A fitting end!

Superb series of books! I've always been amazed at the quality of each book. up there with Bernard Cornwall.

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The end of an era.

Fantastic end to a fantastic series of books. Great from the first book to the last.

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Not like the others

The combination of a new narrator and the fact that only about 20% of the book takes place on a ship makes this book a bit of a disappointment for me. It was written as a final book in the series but doesn't really tie up any loose ends other than the obvious that Kydd gets promoted to admiral.

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What a Great Tale

I’ve followed these books right from the beginning on Audible. Each book as good as the other and each new adventure eagerly looked forward to. Sad that the wonderful Christian Rodska who narrated the series passed away just before this last audio book was published. The new narrator completed the job admirably.

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A tired Thomas Kydd

I have enjoyed all but the last three Kydd books, it felt like the author was struggling, to find an appropriate action point for the famous Kydd, He felt like a dumbed down character, which is a great pity as previously his character had well crafted and developed. I think it was time for him to bow out, it would, I think some filler episodes written during his more lively years have made better reading. I am sorry to I cannot recommend this tale as it felt very tired, although the Narrator did his best with this material.

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Expected more

I expected more from the final book of what's been an excellent series. Kydd feels like a side character of his own finale. As the title gives away he does achieve admiral and then seems to disappear for much of the book, almost as if Mr Stockwin felt he had to give him the step to say he did. Keeping it spoiler free this is shown most evidently when Kydd explains how he found Napoleon himself, I had to skip back to make sure i hadn't had a playback error and missed the part he described. I didn't, it's glossed over in a three sentence conversation. I really feel like Kydds story didn't end, rather it just stopped being told somewhere around chapter 10.

Narrator does an excellent job with large shoes to fill.
RIP Christian Rodska

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End of a long and remarkable voyage

First let me pay special mention to Cristian Rodska, I’ve listened to every Kydd book and it is very sad that such a gifted narrator could not complete the final voyage.
Admiral was a real history lesson for me because, hitherto, I had read little of Napoleon after Waterloo. I was surprised at the reference to ‘millions of soldiers’ and near the end, ‘hundreds of thousands of soldiers’ - I need to check those figures.
Julian Stockwin is up there with Forrester and O’Brian for nautical yarns and I thought he faded Kydd very smoothly into retirement.
I look forward to Harry Wild, though his name might automatically conjure up the female detective series of that same name until he becomes established in his own right.
I like to imagine Kydd having a convivial supper with Horatio Hornblower and Jack Aubrey as they reminisce about their adventures in the British Royal Navy.

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A fitting end to a great series

This is not only my review of this book but the series. Firstly I’d like to say how saddened I was to hear of Christian Rodska’s passing, he really did bring Kidd (and Hornblower) to life. I was a little worried about hearing Kidd narrated by someone new after 20+ previous books, but by the time I got to the start of chapter 1 I knew I was in safe hands, John Telfer was excellent. This book is not the powder and shot smashing match I was used to but still a good conclusion, and plenty of drama. My one regret is we had to leave the crew of Thunderer so abruptly, particularly Toby Stirk, what happened to him!? Hopefully he’ll make an appearance as Gunner Stirk one day, and have a comfortable retirement on his warrant officer’s pension and see out his days on a fishing boat somewhere.

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Punchy Series End

These later books in the series are punchy yet well written with very little chaff remaining.

For all that they remain engaging but of a different character to the earliest stories.

All the threads are brought together well.

It is a great shame that Christian Rhodska did not get to voice this final novel.

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lots of untied ends. something of a disappointment

firstly I've absolutely loved these books but this is a let down of an ending. what happened to Nicolas? what about sturk? what about all the other characters we've grown to love. while it is terribly said that Christian rodska passed the new voices are jarring and kydd especially sounds far too posh. I do however thank the author most earnestly for the joy the entire series has given me

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