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David McK (3547 KP) rated A Flight of Arrows (The Hundred Years War #1) in Books
Sep 17, 2023
As an actual archer (in my case, Olympic Recurve style although I have also shot Longbow) who enjoys reading historical fiction, I thought this would be right up my street.
Especially when it was on Amazon as #1 in archery.
Unfortunately, I found it rather sluggish in parts, with it never really gripping my attention the same way as a historical novel by Bernard Cornwell or Simon Scarrow or Angus Donald does.
This is set during the early stages of the 100 Years War (which lasted for 116 years), and is really a detective/spy story (rather than concentrating on the lives of the archers) as the herald Simon Merrivale investigates the assassination of an English knight , leading up to and including the Battle of Crecy.
Don't get me wrong - I enjoyed the history, and learning a bit more about the times and the background to the war; I just wish it had gripped me more somewhat.
Maybe the sequels will follow through on that ... ?
Especially when it was on Amazon as #1 in archery.
Unfortunately, I found it rather sluggish in parts, with it never really gripping my attention the same way as a historical novel by Bernard Cornwell or Simon Scarrow or Angus Donald does.
This is set during the early stages of the 100 Years War (which lasted for 116 years), and is really a detective/spy story (rather than concentrating on the lives of the archers) as the herald Simon Merrivale investigates the assassination of an English knight , leading up to and including the Battle of Crecy.
Don't get me wrong - I enjoyed the history, and learning a bit more about the times and the background to the war; I just wish it had gripped me more somewhat.
Maybe the sequels will follow through on that ... ?
The Reckoning (Matthew Hawkwood #6)
7.0
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Book
The 6th historical thriller featuring Matthew Hawkwood, Bow Street Runner and Spy, now hunting a...
A Clash of Lions (100 Years War, book 2)
5.0
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Book
1346: Sent back to England in the wake of the tremendous victory at Crécy, Simon Merrivale is at...
ClareR (5854 KP) rated The Whispering Muse in Books
Apr 15, 2024
I love Laura Purcell’s gothic novels, and The Whispering Muse is yet another chilling tale of paranormal occurrences - this time set in a London theatre.
Jenny is persuaded to work in the Mercury Theatre as a dresser to the leading lady - and to spy on her for the owners wife. Jenny has little choice but to do as she’s asked, and initially she just gets on with it. But soon she begins to actually like the woman she’s supposed to be spying on, which leaves her in a bit of a tricky predicament.
This was a really atmospheric, gloomy and unnerving read. If I’d been able to see the setting, I would have seen shadows in every corner. My skin was crawling just reading about it!
Laura Purcell has become an insta-buy author for me - historical fiction with a touch of threatening, unexplainable atmosphere would appear to be right up my street!
Jenny is persuaded to work in the Mercury Theatre as a dresser to the leading lady - and to spy on her for the owners wife. Jenny has little choice but to do as she’s asked, and initially she just gets on with it. But soon she begins to actually like the woman she’s supposed to be spying on, which leaves her in a bit of a tricky predicament.
This was a really atmospheric, gloomy and unnerving read. If I’d been able to see the setting, I would have seen shadows in every corner. My skin was crawling just reading about it!
Laura Purcell has become an insta-buy author for me - historical fiction with a touch of threatening, unexplainable atmosphere would appear to be right up my street!
Fishing With Tolstoy
Book
FISHING WITH TOLSTOY is a timely and heartwarming story of friendship that pokes tongue-in-cheek fun...
war fiction drama
Creation Lake
9.0
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Book
Seductive and cunning American spy-for-hire Sadie Smith has been sent by her mysterious but powerful...
The Perfume of War (The Seventh of December #4)
Book
“Please donate generously to Mrs. Roosevelt’s charity. Every penny raised from this series of...
Crime Thriller WW2 Spy Action Historical
Adam Colclough (3 KP) rated Slow Horses in Books
Mar 12, 2018
The awkward squad to the rescue
Slough House is the place where the secret service dumps those operatives who don’t’ make the grade. A bureaucratic limbo as far away from the glamourous world inhabited by James Bond as Biarritz is from the outer moons of Saturn.
The crew of misfits incarcerated there under the command of the objectionable Jackson Lamb are called back to active service when a terrorist gang kidnap a teenager and threaten to behead him live online. Suddenly the awkward squad are players in a deadly game with only one possible winner.
In this book, first published in 2010 and part of an award-winning quartet, Mick Herron delivers all the thrills you would expect as he pits his cast of oddballs against a chillingly plausible enemy.
Spy novels often describe hidden worlds as a way of talking about the one with which we are all familiar. In the Sixties Le Carre wrote about a secret service that resembled nothing so much as minor Oxbridge college down on its luck but clinging tightly to past glories. Any similarity to a Britain that for all the promises of wonders delivered by the ‘white heat of technology’ was starting to look decidedly seedy was entirely intentional.
Mick Herron writes about a service that has been capture by bean counters and career obsessed middle managers. Drowning in paperwork, stymied by procedure and inclined to try and be a little too clever for its own good.
He also creates delightfully complex characters, the ‘slow horses’ of the title may all be difficult individuals, but that gives them fears and failings that make them infinitely more interesting than monochrome supermen like Bond or Bourne. By the book’s end he even manages to provide them with if not redemption than the unexpected feeling they may have a purpose after all.
