I get where this was supposed to be going but I didn't like the dynamic between the two main characters from the very beginning so I just couldn't get into it.

Whaaaaaaaat?!?! This is the most unhinged, off the wall, crazy thing I have ever read. I kinda loved it.

Running Close to the Wind is a hilarious queer pirate comedy that is unlike anything I have ever read. It is hyper sexual in language, though not actually smutty at all, and completely ludicrous. The main character, Avra, is so annoying and endearing - he’s like a pirate version of Tom Haverford from Parks and Rec. Endlessly lucky, eternally clever, and everlasting horny, Avra drives the entire crew insane, including his on again off again love, Teveri. Teveri, the gender fluid captain who escaped from the cult of his homeland, is a far less demonstrative character, though they do join Avra in openly lusting for the dreamy monk, Julien, who took a vow of celibacy after years of being very, er , active.

There is a plot in here somewhere. Trying to figure out how to sail without being attacked by sea serpents, politics within the region, protecting cake during a very intense competition - but I didn’t stick around for the plot. This book is just really funny. It’s absolutely too much in every way. Is it too sexual, too repetitive, too objectifying, too crass, too unbelievable and kind of too damn good. It’s just hijinxs and entertainment. If you don’t expect anything more and you have a base level of depravity in you already, you’ll have a good time. The writing is easy, the characters are well developed and so raucous, and the humor is off the charts. Enjoy!

I was lucky enough to get an ARC of the book and audiobook and loved experiencing both versions.

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc!

After struggling and ultimately DNFing A Taste of Gold and Iron, I thought I would give Rowland's writing another try... Unfortunately this just wasn't for me either.

This book was very funny. I feel like the book was definitely more character driven. The relationships made during this story are so sweet. I enjoyed Captain Tev’s ship logs, they were very interesting. I loved the found family!

This book is fantastically funny! It promised me humor and BOY did it deliver!! The hijinx and antics the main character gets up to had me smiling the whole time I was reading. This book is a comedy first, a cozy fantasy second, and a high-seas adventure third with some lovely sprinkling of romance on top.

I adore the main character, Avra, so much and I would like to study him under a microscope. Is he, in all practicality, one of the most unabashedly annoying, pathetic men you’ve ever conceived of? In some ways, sure. But he also is fully aware of this and has no qualms about continuing on anyway. He is himself, unapologetically, and I adore him. He’s also HILARIOUS.

All of the characters, from our POV character to the most inconsequential side character, have such presence and they each have their little quirks that make them incredibly endearing. You could pick any one of the whole cast of characters in Scuttle Cove or on the crew of The Running Sun and I could say with 100% honesty that I’d kill to know their story.

The softer moments between all the jokes made my heart ache in a lovely way. I loved seeing the characters fumble through the mortifying ordeal of being known like wobbly baby deer. Some of my favorite little heartfelt moments weren’t related to the main romantic pairings, but were instead about friendship and making connections with others, which I found delightful.

The world itself is also so rich. I’m always in awe of how detailed and well thought out Alexandra Rowland’s world building is, and Running Close to the Wind nailed it again. Everything about Scuttle Cove and its history was so interesting. I was utterly fascinated by the way they navigate to get there and how much the process revealed about the pirates and their community/society while also being just plain neat. I also adore everything going on with Avra and the very roundabout ways that fortune can look favorably upon someone.

And, as always, the little nods/shoutouts to things we’ve heard about in other books within this wider world are delights. Even the smallest mention always hits me with little bubbles of joy when I notice them, like delightful little treats as a reward for being an insatiable fan of Rowland’s works.

All in all, an excellent book that I think anyone who enjoys light-hearted adventure, pirates, and absurdly silly little men will enjoy!

