Line #71 Literature/KnavesOnWaves


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/knaves_on_wave_front_cover.jpg]]
2	[[caption-width-right:350:A man's words reflect his soul.]]
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4	The Tides of Redemption. History's greatest race. Every year, pirates, thieves and scoundrels gather, coming from all corners of the world in order to claim its vaunted prize. Total amnesty for their countless crimes.
5	Trigger and his crew are no exception, yet to claim victory, they will have to survive a voyage that few would even attempt. Giants, sea monsters, abominations, and wizards. Perilous seas and enemy crews. These alone would be danger enough, yet Trigger has a past that is intent on catching up with him, and swift as his vessel may be, it might not be fast enough.
6	The ultimate journey is about to begin.
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8	''Knaves on Waves'' is an epic fantasy novel, first published in 2021. The debut work of Jim Parfitt, it follows the adventures of Captain Trigger and his crew as they attempt to win the Tides of Redemption, an annual race which promises amnesty for any crimes committed by the victorious pirate crew. As the blurb suggests, merely surviving the journey is perilous enough, with the voyage boasting several good ol' fashioned {{fantasy}} tropes.
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11	!!''Knaves on Waves'' contains examples of:
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13	* AbusiveParents: Most of the crew had shitty parents, but Jacques' adoptive father really takes the cake, having [[spoiler:sold Jacques into childhood prostitution, and then later pit fights.]]
14	* ActionGirl: Sheridan is easily the toughest member of the crew
15	* AffablyEvil: Many of the pirates count, particularly Carnage.
16	* AntiHero: They may be more civilized than most, but the protagonists are still pirates.
17	* AntiVillain: Surprisingly, [[spoiler:Carnage]] acquires shades of this.
18	* AxCrazy: Carnage, along with most of his crew
19	* BadassLongcoat: Trigger is never seen without his faded naval coat.
20	* BadassNormal: It's a story about a race between pirates. Badasses abound, yet Trigger, Sheridan, Jacques and Magwa are probably the standout examples.
21	* BattleHaltingDuel: While not a battle per se, the showdown between Jacques and Hargrave is so anticipated that the entire race halts to watch. They even print out posters.
22	* TheBerserker: Carnage and his crew most definitely qualify, to the point where they'll sing a shanty while ripping off some heads.
23	* BewareTheNiceOnes: Trigger is a true gentleman, polite and kind to all he meets. He is also an experienced Captain and warrior, who will absolutely demolish you should you attempt to harm his crew.
24	* BigBad: While there are countless enemy crews competing in the race, ultimately it is [[spoiler:the Empress]] who threatens Trigger the most.
25	* BigFun: Carnage may be dangerously violent, yet he's also the life of the party, and generally the largest person attending.
26	* BigGood: Somehow, this is what [[spoiler:Trigger]] is shaping up to become.
27	* BigDamnHeroes: A few of the [[spoiler:Blackbird]]'s crewmen pull off what may perhaps be the clumsiest example ever put to paper.
28	* BlackComedy: Plenty.
29	* BlindedByRage: Happens to Carnage so often that he's aware of the flaw, and recruits others to serve as his negotiators.
30	* BodyHorror: Whatever that thing the crew encounters in the mist may be, it definitely counts.
31	* BreakTheCutie: Hoo boy. [[spoiler:Barnaby]] may not be cute, exactly, but that doesn't stop the universe from hating him.
32	* BreakTheHaughty: We can't quite be sure, but by the end of the novel, [[spoiler:Jacques]] appears to have been knocked down a peg.
33	* BrokenBird: [[spoiler:Barnaby]] is pretty much dead inside, once all is said and done.
34	* ButtMonkey: The crew's general attitude to Barnaby. He holds the same opinion.
35	* CardCarryingVillain: Carnage does his best to play this part.
36	* CharacterDevelopment: In spades, though particularly in Barnaby's case.
37	* CharlesAtlasSuperpower: Trigger's aim, Sheridan's strength and Jacques' swordsmanship could all qualify.
38	* TheChessmaster: Numerous examples, though Jacques and Sheridan are the two main players.
39	* {{Cloudcuckoolander}}: Magwa observes several rituals and beliefs that don't quite make sense to the rest of the crew. Doesn't stop him being an absolute badass, however.
