Thomas F. (hardtack) -
This is very involved but entertaining book about the adventures of Robert Carey, Dodd and their associated friends and family members. All come to a very startling climax at the end, but did we really need the cliff hanger?
Especially as I don't have access to the next book. Even the local library system doesn't have it.
Especially as I don't have access to the next book. Even the local library system doesn't have it.
I'm now caught up with P.F. Chisholm's Sir Robert Carey series after finishing A CLASH OF SPHERES. Hope it isn't too long before the next one.
So, Sir Robert and a group of his men head for the Scottish court to investigate threats to King James and a potential invasion by Spain. There's not as much direct action in this one as in some of the previous books - no major battles - although the political intrigue and shifting of various loyalties is practically head-spinning. Told mostly from the POV of Sir Robert, much of his story is spent chasing down rumors. We spend some time with Sgt Dodd, his wife Janet, and a few of the minor players. As usual the sense of place and time is amazing, you really feel like you could be there. The debate about how the planets move is wonderful. I loved how some characters could be enemies one day, allies the next, then back to enemies. Major changes, a wholesale change in attitudes, could be happening in the Borderlands. But be warned, there are a couple subplots that are tantalizingly unresolved and the book ends on a major cliffhanger. Loved this entry, but oh dear, what will happen next?
A new reader really must start with the first in the series; this one won't have anywhere close to the right impact if you don't know what's come before.
So, Sir Robert and a group of his men head for the Scottish court to investigate threats to King James and a potential invasion by Spain. There's not as much direct action in this one as in some of the previous books - no major battles - although the political intrigue and shifting of various loyalties is practically head-spinning. Told mostly from the POV of Sir Robert, much of his story is spent chasing down rumors. We spend some time with Sgt Dodd, his wife Janet, and a few of the minor players. As usual the sense of place and time is amazing, you really feel like you could be there. The debate about how the planets move is wonderful. I loved how some characters could be enemies one day, allies the next, then back to enemies. Major changes, a wholesale change in attitudes, could be happening in the Borderlands. But be warned, there are a couple subplots that are tantalizingly unresolved and the book ends on a major cliffhanger. Loved this entry, but oh dear, what will happen next?
A new reader really must start with the first in the series; this one won't have anywhere close to the right impact if you don't know what's come before.
