Customer Reviews

The Scout

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

After Brules, which was spectacular, The Scout was somewhat of a let-down. It should have been a continuation of the magnificent Brules, but it was not. Harry Combs just didn't seem to write with the same flare. In parts I had to fight boredom, as the story became monotonous. It was just "Brules the soldier" for a long time. The Scout was good, but it just didn't seem like the the same book as Brules, which I thought it should have been.

While this book does not move with the pace of "Brules" it is, never-the-less an excellent story from start to finish. The part that I found interesting was why Mitch Bouyer chose to accompany Custer at the Little Big Horn. I have not read extensively about that battle, but have long wondered why, when Custer dismissed the scouts (Bouyer was the favorite scout), Bouyer chose to stay with Custer. Combs provides a credible scenario for Bouyer's role in the battle. Whether this is original research or not I do not know, but it fits well with what I have read.

This one is a totally bore! Mr. Combs lost his focus and digress himself from a once great hero, and made him into a boring soldier. The whole book is unreadable and bore to death! Don't waste your time to read it, unless you are trying to get some boring historical study of the early stages of US military strategies of how they kill so many Indians! Just read the BRULES we all rated a big 10! After finish it, if you like it, absolutely don't try to read this sequel, it will totally ruin your wonderful taste

This is a worthy sequel to "Brules". It takes place after "Brules" painful ending, and in order to forget that pain he signs on as a scout for the army fighting the Sioux in Montana. He's there at the battle of the Little Big Horn, which is told in a largely accurate fashion. The author goes on to lay some speculation on top of the accurate historical detail, making for intriguing reading. Later on, Brules finds the second love of his life and we follow his scouting career all the way across the West to Arizona and the Apache campaigns with General Crook. Everything is based on accurate historical data, with a little license applied in order for Combs' characters to become a part of the story. A great, but sometimes melancholy read.

Is very good book about the West. It is a follow-up of an earlier book called "Brules", which was truly the best Western I have ever read. It is definitely in the same class as Lonesome Dove and Centennial. I highly recommend it.

While The Scout is a fascinating account of the old west, what I found most compelling in this story was Brules's realationship with Milisande. The hard life of a woman with a husband that was away for long periods of time, in an extremely dangerous job. Her worries and fears, and how she made the best of it due to the great love and passion she had for her husband. I thought Combs's take on how Brules expressed his emotions and love for this woman was beautiful. While other readers have found it a bit slower than his first book, I truly enjoyed the pace.

This is an excellent book telling how the Indian wars were fought through the eyes of a rugged individualist, Cat Broule. No punches are pulled. The fighting is brutal and if you are squeamish, then this would be a difficult story to read. The Indian wars were way more vicious than conventional wars. I have totally enjoyed reading this book because I felt I was actually there.

I thought the way the story is told, i.e. after the fact, was quite interesting. However, the last part of the story dragged. I think it was a bad idea to lead with the climax of the Indian Wars, the Battle of the Little Bighorn...there isn't anything that comes after that measures up in excitement and interest.
The Romance between the main character and Melisande is ridiculously unrealistic. The dialogue between she and Brules was terrible, and her dialogue style was...very whiny.

This is a good book but not as good as Brules by Harry Combs. Brules was the best western Iv'e ever read