This was a funny and witty tale on the high seas. Avra has an item he needs to sell to the right buyer, but doesn't have he means to find one. He goes to his pirate captain ex, Tev, to try and find one. As they go along their journey, the banter is magnificent.

4.5 stars

Alexandra Rowland delivers chaotic queer pirates with insanely high sex-drives, mystifying turtle astronomy, dangerous sea serpents in breeding season, loveable glowing dogs, and an absurd cake competition in Running Close to the Wind, an unapologetically unhinged seafaring fantasy with a fun-factor that is simply off the charts!

A horny as hell former Arasti spy with inexplicable good luck, a grumpy non-binary captain fed up with everyone’s bullshit, and an ungodly hot monk with an unfortunate vow of celibacy are stuck together at sea while they try to escape the law and change the tide for the crew; no, it’s not the beginning of a bad joke, but the insanely ridiculous set-up for Running Close to the Wind.

Though set in the same queer-normative world as Rowland’s slow-burn political fantasy A Taste of Gold and Iron, this feel-good and chaotic fantasy romcom is a completely different beast and stands totally on its own. It’s raunchy yet low-spice, hysterical yet poignant, and overall just batshit crazy on every single level, but I was personally eating up the hijinx and mayhem. I mean, Rowland clearly had a strong vision, and they damn well ran with it!

Never before have I read a book with such an exceptionally infuriating, insufferable, and pathetic protagonist, whom I constantly wanted to strangle, but also inexplicably loved to pieces (for which I then wanted to strangle myself). See, our little gremlin Avra is a self-proclaimed flibbertigibbet and whiny little slut with zero impulse-control and a personality more annoying than that of a mewling, clingy wet cat, yet somehow he just burrowed his way into my heart. Don’t get me wrong, I probably would’ve yeeted him straight over the railing of the ship within seconds of meeting him myself, yet I am admittedly also exceptionally glad that the characters in Running Close to the Wind had (slightly) more patience with him than I would have had.

And speaking of other characters, it is truly beyond me how Rowland managed to write such a loud and energy-sucking protagonist without having the rest of the crew pale in comparison. The broody, witty, and suave Captain Teveri (a.k.a. the on-again, off-again ex lover whom Avra simply worships) is a really refreshing counterbalance to Avra’s chaos, and I absolutely loved their tragically entertaining captain logs at the end of most chapters. Much to their deep dismay, they just can’t seem to stop themself from being drawn in by Avra’s irresistible charm, and the amount of exasperation-fueled banter between the two amused me to no end.

But that level of queer messiness clearly wasn’t enough, so enter Brother Julian (my personal favourite). Truly, I can’t blame Avra and Teveri for low-key starting a bet on who could get him to break his vow of celibacy first, as I would have joined that competition without a second thought. However, Julian quickly proves that he is not just sinfully sexy, and his actions actually end up bringing some of the most powerful themes and social commentary into the narrative.

Because yes, while this is absolutely a fun and almost cosy fantasy romcom at its heart, there is a deep undercurrent of righteous anger woven into Running Close to the Wind that Sir Terry Pratchett himself would have been proud of. Themes of capitalism, religion, and the injustice of all-powerful institutions are delivered in a cleverly funny way, and one particularly impassioned speech by Julian had me pumping my fists in the air and screaming “FUCK YES” out loud; sometimes messages deserve to be heard loud and clear, no subtlety needed.

Now, I do have to admit that the pacing felt a bit rocky at times, but if there was ever a book which I can forgive for a slightly messy and unfocused plot, then it’s Running Close to the Wind. Between Avra’s ridiculous antics, all the crazy pirate adventures, the queer messiness, and the deliciously intense interpersonal drama, there simply wasn’t a single dull moment in this story, and I am not ashamed to admit that I devoured nearly 300 pages of it in one day.

