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whippycleric's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I'm working my way through the Scarlet Pimpernel series as I come to obtain second copies, and they're always fun to read. This one had some of the key characters from the first book and featured them heavily which was a big positive. There's a real feeling of jeopardy which is impressive given you know it can't be *too* bad since there're several more in the series later. The characters are a lot more rounded than in other entries, making this a more engaging read than is sometimes the case. Plot is a good and strong one with nice pacing. The writing, though not phenomenal, is good, light and fun to read. Still got a dozen or so more to track down and each time I come into possession of one I'm happy knowing I've got some fun ahead of me.
the_jesus_fandom's review
4.0
BRO FINALLY AN ACTUALLY EXcITING INSTALLMENT
Yeah the pace really picks up in this one.
Things I liked:
- We get more insight into Percy's motivations in this book. We meet Baron de Batz, who is also against the Revolution, but would still sacrifice anything to destroy it, including lives. It's also mentioned that he doesn't bother to save innocent people who aren't distinguished members of the higher class, which is contrasted to Percy. So I'm taking that to mean Percy also saves "unimportant" people. And, of course, the British sporting instinct thing.
- The love interest actually being useful in a certain scene
- The mental image of Percy carrying a sleeping child in his arms???? Literally so hot of him
- This quote:
- The friendship between Andrew and Marguerite is adorable.
Things I disliked:
- Armand. Literally what is wrong with this man.
- Yeah, Armand is stupid, but Percy expecting everyone to obey him without question is also stupid. Andrew Ffoulkes is said to be the most perfect friend Percy would ever have because he trusts him implicitly. Which is cool, but idk maybe it's the Dutchie in me that hates the idea of literally swearing an oath to someone that you will never question them.
- Calling the Prince "the most precious life in Europe". Him being cared for by common people is also looked upon as a disgrace.
- the term "full moist lips"
- the love interest is described as being "a child in all her movements" and she has a "childish mind". This is portrayed as a good thing. These books have such a weird idea of romance. The woman needs to be beautiful and strong and noble, but also innocent and childlike and naive. And the man has to be strong and noble and courageous, but also worship his wife like a goddess and literally kiss her feet.
- The love interest chats about "the discomforts of her own house, now that the servants had been put on perfect equality with their masters". Lol go cry about it.
- After the episode mentioned in the likes section where the love interest's she breaks down and cries about it for actual hours.
- "Womanlike, she was already prepared to hate the man [...] she had hitherto admired" EXCUSE ME. Also all the other random stuff about characters being "but a woman".
- Percy unnecessarily bullies a child into giving him a letter.
- We get a character skip right at the most exciting moment. Don't do that to me it makes me want to stop reading.
- 'With the indifference so peculiar of the local peasantry, these men knew no more of the surrounding country than the twelve or fifteen league circle that was within a walk of their sleepy little town.' Yeah cause they literally have next to no money shut up.
- Percy is actually in danger in this one + gets hurt, which makes everything so much more exciting.
Things I just noticed:
- The original Revolutionists ("the moderate Republicans") are portrayed as having as their "sole and entirely pure aim [...] to free the people of France from the autocratic tyranny of the Bourbons". Later, the power goes from their "clean hands" to folks like Robespierre. Interesting how I never know what opinion the author is going to proclaim when it comes to the Revolution.
- Marguerite
- It is said Percy could not have saved the dupe Prince that died in the Tower because he was in jail but the dupe is said to have died after several weeks and Percy escaped before that
- The Jesus imagery is really not subtle in this one.
Yeah the pace really picks up in this one.
Things I liked:
- We get more insight into Percy's motivations in this book. We meet Baron de Batz, who is also against the Revolution, but would still sacrifice anything to destroy it, including lives. It's also mentioned that he doesn't bother to save innocent people who aren't distinguished members of the higher class, which is contrasted to Percy. So I'm taking that to mean Percy also saves "unimportant" people. And, of course, the British sporting instinct thing.
- The love interest actually being useful in a certain scene
Spoiler
where Armand is about to be caught but her acting chops get them through- The mental image of Percy carrying a sleeping child in his arms???? Literally so hot of him
- This quote:
'Methought you and your kind did not believe in God.'
'No. But you English do.'
'We do. But we do not care to hear His name on your lips.'
- The friendship between Andrew and Marguerite is adorable.
Things I disliked:
- Armand. Literally what is wrong with this man.
Spoiler
Percy tells him specifically not to go out and pick up acquaintances. He does. He stops trusting Percy (which is honestly fair since the man has the communication skills of a safe) but it's still annoying.- Yeah, Armand is stupid, but Percy expecting everyone to obey him without question is also stupid. Andrew Ffoulkes is said to be the most perfect friend Percy would ever have because he trusts him implicitly. Which is cool, but idk maybe it's the Dutchie in me that hates the idea of literally swearing an oath to someone that you will never question them.
- Calling the Prince "the most precious life in Europe". Him being cared for by common people is also looked upon as a disgrace.
- the term "full moist lips"
- the love interest is described as being "a child in all her movements" and she has a "childish mind". This is portrayed as a good thing. These books have such a weird idea of romance. The woman needs to be beautiful and strong and noble, but also innocent and childlike and naive. And the man has to be strong and noble and courageous, but also worship his wife like a goddess and literally kiss her feet.
- The love interest chats about "the discomforts of her own house, now that the servants had been put on perfect equality with their masters". Lol go cry about it.