I really wanted to like this book. I was super excited about the synopsis and after reading a few non spoiler reviews i was hyped. Pirates, queer positive characters, and a comparison to Six of Crows sign me up!!! Unfortunately this was not my cup of tea. I enjoy a good character driven novel and felt that this definitely did that well. The comedy i feel would have been put to much better use if it were not the same joke over and over and over. At some point it went from being adult humor to something that i would liken to a teenager learning his first dirty word and then proceeding to use it every chance he had to talk. At one point i started counting the number of times that the phrase "dirty little slut" was used in the beginning of the book and quickly lost count. The characters i didn't understand at all. Avra is like a toddler that just word vomits any thought he has and often repeatedly. I think that the all the dirty jokes and constant expression of horniness would have worked at some point had the novel had any depth or actual spice to it. Alas it did not. I think that for those that enjoy a good slap stick queer comedy with horny pirates and a queer positive crew than this is definitely a book that will be enjoyed. but if you're looking to connect with characters, have any semblance of world building or an actual development then this won't be the book for you.

<i>First, a thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an eARC of this book.</i>

Well, I’m quite sad as this book was solidly four stars for me until we got to the latter 25% and especially the ending. I don’t <i>need </i> everything tied up with a bow, but I did find the ending rather abrupt and without much reason.

Overall, this is a very silly book that sometimes tries to sneak in something serious about relationships or one’s self-worth, and I enjoyed the witty banter and the lightning fast back-and-forth. I can see this being a “right book wrong time” title for some as if you are not in the mood for silly, you are going to loathe this book and spend a lot of time cringing.

I wish the last mitts could have ended on a stronger note (especially for a book that goes SO HARD and is so committed to its chosen style) but I enjoyed reading it, and don’t regret doing so.

This book sells itself perfectly: “queer pirates and comedy.” It is the definition of lighthearted. And also raunchy. And I loved every page. For starters, I loved the main character Avra so much. He is chaos personified, and had me in stitches every scene. Yet he also clearly cared so much about the people in his life and was so sweet in his own obnoxious little way. I also loved Tev and Julian and the rest of the crew just as much. Especially Tev, but I know wrapping them up in a warm fuzzy blanket the way I want to would get me stabbed. But even more than I loved any one character, I loved Avra and Tev and Julian together. Now, as for the plot, I honestly forgot about the main plot at points due to all the ‘side quests’ that were going on. But the side quests were so much fun, especially the cake competition. And in the end everything came together brilliantly and perfectly. Lastly, in terms of other stuff I liked how well the world was developed when it mattered and the other little cute bits of fantasy setting and whimsy. Overall, a fantastic read!

Thank you SO much to Tor books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book!

Imagine reading a Shakespeare comedy about pirates in modern language. Now imagine that the Fool in the play is actually the main character and that the entire story is told from his point of view. Now imagine that the Fool is pansexual, mysteriously lucky, and an accidental traitor to the crown. And then you have the basis for what was an unexpectedly hilarious and heartwarming story about science, luck, accidental treason, and cakes.

I did NOT expect to fall in love with this book! In fact, I made a note a few chapters in that said, “this is funny, but will the tone get tiresome?” In actuality, as the chapters went by, I actually think it got funnier. I love a good comedy, but it needs to have heart and adventure, and this book definitely has each of those elements. What put it over the top for me was the anger underneath everything - the idea of upsetting the system, reclaiming your identity, and righting the wrongs that society has instituted over time.

This is one of those books that makes me so badly wish I could picture characters in my brain (especially Tev who was my favorite)! I have no problem imagining settings, but the best I can do with characters is have a body type and hair color but no discernable facial features. I love these characters so much and want to know them more!

My love for this book was summed up best by the author’s words in their acknowledgements: “The best comedy comes from a place of deep, righteous anger - and as long as you can laugh, there’s still a part of you that’s free.” Speaks right to my angry justice-seeking heart! My next-favorite quote was, “Behind everybody’s sanity mask is someone who is unalloyed batshit in one way or another.” Did I mention that I LOVED this book?!

This book had such great vibes. A little silly, a lot of horny, and a lot of heart! I didn't make the comparison until I read the author's thank you in the back, but Alexandra referenced the humor being inspired by Terry Pratchett's writing --which fit! It was unique to see everything through Avra's eyes, with his luck and general outlook on life, but that also made Julien and Tev so much more fun, providing some grounding perspective to Avra's whims.
Pirates, plots, verbal foreplay, and beasties --if this is your jam, you should definitely check this one out!

