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magnaraz117's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Perhaps one of the darkest adventures for Sharpe yet, this entry shows a strategic Sharpe, one who begins to think and plan steps ahead of his adversaries, or even place himself in their shoes to determine their own thoughts and strategies.
This one is definitely a little shorter, but also a cut above the standard Sharpe adventure!
This one is definitely a little shorter, but also a cut above the standard Sharpe adventure!
abrswf's review against another edition
3.0
I love these travels via the fictional Sharpe with the real Duke of Wellington’s military career, but this installment was very canned. As usual Sharpe is on a difficult mission in Wellington's service, falls for a beautiful woman in the orbit of a villain, defeats the villain and wins the woman, and completes the mission. There was more of that and a lot less historical action than usual.
ariaslibrary's review against another edition
2.0
Wow…I hated this. So many hard-to-believe scenarios (and that’s saying something), the unnecessary romance (got worse in the epilogue) and how I hated the problem and its resolution (couldn’t be convinced and it was so rushed) Even Rupert Farley’s narration couldn’t save it. Hopefully the next one is better.
thedayoflight's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
crashhard's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
5.0
Review:
I enjoyed this. In this installment Sharpe is tasked to stealing some gold from the Portuguese to fund the war effort against France.
Excellently well written as usual.
Here is my rating system. Of course this is all subjective
5 star exceptional. Must read book
4 star excellent book. I enjoyed it
3 star. Average. Take it or leave it. Just ok
2 star. Bad. I finished it but didn’t enjoy it
1 star. Did not finish or so bad I wouldn’t recommend it
I enjoyed this. In this installment Sharpe is tasked to stealing some gold from the Portuguese to fund the war effort against France.
Excellently well written as usual.
Here is my rating system. Of course this is all subjective
5 star exceptional. Must read book
4 star excellent book. I enjoyed it
3 star. Average. Take it or leave it. Just ok
2 star. Bad. I finished it but didn’t enjoy it
1 star. Did not finish or so bad I wouldn’t recommend it
7hm's review against another edition
3.5
I highly recommend watching at least one episode of the show so you can imagine Sharpe as Sean Bean.
smemmott's review against another edition
3.0
Richard Sharpe and the Destruction of Almeida, August 1810
isoney's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
usbsticky's review against another edition
4.0
Spoilers ahead:
Summary: This is the second Sharpe book written. In this book Sharpe is tasked by Wellington to steal 16 thousand gold coins (about 59 thousand guinea?, can't remember) from deep inside Spanish territory so he can use the money to help build the Lines of Torres Vedras (cost about 200k at that time.
He reaches the Spanish hamlet where the gold is hidden only to find 2 regiments of French cavalry there. They beat the French and meet some Spanish partisans who know about the gold and want it too. However Sharpe manages to steal the gold and are helped by some King's German Legion cavalry they meet on the way back.
They manage to get back to the fortress of Almeida where they are followed by the partisans and are besieged by the French. The commandant of the fortress forces Sharpe to give the gold back to the partisans and stay for the siege but Sharpe kills the partisan commander, blows up the fort and leaves with the gold.
Antagonist: El Catolico, the partisan commander. A suave and highly skilled swordsman. Sharpe kills him single handedly by letting him stab him in the thigh and keeping his rapier there.
Romantic interest: Teresa, the daughter of the partisan leader, also love interest of El Catolico the partisan commander. He seduces her at least twice but she has to leave to fight the French and he gives her 1000 of the coins.
I like the Cornwell Sharpe series because they are easy to read and get into. The battle or action scenes are always well done as are character vignettes. Unfortunately each book also comes with an antagonist and romantic interest subplots which are predictable and routine (kind of like James Bond, kill the bad guy and sleep with the girl).
Summary: This is the second Sharpe book written. In this book Sharpe is tasked by Wellington to steal 16 thousand gold coins (about 59 thousand guinea?, can't remember) from deep inside Spanish territory so he can use the money to help build the Lines of Torres Vedras (cost about 200k at that time.
He reaches the Spanish hamlet where the gold is hidden only to find 2 regiments of French cavalry there. They beat the French and meet some Spanish partisans who know about the gold and want it too. However Sharpe manages to steal the gold and are helped by some King's German Legion cavalry they meet on the way back.
They manage to get back to the fortress of Almeida where they are followed by the partisans and are besieged by the French. The commandant of the fortress forces Sharpe to give the gold back to the partisans and stay for the siege but Sharpe kills the partisan commander, blows up the fort and leaves with the gold.
Antagonist: El Catolico, the partisan commander. A suave and highly skilled swordsman. Sharpe kills him single handedly by letting him stab him in the thigh and keeping his rapier there.
Romantic interest: Teresa, the daughter of the partisan leader, also love interest of El Catolico the partisan commander. He seduces her at least twice but she has to leave to fight the French and he gives her 1000 of the coins.
I like the Cornwell Sharpe series because they are easy to read and get into. The battle or action scenes are always well done as are character vignettes. Unfortunately each book also comes with an antagonist and romantic interest subplots which are predictable and routine (kind of like James Bond, kill the bad guy and sleep with the girl).