP following close on it's heels. I finished this book in a day, I was so reluctant to put it down.

The writing is at it's best through the action; the book feels well researched and detailed, with a balance that stops you from being overwhelmed by nautical terminology. The settings are so well written, and Daysh is fantastic at writing stressful fast paced scenes such as storms and battles.

The romance really takes a back seat in this book. In Leeward there is nothing until the end of the book, whereas this book has it threaded throughout but very subtle, and at times sparse, as the setting often dictates. At times I am wanting a little more, it feels very vague a lot of the time - for example towards the end of the book we get a reference to a moment being the first time Nightingale instigated intimacy, but I hadn't really picked that up through the early scenes in Isle of Wight.

Nonetheless, a wonderful book, and in a way it's very precious to have a book where the romance doesn't need to take centre stage. I can't wait for the next one!

Like some other reviewers, I originally started this book cold without reading Leeward (the first book in the series), which left me confused and lost. But I was intrigued enough by what I did read to purchase a copy of Leeward, and loved it enough to eagerly dive into The Devil To Pay immediately after finishing! Disclaimer here, I am a longtime Aubrey/Maturin fan, so the concept of an explicitly queer Napoleonic Navy romance was an easy sell. More so because Nightingale and Courtney are deep, flawed characters and both books lean into hurt/comfort tropes surrounding trauma from the character’ pasts. I was pleased with seeing Jane becoming a stronger character and to get a deep dive from Courtney’s viewpoint here, I’m curious to see if later books in this series will co tinge the alternating viewpoints. The inclusion of pirates in this book feels a bit trite, but I can understand how it would help bring new readers to the series. My only other minor gripe is with some of the historical accuracy—the repeated allusions to “raising a white flag” to indicate surrender is incorrect, and some things that are factually correct are written in an awkward way that had me double-checking the accuracy whenI should have been absorbed by the story. 4.5/5

When I found out that I'd been approved for the eARC of Katie Daysh's second novel, "The Devil To Pay", I hadn't realised it was part of a series. So, I immediately purchased "Leeward" on my Kindle to read first & put me in the best position to review it properly. Which turned out to be perhaps the best bookish decision I've made yet in 2024.

Set about a year or so after the events in "Leeward", "The Devil To Pay" follows Lt. Arthur Courtney & former Capt. Harim Nightingale as their summer together on the Isle of Wight is interrupted by the disappearance of the HMS Loyal whilst en route to Malta. A ship that carries Nightingale's father-in-law on an important diplomatic mission & memories from Courtney's past.

This sequel mirrors its predecessor by continuing the same themes, embarking on a similar nautical adventure (though with the addition of actual pirates), & offering the level of historical detail & description (e.g. politics, storms, battles, injury, etc.) that appealed so much to me from the start. It even goes so far as to replicate scenes in the romantic sub-plot that are both touching & further develop this slow burn LGBTQ+ relationship. Basically, everything you loved about book one can be found in book two.

What differs though is the perspective. Where before we were experiencing things through Nightingale, a Royal Navy Captain suffering from PTSD & doubt whom I compared to James Norrington from "Pirates of the Caribbean", now Courtney is our eyes & ears. I'd say he's more the Will Turner type. Still on the side of the British, for the most part, but favours unconventional methods that prove lucrative for his crew & career. I really enjoyed learning a bit more about his past & why he is so passionate about bettering himself.

The relations between nations (e.g. French v. English) also change due to the C19th context & it's all set in fresh waters.

Other familiar characters make their appearances along the way, such as the younger sailors & family members who made the biggest impressions, & new ones fill the gaps left by the departed. For example, Capt. Bryant becomes the main antagonist on-board & Geneviève Baptiste the strong, if limited, female presence.

And finally, as before, the romance element is secondary to everything else, but there are constant reminders & nods to its progression (e.g. lingering looks, physical touch, brief conversations, etc.). What I appreciated most was that it never fell into the idealistic tropes when the potential reality of their future was presented to them in the fate of another couple.

Thank you to @canelo_co & @netgalley for introducing me to what is now one of my favourite historical fiction trilogies.

