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3.81 AVERAGE
3.81 AVERAGE
This is the first Scarlet Pimpernel book I have read and not adored. The first three quarters of the book were spent mostly on set up and relied heavily on long passages of exposition. However, the last quarter came through with classic Scarlet Pimpernel style. Sir Percy is backed into a tough corner and, for the first time, I questioned his ability to get out of it. If you are a Scarlet Pimpernel fan and are willing to sift some pebbles to find the gold nuggets, you will probably enjoy this book despite the slow start. If you are not a Scarlet Pimpernel fan, I would recommend reading [b:The Scarlet Pimpernel|136116|The Scarlet Pimpernel|Emmuska Orczy|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1172075548s/136116.jpg|750426] first to find out if you are.
I have been hoodwinked. I now know why I had such a hard time getting into this book and why it was SO confusing. I thought I was reading "The Scarlet Pimpernel" but it turns out I was reading the third book in the series. I couldn't figure out WHY the movie was so much different than the book!!! hahaha. I sure feel like an idiot now. I downloaded the wrong book onto my nook. Well, I really liked this book and can't wait to read the ORIGINAL!
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
The final scheme of the Scarlet Pimpernel and his league saved this book from being a total wreck, so I give it a half-hearted two stars. But (as Sir Percy would say) Odd's life, what an exhausting journey it was to get there. The heroines were frustratingly dim (so much so that the final scene is an apology from one of them) and the narrative was often so long-winded that it underminded the suspense. But, still, the Scarlet Pimpernel and his men are dear to my heart, and I expect I'll read another book or two.
Well. The plot is 70% less exciting than the first book. Blah. If I weren't busy doing things while I was listening to this, I never would have finished.
I liked [b:The Scarlet Pimpernel|136116|The Scarlet Pimpernel|Emmuska Orczy|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1172075548s/136116.jpg|750426] better. The annoying references to Marguerite's womanly weakness (yes, yes, a product of the time, but still...) seemed much more frequent in this tale and Marguerite did even less to prove herself "the cleverest woman in Europe" than in the last story. She adored her husband, ignored her gut instinct about a person she just met which allowed her enemy, Chauvelin, to gain access to her home, adored her husband some more, and then she fell hook, line, and sinker for the incredibly obvious trick designed to imprison her for use as bait. Oh, and she adored her husband. Which is good, of course, but there has to be room in her brain for some other thought some time, right?
Sir Percy's plot to save himself, his wife and an entire city full of innocents was, I thought, much more twisty and ingenious than the first novel, but that really only covered the last quarter or so of the book. The first 75% was Marguerite being all self-centered and angsty about the dangers her husband faces and how terrible it is that Chauvelin is back and blah blah blah.
Anyway, it's still a fun swashbuckling adventure story, but I thought the first installment was stronger and held more action and suspense. And Marguerite was a little less annoying.
For more book reviews, come visit my blog, Build Enough Bookshelves.
Sir Percy's plot to save himself, his wife and an entire city full of innocents was, I thought, much more twisty and ingenious than the first novel, but that really only covered the last quarter or so of the book. The first 75% was Marguerite being all self-centered and angsty about the dangers her husband faces and how terrible it is that Chauvelin is back and blah blah blah.
Anyway, it's still a fun swashbuckling adventure story, but I thought the first installment was stronger and held more action and suspense. And Marguerite was a little less annoying.
For more book reviews, come visit my blog, Build Enough Bookshelves.
Another fun romp with the Scarlet Pimpernel. Excellently read by Karen Savage on Librivox.org
A very very good book!!!! If you loved the first novel you'll love this one too!
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I love the Scarlet Pimpernel! Great ending. I know there's a lot of criticism for the books. They are in a different style from today's books. But I am hooked. Can't wait to read my next one.