Running Close to the Wind continues Alex Rowland's track record of picking up whichever writing style the next story in her universe demands and just rocking it.

RCW features Avra, an absolute dumpster rat gremlin of a main character and incredibly horny pansexual who is also the answer to a fascinating question: what would someone turn out to be if they were unnaturally lucky? Like all the time? And were also a scrawny, soggy rodent of a man who sort of kind of accidentally just stole the most expensive secret this fantasy world has to offer and is now trying to stay alive while hanging out on the pirate ship captained by always-his-ex, never-actually-married Teveri? While having to endure the unnatural sexiness of Julian, a monk passenger on said ship who for some reason has taken a horribly inconvenient vow of celibacy? Would said gremlin turn out to be absolutely insufferable? (yes) Would they still somehow be your new favorite child? (yes)

If you're up for gay pirates written in a Pratchett-like fantasy comedy style (if Pratchett were allowed to be a LOT hornier), pick this one up and read it somewhere where you won't get in trouble for bursting out laughing unexpectedly.

Extremely strong characters, layered worldbuilding, and a romp of a plot tying it all together made _Running Close to the Wind_ an absolute joy to read! The book kicks off with Avra, freshly-retired spy, making his escape from the country and agency he has loyally served for 15 years. His destination: as isolated an island as he can find, to quietly live out his days and _tell no one_ that he accidentally stole the most expensive trade secret in the world. First step: catch a ride on his ex Teveri az-Ḥaffār's pirate ship. Second step: reveal part of what he stole so that he isn't immediately tossed overboard. He's off to a great start! The cast's competing motivations and personalities quickly take center stage, and if you've ever had a frenemy, a sibling, or been on a road trip with one too many "I'm not touching you" moments, you'll find the first act hilarious.

Rowland is excellent at writing realistic interpersonal conflict that stems from personalities, hurts, and communication styles, just like real life. That skill is on full display in _Running Close to the Wind,_ especially in Avra and Teveri's recently-divorced-but-never-married dynamic. I had my reservations about Teveri after their introductory treatment of Avra, but came to love them very deeply, in part thanks to their Captain’s Log entries at the end of most chapters. I adored Julian and Avra from the beginning, and their dynamic was delightfully sweet; every time they were in a room together I was either blushing at their flirting or grinning at how well they got on! Teveri, Julian, and Avra are all hiding parts of themselves, and seeing them start to reveal their hearts to each other was unexpectedly moving. I was crying from all the emotions I experienced at only the halfway point!

The side characters are a colorful range from want-to-be to love-to-hate, and the cultural tensions on the Isles of Lost Souls were excellent social commentary and comedy in one.

The tone of the book is light overall, as befits a comedy, but there were plenty of moments that had me on the edge of my seat because of the action, suspense, or character interactions, and it packs a punch of emotional depth and social commentary. I was repeatedly impressed by how well Rowland tied in various hints from early in the book, and there were several extremely satisfying reveals that made me pause to stare at the wall in amazement and/or excitement. I was just as invested in the mystery of the trade secret as I was in the relationships! Most everything was there for a reason, and since I was already intrigued by small details, seeing them cashed in in the last act was very rewarding.

As with _A Taste of Gold and Iron_, the ending fell at a point where the central questions had been answered but I still wanted more; that is to say, it was well-placed and the characters felt like real people whose lives continue past the end of the book. I would be extremely thrilled to see more of any of them in Rowland's future work!

The bottom line: this book was one of my most anticipated reads, and not only did it live up to months of expectations, but the characters and future possibilities wormed their ways into my heart and haven’t let go in the month since I finished it (and I don’t expect they will any time soon). If you like chaotic, slightly rambly POV characters, grumps with hearts of gold, and mysteries that could upend the world economy, this is the queer pirate comedy for you.