Peace exists between France and Britain in June of 1802, but it’s a peace balanced on a knife’s edge, fraught with tension and far from stable. For Lieutenant Arthur Courtney, peace is something of a mixed bag. Far from the sea he loves, he has no ship and no chance of further promotion, but being landside means he can spend time with Hiram Nightingale, his dearest friend and lover. Hiram no longer serves, but he understands Courtney’s desperation to be back at sea, even if it means they must be apart. Yet he cherishes what little time they have together.

All too soon the fragile truce is threatened by the disappearance of two diplomats, one French and one English, the latter Hiram’s own father-in law. Thrust once more into a world of spymasters, national secrets, and the burdensome expectations of service, Courtney and Nightingale must find a ship lost at sea and maintain a peace that seems determined to destroy itself.

The Devil to Pay is the sequel to author Katie Daysh’s fantastic debut, Leeward, in the Nightingale and Courtney series. I loved Leeward, so I was eagerly looking forward to The Devil to Pay and Daysh does not disappoint. Like its predecessor, The Devil to Pay is filled with fantastic action sequences, a wonderful historically centered plot, and two characters who continue to be engaging.

Courtney is given center stage in The Devil to Pay and we learn more about his past and see his further growth, both as a man and as a naval officer. His background is far different than Hiram’s, but both have known brutality, loss, and pain. Because of the plot, Hiram is something of a secondary character here, which was a shame. Part of what made Leeward so good was the interactions between Courtney and Hiram, so it was disappointing to lose some of that in The Devil to Pay. But it made me appreciate the natural evolution such a unique relationship must experience if it wishes to endure. This novel also deals in a very real way with the Navy’s brutal response to homosexual activity in the service and how dangerous relationships, or even casual liaisons, could be for sailors. With the threat of a long drop from a short rope forever overshadowing their relationship, Courtney and Nightingale must decide if what they have is actually worth dying for.

The drama here is spot on and, save for a side plot whose resolution felt a little too on the nose and a few excessive moments during the last few chapters, it never tips over into melodrama. Instead, readers are given front row seats to savage storms, a devastating collision between ships, and the violence of battles fought at sea. Its gripping, heart-in-your-throat stuff and gorgeously written.These action-packed sequences are not gratuitous or spurious, but they are intense and immersive in a way that few other books can match.

The Devil to Pay was a wonderful follow up to Leeward and, if I was a little disappointed by Hiram’s lesser character role, then this was balanced by the amazing moments of action and getting to witness Courtney’s journey from his own perspective. If you love historical fiction with engaging characters and brilliant action pieces, then consider The Devil to Pay highly recommended.

I was not expecting a sequel to Leeward so soon, but I was so happy to receive an ARC for this, and I was not disappointed! I am so invested in Nightingale and Courtney's story that I can't wait for the next one now.

I loved that we get Courtney's POV for this one, and so he is further fleshed out as a character, with a backstory as compelling as Nightingale's was in Leeward. I did feel at times his inner monologue was a bit repetitive, but it might have just been me being too excited to get to the action at times.

As in the previous book, the action scenes are where the writing shines best for me, the descriptions of battles and storms are extremely well executed. The setting feels very realistic as well, if a bit heavy on naval terminology, but I feel it captured life on a ship during the Napoleonic Wars well. The very real possibility of a diplomatic crisis igniting war again made the stakes very high, although peacetime wasn't good for Courtney's career, so you feel his mixed feelings all throughout the book, alongside his doubts about the future and doing the right thing.

And now for the romance! I do love reading about idiots in love who haven't yet confessed to one another, and the pining in this is exquisite, although quite painful for our characters, given the time period. That aspect was explored in more detail in this sequel, and despite how unrealistic it could be, they better get a happy ending in the final book in the trilogy!

Thank you NetGalley and Katie Daysh for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This historical romance is the second book in the Nightingale & Courtney series. Initially, I didn't realise there was a prequel to this book, but that would make sense, as when I was reading, I found that the story occasionally referred to prior encounters between these two characters. I think I would be interested in reading the previous book, as I liked these characters, and their chemistry.

This book appealed to me because I felt drawn to the cover design and description. Around the time when I requested it, I had been reading other historical naval romances which featured characters such as sailors and pirates, so it just seemed to suit my reading mood at that particular time.

