Running Close to the Wind BY Alexandra Rowland

For fans of Our Flag Means Death, dive into the world of low fantasy on the high seas with Alexandra Rowland’s Running Close to the Wind. This thrilling adventure follows Avra Helvaçi, a former field agent of the Arasti Ministry of Intelligence, who inadvertently steals the most valuable secret in existence. With his life in jeopardy, the only safe haven is the vast and unpredictable ocean.

To offload the secret and find a buyer with sufficient wealth, Avra turns to his on-again, off-again ex, Teveri az-Haffar, a notorious pirate captain. Despite their complicated history, the duo devises a daring plan to smuggle the secret to the isolated Isles of Lost Souls, where they can sell it and reap immense rewards. However, their journey is fraught with peril: a cunning new Arasti ambassador shadowing their every move, Brother Julian, a handsome and enigmatic new crew member bound by an inconvenient vow of celibacy, and the imminent sea serpent breeding season threatening their survival.

As Avra and Teveri navigate treacherous waters and face various obstacles, their quest for riches and fame turns into a high-stakes adventure. Will they survive the dangers and become legends, or will the odds conspire against them?

Running Close to the Wind offers a whip-smart, hilarious, and exuberant high seas romp, complete with plot-relevant cake competitions and an irrepressible narrator. Freya Marske, Sunday Times bestselling author of A Marvellous Light, describes it as a delightful blend of wit and excitement.