Thank you to TorDotCom for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to Tor and Netgalley for an ARC copy of this title.
I've had this author on my to read list for a while and though I certainly enjoyed this book, I'm not sure I would have stuck with it if I'd picked it up later on my own.
This book is primarily dialogue and the main character is a chaotic gremlin (affectionate) who's speach pattern is to talk in spiraling circles. It can be a lot, and I struggled through the middle of the book as it continued and my patience for it was tested.
Despite that, the story is interesting, the world building and characterization well done, and overall a book I'd recommend to people who don't mind chaos and, I say this having not watched it, comedy similar to Our Flag Means Death.

I wanted so much to love this book because I love humorous/whimsical fantasy. Unfortunately, I was only able to get to about 40% into the book before I lost interest completely and could not bring myself to read any more. I think that this style of humor might work for some people, but for me, I felt like it relied too much on cheap, not funny, repetitive sex jokes. To be very clear, the issue is not that the jokes were about sex. The issue is that they were not funny the first time, and also not funny the tenth time. I tend to like the type of humor that has a serious "setup" then the "reveal"/"punchline" is what makes it funny (think Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy). In this book, the "humor" relied on the MCs (often) screaming or whining random things. I don't think our MCs had one single serious conversation in any page that I read, and this was frustrating to me, so I could never get invested in the characters or the plot.

A summary of RCTTW: the luckiest/silliest raccoon bastard in the world convinces his ex to help him avoid a treason charge and make a ton of money. Things go sideways immediately and frequently.

This book was so ridiculous, deeply unserious, over the top, entirely absurd. Very much not a grand fantasy, this book never went in the direction I expected. It starts with quite big, world shaking stakes but ends up quite cozy. It’s very horny but closed door. There’s consistent, nonstop flirting, but it’s not a romance. It’s almost sitcom? It’s ridiculous but finds so many opportunities to be clever.

I had an absolute blast reading this book. If you enjoy unserious fantasy stories or need a good laugh, put this book on your radar for June 13th of this year.

My thanks to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for an advance copy of this fantasy that deals with pirates, love, luck, sea creatures, a lot of humor and a bit of spice.

One of the subgenres I used to love reading most in fantasy were the ones that for lack of a better term were funny. Comedic fantasy I guess. Most of these had snappy dialogue, characters one cared about, an adventure that was strange, and lots and lots of humor, jokes and puns. Mythadventures more than Xanth stories. The stories were good, there was usually a reason why things happened and even more why things went wrong. Plus there was a little bit of heart, for as much as the characters might be driven crazy by each other's actions, they still cared, and would do anything for that character. This book is just like that. Only a lot more bawdy. Running Close to the Wind by Alexandra Rowland is a queer friendly pirate story about love, luck, lust, longing, loathing, looting, the sea, swashbuckling, and serpents. And lots of fun.

Avra Helvaçi has always been lucky. In live, love and as an agent, now retired for the Araşti Ministry of Intelligence, Avra has survived many angry suitors, traps and tribulations, and has now found that he has committed a little bit of treason, something that had never occurred to him. During a routine security check Avra was asked if had ever stolen anything, and it popped into his head, not until now, and stealing something, something big could help his plans of being a poet. A poor poet in appearance, but with enough of a financial stake to be comfortable and hide. Luck drops a set of keys and a secret, a secret so big Avra knows he will be set for life, and marked for death. The ship Avra flees on is seized by pirates led by the dread pirate captain Teveri az-Ḥaffār, who Avra once had a fling with. Or more than a fling, Which did not end well. Teveri is a pirate with a need for money as his ship is considered cursed, and a his crew is tired of working for no money. Avra shares his secret, and plans grudgingly, are made. However trouble awaits, from the crew, Avra's past employers, and from the depths of the sea itself.

A romp. That is the best description I could think of while reading this book, a very queer friendly romp full of characters who one either cheers for or want to see walk the plank, sometimes in the same paragraph. Rowland hooks the reader right from the beginning, and doesn't ever let off the pedal. This book is bawdy, just a warning for the more sensitive of readers, but is again a lot of fun, full of humor, and has a lot of world building that makes it interesting and exciting. Rowland has a good style, a way of hooking the reader, and does a very good job of developing the characters and the story. I have not read anything by Alexandra Rowland before, but I will have to change that. A very inclusive story that is very, very good.