- After the episode mentioned in the likes section where the love interest's
Spoiler
acting skills get them through a nasty situation- "Womanlike, she was already prepared to hate the man [...] she had hitherto admired" EXCUSE ME. Also all the other random stuff about characters being "but a woman".
- Percy unnecessarily bullies a child into giving him a letter.
- We get a character skip right at the most exciting moment. Don't do that to me it makes me want to stop reading.
- 'With the indifference so peculiar of the local peasantry, these men knew no more of the surrounding country than the twelve or fifteen league circle that was within a walk of their sleepy little town.' Yeah cause they literally have next to no money shut up.
- Percy is actually in danger in this one + gets hurt, which makes everything so much more exciting.
Things I just noticed:
- The original Revolutionists ("the moderate Republicans") are portrayed as having as their "sole and entirely pure aim [...] to free the people of France from the autocratic tyranny of the Bourbons". Later, the power goes from their "clean hands" to folks like Robespierre. Interesting how I never know what opinion the author is going to proclaim when it comes to the Revolution.
- Marguerite
Spoiler
goes to France to die together with her husband, because that plan has worked out so well before. But tbh, she's actually useful this time because Chauvelin is stupid enough to let her have a private moment with Percy while he's in prison.- It is said Percy could not have saved the dupe Prince that died in the Tower because he was in jail but the dupe is said to have died after several weeks and Percy escaped before that
- The Jesus imagery is really not subtle in this one.
bupdaddy's review against another edition
3.0
Does anybody know why the book is called "El Dorado"? I thought I must have missed something, but then I searched the gutenberg text of the book, and sure enough, the word "Dorado" only appears once in the text- in the name of the last chapter. I guess it's just supposed to represent a generic "good place to be."
Well, I learned two things. First, Pimpernel's brother-in-law, Armand, just wasn't cut out for this business of buckling swash and saving those good, just aristocrats. Second, the Scarlet Pimpernel has to do everything his own self - his supposed helpers just cause more trouble than anything.
OK, three things. Just like in "The Scarlet Pimpernel," Marguerite's still a moron.
Well, I learned two things. First, Pimpernel's brother-in-law, Armand, just wasn't cut out for this business of buckling swash and saving those good, just aristocrats. Second, the Scarlet Pimpernel has to do everything his own self - his supposed helpers just cause more trouble than anything.
OK, three things. Just like in "The Scarlet Pimpernel," Marguerite's still a moron.
ipreferquiet's review against another edition
3.0
This was the second Scarlet Pimpernel book that I read. I liked how quickly it jumped into the action, no long setting and character introductions as in the first book (The Scarlet Pimpernel). It was nice to have Percy in prison for part of the book so we get to hear more from Marguerite, her character is well done and better described than the male characters. Armand's falling in love was quite implausible and it was hard to like him after that. That, plus the fact that I could predict the way of escape for Percy, made me give it just 3 stars.
loki728's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
leahegood's review against another edition
4.0
Roll up your sleeves and get ready to dive into another adventure with Sir and Lady Blakeney! Don’t ask me what a Spanish sounding title has to do with a story of the French Revolution. I haven’t figured it out yet. Anyway, here is the review.
Only one thing matters more to Sir Percy Blakeney than his wife, Marguerite. His honor. And his honor is bound to his newest mission. The French revolutionaries hold their young prince captive. The young Dauphin’s life is in danger, and Sir Percy (also known as the Scarlet Pimpernel) determines to rescue the lad. The mission is fraught with danger, especially now that Citizen Chauvelin knows the identity of the Scarlet Pimpernel. Marguerite’s love struck brother, Armand, isn’t helping matters either. Are the reckless adventures of the Scarlet Pimpernel about come to end?
I haven’t read all of the sequels to The Scarlet Pimpernel, but this is one of my favorites out of the ones I have read. (I think I might say that about all of them, though.) Sir Percy Blakeney is doing crazy things to rescue people. What’s not to like? For anyone who hasn’t read The Scarlet Pimpernel, these books can be pretty heavy on the romance, but there’s nothing explicit, and Percy and Marguerite are married, so it’s not inappropriate either. If you’re not big on this period of history, don’t let that stop you from reading these books. I had the same reservations and The Scarlet Pimpernel won me over. Enjoy your reading!
Only one thing matters more to Sir Percy Blakeney than his wife, Marguerite. His honor. And his honor is bound to his newest mission. The French revolutionaries hold their young prince captive. The young Dauphin’s life is in danger, and Sir Percy (also known as the Scarlet Pimpernel) determines to rescue the lad. The mission is fraught with danger, especially now that Citizen Chauvelin knows the identity of the Scarlet Pimpernel. Marguerite’s love struck brother, Armand, isn’t helping matters either. Are the reckless adventures of the Scarlet Pimpernel about come to end?
I haven’t read all of the sequels to The Scarlet Pimpernel, but this is one of my favorites out of the ones I have read. (I think I might say that about all of them, though.) Sir Percy Blakeney is doing crazy things to rescue people. What’s not to like? For anyone who hasn’t read The Scarlet Pimpernel, these books can be pretty heavy on the romance, but there’s nothing explicit, and Percy and Marguerite are married, so it’s not inappropriate either. If you’re not big on this period of history, don’t let that stop you from reading these books. I had the same reservations and The Scarlet Pimpernel won me over. Enjoy your reading!
sunflowers_sunsets's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
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
4.25
polyhy_14's review against another edition
4.0
I'm feeling rather sad now I've finished the complete series. In spite of some of the improbably plotting, there's much to like about the character of the elusive Pimpernel and his values, and plenty of knuckle biting in this final book in the series. All resolved most satisfactorily though.