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Armada
The author of the MASTERS OF THE SEA series, is back with a standalone battle book that will blow all others out of the water. 1587. Two nations are locked in bitter conflict. One strives for dominance, the other for survival. After decades of religious strife, Elizabeth sits on the throne of England. The reformation continues. Catholic revolts have been ruthlessly quashed, and Elizabeth has ordered the execution of her cousin, Mary Queen of Scots. On the continent bloody religious wars rage, but England stands apart, her surrounding seas keeping her safe from the land armies of her would-be enemies. Only at sea do the English show their teeth. Sea captains and adventurers, hungry for the spoils of trade from the Spanish Main, regularly attack the gold-laden galleons of Catholic Spain. They are terriers nipping at the feet of war-horses but their victories disrupt the treasury of Spain, England's greatest threat, and Elizabeth's refusal to rein in her sea-captains further antagonises Philip II. Thomas Varian is a captain in Drake's formidable navy, rising quickly through the ranks. But he guards a secret – one for which he would pay with his life if discovered: he is a Catholic. He is about to find his conflicting loyalty to his religion, to his Queen, and to his country tested under the most formidable of circumstances: facing the mighty Armada. Unknown to Varian, he will also be facing his long-estranged father, who is fighting on the side of the Spanish enemy…
400 pages, Hardcover
First published January 5, 2012
9 people are currently reading
230 people want to read
About the author
John Stack
26 books87 followersJohn Stack was born and lives in County Cork in Ireland. He has always wanted to write but has done a variety of jobs ending up in IT. He is married with three children. He is presently writing the second book of the Masters of the Sea series.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
September 21, 2020
На задната корица, уважаваният от мен писател Кон Игълдън е написал, че наистина можеш да подушиш барутпреднатаа на битката. Вярно е. Всъщност, битките са толкова реалистично описани, че са леко скучновати. Направо успяха да ми разбият внимателно градените с години от компютърни игри и романи на Карл Май илюзии относно битките с кораби. Друга илюзия, която успешно бутна книгата беше за пиратите и свободният им живот... жалко.
Като цяло, мога да оценя тези факти като положителни. Не мога обаче да приема назоваването на всяка сиджимка и парцал на кораба с техническите им имена - и в диалог и в повествование. Винаги съм смятал, че всеки уважаващ работата си лоцман ще врещи нещо от сорта: Куци медузи, качете се на предната хуйня и вдигнете онези две путки майни! вместо да говори за фокмачти, марсели и брамзели, това утежнява текста и товари читателя. Да не говоря, че хора като Лондон, Хемингуей и Ходжсън, които наистина са били моряци, много рядко употребяват терминологията. Все едно дограмаджия да ти говори за самонарезни винтове и студенопакетни скоби.
Историята обхваща една от големите, почти случайни победи на англичаните срещу испанската армада. Мотивите за сблъсъка са чисто религиозни (адио на още една детска заблуда). Свързващата история е почти класическа - предателства, интриги, агентура - и леко напомня нещо писано от Стендал. Въпреки това романът запазва приключенска нотка и е симпатичен за четене.
Като цяло, мога да оценя тези факти като положителни. Не мога обаче да приема назоваването на всяка сиджимка и парцал на кораба с техническите им имена - и в диалог и в повествование. Винаги съм смятал, че всеки уважаващ работата си лоцман ще врещи нещо от сорта: Куци медузи, качете се на предната хуйня и вдигнете онези две путки майни! вместо да говори за фокмачти, марсели и брамзели, това утежнява текста и товари читателя. Да не говоря, че хора като Лондон, Хемингуей и Ходжсън, които наистина са били моряци, много рядко употребяват терминологията. Все едно дограмаджия да ти говори за самонарезни винтове и студенопакетни скоби.
Историята обхваща една от големите, почти случайни победи на англичаните срещу испанската армада. Мотивите за сблъсъка са чисто религиозни (адио на още една детска заблуда). Свързващата история е почти класическа - предателства, интриги, агентура - и леко напомня нещо писано от Стендал. Въпреки това романът запазва приключенска нотка и е симпатичен за четене.
January 18, 2022
**Should Read as 4.5 Stars!**
Read this book in 2012, and its a standalone book about the war between Protestant England of Queen Elizabeth I and Catholic Spain resulting in the Spanish Armada.
This tale is set between the years AD 1587-1588, and England is in war with Spain of King Philip II.
