Of Merchants & Heroes Waters, Paul

Paul Waters writes naval fiction the way O'Brian wrote it — with salt spray, cannons, and the brutal calculus of honour at sea. Set during the wars of antiquity, this isn't your typical sword-and-sandal epic. Waters drops you onto the deck of a merchant vessel turned warship, where a young Roman officer must navigate storms, piracy, and the far murkier waters of political intrigue. The Mediterranean becomes a chessboard, and every decision could mean glory or a shallow grave. Waters knows his ships, his tactics, and his classical history — and he never lets accuracy dull the blade of a good story. Perfect for fans of Conn Iggulden or Bernard Cornwell who want their historical fiction with rigging and rudders.