The best spy novels are always about more than just chasing after a McGuffin. This book is unafraid to look at troubling ideas and to present characters who don’t tick the boxes of traditional heroism. That puts it in the running to become a classic of the genre.
The crew of misfits incarcerated there under the command of the objectionable Jackson Lamb are called back to active service when a terrorist gang kidnap a teenager and threaten to behead him live online. Suddenly the awkward squad are players in a deadly game with only one possible winner.
In this book, first published in 2010 and part of an award-winning quartet, Mick Herron delivers all the thrills you would expect as he pits his cast of oddballs against a chillingly plausible enemy.
Spy novels often describe hidden worlds as a way of talking about the one with which we are all familiar. In the Sixties Le Carre wrote about a secret service that resembled nothing so much as minor Oxbridge college down on its luck but clinging tightly to past glories. Any similarity to a Britain that for all the promises of wonders delivered by the ‘white heat of technology’ was starting to look decidedly seedy was entirely intentional.
Mick Herron writes about a service that has been capture by bean counters and career obsessed middle managers. Drowning in paperwork, stymied by procedure and inclined to try and be a little too clever for its own good.
He also creates delightfully complex characters, the ‘slow horses’ of the title may all be difficult individuals, but that gives them fears and failings that make them infinitely more interesting than monochrome supermen like Bond or Bourne. By the book’s end he even manages to provide them with if not redemption than the unexpected feeling they may have a purpose after all.
The best spy novels are always about more than just chasing after a McGuffin. This book is unafraid to look at troubling ideas and to present characters who don’t tick the boxes of traditional heroism. That puts it in the running to become a classic of the genre.
Gareth von Kallenbach (980 KP) rated G-Force (2009) in Movies
Aug 9, 2019
A 3-D film about Guinea Pigs who help the government using advanced super small technology, at least I knew I wasn’t going to be bored. Was “G-Force” going to be so over the top that even children would find it ridiculous? Maybe it was going to hit big with that famous Disney magic. Suffice to say I entered the film with no expectations.
“G-Force” is the story of a team of unlikely heroes; guinea pigs, a mole, and a fly, who through the aid of special government technology, are completing spy missions with the dream of FBI acceptance. On their first mission out the team lead by the appropriately named guinea pig, Darwin (voiced by Sam Rockwell) discover that the world’s largest electrical device manufacturer has an evil plot for world domination. Attempting to expose the plan, our non-traditional protagonists encounter a numerous obstacles ranging from a lack of government acceptance to rodent chasing dogs.
The plotline in classic Disney fashion is filled with a strong moral under tone specifically concentrated on importance of family and belief in oneself. The film does manage to get these points a crossed while entertaining children who will love the popular culture references and the speed at which the action occurs.
All of the creature’s characterizations are amusing and engaging from the layer cake obsessed long-haired guinea pig, Hurley, (voice by Jon Favreau) to mice who get excited about absolutely everything. Also worth noting was the interesting casting of Zach Galifianakis (most recently of “The Hangover” success) who plays the not so mad scientist, Ben, creator of the multi-faceted “G-Force” technology and animal special task force idea.
The special effects are superb. The 3-D futuristic spy technology at the beginning was so excellent it had me wondering when I will see the medium in action flicks.
The downsides were simple; sometimes-obvious one-liners, which the kid-filled audience seemed to enjoy, and an unnecessary maybe love triangle between three of the heroes.
Not as over the top as expected with plenty of funny moments and fun heartfelt adventure “G-Force” is a worthwhile film for kids and adults alike.
“G-Force” is the story of a team of unlikely heroes; guinea pigs, a mole, and a fly, who through the aid of special government technology, are completing spy missions with the dream of FBI acceptance. On their first mission out the team lead by the appropriately named guinea pig, Darwin (voiced by Sam Rockwell) discover that the world’s largest electrical device manufacturer has an evil plot for world domination. Attempting to expose the plan, our non-traditional protagonists encounter a numerous obstacles ranging from a lack of government acceptance to rodent chasing dogs.
The plotline in classic Disney fashion is filled with a strong moral under tone specifically concentrated on importance of family and belief in oneself. The film does manage to get these points a crossed while entertaining children who will love the popular culture references and the speed at which the action occurs.
All of the creature’s characterizations are amusing and engaging from the layer cake obsessed long-haired guinea pig, Hurley, (voice by Jon Favreau) to mice who get excited about absolutely everything. Also worth noting was the interesting casting of Zach Galifianakis (most recently of “The Hangover” success) who plays the not so mad scientist, Ben, creator of the multi-faceted “G-Force” technology and animal special task force idea.
The special effects are superb. The 3-D futuristic spy technology at the beginning was so excellent it had me wondering when I will see the medium in action flicks.
The downsides were simple; sometimes-obvious one-liners, which the kid-filled audience seemed to enjoy, and an unnecessary maybe love triangle between three of the heroes.
Not as over the top as expected with plenty of funny moments and fun heartfelt adventure “G-Force” is a worthwhile film for kids and adults alike.
John le Carre: The Biography
Book
Over half a century since The Spy Who came in from the Cold made John le Carre a worldwide,...