fhm1998's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
schlong01's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
As part of the series of young James Bond this volume focuses on the integration of James Bond into the MI6. The tone is very different from the movies yet somehow familiar. It feels like a mixture of The Three ??? and the original James Bond movies. The characters are actually pretty touching and deep but very stereotypical. Although James Bond really surprised me with his views on communism. The plot is very typical for a James Bond type story, so no surprises there. As well as the enemies who are the same as always. Which is what made any plottwist in this book superfluous.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Minor: War
lottie_c's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
theartolater's review against another edition
1.0
So I thought I had read the first one in this series, Silverfin, but apparently not. Like a James Bond movie, you don't need to know all of the previous stuff, necessarily, to be able to follow this one. Unlike a James Bond movie, this was some of the most boring, unimaginative writing I think I've seen in a long time, and it actually accomplished something I've never seen before - it makes spy games seem dull.
I can't find much of anything to say about this that's worthwhile. The end does pick up somewhat, I suppose, only to have a graphically gross scene toward the end really take me out of things, but I was ready to give up on this 200 pages earlier at that point and couldn't, so...
Skip this. Unless you're an evil mastermind who has an enemy spy captured - then you might give them this to pass the time.
I can't find much of anything to say about this that's worthwhile. The end does pick up somewhat, I suppose, only to have a graphically gross scene toward the end really take me out of things, but I was ready to give up on this 200 pages earlier at that point and couldn't, so...
Skip this. Unless you're an evil mastermind who has an enemy spy captured - then you might give them this to pass the time.
holtfan's review against another edition
2.0
James Bond is an idiot.
As if the last book wasn't bad enough...
"By Royal Command" is the fifth book in the Young Bond Adventures series. While I've never been a Bond movies fan, I thoroughy enjoyed the first three books. [b:Hurricane Gold: A James Bond Adventure|6466946|Hurricane Gold A James Bond Adventure|Charles Higson|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1275730124s/6466946.jpg|6657452] was a literary flop, and unfortunetely, this book tends to follow the latter, rather than its predecessors.
I struggled between giving it one or two stars for most of the book. Everything was kind of coincidental and cliche. The characers were at least a little deeper than in Hurricane Gold, but the plot irritated me. James irriated me. The "non-stop adventure" was somehow lacking. He spends a great many pages bemoaning life, his future, his love. Every time the plot seemed to pick up...he does something stupid.
Like meet Roan.
Or runs away.
Higson tries to incorporate themes in the plot like "living in the real world" but it really kind of fails.
Also, unlike most of the other books, the "bad guys" were more obvious. It was way to easy to put A+B+C together while James is still off in delusional la-la land.
Generally whining about his life, his future, his love.
All the bad guys apparently think they can take major advantage of James, he appears to let them, and of course kicks their butt. But there is something lacking in it from the previous books. There is still the action...but not the heart. In an attempt to "grow James up", Higson is simply making him whiny and rather cold hearted.
His previous "allies" also drove me insane. I used to be quite fond of the Eton chaps. Pritpal in particular usually proves to be an amusing fellow, but I quite wanted to punch him and Tommy Chong by the ned of the book. They are cowards...and yet there is no redemption for them. They just kind of drop of the pages of the book.
Speaking of dropping off, the character Miles, who plays a huge part in the beginning...just kind of drifts off. He is a useful tool of introduction, and apparently nothing more.
In fact, the only Eton boy worth is salt - who apparently doesn't got ot Eton anymore - is Perry Mandeville and he shows up and ships out in maybe a chapter.
In fact so does Amy. I really wonder why they bothered re-introducing her at all. She just kinda shows up, swooons around James a bit, and goes.
It really is too bad. Emotions are so cliche, expected. Roan deciding Communism isn't the answer.
Great.
The plot takes you from points C to D, it ties up all the characters....but there is something missing. I hope this isn't a sign as to what future books will be like.
As if the last book wasn't bad enough...
"By Royal Command" is the fifth book in the Young Bond Adventures series. While I've never been a Bond movies fan, I thoroughy enjoyed the first three books. [b:Hurricane Gold: A James Bond Adventure|6466946|Hurricane Gold A James Bond Adventure|Charles Higson|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1275730124s/6466946.jpg|6657452] was a literary flop, and unfortunetely, this book tends to follow the latter, rather than its predecessors.
I struggled between giving it one or two stars for most of the book. Everything was kind of coincidental and cliche. The characers were at least a little deeper than in Hurricane Gold, but the plot irritated me. James irriated me. The "non-stop adventure" was somehow lacking. He spends a great many pages bemoaning life, his future, his love. Every time the plot seemed to pick up...he does something stupid.
Like meet Roan.
Or runs away.
Higson tries to incorporate themes in the plot like "living in the real world" but it really kind of fails.
Also, unlike most of the other books, the "bad guys" were more obvious. It was way to easy to put A+B+C together while James is still off in delusional la-la land.
Generally whining about his life, his future, his love.
All the bad guys apparently think they can take major advantage of James, he appears to let them, and of course kicks their butt. But there is something lacking in it from the previous books. There is still the action...but not the heart. In an attempt to "grow James up", Higson is simply making him whiny and rather cold hearted.
His previous "allies" also drove me insane. I used to be quite fond of the Eton chaps. Pritpal in particular usually proves to be an amusing fellow, but I quite wanted to punch him and Tommy Chong by the ned of the book. They are cowards...and yet there is no redemption for them. They just kind of drop of the pages of the book.
Speaking of dropping off, the character Miles, who plays a huge part in the beginning...just kind of drifts off. He is a useful tool of introduction, and apparently nothing more.
In fact, the only Eton boy worth is salt - who apparently doesn't got ot Eton anymore - is Perry Mandeville and he shows up and ships out in maybe a chapter.
In fact so does Amy. I really wonder why they bothered re-introducing her at all. She just kinda shows up, swooons around James a bit, and goes.
It really is too bad. Emotions are so cliche, expected. Roan deciding Communism isn't the answer.
Great.
The plot takes you from points C to D, it ties up all the characters....but there is something missing. I hope this isn't a sign as to what future books will be like.
stevenk's review against another edition
4.0
The fifth installment of the young Bond series based on the limited details given in his obituary in the novel "You Only Live Twice." This book tells a story behind the "alleged trouble with one of the boys' maids" that got him removed from Eaton as a teenager. While not quite what Fleming probably had in mind this is an exciting story involving communists, Nazi's, the royal family, the British Secret Service, ghosts from young James Bonds past and "one of the boys' maids" figuring in prominently. A tighter story than the last book while still a page turner written for the early teenage reader
khakipantsofsex's review against another edition
5.0
It doesn't feel like the end of a series. Well, it kind of does because it's the end of his time at Eton , but it's not really. If that makes sense. My feelings are confused. It's the end of Charlie Higson's Young Bond, the dossier doesn't count, and I doubt I'll pick up Steve Cole's series, for a while at least, it'd wrap how I saw the previous books.
But dammit Charlie. This was more like classic Bond than the others, probably because it involved a pretty girl, Section 6 and betrayal, but that's why it felt like the end of a series. Because he's closer to the Bond we know than the Bond he was.
Am I making any sense at all?
But dammit Charlie. This was more like classic Bond than the others, probably because it involved a pretty girl, Section 6 and betrayal, but that's why it felt like the end of a series. Because he's closer to the Bond we know than the Bond he was.
Am I making any sense at all?
nickimags's review against another edition
1.0
I didn't finish this as I found it really boring, maybe I should try again some time.
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