Better than the previous book in the series, but not as good as the best. It starts with a long stretch on shore. Jack is fighting against a plan to enclose the commons near his estate. Right after voting and defeating the plan in Parliament, he's called to the Brest blockade under an Admiral who very much wanted the plan to pass. Meanwhile, Sophie discovers one of Jack's long-ago daliances and tells him she wants nothing to do with him. This is smoothed over by Diana and Stephen. When Napoleon is defeated and sent to Elba, Jack takes leave from the Navy and heads off in the Surprise to Chile, but before he gets far, he's called back. Napoleon has escaped and Jack is in charge of a squadron.