This one was really not for me—I stuck with it because I was curious how everything would play out, but ultimately it did not work for me at all. I think it was significantly too long and too goofy, and would have benefitted a lot from being tightened up. I’m sure there are many books I love that read as too long and detailed to others, and I’m sure there are plenty of readers for whom this tone really works and who would have preferred even more of it. The idea had a lot of promise but it didn’t quite deliver for me.

Thank you Netgalley and Tor for the arc!

I'm going to start by saying that even though I didn't love this book I think it's a matter of taste. If you are looking for a very unhinged very horny comedy you will be thrilled.

However, let's go first with the positive: I absolutely love the world building, getting to see a different side of the same world from A Taste of Gold and Iron was very exciting, made me see things differently and made me eager for more books set in the same world. I also very much enjoyed Julian's rebel spirit, one of the three stars I'm rating this book is just for him and his speech at the end of the book.

This a character driven book and Alexandra's characters never fail to disappoint, although a bit annoying, the main character is compelling and the cast of side characters is delightful. But, sorry there's always a but, I was a bit disappointed that the comedic tone was kept through the whole book leaving very little room for serious conversations. I wish I could have seen a bit more of the real Avra, the mc, instead of more of his shenanigans. The comparison with OFMD is not the best, although it has the same horny queer chaotic spirit, I miss development and real connection between the characters, I was exasperated many times by Avra letting everyone humiliate him. One of the best things of OFMD is the found family and unfortunately I feel Running Close to the Wind did not get there.

Most of the book is focused on Avra, Tev (the captain) and Julian. Their relationship is based on sex, sexual tension, and bullying Avra. I found the flirting a bit too much and at times a bit uncomfortable (some characters do not really consent to it). My aceness maybe acting up, but Avra was deep in horny jail and this almost took his entire personality.

Due to the way Avra is portrayed I couldn't find believable his conversations with the ambassador. But I may be taking the plot more seriously than the book itself. There is a plot but it's very lost in all the chaos and the conclusion is not very satisfying.

Maybe I had different expectations or maybe the marketing didn't help but I'm sad to report this was not a 5 star read for me. I still very much love Alexandra's writing and can't wait for their next book.

Thanks to Netgalley for me e-ARC!

4.5 STARS!!! Imagine if Pirates of the Caribbean was gay and had a throuple!!

A whole star just for the plot, it was intriguing, Having a civil servant/worker, pirate, and priest-of-sorts meet in such an unlikely manner and have it work is a wonder and only great writing can accomplish that. Another whole star for the pacing—it had times of lull but usually comedic in nature, which still held my attention. I actually love breaks like that in the pace where it’s like “ohh commercial—er,, comedy break” because it endears the character to me while my brain stews on the misdirection to give the author more leeway for me to not guess what happens next!

Another whole star for the characters themselves! The main three characters stayed true to themselves and I absolutely loved that you can tell what their motivations are. Avra is very much Jack Sparrow, but not the pirate. He goes with his instincts and is very lucky (which is a kind of superpower to be honest). Teveri has a warm heart and is troubled financially, as most pirates are and Julian, is so mysterious and desirable for both of them. Unfortunately, although I loved the characters, I’m only giving half a star for character development because only Julian had a tangible change. Avra and Teveri pretty much stayed the same from the start of the book to the very end.

I am going to give another whole star for re-readability. I wish someone could give me amnesia to read this book again. I also never realized just how much I missed Pirates of the Caribbean until I finished this book. Alexandra Rowland, you’ve done it again! I love this book and I hope to read more of your works soon!!

Okay, it's a queer pirate fantasy. It's Our Flag Means Death. It's also absolutely hilarious. Like, pee your pants funny. You root for all the characters, even as they're doing the most absurd insane things. It's ridiculous. It's kind. It's a ROMP. It's a perfect book.