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ababoglo's review against another edition
5.0
I just adore this series! Most addictive and captivating historical fiction since Three Musketeers.
Absolutely loved it. Massive fan of the series, great kudos to the author. There is literally nothing quite like it.
Very strongly recommended, but start with Book 1. Don't jump in mid-series
Absolutely loved it. Massive fan of the series, great kudos to the author. There is literally nothing quite like it.
Very strongly recommended, but start with Book 1. Don't jump in mid-series
duquesnerahm's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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? It's complicated
4.0
amanda31's review against another edition
5.0
Apparently I left ordering the next book too late. It should come in tomorrow... How will I ever survive?
carolhoggart's review
4.0
The Green Count reads like an extended historical re-enactment. This is in no way a criticism. The author himself is a committed re-enactor of medieval martial arts. As he bases his own practice of sword-play upon the writings of one of his (historical) characters, Fiore, so Cameron grounds many of the structuring events in this novel upon 14th-century history. The central character, Sir William Gold, travels an utterly believable (because so well-researched) medieval Aegean, Jerusalem, Constantinople, and the Black Sea. The complex realities of politics and religion of the time inform each of the characters' words and actions. I was deeply impressed by the way Cameron integrates detailed historical research and his own understanding of the effects of war into fiction.
Of course, I have criticisms. This is a 4-, not a 5-star review. Many times, I nearly gave up reading. Why? Chiefly because the story has no evident destination, and Gold himself has no long-term goals. Thus the narrative is very episodic, and the pace frequently lags. The book title itself is indicative of the overall lack of story-coherence: the titular Green Count only makes an entrance two-thirds of the way through, and, once on stage, he is a relatively unimportant character. The tale begs an alternative title - but what? No obvious candidate springs to mind, other than "the continued adventures of William Gold".
Perhaps this is an unfair assessment. Maybe narrative coherence is unnecessary (not least because it would likely be historically inaccurate). As a historical re-enactment cast in fiction, I would award The Green Count a glowing 5-star rating.
Of course, I have criticisms. This is a 4-, not a 5-star review. Many times, I nearly gave up reading. Why? Chiefly because the story has no evident destination, and Gold himself has no long-term goals. Thus the narrative is very episodic, and the pace frequently lags. The book title itself is indicative of the overall lack of story-coherence: the titular Green Count only makes an entrance two-thirds of the way through, and, once on stage, he is a relatively unimportant character. The tale begs an alternative title - but what? No obvious candidate springs to mind, other than "the continued adventures of William Gold".
Perhaps this is an unfair assessment. Maybe narrative coherence is unnecessary (not least because it would likely be historically inaccurate). As a historical re-enactment cast in fiction, I would award The Green Count a glowing 5-star rating.
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