Many English Sea-Captains are troubling with their sea-actions the Spaniards within the Spanish Main, and attacking the Galleons of Catholic Spain fully-laden with gold.
This behaviour will result in retaliation from the Spanish in building an Armada that will set sail to England, and to teach Queen Elizabeth I a lesson in obedience.
Within the English Navy of Drake there's a quickly risen Captain, Thomas Varian, and he has a dark secret, namely being a Catholic.
Now he must fight against fellow Catholics, the Spaniards, or he as a Catholic must remain true to his Protestant Queen and Country and will fight her cause in his skilful ability as a Captain against the Spanish Armada.
What is to follow is a very exciting and thrilling historical adventure, in which Thomas Varian will be tested to the limit for what his beliefs and loyalties are concerned, and in all this conflicting emotions Varian must stand and fight the formidable Spanish Armada to the best in his abilities, and all this is brought to us by the author in a most believable and fascinating fashion.
Highly recommended, for this is a superb standalone novel about the Spanish Armada, and that's why I like this terrific tale: "A Wonderful Armada"!
Read this book in 2012, and its a standalone book about the war between Protestant England of Queen Elizabeth I and Catholic Spain resulting in the Spanish Armada.
This tale is set between the years AD 1587-1588, and England is in war with Spain of King Philip II.
Many English Sea-Captains are troubling with their sea-actions the Spaniards within the Spanish Main, and attacking the Galleons of Catholic Spain fully-laden with gold.
This behaviour will result in retaliation from the Spanish in building an Armada that will set sail to England, and to teach Queen Elizabeth I a lesson in obedience.
Within the English Navy of Drake there's a quickly risen Captain, Thomas Varian, and he has a dark secret, namely being a Catholic.
Now he must fight against fellow Catholics, the Spaniards, or he as a Catholic must remain true to his Protestant Queen and Country and will fight her cause in his skilful ability as a Captain against the Spanish Armada.
What is to follow is a very exciting and thrilling historical adventure, in which Thomas Varian will be tested to the limit for what his beliefs and loyalties are concerned, and in all this conflicting emotions Varian must stand and fight the formidable Spanish Armada to the best in his abilities, and all this is brought to us by the author in a most believable and fascinating fashion.
Highly recommended, for this is a superb standalone novel about the Spanish Armada, and that's why I like this terrific tale: "A Wonderful Armada"!
October 14, 2020
John Stack has breathed life into dusty old history books, with an effective father and son trauma and drama storyline one of exiled traitor trying to regain his strpped estates in England and his son a brave rising star naval officer who has torn loyalties between his father and to his newly crowned Queen. We have chaotic messy sea battles, brave last ditch stands crossed with fanatical religious fervour Catholics and emergent Protestants all tied to the lust for gold it's all here in this fast paced action packed story, you can smell the salt and feel the sea spray. Both Spanish and English warships demographics and technologies or lack off are peppered throughout in a not so in your face but just enough to perk your interest. Nothing wrong with its portrayal but probably if your a nerd in naval battles of the Elizabethan era.
April 26, 2017
It is the 16th century, and a crisis looms for England. Spain, who thanks to the plunder of the New World and its Hapsburg connections, is Europe's heavyweight and the declared enemy of England, threatens war. Spanish armies stand just across the Channel, occupying Holland, and a massive fleet has sailed from Iberia to help cover and transport that invading army to a land which has not known a conqueror's boots in five hundred years. The force from without may have assistance from within, as persecuted Catholics look to Madrid for salvation. In the center of this drama is Robert Varian, a secret Catholic whose father was said to have died in exile following defeat in a rebellion decades ago. Robert's father Nathaniel is quite alive, however, and from Spain he has helped organize the forthcoming invasion. If Robert could be convinced to aide his father and provide intelligence on the gathering English fleet, he could very well pave the way to Spanish victory and the restoration of the Faith in England. But matters are far from simple. A recusant Robert may be, but he is an Englishman who loves his Queen -- but does he love her more than his father? As the hours draw the two massive forces closer to conflict, desperate attempts in England to root out a potential spy dot the landscape with death, and two missions converge in the same running battle as the English fleet and a fickle wind fight fiercely against the armed might and brazen ambition of the Dons.