At the beginning of the book, I felt the atmosphere of the ship. I think that to travel on a ship seems like a great adventure, so if you read a book like this one, you are going on adventure with the characters. I felt connected to Lieutenant Courtney from the beginning, and I was ready for that adventure.

This book was romantic, though not particularly steamy, and I felt the romance and chemistry between Courtney and Nightingale was enough to set a reader's pulse racing, but it didn't dominate the whole story. Courtney seemed a complex character, I felt that he was quite deep, but only showed his deepest self to those closest to him - specifically, Nightingale.

I think I would be interested in reading about these characters again, if and when the mood takes me. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a free copy to review.

Leeward - Nightengale's perspective and The Devil to Pay - Courtney's perspective are easily in the top ten of books I have ever read. Rarely does an author make me care about characters as much as Katie Daysh does. Truly, she is a gifted writer. I am amazed. All I can say is read these books!!!!!

So here's the thing: When I requested the arc of this book on Netgalley because the description spoke to me (it's naval historical fiction, you know, 'tis for me), there was nothing on its page indicating this is, in fact, the second book in a series. Imagine my surprise when I started reading and felt kind of lost with all the teased information I clearly should have already known. One goodreads search later I did find out that this is a sequel, but at that point I've already been reading for a while and wasn't all too willing to go back and buy the first book - I do recommend doing that though. "The Devil to Pay" does tell a story on its own, and it's an exciting and interesting one. It doesn't have the most nuanced plot - in the end it's "ship goes missing and the crew goes on a search for it, then different ship goes missing and the crew goes on a search for it BUT WITH PIRATES!" - but it's a fun one and I enjoyed all the tidbits about the historical era we find ourselves in. It's fast-paced and a quick read.

What was lacking, for me, were the characters - and this is most probably because I didn't read the first book. I liked what I learned about this book's protagonist, Arthur Courtney, because there is quite a bit of depth to him and his story. His great love, Hiram Nightingale, felt like a complete blank slate to me though, and I know he's the first book's major protagonist. I didn't feel anything for him, and as such I didn't feel anything when it came to their romance. We get a lot of glimpses into their past, into important moments in their relationship, but obviously they aren't spelled out again for us because Daysh correctly assumes that you probably read the first book going into the sequel so you know all that already. The side characters weren't very interesting either, which is a problem insofar that I didn't really care about what happened to them in their high stakes adventure on the seas. I can't even remember the names.

So in the end, I did enjoy my reading experience but definitely not as much as I would have with book 1 knowledge. That's a mistake on my part, but also Netgalley/the publishers should probably learn to give more thorough warnings. I wouldn't have requested the book had I known, because I wasn't in the mood to start a new series. Still, this is a good 3 star read. Not remarkable, a little bit forgettable, but exciting nonetheless.

There's not a lot of well done action&adventure historical fiction, this one is well done action&adveture story featuring queer characters.
There's passion, actions, intrigues.
Highly entertaining, well plotted, gripping.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

katie daysh once again captures you with the placement of queer characters in a historical setting. following on from ‘leeward’, ‘the devil to pay’ is in the point of view of lieutenant courtney and shows his journey of the difficult task he is faced with.

this book gave me a rollercoaster of emotions, from the happiness of courtney and nightingale sharing their small moments together, to the heavy hitting reality that gay men faced in that time period. i enjoyed reading from courtney’s perspective as he was a character that intrigued me as i read ‘leeward’, the flashbacks were a great addition too as it allowed us to learn more about the lieutenant!

i can find no faults with this book and with this story. the writing is beautiful and it makes me excited for future work. i highly recommend it to anyone who loves historical fiction books that are heavily influenced by a particular history and enjoys queer romance!

i want to thank netgalley and the publisher for giving me an arc in exchange for a honest review.

I was so excited to jump back into Katie Daysh's world after being swept away by "Leeward" - I had read it asa buddy read on our Reading Rainbow Book Club (everyone loved Leeward). "The Devil To Pay" most definitely lived up to my high expectations!

This sequel stands strong on its own, with a storyline that grabs you from the very start – I was hooked from the mid-sea ship authority altercation right through to the dangerous mission in the Napoleonic era. I loved the early chapters on the Isle of Wight - that was such a treat. That was not to last, though, as they are summoned to go in search of Nightingale's father-in-law's ship that has been lost at sea, a dangerous mission which will most certainly test their bond and courage.

