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4.04 AVERAGE
4.04 AVERAGE
Reading these in chronological order, instead of by date of publication, is fun, even if you have to get used to the slight fluctuations in writing style and character description. Most importantly here, Sharpe's appearance as dark-haired and his childhood being in London. Which is obviously not right. *looks at Sean Bean*
I didn't find the shift too jarring, considering the Sharpe books are essentially the same thing every time. And I say that with all affection. The difference here was Sharpe trying to prove himself as a lieutenant, and ingratiating himself with his new Rifles. I mean, you know he is going to succeed in the end, but it was still quite interesting to read. And the Sharpe books are so easy to read as well - a simple writing style, nothing deep, and with some exciting battles throughout. The attack on the farmhouse in this book was great, and the final assault in Santiago de Compostela. I did have to wrap my head around the Spanish as allies to start with, having come from Sharpe's Trafalgar to this (I skipped Sharpe's Prey, but will be going to that next).
The big down-point in this book is the pantomime family Sharpe meets halfway through, the Parkers. The aunt and uncle (I think) were too exaggerated to even be funny, to be honest. And Bernard Cornwell has no idea what to do with women. Like, Louisa's role was....what, exactly? Whereas his male characters are allowed to be angry and bitter and have all kinds of personality and emotion, his female characters are always packaged into nice, pretty packages. Even when Louisa was trying to move away from her restrictive family and prevent herself from falling into a loveless, boring marriage back in England, he wrote her as doing it in an entirely sweet, inoffensive way. It was just dull.
But that's nothing different with this series. After a while, it just becomes amusing rather than offensive because of the 'typical male writer' stereotypes Bernard Cornwell falls into.
Still, the series is entertaining, and I will be stepping back in time to Sharpe's Prey for the next read.
I didn't find the shift too jarring, considering the Sharpe books are essentially the same thing every time. And I say that with all affection. The difference here was Sharpe trying to prove himself as a lieutenant, and ingratiating himself with his new Rifles. I mean, you know he is going to succeed in the end, but it was still quite interesting to read. And the Sharpe books are so easy to read as well - a simple writing style, nothing deep, and with some exciting battles throughout. The attack on the farmhouse in this book was great, and the final assault in Santiago de Compostela. I did have to wrap my head around the Spanish as allies to start with, having come from Sharpe's Trafalgar to this (I skipped Sharpe's Prey, but will be going to that next).
The big down-point in this book is the pantomime family Sharpe meets halfway through, the Parkers. The aunt and uncle (I think) were too exaggerated to even be funny, to be honest. And Bernard Cornwell has no idea what to do with women. Like, Louisa's role was....what, exactly? Whereas his male characters are allowed to be angry and bitter and have all kinds of personality and emotion, his female characters are always packaged into nice, pretty packages. Even when Louisa was trying to move away from her restrictive family and prevent herself from falling into a loveless, boring marriage back in England, he wrote her as doing it in an entirely sweet, inoffensive way. It was just dull.
But that's nothing different with this series. After a while, it just becomes amusing rather than offensive because of the 'typical male writer' stereotypes Bernard Cornwell falls into.
Still, the series is entertaining, and I will be stepping back in time to Sharpe's Prey for the next read.
adventurous
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Another superb book, back to what he does so well. Writes an enthralling book on the plains of a country, this time Spain! Looking forward to starting the next one
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A solid, fictional historical war novel that just so happened to take place over the same pilgrimage route in Spain I travelled by foot in 2021! Having a clear vision of the landscape, especially the final battle at the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, really added to the experience. An unintended but pleasant surprise.
That said, the writing itself is entertaining, if not hampered by the cheesy romance subplot and glorification of warfare. Worth a read if you're at all interested in the time period and historical warfare.
That said, the writing itself is entertaining, if not hampered by the cheesy romance subplot and glorification of warfare. Worth a read if you're at all interested in the time period and historical warfare.
Very fun read and the first of the Sharpe series I have read. If you're coming from the show to the books, like I did, it's very different.
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Read this as part of a book club. This type of novel is not my thing. I think my biggest issue with it is that it considers itself "gritty realism" but at its core has the same sort of writing techniques as a Marvel movie. The battles are supposed to feel chaotic and violent, but everyone who needs to survive, survives, and whoever needs to die for the plot to progress is slain. I was bored waiting for whatever surprise reinforcement or trick would save the day by the third time Sharpe was caught in a battle he had no hope of winning. Then afterwards, Sharpe would quip with whichever ally or enemy was nearby, until the next hopeless battle he'd come out on top of. Just read an actual memoir from this era.