Robert Varian dominates the lead here in a way John Stack's other hero, Atticus, never did. Although there is an ensemble of other viewpoint characters, one of whom is his principle Spanish rival, this is Robert's story. Happily, then, he's a likable fellow; conflicted, but devoted to his faith, his country, and the memory of his father. He thrives as a warrior in an age of changing seamanship; sailors might pack primitive muskets and fire cannons instead of cutlasses and arrows, but cannons have begun their conquest of the naval scene. While the Spanish still rely heavily on boarding and hacking away, the English have begun to experiment with using cannon alone to wear down the enemy. It is a tactic that will serve them in good stead during the battle itself, and give the Spanish captain Morales no end of grief. He wants desperately to take down Varian, a man who took his ship but spared his life in a raid, but how can he if the English do not consent to letting their graceful gunships be bludgeoned down by massive galleons? So Varian wrestles with both his conscience and the Spanish, working out the question of how he can be true to his faith, his father, and his country. His love for both England and the church contrasts with the fanaticism of those on either side working against him, both Puritans in England and holy warriors in Spain.
The story of the Armada's protracted fight against the English fleet, unfolding over the course of several days, is told largely through the repeated brawls between Varian and his Spanish counterpart's ships, climaxing with a frantic duel aboard a burning ship. It's a strange story, both because of the in-flux state of naval war, transitioning from ancient to modern methods, and because of the way it ends. The Spanish Armada is not destroyed, and neither is the English fleet; they fight and go home. Stack's historical note comments that it was fortunate for England that the Spanish regarded themselves as spent, for the English fleet was driven to exhaustion as well, and this attitude reflects itself in the story, in that the Spanish lead is driven to despair over his loss even as the English captains are worrying about what the morrow will bring. Varian, at least, gets most of his ends tidied up, though parts of the ending seem to be begging for a sequel. It's a slight blemish, however, and if Stack does more work in this period, so much the better off are we readers!
Robert Varian dominates the lead here in a way John Stack's other hero, Atticus, never did. Although there is an ensemble of other viewpoint characters, one of whom is his principle Spanish rival, this is Robert's story. Happily, then, he's a likable fellow; conflicted, but devoted to his faith, his country, and the memory of his father. He thrives as a warrior in an age of changing seamanship; sailors might pack primitive muskets and fire cannons instead of cutlasses and arrows, but cannons have begun their conquest of the naval scene. While the Spanish still rely heavily on boarding and hacking away, the English have begun to experiment with using cannon alone to wear down the enemy. It is a tactic that will serve them in good stead during the battle itself, and give the Spanish captain Morales no end of grief. He wants desperately to take down Varian, a man who took his ship but spared his life in a raid, but how can he if the English do not consent to letting their graceful gunships be bludgeoned down by massive galleons? So Varian wrestles with both his conscience and the Spanish, working out the question of how he can be true to his faith, his father, and his country. His love for both England and the church contrasts with the fanaticism of those on either side working against him, both Puritans in England and holy warriors in Spain.
The story of the Armada's protracted fight against the English fleet, unfolding over the course of several days, is told largely through the repeated brawls between Varian and his Spanish counterpart's ships, climaxing with a frantic duel aboard a burning ship. It's a strange story, both because of the in-flux state of naval war, transitioning from ancient to modern methods, and because of the way it ends. The Spanish Armada is not destroyed, and neither is the English fleet; they fight and go home. Stack's historical note comments that it was fortunate for England that the Spanish regarded themselves as spent, for the English fleet was driven to exhaustion as well, and this attitude reflects itself in the story, in that the Spanish lead is driven to despair over his loss even as the English captains are worrying about what the morrow will bring. Varian, at least, gets most of his ends tidied up, though parts of the ending seem to be begging for a sequel. It's a slight blemish, however, and if Stack does more work in this period, so much the better off are we readers!
May 4, 2012
Review
I'm sure John Stack will forgive this opening comment, due to the intended sentiment: This is the book he has be working to write, i never doubted his research in his early Roman books just some of the execution didn't work for me, but every book got better and i stuck with him because he has a knack of choosing great periods in history to explore with fictional characters.
Armada is for me proof positive that John Stack is an excellent writer, excellently written and plotted, paced to keep the reader interested, intrigued and educated, there are very few modern writers who can make you feel the waves , taste the salt and feel the spray, for me Julian Stockwin and Tim Severin are the best, but this book puts John Stack firmly up there with them.
I highly recommend this excellent stand alone Title......its a shame it wasn't the start of a new series, because these are excellently written characters.
(Parm)
Product Description (from back of book)
The author of the MASTERS OF THE SEA series, is back with a standalone battle book that will blow all others out of the water.