I absolutely adore Daysh's portrayal of a queer-normative world in historical settings. As in Leeward, their relationship is portrayed with much authenticity, adding a layer of complexity and emotional depth to the story. The attention to detail and extensive research shine through in every battle and love scene, creating a vivid and immersive reading experience. Courtney's perspective offers a fresh and engaging dynamic. As his backstory unfolds, I found myself becoming more attached to his character, particularly during the poignant and emotional moments that highlight the challenges/persecutions (there are some very upsetting moments ) faced by queer folk throughout history.

The novel seamlessly weaves romance into its central action, maintaining a well-paced and engrossing storyline that delves into the complexities of the time period. The storytelling is divine! I am a hundred percent certain that fans of slow-burn romance and historical fiction will find this sequel to be a satisfying and enriching read.

I'm already counting down the days until the next instalment!

Special thanks to Netgalley and Canelo for providing an advance reader copy!

I absolutely loved this book. Edge of my seat the entire time. I hope there's a sweet epilogue book sometime soon. I'd kill for Hiram and Arthur.

Can't wait for more by Daysh.

this was a great sequel to the NIghtingale & Courtney series, it had everything that I was looking for from the first book. The characters were everything that I wanted and enjoyed the overall feel of the story and had improved on the first book. I enjoyed getting to know the characters and glad it was so well done. Katie Daysh has a great writing style and I always enjoy reading from her.

Alright, I loved this.

First things first: I hadn't realised this was a sequel and hadn't read the first book. The good news though is that this works perfectly well as a standalone.

This is 100% one of my favourite reads of 2024 so far. Courtney is a wonderfully complex and interesting main character. I liked that his relationship with Nightingale didn't represent the biggest part of the plot, contrary to what the cover might make you think. I like my romance best when it takes a backseat to the main storyline. Which was so full of adventures and emotions. I was immensely entertained, I cried, I raged, I giggled, I felt all the feelings. Naval battles! Secret missions! Courts martial! Pirates! Volcanoes! It had everything and was clearly heavily researched.

I will now run to get my hands on the first book and will automatically buy anything from this author 👏🏻

Requested and received an eARC of The Devil to Pay by Katie Daysh via NetGalley. I swooned so hard for Daysh’s Leeward so I was excited to get swept away with some pirates once more and this sequel did not disappoint. In the second round of the Nightingale & Courtney series we join Lieutenant Arthur Courtney and are treated to his point-of-view as he yearns to return home to Hiram Nightingale, his former captain, close friend, and potentially much more. His peace doesn’t last for long, however, as he and Nightingale are once more called upon for a rather dangerous mission.

It was refreshing to view these characters from Courtney’s POV! While I adored Nightingale’s tortured stoicism in the first novel, I found Courtney’s perspective a bit more refreshing. Both are stubborn men, but for me Courtney felt like the more accessible protagonist. As Daysh peeled back the layers of his history, my fondness for the character grew even more (literal tears at his backstory!) There were moments of violence in this particular story that were definitely difficult to read and made me quite angry, but those moments don’t feel gratuitous. They’re done in a sensitive way that are appropriate to the era in which the story takes place and balanced by the complex nature of our charming protagonist.

Again, I was surprised to find myself so deeply invested in this story. There’s quite a bit of naval action, which on the surface does not excite me in the least, but when it means that one of Daysh’s wonderful characters are in peril...well, I was glued to the page. Much like the first book in the series, any romance is secondary to the central action of the novel which is once again complex, well-researched, and immerses the reader in the time period. Definitely great for those who love a slow burn romance. Truly, this was absolutely terrific and I look forward to rejoining these men in the future if there are more installments planned for this series!

I’ve really enjoyed reading both Leeward and this sequel Devil To Pay. In fact I think I liked this one just a touch more!! Probably a 4.5 for me!

Katie Daysh manages to completely transport you to life at sea in the late 1700s and early 1800s. I love how there’s no over explaining of ship terms and command hierarchy. It’s all just weaved into the plot and action, so it makes sense without dumping a load of information.

I adored that this one was from Courtney’s perspective. It didn’t change the essence of the books, but gave it a fresh feel!

