An adventurous fantasy series starter that follows a captain and his crew as they search for the fabled Grimstone. In the year 3203, in the kingdom of Tuscawny, Capt. Zale “The Gale” Murdoch is incredibly close to reaching a level of mastery in his seafaring guild, which would allow him to semiretire. Then the bar for mastery is raised again, so Zale is eager to take on something big—something guaranteed to make him a lot of money. Nobleman Vidimir Tefu has a mission, but it doesn’t seem promising at first; he wishes Zale to hunt down the mysterious and powerful Grimstone, which Zale isn’t even sure exists. Zale’s new healer tells him about the stone’s legendary power—and how Zale’s family name is attached to it, which changes his view of the assignment. After his ship is nearly destroyed by magical fire, he and his crew are forced to set sail earlier than planned, but he’s more determined than ever to find the stone. Then Zale’s semi-estranged teenage daughter, Starlina, is found onboard despite the fact that she loathes the sea; she’s enamored with a member of his colorful crew and ended up on the craft by accident. Her presence adds an unexpected element to what proves to be quite an adventure. Kramer’s introductory installment to a new series is set in another time and another world, and the necessity of describing these things means that the narrative can get bogged down in details of the setting and its history; the introductions of the various crew members, as well as the backstory of the Grimstone, may also overload casual readers. Others, however, will enjoy the feeling of immersion in a complex setting with well-developed characters. Once the search begins in earnest, however, the story moves at a quick, steady pace and becomes more enjoyable to read. The novel also includes maps of relevant places and a diagram of Zale’s ship, both of which prove useful. A somewhat dense but ultimately enjoyable questing tale. - Kirkus Reviews

Kramer’s exciting debut, the first in the high seas fantasy Heroes of Time series, introduces the Warvonia Guild’s best captain, Zale “the Gale” Murdoch, and the crew of the Queenie as they search for their most elusive bounty yet. With little time left to meet the guild’s (newly increased) “mastery bar” for the year and earn “grandmaster” status, Murdoch and his first mate, Dippy, search for fast, easy jobs to meet their quota. They’re approached by a strange man offering a payout bigger than they can imagine—but they’d be committing to a long and dangerous journey to hunt something out of myth. The new physicker for the ship tells Murdoch that only his bloodline can acquire their quarry, known as the Grimstone, and in the wrong hands it could plunge their world into permanent darkness. Kramer takes readers on a heart-pounding adventure across the sea featuring fearsome enemies and treacherous lands. While Murdoch and his crew prepare to contend with his biggest rival and archenemy, Seadread, Kramer adds another layer of intrigue with Seadread’s hiring of creepy, non-human, feathered mercenaries. Kramer shows great attention to detail, particularly in the intense battles throughout the story, and readers will be on the edge of their seats as they’re immersed into the furious fight scenes with powerful foes and unpredictable outcomes. The crew of the Queenie will be immediately endearing to readers of heroic maritime fantasy. Each exhibits a healthy respect for —and a dash of fear of—their captain. It’s clear the crew has also become family while spending most of their lives on the ship, and even new arrivals are instantly welcomed and initiated with a nickname. Kramer’s character development is strong enough that readers will distinguish the main players easily, just from the way they speak or think, and Murdoch’s clear love for family and crew will have readers pulling for them throughout their memorable journey, especially in the emotional ending. - BookLife