1587. Two nations are locked in bitter conflict. One strives for dominance, the other for survival.
After decades of religious strife, Elizabeth sits on the throne of England. The reformation continues. Catholic revolts have been ruthlessly quashed, and Elizabeth has ordered the execution of her cousin, Mary Queen of Scots. On the continent bloody religious wars rage, but England stands apart, her surrounding seas keeping her safe from the land armies of her would-be enemies. Only at sea do the English show their teeth. Sea captains and adventurers, hungry for the spoils of trade from the Spanish Main, regularly attack the gold-laden galleons of Catholic Spain. They are terriers nipping at the feet of war-horses but their victories disrupt the treasury of Spain, England's greatest threat, and Elizabeth's refusal to rein in her sea-captains further antagonises Philip II.
Thomas Varian is a captain in Drake's formidable navy, rising quickly through the ranks. But he guards a secret - one for which he would pay with his life if discovered: he is a Catholic. He is about to find his conflicting loyalty to his religion, to his Queen, and to his country tested under the most formidable of circumstances: facing the mighty Armada. Unknown to Varian, he will also be facing his long-estranged father, who is fighting on the side of the Spanish enemy...
I'm sure John Stack will forgive this opening comment, due to the intended sentiment: This is the book he has be working to write, i never doubted his research in his early Roman books just some of the execution didn't work for me, but every book got better and i stuck with him because he has a knack of choosing great periods in history to explore with fictional characters.
Armada is for me proof positive that John Stack is an excellent writer, excellently written and plotted, paced to keep the reader interested, intrigued and educated, there are very few modern writers who can make you feel the waves , taste the salt and feel the spray, for me Julian Stockwin and Tim Severin are the best, but this book puts John Stack firmly up there with them.
I highly recommend this excellent stand alone Title......its a shame it wasn't the start of a new series, because these are excellently written characters.
(Parm)
Product Description (from back of book)
The author of the MASTERS OF THE SEA series, is back with a standalone battle book that will blow all others out of the water.
1587. Two nations are locked in bitter conflict. One strives for dominance, the other for survival.
After decades of religious strife, Elizabeth sits on the throne of England. The reformation continues. Catholic revolts have been ruthlessly quashed, and Elizabeth has ordered the execution of her cousin, Mary Queen of Scots. On the continent bloody religious wars rage, but England stands apart, her surrounding seas keeping her safe from the land armies of her would-be enemies. Only at sea do the English show their teeth. Sea captains and adventurers, hungry for the spoils of trade from the Spanish Main, regularly attack the gold-laden galleons of Catholic Spain. They are terriers nipping at the feet of war-horses but their victories disrupt the treasury of Spain, England's greatest threat, and Elizabeth's refusal to rein in her sea-captains further antagonises Philip II.
Thomas Varian is a captain in Drake's formidable navy, rising quickly through the ranks. But he guards a secret - one for which he would pay with his life if discovered: he is a Catholic. He is about to find his conflicting loyalty to his religion, to his Queen, and to his country tested under the most formidable of circumstances: facing the mighty Armada. Unknown to Varian, he will also be facing his long-estranged father, who is fighting on the side of the Spanish enemy...
April 17, 2012
‘1587. Two nations are locked in bitter conflict. One strives for dominance, the other for survival.’
In 1587, Elizabeth I agreed to the execution of Mary, Queen of Scots for treason. This capped a period of intermittent conflict between Spain and England: partly a consequence of attacks by English ships on the gold-laden galleons of Spain, partly because of English support of the Protestant cause in the Netherlands, and partly for religious reasons. Following Mary’s execution, Philip II of Spain vowed to invade England in order to place a Catholic monarch on the throne. In England, the English Lord High Admiral was Charles Howard, Earl of Nottingham. Amongst his subordinates, were Sir Francis Drake and John Hawkins.
In this novel, Robert Varian, the master of the ‘Retribution’ is one of the officers under Drake’s command in the navy. Robert Varian has a dangerous secret: he is a Catholic and if this is discovered, it would cost him his life. Robert has conflicting loyalties: to his religion, to Queen Elizabeth, and to England.
In 1588, the Spanish Armada (a fleet of about 130 ships, containing 18,000 sailors and 8,000 soldiers) set sail for the Netherlands where it was to pick up additional troops for the invasion of England. ‘Armada’ deals with the issues of politics, religion and warfare through the eyes of several different characters from both sides of the conflict. There is a clear sense of the dangers faced aboard ship, and Mr Stack brings both the characters and the battles they face to life.