Whilst I liked Nightingale’s point of view in book one, Lieutenant Courtney is way more passionate and rebellious, with a slightly more dynamic life background. Was fabulous to get to know more about him and his inner thoughts. He’s one of those types of characters I just love!! He makes some mistakes and is quite hot headed, but his heart is in the right place and he just wants to do the right thing by everyone and be able to love his man.

It’s so great to have a book like this where the main focus is on the plot, action and adventure, but there’s also this beautiful queer love between two strong, devoted men.

I enjoy queer historical stories that reimagine a queer-normative world. But, I also love and appreciate books that take a more realistic approach - like this one. There’s a couple of very upsetting, devastating scenes. It really highlights some of the horrific treatment of queer people in history, the challenges of having to love in secret and the strength of queer love.

I got way more invested in the plot of this one. Hunting down a missing ship and battling pirates! Mystery and dramatic ship battles? I’m here for it!

I was gripped, moved and taken on a thrilling naval adventure.

Will definitely be looking out for more from this author and hopefully more of this series!!


Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this one in exchange for an honest review.

Adventures on the high seas are fast becoming one of my favorites, add to that a historical tinge, a forbidden and queer romance and you've got me hooked.

I discovered this story by chance and let myself be carried away more than anything by the beautiful cover, whoever says you can't be carried away by a beautiful cover, is lying. Because that's why I got into this story, the bad thing about that point is that it wasn't until I had already read a good percentage that I realized that there was a first part, and that's why there were details that escaped me. So I have to read that first part to fall in love with the characters again.

In this story we meet Courtney and Nightingale who are part of the Navy and go in search of Nightingale's father-in-law's ship that has been lost at sea, which develops a mystery of what has happened and unravel the clues to find the location of the ship.

Before you say like father-in-law, you should keep in mind that this is set in the 1800's and everything about the queer community was unnamable so hence the forbidden romance.

I thought that detail was going to bother me when I understood their relationship, but they are so cute and their relationship is so warm, you just wish they could live their romance in peace and that all goes well. Plus the whole naval adventure thing and how it immerses you in the technicalities and activities makes you feel like you are part of the crew.

Do I recommend it? Of course I do, but don't be like me and read the first part first, so you get the full experience and understand everything from the beginning.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this amazing ARC and discover such a beautiful story, the opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

#TheDeviltoPay #NetGalley

I have to be honest, I didn’t know this was a part of a series when I request the arc. Damn it, now I have another series to read XD Luckily I have to read just another book for now, the first one. However, despite this book to be the second instalment in a series, it can be absolutely enjoyed even if you have not read the first. Courtney and Nightingale are so damn cute together. Their relationship really warm my heart. I fell in love with them, I want to keep reading about them.
I also enjoy the atmosphere, the historic setting, the naval adventures, the queerness. I pick this book because I’m a fan of Our Flag Means Death and I’m in the mood for pirate stories, but this exceeded my expectations.

Thank you Netgalley and Canelo Adventure for the arc!

And excellent follow up to Leeward. Really nice to get a different point of view of the drama and danger of life at sea, and enough romance dotted in to keep me happy.

ARC REVIEW

This was my first time dipping into the Courtney and Nightingale queer naval adventure series - and I absolutely loved it.

Set in 1802, Courtney and Nightingale are two men in love, keeping it hidden while they travel the seas, searching for Nightingale's father in law whose ship has gone missing.

Despite not reading the first in the series, I found that it did not limit my understanding of the relationship or history around Courtney and Nightingale. There were enough references and brief summaries sprinkled throughout the narrative that gave me enough information to appreciate the journey the main characters had been on. I found this book endearing, tense, and gut wrenching at times, and it was incredibly well written.

The only thing that stopped this being 5 stars for me is the technical language. The author has clearly done so much research into naval terms of reference because they are everywhere (I assume correctly so). However, possibly due to the fact I have not read book #1, the use of technical language slowed down my reading, as I was having to look up and work out what certain objects were, the specific locations etc. Overall though, this didn't take away from my enjoyment of the book, it just took me a bit longer than usual!

I am absolutely going to look for book #1 in this series, and keep an eye out for other publications from Katie Daysh!