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krobart's review
4.0
See my review here:
https://whatmeread.wordpress.com/2020/04/21/review-1498-the-danger-tree/
https://whatmeread.wordpress.com/2020/04/21/review-1498-the-danger-tree/
muggsyspaniel's review
4.0
I enjoyed this only slightly less than the three books of the Balkan trilogy, perhaps in part because of the setting. I've always had an interest in the Balkan region while Egypt and the sands of deserts have never particularly interested me.
The book however is excellent, characters from the original trilogy return and are joined by new additions. It is for the sections following Harriet more of the same, no bad thing, but the character Simon Boulderstone adds something completely new, we finally see the fighting men of the war rather than just the civilians.
Much as I enjoyed it it feels like part of a novel, many trilogies are three books which can be read in isolation but these books by Olivia Manning are not that in my opinion.
These tales of wartime and immense world drama seen from the point of real, ordinary people caught right in the middle and experiencing their own private, smaller scale dramas.
Top hole!
The book however is excellent, characters from the original trilogy return and are joined by new additions. It is for the sections following Harriet more of the same, no bad thing, but the character Simon Boulderstone adds something completely new, we finally see the fighting men of the war rather than just the civilians.
Much as I enjoyed it it feels like part of a novel, many trilogies are three books which can be read in isolation but these books by Olivia Manning are not that in my opinion.
These tales of wartime and immense world drama seen from the point of real, ordinary people caught right in the middle and experiencing their own private, smaller scale dramas.
Top hole!
waregemma's review
4.0
I've returned to Olivia Manning after a year break since I read the Balkan Trilogy. I was delighted to find the set of characters back, sadly missing Yakimov.
Guy Pringle gets even more frustrating, I am waiting for Harriet to snap.
This book was much faster paced than the equivalent first book in the previous trilogy whilst keeping the beautiful descriptions and scene setting, this time of wartime Cairo.
I really enjoyed the introduction of Simon and his frontline experience which again makes a break from the previous books. Beyond being an interesting story line, it really highlighted how much closer the Pringles are now to the war.
Looking forward to the next two.
Guy Pringle gets even more frustrating, I am waiting for Harriet to snap.
This book was much faster paced than the equivalent first book in the previous trilogy whilst keeping the beautiful descriptions and scene setting, this time of wartime Cairo.
I really enjoyed the introduction of Simon and his frontline experience which again makes a break from the previous books. Beyond being an interesting story line, it really highlighted how much closer the Pringles are now to the war.
Looking forward to the next two.
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