Great book and addition to the series.
|
Just finished a great book and fast. A little predicatable I sometimes wonder if the authors of Alex Rider and Young James Bond are in bed together.
Alex Rider Skeleton Key, we see poor Alex (His paents died years before brought up by his Uncle) On a tropical Island as a spy, the worlds worst criminal wants to adopt him and give him everything.
James Bond Hurricane Gold, we see poor James (His parents died years before brought up by his aunt) On a tropical Island as a spy, the worlds worst criminal wants to adopt him and give him everything.
Both Young James Bond and Alex Rider seem to follow the same story, Even Jason Steed's Mother died at birth, Ah well poor Jason Steed has still got his father, but he ended up in Jakarta.. Hmm a trpical Island, although he escaped and no one wanted to adopt him yet.
Back to By Royal Command, a great book and well worth the 5 stars.
|
|
|
Higson bridges the gap to Casino Royale.
|
Having just read By Royal Command in about seven hours, it's clear it's a page turner. Whilst not as lean and thrilling as Double or Die, or as action packed as Hurricane Gold, BRC is a more complex beast but just as good, and a fitting end (sadly) to the Young Bond series (at least for now).
The edges of enemy sides are blurred as Bond discovers people are far greyer than he originally thought. The whole book has the ominous presence of the upcoming war. People are paranoid, violence starts to become a way of life, loyalties are questioned. It's a dangerous time.
The book is very well written, with no easy answers for who's right in war or fighting. Bond is a more angry, conflicted character, very much in the mold of Fleming's novels.
My only minor gripes were some of the characterisations of the villains and henchmen weren't as well developed as some of the previous books. There were some nice links to previous books, but i felt they weren't as explored as much as i'd like (and occasionally smacked of plot contrievence) and a few of the later action set pieces have a slight over familiarity to previous Young Bond books...
But it's still a cracking read, and links the character to the older Bond nicely (unlike say the Star Wars prequels did with Darth Vader).
So another belter from Mr Higson, and given the success of the series, i can only hope to see him follow them up with Bond at Fettes... and then lying about his age to join World War 2 for further adventures.
|
|
|
United States | 
United Kingdom | 
Canada