Reading order
| # | Title | Published | Author | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Destiny’s Tide | 2019 | J.D. Davies | Buy |
| 2 | Battle’s Flood | 2019 | J.D. Davies | Buy |
| 3 | Armada’s Wake | 2020 | J.D. Davies | Buy |
The Jack Stannard series takes place in the Tudor navy during Henry VIII’s reign, a period rarely explored in naval fiction. Most nautical adventures focus on the Napoleonic Wars or the Age of Sail, but Davies uses his expertise as a Tudor naval historian to bring this earlier era to life. Jack Stannard serves in the Navy Royal when it was still developing the traditions and tactics that would define British naval power.
Davies captures the unique challenges of Tudor naval warfare, from the technology of the ships to the political intrigues of Henry VIII’s court. The three-book series shows Stannard navigating both combat at sea and the dangerous politics on land. Davies’ historical research brings authenticity to details like ship construction, naval tactics, and the daily life of Tudor sailors.
Readers who enjoy Bernard Cornwell or Conn Iggulden will appreciate Davies’ combination of historical accuracy and adventure storytelling. The Tudor setting offers fresh territory for naval fiction fans tired of Napoleonic-era stories.