Florence M. Kingsley's "Prisoners of the Sea", published by Lamplighter, has been a gripping tale of adventure and determination. Set mostly in the Atlantic on a mysterious island, in England and the Azores Islands, this tales follows a band of Hugenot refugees, a rough but wise old English sailor, and their faithful cook Cato. Being shipwrecked and miraculously saved by the appearance of a drifting yacht, the group doggedly survives a series of exceptional treks and trials. Being split up in the night by a kidnapping, the story tracks on the adventures of the stranded party as they deal with isolation, mystery, corrupt French troops and bloodthirsty escaped convicts. At the same time the story follows the young Baillot as he attempts to rescue his friends. Baillot must escape his captors, bargain with crooks, and fall in with a pirate crew. As the two parties struggle to survive, Kingsley weaves a harrowing tale of narrow escapes, white knuckled tension, and life-threatening risk. All through the narrative, the characters lean on God's providence.

This tale is exceptional, not only because of the overtly taught providence of God, but the richness of Kingsley's characters and the vivid adventure. ( )