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josaphina's review
adventurous
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
amyram's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
5.0
red_lemon_diary's review against another edition
4.0
Flew through this, definitely a great holiday read. Events move at breakneck speed detailing the early years of Napoleon and Wellington - it's a brilliant page turner (featuring the most engrossing snowball fight youll find in a historical fiction) and I learnt a lot about the time period. Onto the next three!
dearreaders's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
nbiancalani's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
wellington299's review against another edition
4.0
This book details the young lives of Napoleon Bonaparte and Arthur Wesley (later the Duke of Wellington). The book shuttles back and forth between Napoleon's and Arthur's lives. I've always wanted to learn about the guy I was named after ... but found those books dusty and boring.
This book is formulaic. Oddly, I grew weary and confused through the battle scenes (except for the snowball fight). Napoleon's story more interesting because he had a steeper angle to overcome.
It's a pleasant enough diversion enough of a book.
cen's review against another edition
4.0
Enjoyable read! I would have liked more dates at the start of chapters to track the chronology better.
sarahoretsev's review against another edition
3.0
Re-read update: Still incredibly well written, and Scarrow is incredible at weaving historical information into a storyline that is both historically accurate AND entertaining. I'd probably give this a 3.5 now instead of 3, as I'm trying to read more historical fiction and this IS damn good; but my analysis of how this book, whilst entertaining, is slow still stands. That's what pulls it down from a 4 star. It just drags a bit at times.
So my best friend lent me this book; my best friend is half French and, for as long as I've known him, has been utterly obsessed with Napoleon. So it makes total sense he owns this series. I'd been eyeing up this series on his shelves for a while now, so when exams finished I swept in and nabbed all four (but post exam reading slump hit me like an absolute train, hence it took so long to finish).
This book was interesting, and I loved how my opinion of Wellington and Napoleon constantly shifted throughout; sometimes it was Wellington who's chapters gripped me, sometimes it was Napoleon's, sometimes it was Wellington who irritated me, sometimes it was Napoleon.... it kept it interesting, certainly!
However, something which makes this book series be so highly acclaimed is that of the accuracy in military descriptions in it; and whilst I certainly accept that is true, at times the long explanations bored me. For some people, those explanations are fascinating, brilliant, exactly what they want; and that's fantastic! But for me, at times it was just a bit slow. I will definitely be picking up the second book in this series though.
So my best friend lent me this book; my best friend is half French and, for as long as I've known him, has been utterly obsessed with Napoleon. So it makes total sense he owns this series. I'd been eyeing up this series on his shelves for a while now, so when exams finished I swept in and nabbed all four (but post exam reading slump hit me like an absolute train, hence it took so long to finish).
This book was interesting, and I loved how my opinion of Wellington and Napoleon constantly shifted throughout; sometimes it was Wellington who's chapters gripped me, sometimes it was Napoleon's, sometimes it was Wellington who irritated me, sometimes it was Napoleon.... it kept it interesting, certainly!
However, something which makes this book series be so highly acclaimed is that of the accuracy in military descriptions in it; and whilst I certainly accept that is true, at times the long explanations bored me. For some people, those explanations are fascinating, brilliant, exactly what they want; and that's fantastic! But for me, at times it was just a bit slow. I will definitely be picking up the second book in this series though.
reunitepangaea's review against another edition
5.0
I finally finished it! Although it is such a great book, it took me ages.
This is the first book in Scarrows Revolution-Quartett, about Napoleon Bonaparte (Naboleon Buona Parte) and Arthur Wellington (Wesley).
It is beautifully written and the characters are true. This novel covers the years 1769 (the year in which both were born) to 1795. It perfectly captures the confusion and brutality of the french revolution, the surprising and lucky career of Napoleon and the early years of Wellington; including his love for music and Kitty Pakenham.
Definitly worth your time! I'm really looking forward to the next book.
But for now I'll try to finish the second of Conn Iggulden Emperor-books: The Death of Kings. And on the 26th The Broken Eye will be published and I'm going to live under a rock until I finish it.
This is the first book in Scarrows Revolution-Quartett, about Napoleon Bonaparte (Naboleon Buona Parte) and Arthur Wellington (Wesley).
It is beautifully written and the characters are true. This novel covers the years 1769 (the year in which both were born) to 1795. It perfectly captures the confusion and brutality of the french revolution, the surprising and lucky career of Napoleon and the early years of Wellington; including his love for music and Kitty Pakenham.
Definitly worth your time! I'm really looking forward to the next book.
But for now I'll try to finish the second of Conn Iggulden Emperor-books: The Death of Kings. And on the 26th The Broken Eye will be published and I'm going to live under a rock until I finish it.
michaelhold's review against another edition
5.0
This Historical Faction is the beginning of lives journeys about two geniuses and heroes, Arthur Wesley (later Duke of Wellington) & Napoleon Bonaparte. Shows their life from very young age. Descendants of England-Ireland and Corsica-France. However from as soon as possible they had traveled to study and get knowledge along with their natural congenital advantages in future careers with military scholarship. And many more adventurous, like siege of Toulon, with brave artillery work. Before they became these legendary leaders in breathtaking times of French Revolution.