‘The men of the English navy were fighting to ensure an English monarch controlled the destiny of England.’
I enjoyed the novel, learned more than I’d previously known about the Armada and the challenges faced by both navies. And was left wondering what the outcome might have been if the weather hadn’t changed.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
In 1587, Elizabeth I agreed to the execution of Mary, Queen of Scots for treason. This capped a period of intermittent conflict between Spain and England: partly a consequence of attacks by English ships on the gold-laden galleons of Spain, partly because of English support of the Protestant cause in the Netherlands, and partly for religious reasons. Following Mary’s execution, Philip II of Spain vowed to invade England in order to place a Catholic monarch on the throne. In England, the English Lord High Admiral was Charles Howard, Earl of Nottingham. Amongst his subordinates, were Sir Francis Drake and John Hawkins.
In this novel, Robert Varian, the master of the ‘Retribution’ is one of the officers under Drake’s command in the navy. Robert Varian has a dangerous secret: he is a Catholic and if this is discovered, it would cost him his life. Robert has conflicting loyalties: to his religion, to Queen Elizabeth, and to England.
In 1588, the Spanish Armada (a fleet of about 130 ships, containing 18,000 sailors and 8,000 soldiers) set sail for the Netherlands where it was to pick up additional troops for the invasion of England. ‘Armada’ deals with the issues of politics, religion and warfare through the eyes of several different characters from both sides of the conflict. There is a clear sense of the dangers faced aboard ship, and Mr Stack brings both the characters and the battles they face to life.
‘The men of the English navy were fighting to ensure an English monarch controlled the destiny of England.’
I enjoyed the novel, learned more than I’d previously known about the Armada and the challenges faced by both navies. And was left wondering what the outcome might have been if the weather hadn’t changed.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
October 11, 2020
Поизмъчих се малко с "Армада" на Джон Стак, но си заслужаваше.
Това е исторически роман, предлагащ по-непопулярна гледна точка върху една от най-известните морски войни в историята: гледната точка на преките участници в битките. Тук няма дворцови интриги, дипломация и монарси. Има морски капитани, щурмани, католици, протестанти, шпиони, предатели и агенти на короната. Впрочем, и жени няма в тази книга. От нея буквално се носи на талази миризма на барут, пот, кръв, страх и геройства.
Големият плюс на "Армада" е пресъздаването на битките. Всичко, което досега съм чела за битките при Портланд и Гравелин, било то монографии или художествени интерпретации, не ми е дало по-добра представа от тази книга за тактиката и реалните събития при сблъсъка на испанската Армада и английския флот. Ако Стак беше по-добър и в пресъздаването на човешките отношения и изграждането на характери, това можеше да е изключителна творба.
Това е исторически роман, предлагащ по-непопулярна гледна точка върху една от най-известните морски войни в историята: гледната точка на преките участници в битките. Тук няма дворцови интриги, дипломация и монарси. Има морски капитани, щурмани, католици, протестанти, шпиони, предатели и агенти на короната. Впрочем, и жени няма в тази книга. От нея буквално се носи на талази миризма на барут, пот, кръв, страх и геройства.
Големият плюс на "Армада" е пресъздаването на битките. Всичко, което досега съм чела за битките при Портланд и Гравелин, било то монографии или художествени интерпретации, не ми е дало по-добра представа от тази книга за тактиката и реалните събития при сблъсъка на испанската Армада и английския флот. Ако Стак беше по-добър и в пресъздаването на човешките отношения и изграждането на характери, това можеше да е изключителна творба.
June 7, 2016
An interesting historical fiction novel set around the time of the Spanish Armada in 1588. The main character of the book is a commander of one of the English fleet, the Retribution, Robert Variant, somebody who had been brought up as a Catholic and was having to secretly worship while 'heretics' were being hunted and executed. The first part of the book was interesting in this dilemma, could he still be a Catholic and fight for his protestant country against catholic Spain, where do his loyalties lie. The later part of the book discribed the battle between the two navies in great detail and I felt it got a little bogged down in detail. Worthy of four stars though as the action doesn't let up.
Without spoiling the ending the English win.
Without spoiling the ending the English win.
July 14, 2012
A good read - fast paced and enjoyable!
A little too light and fast to be given 5 stars...I like a little more meat in my historical fiction...maybe the subject matter would have been worth a trilogy!
