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4.04 AVERAGE
4.04 AVERAGE
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
adventurous
dark
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
challenging
informative
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book is the second worst book in the series so far (the worst absolutely being Tafalgar). It reads as if it were written by someone who had heard about Richard Sharpe but hasn't actually read any of the books. Sharpe's personality feels completely different (which may be because he's leading his own group of soldiers now, which is disappointing because he always shines in the books where he's on his own) and he frequently says things that do not make canonical sense. For example, Sharpe talks about how a rich woman would 'never love' him because his mother was a prostitute, completely ignoring that Sharpe spent the entirety of the last book lamenting over the death of his rich baby mama, Grace. Also every other woman who has ever appeared in these books have always had a level of high social standing, so for Sharpe to say this is completely ridiculous. He also talks about things like fighting in Portugal, which hasn't even happened yet. That's the next book. I know these were written out of order, but it makes it feel as if the author doesn't care and can't be bothered to make sure there's continuity in the series. Like does he not have any beta readers to point things like this out? It feels so lazy to not keep track of something this simple.
I could not care about Louisa at all seeing as I know she's not going to stick around (and the age gap is a solid ten years. Yuck). Every woman in every book only exists as a romantic conquest for Sharpe, just to immediately disappear so Sharpe can move on to the next romantic conquest. It's incredibly lame, boring, and misogynistic.
The plot is so flat. The book opens by telling the reader what exactly is in this box that we see later and who a character is very mysterious about. However, since we already know what's in the box, it removes all suspense and just makes the entire conflict boring. I also had no idea why we were here or what we were really fighting about. We're just somewhere and we're battling people.
I used to have a lot of hope for this series, but as I continue on in it, it becomes lamer and lamer. I'm not going to continue on because the books are so formulaic, which makes every book predictable and a yawn-fest. Can't believe that there's 25 books in this series. How many times can someone write the same exact story over and over again?
I could not care about Louisa at all seeing as I know she's not going to stick around (and the age gap is a solid ten years. Yuck). Every woman in every book only exists as a romantic conquest for Sharpe, just to immediately disappear so Sharpe can move on to the next romantic conquest. It's incredibly lame, boring, and misogynistic.
The plot is so flat. The book opens by telling the reader what exactly is in this box that we see later and who a character is very mysterious about. However, since we already know what's in the box, it removes all suspense and just makes the entire conflict boring. I also had no idea why we were here or what we were really fighting about. We're just somewhere and we're battling people.
I used to have a lot of hope for this series, but as I continue on in it, it becomes lamer and lamer. I'm not going to continue on because the books are so formulaic, which makes every book predictable and a yawn-fest. Can't believe that there's 25 books in this series. How many times can someone write the same exact story over and over again?
adventurous
informative
medium-paced
Just finished this novel today, tore through it in three days...I would have finished last night but I took a pause to waste my time watching TV instead (silly silly move).
First, I have to say I have tried to read one of Mr Cornwell's novel before and I could not get into it at all. This one was different. I purchased this on Sunday evening and started reading it Monday over lunch and read about a third of the way through on the first day. Tuesday was murder on the book, I read through lunch and stayed up until 1am reading it. Had to force myself to put it down.
This is an action adventure film. Yes it takes place in the past and it could be said it is a historical adventure, but WOW! this was awesome. I literally picked it up on a whim (I admit I loved the cover) and as it was the first in a series I was a little worried. I really do not care for long drawn out series and tend to get bored. While I was at Barnes & Noble I checked out the reviews on Amazon and the books got really good reviews, so I figured what the heck, I have somewhat been wandering about aimlessly trying to find something to inspire me. Perhaps this was it.
I immediately loved the book. Full of action, interesting characters, and really neat historical information littered about the story. It also takes place during a period of history that I really do not know anything about, namely the British in India (see The Siege of Seringapatam). If you are really sporting, do a Google Maps search for Seringapatam to see where the battle took place.
In the Afterward in the end of the book the author explained the differences between reality and the book and explains the details of the liberty he took with history. I found this especially interesting. Having little knowledge of these events and reading the book I had certain images in my mind of what things looked like in the book based on descriptions and, heck, my own little imagination. Reality is a bit different, but that is ok.
If you like adventure books, and especially if you are interested in historical (albeit not boring) tales, I cannot say how much I recommend this book. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I already made a trip to the local library and picked up the next three books in the series...it was that good. I now proceed to Sharpe's Triumph!
First, I have to say I have tried to read one of Mr Cornwell's novel before and I could not get into it at all. This one was different. I purchased this on Sunday evening and started reading it Monday over lunch and read about a third of the way through on the first day. Tuesday was murder on the book, I read through lunch and stayed up until 1am reading it. Had to force myself to put it down.
This is an action adventure film. Yes it takes place in the past and it could be said it is a historical adventure, but WOW! this was awesome. I literally picked it up on a whim (I admit I loved the cover) and as it was the first in a series I was a little worried. I really do not care for long drawn out series and tend to get bored. While I was at Barnes & Noble I checked out the reviews on Amazon and the books got really good reviews, so I figured what the heck, I have somewhat been wandering about aimlessly trying to find something to inspire me. Perhaps this was it.
I immediately loved the book. Full of action, interesting characters, and really neat historical information littered about the story. It also takes place during a period of history that I really do not know anything about, namely the British in India (see The Siege of Seringapatam). If you are really sporting, do a Google Maps search for Seringapatam to see where the battle took place.
In the Afterward in the end of the book the author explained the differences between reality and the book and explains the details of the liberty he took with history. I found this especially interesting. Having little knowledge of these events and reading the book I had certain images in my mind of what things looked like in the book based on descriptions and, heck, my own little imagination. Reality is a bit different, but that is ok.
If you like adventure books, and especially if you are interested in historical (albeit not boring) tales, I cannot say how much I recommend this book. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I already made a trip to the local library and picked up the next three books in the series...it was that good. I now proceed to Sharpe's Triumph!
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I appreciated the imperfect main character and the well-written battle scenes. I found myself rooting for the main characters throughout the story and feeling a real sense of danger.
adventurous
challenging
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It's great to finally read this book! It is so different from the TV show but as enjoyable at the same time.
Roll on the next book in the series!
Roll on the next book in the series!
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
Good historical fiction, the setting being northern Spain in 1809 and Spanish-English repulse of French Napoleonic forces. Cornwell seems to know the era and its militaristic arcana like the back of his hand: “…he was smearing footcloths with the pork fat that was issued to every soldier as a specific against blisters.” (p. 205) He works in caltrops, crupper sores, gonfalons, guidon flags, and other period things on almost every page. The dialogue, too, is realistic: Irishmen, Frenchmen, Spanish nobles speak exactly as one would expect. Englishman Richard Sharpe, the protagonist, is a non-believer who clashes with both English Protestant Bible-thumpers and a superstitious Spanish-Catholic major, making for some interesting side fireworks. There’s also a minor love triangle, though it seems fairly incredulous considering the setting and circumstances (and Cornwell at one point has the girl gushing “I do believe…these have been the happiest days of my life” (p. 252), despite her being surrounded by beheadings, disembowelings, and garrottings).
If you like mostly-realistic historical fiction with military elements, especially set during the time of Napoleon, you’ll eat up “Sharpe’s Rifles.”
If you like mostly-realistic historical fiction with military elements, especially set during the time of Napoleon, you’ll eat up “Sharpe’s Rifles.”