The Helmsman of Anthesis by Lee Hodiak #bookreview #giveaway #historical #fiction #rabtbooktours @RABTBookTours

Historical Fiction

Date Published: March 12th

Publisher: Acorn Publishing

William Sukara, a gregarious dreamer, emerges from the 1950s an estranged son. In divorce debt and with limited visitation rights as a father, he searches for order in failure. Pursuing self-discipline as an answer, he enlists in the Navy, volunteers for underwater demolition team training, and survives the elite course.

With five other team members, he raises his hand for a clandestine mission, knowing only that it's a “hundred day operation in a warm climate." They are led by a mysterious civilian who alludes that their authorization comes from the Oval Office, and they are to operate with extreme malice. They revolt, escaping under bizarre circumstances.

The Helmsman of Anthesis is a raw, close to the nerve, psychological thriller about a mission gone wantonly mad.

 

Review

There isn't a lot of action, it focuses on things like finding your place and handling responsibility.

The main character feels real and relatable. He has flaws, which made it easier to connect with him, and I liked seeing how he grows over time. His journey felt natural, not forced.

This history is sprinkled in and the setting and feel of the novel has the historical elements.

The writing is easy to follow and has some nice descriptive moments without being too much. There’s a calm feel to the book that makes it stand out.

About the Author

At age twenty, Lee Hodiak joined the Navy and spent most of his enlistment attached to Underwater Demolition Team 12. After serving, he joined the San Diego Police Department but realized he needed to follow his passion for wilderness travel and adventure instead. He went on to backpack the Baja California Peninsula, built a thirty-six-foot sloop, and lived in Australia for twenty years.

Now a resident of Central California, Lee enjoys birdwatching and living by the ocean. Sixty years in the making, The Helmsman of Anthesis is his debut novel.

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