It’s hard to give this book a glowing universal recommendation considering how subjective humour is, but if you enjoyed the vibes of Gideon the Ninth or like the idea of an even more unhinged version of Pratchett-esque absurdity, then this should be smooth sailing for you! I personally think Rowland nailed the execution of their vision for this story, and I would honestly praise this book into the heavens. If you think you are ready to meet Avra and crew to go on one of the most hysterical and delightfully queer fantasy adventures you will ever have the pleasure of experiencing, then I can’t recommend Running Close to the Wind highly enough.

Thank you to Tordotcom for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. Running Close to the Wind is scheduled for release on June 11th, 2024.

This book was super goofy and funny!! A little too over the top at points but did have me laughing out loud! The plot was simple and intriguing but the characters were where it really shone. I loved the main character, he was so funny and his monologuing was great. I would definitely read a lot more books set in this world. I recommend the audiobook as it really brought the characters to life!

🌈Queer rep: bi male main character, M/NB relationship, eventual M/M/NB poly relationship. Nonbinary secondary character, FF relationships. Mention of a culture with a third gender.

I read a Taste of Gold by this author and loved it, so I knew I had to pick up this title. Running Close to the Wind is significantly different from that book, though. I really enjoyed the laugh out loud moment and all the hijinks that Avra gets himself into. It was a little too silly in parts, but I also loved the fun pirate adventure tone throughout. I do feel bad for Avra, though. I think people treat him too harshly at times. Overall, it was a fun read. 3.5 stars.

One of the most unique reading experiences I’ve ever had. This book made me laugh out loud several times, and I kind of loved the earnest horniness of it?? The characters had actual growth and arcs and yet the vast majority of the dialogue is about who, if anyone, will get to have sex with the monk who has sworn a vow of celibacy due to him being just too horny. It’s so utterly ridiculous that I truly don’t know who to recommend this book to. I had a great time with it! Should I be proud of that? Embarrassed? I don’t even know.

It’s like if Our Flag Means Death was airing on classic Adult Swim, back when the cartoons made you wonder, what was this creator on when they green lit this? It’s like if you raised a queer kid on tumblr and red 40, just allowing him to go completely feral. This book gives “I put on my robe and wizard hat” vibes and if you don’t understand what that means I can’t even explain it to you. Five stars and also what is wrong with me.

2.5

I had an interesting experience with this book. In the beginning, I loved it and was laughing hysterically. And then, it sadly went downhill. The tone of this book reminds me of a comedy show at a ren faire. Great fun for half an hour but for the length of an almost fifteen hour long audio book or a 448 page book...not so much. I will say that because of the theatrical nature and the comic dialogue, audibook is definitely the way to go.

Narrated by Casey Jones

Genre: historical fantasy, queer pirates

What a weird but fun book this was! The main POV character is *a lot* so make sure you're ready for a self identified "unpicky slut" with some of the best luck imaginable. We have a pirate crew that I'm sure was doing something plot wise, but this was a form over function fun read without a lot of true plot direction other than Avra wanting to get in Julian's pants and to annoy the captain.

I really enjoyed the narration - Casey Jones hits Avra on the nose with his antics, but he is the main POV and over-the-top is how he rolls. If you choose to listen to this narration, expect big energy out of the audiobook.

I was glad I enjoyed this one because the last book I read by Rowland was a big miss for me, and this captured all the spirit and energy I'd hope for in a queer poly pirate fantasy adventure romp.

The depth of character growth and development throughout the novel is truly outstanding. Becoming grounded in this world is really easy and I enjoyed every single moment of it.

God this book was silly. Silly in a good way. The MC was absolutely ridiculous. A former field agent, a pirate captain, and a monk with a vow of celibacy take to the high seas with the world’s most expensive secret, what could go wrong?
Queer pirates, unhinged adventures, and a goofy amount of horniness. Was I entertained? Absolutely. Am I hoping for another installment? Definitely.
I will admit I liked this better than A Taste of Gold and Iron, which takes place in the same world, in a VERY different part of the world, which really surprised me.

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.