The first poor Flashman. The setting is terrific, ditto the research. Flashman is as funny as ever. Memorable characters.
The main thing is the storyline which is so stop-start. In the run of excellent Flashmans, from Flash for Freedom to Flashman and the Redskins, Flashman would be thrown into deadly peril then struggle to get out. This feels like a collection of short stories. Flashman gets involved in gun running - resolved. Flashman meets a female pirate - they have sex, she's gone. Flashman visits the Taiping Kingdom - resolved. Flashman goes on the Peking expedition -then captured, then is released... then is captured again and meets the Empress... this is interesting... but then it too is quite easily resolved.
I think these were all fixable. Flashman should not have been able to get to safety. Put him in constant peril - that's where the other books were strong. This one has too much pressure relief.
Also Flashman isn't as entertaining during successful missions. He's at his best in amidst disaster - Afghanistan, Little Big Horn, Charge of the Light Brigade, Cawnpore. The march on Peking was basically successful.
It lacks an introductory scene in England. I think that would've helped.
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