But all in all a good page turner with good characters but strangely anaemic battles!
A little too light and fast to be given 5 stars...I like a little more meat in my historical fiction...maybe the subject matter would have been worth a trilogy!
But all in all a good page turner with good characters but strangely anaemic battles!
September 30, 2015
Really plunged me into life on board both English and Spanish sides of these battles. Story slows a little when ashore but I enjoyed the storyline of English Catholics torn over their faith and their loyalty to their Protestant Queen. Strong historic fiction, recommended.
July 17, 2023
An absolute joy to read. A great back story to complement the naval battle.
May 20, 2013
Audiobook read by Richard Burnip
This one did not work so well as an audiobook, although I have no argument with the reader. It just made it even harder to follow. Feel I should still give it 4 stars as I enjoyed it on the whole
This one did not work so well as an audiobook, although I have no argument with the reader. It just made it even harder to follow. Feel I should still give it 4 stars as I enjoyed it on the whole
Read
August 14, 2017A good read.
March 12, 2018
I have read books with more, faster action but this is still a good naval historical fiction tale.
August 28, 2018
Most naval historical fiction novels tend to be set in the Napoleonic era - I've not seen many that explore the Tudor era and the events surrounding the Spanish Armada. That made this one stand out for a start. The religious aspect to the plot feels a little predictable - of course the author throws in a Catholic Englishman or two to complicate things - but it does add to the tension, which is useful when we already know the overall outcome.
Having read the likes of Patrick O'Brian, the nautical terminology is relatively familiar to me, but there may well be other readers who don't know the terms and it would have been nice to see a glossary provided to help. There also appear to be one or two typos in this edition "power and shot" for example where it presumably should have been "powder and shot".
It's a decent book though and it's clearly been well-researched to make it as vivid as possible.
Having read the likes of Patrick O'Brian, the nautical terminology is relatively familiar to me, but there may well be other readers who don't know the terms and it would have been nice to see a glossary provided to help. There also appear to be one or two typos in this edition "power and shot" for example where it presumably should have been "powder and shot".
It's a decent book though and it's clearly been well-researched to make it as vivid as possible.
November 20, 2020
This was a fine book, and I enjoyed all the battle scenes in it, but I wasn’t particularly “taken” by it.
When I was a teenager I read a historical fiction novel on the Armada that had me hanging off the edge of my seat the whole time; I knew this wasn’t that book but I definitely went into it with expectations it didn’t meet.
Nothing much else to say about this one that other reviews haven’t already covered. It was a fairly typical character set up for this type of story so all in all a good summer read if you’re into a harmless seafaring battle story.
When I was a teenager I read a historical fiction novel on the Armada that had me hanging off the edge of my seat the whole time; I knew this wasn’t that book but I definitely went into it with expectations it didn’t meet.
Nothing much else to say about this one that other reviews haven’t already covered. It was a fairly typical character set up for this type of story so all in all a good summer read if you’re into a harmless seafaring battle story.
March 3, 2019
Another excellent book by John Stack, I may know nothing of sailing in these gallons etc but you feel that you to could do it after the way he writes.
A story that keeps you going back to it when you have a few minutes on hand. Having read about the Armada over the years it took a good writer to get me so engrossed in this another story of the era, but he did, and I really enjoyed it....
A story that keeps you going back to it when you have a few minutes on hand. Having read about the Armada over the years it took a good writer to get me so engrossed in this another story of the era, but he did, and I really enjoyed it....
November 16, 2020
Very good book!
November 26, 2022
A good page turner kept me on the edge of my seat all the way through.
January 20, 2024
Easy read includes a little bit of history in a fictional story
March 5, 2017
Fictional based on the Armada failed invasion of Britain during the time of Queen Elizabeth I. Does the background work on the friction between Spain and Britain and weaves a fairly interesting story around it.
March 29, 2013
Usually I write at least a few paragraphs in my reviews, but I can't bring myself to say much about this novel. Even now I begin writing a paragraph, and then hold the "delete" key and watch as whatever redundant or unimportant thing I had to say to fill space (this paragraph qualifies) is recalled to my mind.
Simply put, there was no point in this novel where I was engaged. At all. The writing was okay; descriptions were usually solid, but the thoughts of characters felt forced and spoon-fed. The characters themselves were not all that interesting; they were conflicted, yes, but they felt like caricatures in the sense that a lot of their reactions (to situations and other characters) felt unrealistic at best. The premise is a good one, though it seems to me it should have warranted a very different approach than the one that was taken.
