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markhughes197's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
aflamingidiot's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
jerseytodd's review against another edition
5.0
Can't do better than this. While I'm sure the historians, and action-fans would love this book. I really enjoyed how "real" the characters felt. Bernie tells a good story!
dmcke013's review
3.0
Not quite as good as the immensely popular Sharpe series, but still an enjoyable enough read. Gets a bit bloodier than usual for his books, but then again: it is about a famous battle, after all!
brig_berthold's review against another edition
4.0
The storytelling abilities of Bernard Cornwell are shimmering in this book; it's the first of his I've read.
I was astounded by the unadulterated force, the complete madness of medieval warfare, and the blood curdling relationships between characters in this book. I have incredibly tough skin but the coarseness of this narrative had me taking breaks to watch "Moana" with my 1-year-old at regular intervals.
Cornwell's finest achievement lies in the research he put into making this story as historically accurate as possible. Down to nearly every character, the names in the story are well researched historical figures from Henry V to Nick Hook. Any break from the historical research was well made and taken in small measure. This is truly historical fiction.
I was astounded by the unadulterated force, the complete madness of medieval warfare, and the blood curdling relationships between characters in this book. I have incredibly tough skin but the coarseness of this narrative had me taking breaks to watch "Moana" with my 1-year-old at regular intervals.
Cornwell's finest achievement lies in the research he put into making this story as historically accurate as possible. Down to nearly every character, the names in the story are well researched historical figures from Henry V to Nick Hook. Any break from the historical research was well made and taken in small measure. This is truly historical fiction.
bergsteiger's review against another edition
3.0
I wish I could rate at halves. This book was not quite 4 stars but probably more than 3 stars. I enjoyed the historical context, especially the attention to detail with bowmanship and the crafting of these tools of war. The descriptions of the armies marching and at siege were quite vivid and really drew you in. There was always plenty of action and the book kept up a nice pace.
Minuses for me were the highly graphic scenes of battle, pillage, rape. Understand this was undoubtedly the world of the time but I am not sure I needed to read about it to the degree I did. Another point for me is the archetypal characters that emerge in Cornwell's books. Like Leon Uris, Cornwell's books are fun to read with varied settings, but his cookie-cutter characters emerge in each novel.
If you like Historical Fiction this is worth the read, however I would not place it on the same level as something like "For Whom The Bell Tolls". 3 1/2 stars if I could give it that on Goodreads.
Minuses for me were the highly graphic scenes of battle, pillage, rape. Understand this was undoubtedly the world of the time but I am not sure I needed to read about it to the degree I did. Another point for me is the archetypal characters that emerge in Cornwell's books. Like Leon Uris, Cornwell's books are fun to read with varied settings, but his cookie-cutter characters emerge in each novel.
If you like Historical Fiction this is worth the read, however I would not place it on the same level as something like "For Whom The Bell Tolls". 3 1/2 stars if I could give it that on Goodreads.
rightoftheleaf's review against another edition
dark
informative
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
topdragon's review against another edition
4.0
I love the way Bernard Cornwell can take history and make it come alive. This is the story of the famous battle of Agincourt (Azincourt in French) that took place in October of 1415, as told through the eyes of an English archer. The battle is famous mostly for the overwhelming odds that Henry V's army faced against a superior French army, as well as for being immortilized in Shakespeare's [b:Henry V|37526|Henry V|William Shakespeare|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1324938417s/37526.jpg|1493394]. The battle was also instrumental in elevating the use of the English longbow as that era's most feared weapon of war.
But don't think this is just a novel of a medieval battle. Cornwell does his usual masterful job of depicting the major events of the battle and the months leading up to it by bringing the focus down to the individual level of those who partcipated in it. Nicholas Hook is the protagonist and to watch these events unfold through his eyes makes one very happy not to have had to live in those times. This is as real and gritty as it gets, and I was fully absorbed in the action of the battles as well as his life and thoughts and motivations. There are many very well written characters here and all of them not only allowed me to enter their world and story but also assisted in my complete understanding of the history itself. The reader gains a firm understanding that it was not just the longbow that won the day; in fact, far more important may well have been the terrain itself, turned into a field of clay mud by the previous day's hard rain, and causing the French men-at-arms in their full armor to be literally stuck as easy pickings for the swift, unburdened archers. I also appreciated the afterword by Cornwell where he discusses the differences of opinion that exist today over the actual details of the battle, including the all-important strength comparisons. For the novel, he used the more-or-less traditional legend of 6,000 English facing 30,000 French.
Definitely recommended.
But don't think this is just a novel of a medieval battle. Cornwell does his usual masterful job of depicting the major events of the battle and the months leading up to it by bringing the focus down to the individual level of those who partcipated in it. Nicholas Hook is the protagonist and to watch these events unfold through his eyes makes one very happy not to have had to live in those times. This is as real and gritty as it gets, and I was fully absorbed in the action of the battles as well as his life and thoughts and motivations. There are many very well written characters here and all of them not only allowed me to enter their world and story but also assisted in my complete understanding of the history itself. The reader gains a firm understanding that it was not just the longbow that won the day; in fact, far more important may well have been the terrain itself, turned into a field of clay mud by the previous day's hard rain, and causing the French men-at-arms in their full armor to be literally stuck as easy pickings for the swift, unburdened archers. I also appreciated the afterword by Cornwell where he discusses the differences of opinion that exist today over the actual details of the battle, including the all-important strength comparisons. For the novel, he used the more-or-less traditional legend of 6,000 English facing 30,000 French.
Definitely recommended.
adeeba_ahmed's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
bookdragonco's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5