I'm not sure why I'm still bothering...

Still reading Gloriana's Torch. With the Spanish Armada as its main event it could have been so much more. The early chapters were enjoyable enough but the rest of it has become increasingly a waste of time. There are three large chapters, which take up about half the book, devoted to the ships sailing from Spain to the English Channel - one from the point of view of the guy in charge of the galley slaves, one from the point of view of a galley slave and one from the point of view of his wife who's trying to rescue him (oh please!). Nothing actually happens during all this except for a lot of rowing. It's becoming increasingly difficult to care about what these people are thinking/doing.
The story has now shifted back to land and back to one of the early characters who's about to foil Spanish attempts to take Calais. At least there might be some action in this bit. It's the last quarter of the book now so something must happen soon!

I think Finney might have been trying to explore how people react in various situations, which could have been good. But her characters aren't very believable to me. The real historical figures wander around in the background and are given very shallow characterisations - they really don't contribute much to the story.
I guess I've been spoilt by the the depth, richness and extraordinary research of writers like Dorothy Dunnett and Colleen McCullough in this regard. Finney just doesn't measure up.