40	* CulturedBadass: Many of the Captains count, though Trigger and Jacques would be the most prominent. Jacques makes a very deliberate attempt to appear this way, to the point that he puts on a fake accent. Surprisingly, [[spoiler:Carnage]] also falls into this trope, despite first appearances.
41	* ComicallyMissingThePoint: Trigger's crew isn't the brightest.
42	* CruelAndUnusualDeath: A fair few pirates end up tumbling into the void, doomed to fall for all eternity, or at least until they starve to death.
43	* CurbStompBattle: Any time a human attempts to fight a Thrallkin.
44	* DeadpanSnarker: Barnaby and Sheridan are shining examples, though much of the crew partake.
45	* DealWithTheDevil: Several are necessary throughout the course of the voyage. Trigger particularly regards his deal with [[spoiler:Thodurk]] as this.
46	* {{Determinator}}: Nothing, absolutely nothing, will keep down Trigger or Jacques.
47	* EldritchAbomination: Whatever that thing they encounter in the mist may be. Thodurk hints at the existence of more, intent on invading the Empire.
48	* EvenEvilHasStandards: Carnage may be a mass-murdering lunatic, but even he can see that the [[spoiler:Empress]] must be stopped.
49	* ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin: Knaves on Waves is a book about pirates. Who'd have guessed?
50	* FaceHeelTurn: Executed in stunning fashion by [[spoiler:Jacques]].
51	* FreudianExcuse: The vast majority of pirates have a damn good reason for choosing that life.
52	* FromBadToWorse: Navigating a series of small channels that spill out into an endless void is dangerous enough. Now add in a battle... and no rudder.
53	* GoodIsNotNice: Trigger is the kindest character in the novel. He will not hesitate to butcher you and your entire crew, should you give him a reason.
54	* TheHero: Handled in an interesting way. [[spoiler:Carnage]] desperately wants to be this, but knows his nature and upbringing make him far too volatile. As such, he personally selects [[spoiler:Trigger]] to take up the mantle instead, based on his displays of courage and kindness.
55	* HeroicSacrifice: More than a few are made to ensure the crew's survival.
56	* IdealHero: trigger definitely counts, to the point it's acknowledged and exploited InUniverse.
57	* JustInTime: Almost subverted by the crewmen, who can't quite pick their moment on the Swaying Deck.
58	* ManipulativeBastard: Jacques definitely qualifies.
59	* MagnificentBastard: Jacques again.
60	* MaleGaze: Directly subverted. At one point, Sheridan strips in front of Trigger, who only shows interest in her many tattoos. Sheridan even remarks how unusual this is.
61	* MasterSwordsman: Jacques is considered the best in the world. His only competition is Captain Hargrave, and the promise of a duel between them garners almost as much attention as the race itself.
62	* LargeHam: Carnage, due to most of his education coming from grandiose plays.
63	* MeaningfulName: Trigger and Carnage both definitely merit their names, for a plethora of reasons.
64	* MindScrew: What happens to anyone unfortunate enough to listen to The Howlers.
65	* NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast: Approaching anyone named "Captain Carnage" is simply asking for trouble.
66	* NiceGuy: Trigger is gentleman to anyone he meets..
67	* NinjaPirateZombieRobot: Carnage is a genetically engineered super soldier. He's also a pirate.
68	* ObviouslyEvil: Carnage is a giant, crimson-skinned killer, who sails on a ship covered with the corpses of his fallen foes.
69	* RedemptionQuest: What many crewmen speculate motivates Trigger.
70	* RunningGag: "That's half-rations."
71	* SequelHook: A huge one.
72	* TooDumbToLive: Could perhaps apply to anyone who tries to take on Carnage.
73	* TookALevelInBadass: Applies to [[spoiler:Barnaby]] before the novel reaches its end.
74	* TrueCompanions: Trigger and Sheridan will never give up on each other. Neither will Barnaby and Magwa.
75	* TheUnfettered: Carnage will free his people and bring down the Empire, regardless of how much slaughter or damage he needs to inflict. unusually, he's actually aware of how unreasonable he is, and thus recruits others to try and keep him in line. This meets with mixed success.
76	* WhatTheHellHero: Pretty much everyone's reaction to [[spoiler:Trigger teaming up with Carnage]].

Context Literature / KnavesOnWaves