Rating: 
Summary: A Long And Pointless Soap Opera
Review: The back cover promised an insight into the current events. Instead, the author takes the readers on a very long journey through some 20 years of the XVI century as seen through the eyes of several extremely uncommon people: a noble knight who would rather be a surgeon, a peasant girl who can read and a peasant boy who never forgets a thing. All their misadventures and perceptions are affected by their extraordinary skills and aspirations, therefore making the entire account of their life seem quite artificial. The author never draws any parallels between past and present, never offers any analysis or judgement, and never makes any points.
The rest of the characters and events seem like a backdrop for the story of the love affair of the poor girl and her knight in shining armor, and of her brother's inability to define his loyalties.Avoid this book if you value your time.
Rating: 
Summary: a sure fire adventure!
Review: The Mediterranean in the sixteenth century is the hub where mighty civilizations wrestle for domination. There, lying squarely in the midst of the vital sea lanes between the Christian West & the Ottoman Empire in the East, & ruled by the ancient Order of the Knights of St. John, Malta is the stage upon which the fate of the known world turns. Rebeccasreads recommends this tale of kidnapping, revenge & transformation in which a brother & sister are torn apart as youngsters. As they mature, in separate societies, each is filled with determination to survive & thrive from the wonders, intrigue, war & the passions of others. David Ball has woven a fine, if long, historical tapestry in bold scenes, details & colors.
Rating:
Summary: a sure fire adventure!
Review: The Mediterranean in the sixteenth century is the hub where mighty civilizations wrestle for domination. There, lying squarely in the midst of the vital sea lanes between the Christian West & the Ottoman Empire in the East, & ruled by the ancient Order of the Knights of St. John, Malta is the stage upon which the fate of the known world turns. Rebeccasreads recommends this tale of kidnapping, revenge & transformation in which a brother & sister are torn apart as youngsters. As they mature, in separate societies, each is filled with determination to survive & thrive from the wonders, intrigue, war & the passions of others. David Ball has woven a fine, if long, historical tapestry in bold scenes, details & colors.
Rating: 
Summary: Malta, Schmalta. Get it right...
Review: This lengthy romancer does for one of history's seminal battles what the movie "Pearl Harbor" did for Dec 7th.
The action is flat (where it exists) and does not in the least justify the lengthy build up. The period details are good, but the characters are frequently armed with 21st century sensibilities that did not ring true.
Some important historical characters are treated shoddily--poor La Valette--and others given only the most cursory glance. For a better and far more exciting read of the topic, check out "Angels in Iron".
Rating: 
Summary: David Ball does it again.....
Review: Two previous books prompted me to snatch Ironfire, a tale of the siege of Malta, from the booksellers shelf the moment I saw it. The first was David Ball's novel Empire of Sand which I ranked here a resounding 5 stars. The second was the definitive non-fictional account of this harrowing conflict between East and West by Ernle Bradford entitled Great Siege: Malta 1565, another 5 star effort. Surely, this combination of epic event and talented storyteller would produce a second home run for Ball. Yet, I had some doubts in the beginning. Ironfire doesn't actually arrive at the siege until roughly the last 100 pages of the book. Admittedly, I was impatient to experience anew the pulse-pounding battles, the unimaginable struggle, the sheer perserverence culminating in the elation, indeed the utter surprise, of victory. But, a novel requires some foundation and David Ball chose a fictional Maltese peasant family named Borg to provide his. Ironfire is the tale of a brother and sister swept up in the 16th century conflict of Christian vs. Muslim, East vs. West, Empire vs. Empire. As european kingdoms squabbled among themselves and sought to quell the Protestant heresy, the Knights of St. John stood alone against the might of Suliemen and his Ottoman empire. Hardly a sympathetic lot, the Knights nevertheless win the admiration of the reader through their absolute refusal to bend before insurmountable odds. The siege of Malta is a tale for the ages and David Ball's account blends outstanding research and competent storytelling to, once again, hit the ball out of the park. 5 big stars.
Rating:
Summary: David Ball does it again.....
Review: Two previous books prompted me to snatch Ironfire, a tale of the siege of Malta, from the booksellers shelf the moment I saw it. The first was David Ball's novel Empire of Sand which I ranked here a resounding 5 stars. The second was the definitive non-fictional account of this harrowing conflict between East and West by Ernle Bradford entitled Great Siege: Malta 1565, another 5 star effort. Surely, this combination of epic event and talented storyteller would produce a second home run for Ball. Yet, I had some doubts in the beginning. Ironfire doesn't actually arrive at the siege until roughly the last 100 pages of the book. Admittedly, I was impatient to experience anew the pulse-pounding battles, the unimaginable struggle, the sheer perserverence culminating in the elation, indeed the utter surprise, of victory. But, a novel requires some foundation and David Ball chose a fictional Maltese peasant family named Borg to provide his. Ironfire is the tale of a brother and sister swept up in the 16th century conflict of Christian vs. Muslim, East vs. West, Empire vs. Empire. As european kingdoms squabbled among themselves and sought to quell the Protestant heresy, the Knights of St. John stood alone against the might of Suliemen and his Ottoman empire. Hardly a sympathetic lot, the Knights nevertheless win the admiration of the reader through their absolute refusal to bend before insurmountable odds. The siege of Malta is a tale for the ages and David Ball's account blends outstanding research and competent storytelling to, once again, hit the ball out of the park. 5 big stars.
Rating:
Summary: Ironfire
Review: Unlike other reviewers, I couldn't finish this one -- the main problem for me was the sentence-level writing, which seemed amateurish and clunky. Although events in the plot occurred rapidly, a lack of mood meant that my interest wasn't grabbed. I don't recommend it.
| 
