I finally got round to reading this story over the past few days, and I must say that I genuinely enjoyed every bit of it.
I found it to be very well paced, and really liked the description and action sequences. MK, your historical expertise really shines through here, in even the tiniest details.
The way the story flows is brilliant, from the tension building up to the battle, to the devastating aftermath of the event, and I felt immersed throughout.
I was moved by your description of the aftermath, which provided a stark reminder of how bloody and horrific the battles were in this era. Too often I think this is missed out in other stories.
In addition, I liked the way Hawkins was portrayed, and thought the inclusion of dreams to explain his feelings was really effective.
I was also surprisingly interested in the descriptions of the ships. Although I prefer eighteenth century ships in general, I think reading this story has made me appreciate older vessels a bit more.
Overall, it was definitely a read worth my time. I would highly recommend it to anyone who hasn't yet read it, even those who have little interest in the era, because the story is very well written.
P.S. I'm just wondering, did you ever manage to get this story published?