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"Bender's careful research, including the study of the logs of Christopher Columbus, her attention to detail, and her vivid, convincing style bring this book to life. Though over 600 years have passed, you will feel like one of the crew and experience not only the discoveries, but the thrills and the terrors, the joys and the sufferings of this exploration that changed the course of history forever." Cheryl Gratton
"I have just finished reading Sails of Fortune, which I have been savouring for some time. What a wonderful story! I especially appreciated the characterization of the protagonists - in particular Elcano, Acurio, and Chindarza - they are beautifully and convincingly portrayed, so that I was deeply moved by the final chapters. A seafaring novel told with strong emotional intelligence." R.M. Leavitt
"Once again, Christine Echeverria Bender has delivered a fascinating chapter of history in a spellbinding story. I could hardly put the book down. Juan Cabrillo was an unusual agent of the Spanish crown, because he'd seen years of war and battles against Aztecs and Central American natives, yet unlike most other Spanish explorers, when he encountered the ancient people of the California coast, he sought detente rather than conquest. I'm from a California family of five generations, and I didn't know this history. I loved this book, and heartily recommend it to fans of historical fiction." Gene de Laveaga
"Kepa de Mendieta, a harpooner of a Basque whaling ship, finds himself trapped in the new world after a whaling accident. He encounters the Native Americans and both him, and the Indians, have to deal with the culture shock, language barrier, and just learning how to deal with each other. Wonderfully detailed, using history, knowledge from archaeology, and Native American resources, the author writes a very well crafted historical story that feels more like fact than fiction." Michael Valdivielso