Title: Mariner of Destiny
Author: Roberto de Haro
Publisher: Gatekeeper Press
ISBN: 978-1662972669
Pages: 320
Genre: Genre Fiction / Historical Fiction
Reviewer: Christina Avina
Hollywood Book Reviews
When people look back on history and ask themselves how certain moments impacted the world, it is even rarer to take the time to examine how those same historical moments impacted people as individuals. Oftentimes, personal politics and circumstances in life became severely impacted by things like war, changing leadership, technology, and how people responded to those changes is what ended up defining the direction of their lives entirely.
History and its role in the lives of everyday people become the backbone of author Roberto de Haro’s Mariner of Destiny. The novel follows a young Latino man who becomes an officer in the United States Navy. After rising through the ranks of the Naval Academy in 1910, WWI arrived in time to launch the young man’s storied career in the Navy. Yet with that career comes struggle and love, as the young man finds himself drawn to a beautiful aristocratic woman in Spain who is trapped in a dangerous marriage. As the aftermath of WWI and the shifting power in its wake changed Europe, the officer and the woman he loves find their lives turned upside down and must discover their personal destinies in the years leading up to WWII.
The level of detail and world-building the author pours into this narrative is astonishing. The depth of character development and emotional connection readers make with the cast of characters in this story, in particular the protagonist and the hurdles he overcame in his life and career, made the story shine, as did the added elements of romance and adventure that came with the introduction of Cristina and the intense battles at sea which came with war. The immersive experience, driven by the rich atmospheric storytelling and the author’s continuous hope for these characters in the most troubling and heartbreaking moments of life, was profound and moving.
Readers who enjoy genre fiction, especially historical fiction novels that feature WWI and WWII history, romance, and international intrigue and suspense, will absolutely love this story. The author does an excellent job of making the history of both wars and the era in between those wars feel alive and compelling on the pages, and the authentic voice the author writes in helps elevate the history alongside the levels of powerful themes the story delves into naturally. From the hardship of separation and loss that war and life in general often brings, to the power of endurance and overcoming the odds stacked against them, making this a memorable and heartfelt historical fiction romance that readers won’t be able to put down.