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tasadion's review
4.0
So then to the final (complete) Aubrey/Maturin novel, and it was a great way to finish, with a final adventure, a battle, and Jack's long awaited promotion to Admiral. This novel stops in at England, but really finds its legs on the journey to Chile and Peru and the final adventures.
This series has always been a joy to read, not for any particular moments, but more for the simple pleasure of spending time with these complex men and their amazing voyages across the world. Vale Patrick O'Brian, these stories continue to resonate, and I feel will only improve as our world continues to change.
This series has always been a joy to read, not for any particular moments, but more for the simple pleasure of spending time with these complex men and their amazing voyages across the world. Vale Patrick O'Brian, these stories continue to resonate, and I feel will only improve as our world continues to change.
davidr's review against another edition
4.0
This is another excellent historical novel by Patrick O'Brian, in the Jack Aubrey/Stephen Maturin series. In this story, Aubrey starts to feel passed over, as other, less experienced captains are promoted to the rank of admiral. Meanwhile, naturalist and surgeon Maturin falls in love with a beautiful widow.
This is peacetime now, and the opportunities for sea action are scarce. Nevertheless, The Surprise and her crew get a chance to show their stuff, although the action does not take very much space in the book.
This was O'Brian's last book. Like all of his novels, this one is good literature. The character development is wonderful, the historical accuracy seems to be superb. The dialogs are spot on. I love the two main characters. Aubrey and Maturin sometimes play music together (violin and cello, respectively), and when Aubrey complains how a particular composition could have been improved, I loved it!
I listened to this book as an audiobook. Simon Vance is a fantastic narrator; he does all of the accents well. His voice inflections help to distinguish the speakers with ease. Vance blew life into the story; I highly recommend the audiobook!
This is peacetime now, and the opportunities for sea action are scarce. Nevertheless, The Surprise and her crew get a chance to show their stuff, although the action does not take very much space in the book.
This was O'Brian's last book. Like all of his novels, this one is good literature. The character development is wonderful, the historical accuracy seems to be superb. The dialogs are spot on. I love the two main characters. Aubrey and Maturin sometimes play music together (violin and cello, respectively), and when Aubrey complains how a particular composition could have been improved, I loved it!
I listened to this book as an audiobook. Simon Vance is a fantastic narrator; he does all of the accents well. His voice inflections help to distinguish the speakers with ease. Vance blew life into the story; I highly recommend the audiobook!
justlcruz's review against another edition
3.0
An interesting side story of Chile and future plans for Aubrey & Maturin.
lokkentw32's review
Sad to see it end. A great cannon. I will miss the characters.
phxkevin's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed this series a lot. This book is the last one I will read in the series, even though there is one last book, an unfinished one.
This series is well worth reading, even though it's written in such a way that it's harder to read than say the other series' on the French and English wars, like Hornblower or Delaney or Kydd or Bolitho. Bolitho is my favorite by far
Well worth reading, but you have to read the series back to back, as though it were one book.
Triggers: Less recreational drugs than prior books, some sex, lots of violence (it's a war book). Not much 'rock and roll' (or chamber music)
This series is well worth reading, even though it's written in such a way that it's harder to read than say the other series' on the French and English wars, like Hornblower or Delaney or Kydd or Bolitho. Bolitho is my favorite by far
Well worth reading, but you have to read the series back to back, as though it were one book.
Triggers: Less recreational drugs than prior books, some sex, lots of violence (it's a war book). Not much 'rock and roll' (or chamber music)
mepitts's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
informative
reflective
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
One of my favorites in the series.
saparson's review against another edition
4.0
As always, an enjoyable time with Aubrey and Maturin. The intrigue in South America was fascinating. And bittersweet, since the series ends and we don't get to find out if Maturin ever does marry Christine, what becomes of Aubrey's out-of-wedlock son, and so on.
harryr's review against another edition
4.0
I've just powered through the whole Aubrey/Maturin series for the first time in many years and thoroughly enjoyed them; I've given them 4 stars across the board, which might be erring on the generous side, but hey-ho.
Reading them now, the comparison that springs to mind isn't a literary one: they're like a really good DVD box set. Light enough to be enjoyable, but well-written enough to feel like a good use of your time; formulaic enough to keep the fans happy, but varied enough to keep up the interest.
Reading them now, the comparison that springs to mind isn't a literary one: they're like a really good DVD box set. Light enough to be enjoyable, but well-written enough to feel like a good use of your time; formulaic enough to keep the fans happy, but varied enough to keep up the interest.