I read PoC years ago, so I don't remember it really well. What I do remember is that some of the 1930s British slang gave me trouble. For example, I didn't get the joke of Moggy Cattermole's nickname because I didn't know that a "moggy" is a cat. The only other words that might give you trouble are the technical aviation and warfare terms. Stuff like gun caliber and parts of airplanes. Mostly it's pretty easy vocabulary, though.
I'd say the story is more plot-driven than character-driven. There isn't any deep character analysis, but you do get each flier's background story. As for the war scenes, there are many descriptions of the air battles. Especially as the story moves to the climax. They're suspenseful and exciting to read, even for someone like me who avoids war stories. I will warn you that the descriptions of the injuries that happen to the fliers are quite bloody. But that's kind of the point: bullets do horrible things to the human body.
I was glad I read PoC, nevertheless. As you know from watching the series, it's a compelling story. I think you have the English language skills to be able to understand it if you decide you want to read it.
“Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: 'What! You too? I thought I was the only one.'”
-- C.S. Lewis
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