4.5 stars

Joe lives on Dauntless, an island off the coast of Australia that has been inhabited for over 200 years by descendants of people who mutinied against a ruthless captain. Although those events happened ages ago time-wise, for the inhabitants of the island, they are proud of their heritage and the events are kept alive as though they just happened. When a descendant of the captain who was mutinied against comes to the island researching and telling a different story, people don't really like it much. And when Eddie is attacked, Joe lets him stay at his place. But things go further awry, and the island becomes a hotbed of intrigue.

This was really, really good. I don't know how such a short story can have everything that it did and not feel as though it was trying too hard. There was enough story, and the characters were fully realized adults who weren't perfect, but were real. Even though Joe and Eddie didn't know each other that long, I could believe that once Eddie's research was done, he kept coming back to visit, and that they then started a committed relationship, because I didn't feel a lack in their connection and the time that they did have together on page. Joe, in particular, had a lot going on that he never verbalized, but he was just so steadfast and stolid. He always did what was right, and prided himself on it, even if it meant maybe being on the outs with people who he had known his entire life. ( )