Firstly I should point out that is the third book in this series, a fact that I hadn't realised myself before picking it up. However, whilst I suspect whilst that previous books may have given a bit more of Matthew's family history and hence helped with some of the land based action I didn't feel that it unduly affected the on-board action, as such I believe this can be read as a stand alone novel.

Set in 1665, Charles II has recently been restored to the throne after the stern Puritans had been ousted. England is a country still riven with division between the Cavaliers are the former followers of Oliver Cromwell. London is suffering from the Plague and will shortly burn during the Great Fire. Similarly, it is almost expected that kings can sleep with any woman at court even if it is frowned upon by most meaning that religious divides add to the tensions.

England has recently gone to war with the Dutch over commercial rather than political differences and with disease decimating the land ships, even those about to go into battle are seen as safe havens, the Navy is still a place where family connections not ability is how the captains will earn their commands and where prize money means that fortunes can be made.

At the beginning of the book Matthew Quinton has recently been relieved of his command and as war is declared is without a ship. Unexpectedly he is given the command of a vast and ancient man-of-war far bigger than anything that he had previously captained. Forced to contend with fractious ministers of state, a raw, rebellious crew and an alleged curse on his ship Quinton joins the English fleet to battle the Dutch in what becomes the Battle of Lowestoft. The book opens with a massive explosion on an English warship whilst tied up on the river and pretty well ends when an enemy flagship similarly explodes during battle, hence the blast of the title.

I felt that the sea-going elements of this book was well written, there was so much sailing jargon that a non-sailor would become confused, the battle is well realised as is the devastation to ships and men that be wrought by cannon fire. Certainly anyone who enjoys reading about historical sea battles will almost certainly enjoy this element of it.

However, the tale was also a little rudderless at times. Every page seemed to be peppered with surnames and titles, even during the battle when one nobleman died whilst his companion survived we were told who inherited this or who went on to do that in an impromptu history lesson which did little to help the flow of the action. Similarly we are regularly reminded that the story is being told by Matthew well into his dotage thus removing any doubt that he will survive the onslaught. Equally I found the on shore element generally implausible.

On the plus side as a Cornishman I quite enjoyed reading about my stout brethren who along the awkward Welsh who crewed Quinton's ship. Also the fact that English were not fighting the French was a pleasant change. Overall some of the story is tremendous fun and come the end of the book I had learned a little something about a period of English history that I knew virtually next to nothing beforehand. ( )

Complex relationships require complicated books by a knowledgeable author. This is such a book about the early days of the "Age of Fighting Sail". There were admirals and there were captains during this era but most seemed to be entitled courtiers rather than professional seamen. Matthew strives to rise above this model but the times and sheer-number of nobles clearly make him an exception. Lots of conflicts and exciting battle scenes with historically accurate personages and events being massaged nicely into a compelling story. ( )