Amy B. (BaileysBooks) reviewed on 9/1/2014 + 491 more book reviews

This is the chronological Book 17 (and original Book 8) of the Richard Sharpe series.

This book, set during a relative lull in the wars throughout Spain, allows Cornwell to send Sharpe and Harper home to England to face a different sort of battle and to fight a different kind of war. Sharpe, so fierce in a fight and so gifted with strategy on a battlefield, is utterly out of his league when faced with career politicians and their games of deception.

This was a fun book in the sense that it was a pleasant diversion from the long sieges and bloody breeches that have filled so many of the recent installments. Sharpe and Harper find themselves in interesting circumstances and, as always, are hard pressed on all sides with unfavorable odds. This is a book where hardly a shot is ever fired, and yet the danger is still very present and real.

While this book was really quite good, it probably wont be up there among the best. Part of that might be due to the fact this book is something of a filler; a good read but nothing that necessarily advances the overall story arc all that much. The ending is somewhat over-convenient, but then again, most of these books require such an ending for a character like Sharpe to survive for another story. Sharpes almost unbearable weakness for women strikes yet again, and while it is no less annoying, I suppose that by now I am simply getting used to it.

Minor complaints aside, I still found myself turning the pages quickly and enjoying this interesting adventure. Even after 17 books (or 8 if youre being technical), Cornwell still has a lot to offer and I am enjoying the ride.

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