The Viking Throne: The Cursed Seas Collection is an epic fantasy and adventure novel written by J.B. Michaels. It was a perfectly ordinary evening for James Henihan, his wife and young daughter. James had been a nightly drinker since he was fifteen, and this night was no exception. Killarney looked no different than it usually did ever since the Great Calamity had swept most of the planet underneath the waves. There was the pub down the way that had siren customers coming in and out as they usually did, and all seemed well. So when Maggie excitedly told her dad that there was someone out there in the water, someone wearing a mask, James didn’t really pay her much attention. Then he looked out of the viewport and was horrified to see that Maggie had swum out to check, and a man in a wet suit had her immobilized and was swimming away with her. James dashed outside to apprehend the man, and he woke up some hours later reeling from a hangover and all too aware that he had blundered right into a trap.

J.B. Michaels’ adventure fantasy novel, The Viking Throne: The Cursed Seas Collection, posits a sadly not all that inconceivable a future where most of the surface of the earth is covered by rising water levels. His sirens, who seem perfectly adapted to this climatic change, make this story work so very well. I loved learning about the Siren Guard and the roles James and Pierce play in Siren society. Michaels’ characters are compelling, credible and a hoot to follow -- there are pirates, mages, monstrous whales and even a kraken or two. And the quests James and Pierce must undertake to survive and rescue James’ family are exciting and well plotted. The Viking Throne: The Cursed Seas Collection is most highly recommended.

The Viking Throne: The Cursed Seas Collection is a fast-paced adventure fiction by author JB Michaels. Set in a gorgeous pseudo-past of Europe where the supernatural meets the historical, our central characters are the Henihan family members, who happen to be sirens. When patriarch James Henihan is brutally ripped away from the rest of his family, his turmoil and guilt at failing to save them takes deep root in his heart. This fire fuels him on an amazing journey deep into the Cursed Sea, where magic and mayhem collide as pirates and terrifying monsters plague him on his way to save the people he loves.

Perilous and thrilling, this is how all supernatural seafaring fiction should be. My only complaint would be that there wasn’t more of it to enjoy. The lavish descriptions and terrifying situations that James faces were so fast and furious to read that the story was over just when I was really into it! JB Michaels writes with powerful urgency, giving a typically macho hero a lot of emotional depth as he struggles through a Herculean-style trial to be reunited with his beloved family. The characterization of the various enemies he meets along the way is what really sets the novel apart from its other counterparts. JB Michaels takes traditional beasts and pirate tropes and bathes them in realistic writing to bring them to life. Overall, The Viking Throne is a really exciting adventure that any fan of pirates and monsters is certain to enjoy.

The Viking Throne: The Cursed Seas Collection by JB Michaels begins with James Henihan losing his wife (Imogen), daughter(Maggie), and himself to kidnappers. Given his background of being a Siren Guard, he could have protected his family if he weren't too drunk. Before moving ahead with the plot, it is crucial to understand that Sirens can breathe in water. The story is set in the future when the world is submerged in water, and the surviving human race is forced to live on the water. There are many opportunists who have taken it upon themselves to find buried treasure from the depths of the water. One of these criminals is the man responsible for the kidnapping of James and his family: Admiral Montgomery. He has started the mission of abducting Sirens to find every precious thing sunken into the water. He treats the Sirens worse than animals and tortures them at every possible opportunity. James does not wish to succumb to Montgomery's torture tactics; however, his only hope of getting his family back is through Montgomery so he must play along.

The primary genre of The Viking Throne: The Cursed Seas Collection by JB Michaels is indisputably fantasy; however, there is a perfect amalgamation of fantasy with the real world. James' guilt at not being able to protect his family is relatable and realistic. The desire to reunite with his family once again drives him to stay alive. The villain of the story is repugnant and brutal. Hatred for him comes as easy as breathing. It takes a skilled author to arouse such strong emotions in readers, and JB Michaels has proved his talent by doing just that. The plot is extremely riveting and enticing. The action scenes are remarkably vivid and exciting. The plot never seemed to loosen its grip on me. The Viking Throne: The Cursed Seas Collection by JB Michaels will be a treat for those readers seeking a fantasy packed with action and adventure.