I enjoy Jacques' writing. It's fun and easy and full of swashbuckling adventure. This particular book was a wee bit too long; the journey was too long and spacious, and then the climax and falling action was stuffed into ten pages or so, leaving me a little winded and disappointed. I didn't get the romantic and contrived happy ending that I had anticipated, but that is not entirely a bad thing. I don't really want contrived endings. But it's a fun book with fun characters.

I've read the prior books in this series, and as far as I remember I liked them all. This one, however, didn't keep my attention like the others. The writing isn't bad; it's just a little ponderous. The hero Ben is also extremely hard to relate to, since he's essentially a saint in teen's clothing who never has a selfish thought or action. All in all, I made it about halfway through the book before moving on to something more interesting.

This is the 3rd book in the series. I really like them. Fun clean adventure stories.

A really good book but Serafina shouldn't have died.

I was really confused as I got into this book. I felt like I was missing a lot of information. Turns out I was, this was the third book in a series. I really liked it though. Old nautical books are my favorite genre and this one had a lot less technical descriptions of ships since it is aimed toward a younger audience I think. The decks and sails and whatnot get lost on a lot of people. I usually imagine them on the deck or inside the ship and occasionally overboard.

An incredible book.

This is the third in the series a bout the young boy who was cursed on the Flying Dutchman. It is just as good as the first two

complete crap from beginning to end.

Unexpected tear-jerking ending but even still probably my least favorite of the 3 books. From this book I learned I don't enjoy reading about Slavery esp. when the slavers go unpunished. I typically do enjoy seafaring tales but apparently not while pregnant - reading about seasickness triggers morning sickness. Another thing: this book is very plot-driven, the trials characters go through would be difficult for anyone and their unique skills did little to help them through the trials - so it was hard to feel a connection. Lastly having the angel be MIA after being a strong influence in the last two books felt very disconnected. Moving away from the negative, it was good, very interesting at points. This closes the trilogy well; no longing for a continuation nor does the trilogy feel butchered; I'm very comfortable with the trilogy ending here.

I will preface this by saying that I am a sucker for Brian Jacques. I have been reading his works since he came to my school when I was ten. Twenty years later I still enjoy his tales.

Voyage of Slaves has action, adventure, and romance. But overall, the plot was pretty soft. Not a lot of cerebral stimulation here. Just a good quick adventure book. If you have not read Castaways of the Flying Dutchman or An Angel's Command, which are the first two books in the series, I would suggest those first. Both of those books were essentially two stories in one book. Voyage of Slaves is just one story. A little different feel then those first books. I got the feeling reading Voyage of Slaves that we were one book away from the Castaways coming to an end.

Now we may never know.

Entry 1
Ben, a boy that stays forever young and Ned, a black labrador that is blessed and doomed with the same fate by the angel of the Lord are the main characters. Captain Vanderdecken is tied to the Flying Dutchmam, a ship, for eternity and he is very evil and he almost got Ben and Ned to be doomed to the same fate aboard his ship, but the angel of the Lord came and caused Ben and Ned to be washed overboard in a storm on the condition that Ben and Ned stay young for eternity and go around the world at the angel's command and help people. They were given the gift to communicate thoughts to each other. Ben, Ned, the Rizzoli Troupe, Eli, Joshou, Kostas Krimbouti, and Janos are protagonists. Al Misuarta, otherwise known as the Lord Of the Barbary Coast, Bomba, the Corsair, and the False Padre are antagonists.

Entry 2
Most of this story takes place at sea. This is important because sometimes the tides and waves can help a boat or ruin a boat. The theme is vauge, but it goes along the lines of good beating bad, even under harsh circumstances. The point of view switches between Ben and Ned, but it stays mostly on Ben. This is important since Ben and Ned are the main characters.

Entry 3
After one particular voyage Ben and Ned are so tired that they fall and can't get back up in the small boat that they are in. Slavers catch Ben and throw Ned overboard. They sell Ben to Bomba who takes Ben to Al Misuarta. Al Misuata makes Ben his servant. Meanwhile Ned drifted ashore and Otto, part of the Rizzoli Troupe, takes Ned and nourishes him back to health with the help of La Lindi, Serafina, Signore Augusto Rizzoli, Rosa, his wife and also called Mama, Buffo and Mummo, who are all part of the Rizzoli Troupe. Bomaba finds the Rizzoli Troupe and makes them perform for Al Misuarta. Ben and Ned see eachother and are reunited. Al Misuarta, whos only intention in anything is to make money, made a deal with the Rizzoli Troupe, Ben, and Ned that he would give them free passage to Italy, the Rizzoli Trupe's home country, if they would perform for him until their departure. Al Misuarta tricks them, but Ben and Ned escape and with the help of Janos, Kostas, and Eli they free the Rizzoli Troupe, who Al Misuarta tried to sell, even though Serafina dies.

really good book! i didn't realize it was the third book in the series until i was halfway through! Kind of religious but good.