I know, I'm being vague. Both due to the fact that I'm trying to avoid spoilers and because I have very little to say.
The best way for me to describe my feelings for this book are as follows: it's particularly light, especially for a historical novel that deals with supposedly heavy topics such as religion. For that reason, I never felt any sort of immersion in the world. I felt like I was being told how I was supposed to react when a not-so-surprising revelation was revealed to a character, and their thoughts are frequently laid out to the reader in a question-checklist format, as if the writer thought his readers might not be smart enough to ask those questions themselves.
To top that off, it was written in third person omniscient, my least favourite viewpoint style.
Simply put, there was no point in this novel where I was engaged. At all. The writing was okay; descriptions were usually solid, but the thoughts of characters felt forced and spoon-fed. The characters themselves were not all that interesting; they were conflicted, yes, but they felt like caricatures in the sense that a lot of their reactions (to situations and other characters) felt unrealistic at best. The premise is a good one, though it seems to me it should have warranted a very different approach than the one that was taken.
I know, I'm being vague. Both due to the fact that I'm trying to avoid spoilers and because I have very little to say.
The best way for me to describe my feelings for this book are as follows: it's particularly light, especially for a historical novel that deals with supposedly heavy topics such as religion. For that reason, I never felt any sort of immersion in the world. I felt like I was being told how I was supposed to react when a not-so-surprising revelation was revealed to a character, and their thoughts are frequently laid out to the reader in a question-checklist format, as if the writer thought his readers might not be smart enough to ask those questions themselves.
To top that off, it was written in third person omniscient, my least favourite viewpoint style.
December 1, 2012
John Stack seems to have a knack for choosing unusual settings.
His previous novels - Ship of Rome, Captain of Rome and Masters of Rome all concerned the Roman navy during the first Punic war against Carthage. While this novel is not part of that series, it also has another unusual setting: this time, that of the Spanish Armada.
While it does have an unusual setting, it also shares some similarites with those other books: again, the main protaganist of the novel is an outsider, this time a loyal Recusant (or practising, secret, Catholic) in the English navy compared to the Greek captain in the Roman navy of the Masters of the Sea series. Again, a large chunk of it takes place on sea, rather than on land. Again, it is an enjoyable read.
His previous novels - Ship of Rome, Captain of Rome and Masters of Rome all concerned the Roman navy during the first Punic war against Carthage. While this novel is not part of that series, it also has another unusual setting: this time, that of the Spanish Armada.
While it does have an unusual setting, it also shares some similarites with those other books: again, the main protaganist of the novel is an outsider, this time a loyal Recusant (or practising, secret, Catholic) in the English navy compared to the Greek captain in the Roman navy of the Masters of the Sea series. Again, a large chunk of it takes place on sea, rather than on land. Again, it is an enjoyable read.
September 29, 2014
I thought this was a great account of the Spanish Armada. I don't have a massive knowledge of the era or war but the author did a great job at keeping to the facts as I know them and even had some new interesting facts on the cannons used during this battle.
The story is presented from both the Spanish and English sides. I enjoyed getting the Spanish point of view as I am usually limited by language to the English side only. The conflict of Catholic versus Protestant was well done and I liked the characters with all their tribulations.
Definitely worth a read if you have any interest in the era, the battle, the navy or just a good adventure story.
The story is presented from both the Spanish and English sides. I enjoyed getting the Spanish point of view as I am usually limited by language to the English side only. The conflict of Catholic versus Protestant was well done and I liked the characters with all their tribulations.
Definitely worth a read if you have any interest in the era, the battle, the navy or just a good adventure story.
October 8, 2016
Well written and readable. A Tudor update of the Roman series. This time the captain is the outsider because of his religion rather than his nationality. I was a bit confused by the different types of ships involved - might have been covered in the historical notes with wee pictures. Again map would have been handy for readers who are not familiar with the English channel.
March 16, 2013
Was not in thrall of the autors style nor content.
September 27, 2014
Fun mostly, odd bits of historic accuracy and myth as history.
February 14, 2015
Very good book, mix of war, religion, piracy and history. good momentum.
August 10, 2015
Competently written and with believable characters, but never really rises above good to the excellence level.
August 18, 2015
Enjoyed parts of it as I spent a month on a big sailing boat many years ago but, appropriately, ran out of steam towards the end.
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