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The Mercenaries
A new conflict looms, at the very edge of the world.
For World War One flying ace Ira Penaluna, peace brings frustration and disillusionment. Desperate to continue flying, he accepts an offer to go to China as a commander of the ramshackle air-force of General Tsu, a local warlord.
With him he takes a bizarre trio of misfits: Pat, the boozy, bragging Irishman, more interested in bar hopping than flying, Sammy, the mechanical genius, and Ellie, a tough former stunt-pilot.
But before long this joyride becomes a desperate flight for life. After centuries of poverty and exploitation, China is rising against brutal, corrupt rulers like General Tsu, and Ira’s band of adventurers are branded mercenaries.
A thrilling adventure in aviation, The Mercenaries is a triumph, perfect for fans of Wilbur Smith, W. E. Johns and Dale Brown.377 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 19, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
May 18, 2020
Unfortunately, as before with his other books, Hennessy dropped the level of writing in the second in a series about Flying Aces and wrote more about the politics of 1920's China, a laboriously boring love affair, and interminable suffering while NOT flying planes for the main characters in this, The Mercenaries.
Ira Penaluna, with his new sidekick, Sammy, initially is in Eastern Africa with two beaten up airplanes failing in their air hauling business. When on plane crashes and is beyond repair, all seems lost until Sammy conjures up a possibility of going to China to train an airforce for a Chinese warlord, General Tsu. With no other options, they take the job and begin the laborious process of getting to China, finding decrepit airplanes and trying to teach Tsu's recruits to fly with no ability to communicate. This is surely a tough challenge for Ira, and unfortunately, Hennessy makes it a long, frustrating haul for the reader as well. With very little flying and quite a bit of racially insulting language (perhaps an attempt at historical accuracy for a Imperialist British character to demean the Chinese?) that really was not so necessary to the story, I was left wondering if the excitingly fun narratives of the challenge of flying in the first installment of the series would eventually be equalled in this story. But, no.
Much to my disappointment, Hennessy spins and spins and spins through details of not getting the parts necessary to fix planes and the inability of the English characters to learn, appreciate, or adapt much to the people of China and trying to empathize with their situation. As a result, I think that I am done with Hennessy and his stories, as they seem to start well, but fade fast. I don't recommend this book as much as the first in the series, but caution the potential reader to perhaps not read this if you are looking for adventures of flying in the early years of aviation, as you will be as frustrated as Ira when you continuously have to read chapter after chapter of overly detailed descriptions of the amount of work to rebuild aircraft and insult the local citizens but very little flying, which the book is supposed to be about! "The FLYING ACE Thrillers" I believe is a misnomer, as there is not much Flying and not a terrible amount of Thrill in this second book of the series.
Ira Penaluna, with his new sidekick, Sammy, initially is in Eastern Africa with two beaten up airplanes failing in their air hauling business. When on plane crashes and is beyond repair, all seems lost until Sammy conjures up a possibility of going to China to train an airforce for a Chinese warlord, General Tsu. With no other options, they take the job and begin the laborious process of getting to China, finding decrepit airplanes and trying to teach Tsu's recruits to fly with no ability to communicate. This is surely a tough challenge for Ira, and unfortunately, Hennessy makes it a long, frustrating haul for the reader as well. With very little flying and quite a bit of racially insulting language (perhaps an attempt at historical accuracy for a Imperialist British character to demean the Chinese?) that really was not so necessary to the story, I was left wondering if the excitingly fun narratives of the challenge of flying in the first installment of the series would eventually be equalled in this story. But, no.
Much to my disappointment, Hennessy spins and spins and spins through details of not getting the parts necessary to fix planes and the inability of the English characters to learn, appreciate, or adapt much to the people of China and trying to empathize with their situation. As a result, I think that I am done with Hennessy and his stories, as they seem to start well, but fade fast. I don't recommend this book as much as the first in the series, but caution the potential reader to perhaps not read this if you are looking for adventures of flying in the early years of aviation, as you will be as frustrated as Ira when you continuously have to read chapter after chapter of overly detailed descriptions of the amount of work to rebuild aircraft and insult the local citizens but very little flying, which the book is supposed to be about! "The FLYING ACE Thrillers" I believe is a misnomer, as there is not much Flying and not a terrible amount of Thrill in this second book of the series.
April 11, 2020
A great read!
A very interesting journey through the upheavals of 1920s China. Believable characters struggle to make a living in the volatile uncertain headwinds of civil unrest. I strongly recommend this novel as an excellent read.
A very interesting journey through the upheavals of 1920s China. Believable characters struggle to make a living in the volatile uncertain headwinds of civil unrest. I strongly recommend this novel as an excellent read.
April 24, 2024
Edge of your seat tension
Max Hennessy knows how to spin a yarn with believe able characters, plots with depths and layers, and humor as well as tension to keep you guessing as to the outcome.
Max Hennessy knows how to spin a yarn with believe able characters, plots with depths and layers, and humor as well as tension to keep you guessing as to the outcome.
April 3, 2021
Civil war in China
The book is described at "The Flying Ace book 2" but it is not about air combat. Ira is in China and the background is shortages and civil war.
The book is described at "The Flying Ace book 2" but it is not about air combat. Ira is in China and the background is shortages and civil war.
November 2, 2019
Great Middle of the Trilogy
I thoroughly enjoyed this story even though it didn’t seem to have the Hennessy dash. I wasn’t very attached to the characters also.
Great read. Great learning about China in the 1920’s. But disappointedly not his best work.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story even though it didn’t seem to have the Hennessy dash. I wasn’t very attached to the characters also.
Great read. Great learning about China in the 1920’s. But disappointedly not his best work.
October 22, 2019
Very depressing
Not as good as book one. Lots of repetition in the descriptions. Plot is depressing and rather thin. I guess I like a feel good story better than a depressing one.
Not as good as book one. Lots of repetition in the descriptions. Plot is depressing and rather thin. I guess I like a feel good story better than a depressing one.
November 24, 2019
Boring
Lots of words and little action! Padded out too much. Predictable ending! Not a good read and too much dross!
Lots of words and little action! Padded out too much. Predictable ending! Not a good read and too much dross!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews