Cornwell continues to deliver with this series. Somehow Uhtred keeps surviving and each story feels fresh despite this being the 10th in the series so far. In The Flame Bearer, we get a very Uhtred-centric story. For most of the previous books, Uhtred is caught up in political and literal battles beyond his control and he's serving on behalf of one king or another. But in this one, Uhtred is working for himself. He's finally, finally going to take back Bebbanburg.But of course there is a little wrinkle. Uhtred has continued to make enemies. His championing of Edwards first son Aethelstan has rankled the Ealdorman Aethelham the grandfather of the other possible heir to the throne. Uhtred is unfailingly loyal to those people who have earned his regard and Aethelstan is one of them. So when Aethelham sees an opportunity to cut the knees out from under Uhtred, he goes for it.I, like Finan, was not quite sure how Uhtred was going to get himself out of this one. He decided to take on a larger enemy in an impenetrable fortress. Classic Uhtred. When will this man ever lose his swagger? Hopefully never. But I'm very interested to see what is going to happen in the next book. Because as everyone knows, North Umbria did NOT remain an independent kingdom. So I'm certain that clash is coming. How will Uhtred thread that future needle?
3.5 Stars
I remain constantly entertained by Uhtred and his references to goats droppings, turds and all things Danish insults. By now I've figured out Cornwell's formula for these books:1) Uhtred is involved in a minor skirmish2) Based on the skirmish he perceives a greater threat to Wessex/Mercia than the West Saxons/Mercians3) He argues his point to the West Saxon/Mercian leaders who are too influenced by priests insisting they "Pray the Danes Away" that Uhtred goes a little rogue4) Talk talk talk, strategy strategy strategy5) Big battle, lots of insults, references to shield walls etc6) Victory and begrudging respect from those in #37) Hint of big bad guy for next bookAnd listen, I'm reading the ninth (ninth!!!) book in this series because the formula works. It's comforting, and, even at 50, Uhtred is a babe (in my mind - he likely has no teeth and is scarred from acquiring syphilis). But I digress.In Warriors of the Storm, Mercia has a new threat from the Norse, who, finding the Celts inhospitable in Ireland, have decided to try their hand at Mercia. Why should they succeed where others have failed? Well, they can't because we know who was king after Edward and that would seriously mess with history. So in the meantime, Uhtred has to save everyone, and he's the best at it.I always like when people underestimate Uhtred. That Aethelflaed does it here was a nice change as she's always been mostly on his side (when she's not in his bed - get it girl!). Anyway, Uhtred wins and the bad guy in vanquished, and there is some smart state craft done by the guy everyone assumes is only as good as his sword arm.
4/5 Stars.
A mere 22 days ago, I finished The Pagan Lord and wondered how my main squeeze Uhtred was going to continue his dominance of the Mercian and Saxon fighters. You see, his chest, like mine, was pierced by a sword at the end of the last book and I wasn't sure he was going to make it. Cornwell, obviously being aware of Uhtred's appeal (I was going to write charm, but that's not quite it), decided to toy with my heart and have the opening chapter of The Empty Throne penned by the younger Uhtred. I was saddened that Uhtred had been put out to pasture so unceremoniously, although I doubted he had died. And I was slightly warming to the idea that Uhtred2 (his son) would carry on the legacy of irreverent humor and calling people turds. But, alas the second chapter picks up with our trusted narrator and although he's not doing well (he's got a weeping infected wound) he still manages a few barbs now and then. And as always he's 1/4 to 1/2 a step in front of everyone else. So when King Edward's father in law decides to flex his muscles in Mercia, threatening Aethelstan's life and Aethelflaed's daughter with marriage, Uhtred knows he's got to set some things right. In the meantime, he needs to find the sword that pierced him in order to be healed. He's sure that someone is using witchcraft to continue to torture him. And who better to tell him than a lady who is having a change of allegiances after her brother turns out to be a whimpering rat turd. In the end, Uhtred is intimately involved in making Aethelflaed the Lady of Mercia and protecting the kingdom of Mercia from marauding Norsemen. It will be interesting to see if Uhtred2 has more narrative involvement in the next installment. You know I'll be reading it.
4/5 Stars.
My fictional love interest Uhtred is now 50, and guess what? I'm still into him. But this is exceptionally old for someone living in the 800s. So the fact that he's still holding his own in the shield wall is starting to stretch even my generous belief in his abilities. This time around in The Pagan Lord (that's Uhtred, duh), Mercia and Wessex have been in relatively peace for 8 years. Uhtred has been farming the land granted to him by Alfred in the last book and everything is quiet and boring. But that doesn't make for a good Uhtred book. So you know the Danes are gonna be starting something. Cnut and Sigrid were left alive after the last encounter. As was Haesten. But people always seem to be underestimating Uhtred. At the beginning of the book, we find Uhtred hunting down his recently ordained first born son, disowning him, and killing a monk in the process. This in turn, gives the local Bishop something to crow about and Uhtred's farm and homestead is burned down. Uhtred is forced to leave and what better time to assault Bebbanburg? His second son, Osbert, is renamed Uhtred, much like his father was, and the band of loyalists to Uhtred very nearly succeeds in taking the fortress. But in the meantime, Mercia is in trouble. Again. And Uhtred must save everyone. Again. Maybe this time they'll be grateful. You can sense in this book that Uhtred's age is catching up with him. Since Cornwell wrote himself into a corner early in the series making Uhtred the narrator from a long off hall and old age, you never really fear for Uhtred's life, but now, since the series is so good and successful, we need a younger protagonist to carry the banner (literally). I have a feeling Uhtred Uhtredson (the new one) is going to be just the man for the job.
4/5 Stars.
Death of Kings represents a huge change in the plot for Uhtred and The Saxon Stories. Alfred, the West Saxon king who Uhtred reluctantly attached to himself in desperation for protection from his uncle, is really and truly dying. While still young by today's standards, Alfred has always been ill and now it appears stomach cancer will end his reign. His dream of a unified "England" however, will not die with him, as his children, Athelflaed and Edward, are committed to continuing progress to this dream. And finally, Uhtred willingly throws his support behind this idea and abandons the ideas of a Danish ruled England. This comes about not just through assimilation by Uhtred, but by his final understanding of the superiority of Alfred's vision and war craft. While the Danes continue to unsuccessfully throw themselves upon the walls of Alfred's fortresses, the wealth of the West Saxons is safe behind the walls. And Uhtred knows a winner when he sees one. So he throws his support behind Edward, pledging his sword to Edward (and his heart to Aethelflaed, hubba hubba). In any case, Uhtred braces the country for an inevitable invasion following the death of Alfred and the divided loyalties and leadership of the Danes prevents this from happening for a full three years. This is also the first time we see Uhtred recognize that he's not quite the spritely 20 year old who killed Ubba by the sea. He's now 43, and is taunted by a Dane who deems Uhtred, "too old to kill." Ouch. Uhtred is still Uhtred however. Disgusted with the piety and sometimes hypocrisy shown by the Church in England. He's becoming outnumbered in his faith and he doesn't like it. He's still good with a sword, but Uhtred's strength has also lain with his ability to understand and plan for an enemy's motivations and tactics. And FINALLY he gets the respect he deserves from Alfred. It felt like a nice closure on that story line. We'll see what Uhtred does in his old age. But it will probably involve more sword swinging and lady loving. (Thank God :))
4/5 Stars.
I'm so tickled by this series. The Pale Horsemen follows the story of Uhtred, who in the prior book (The Last Kingdom - you can read that review here) had defeated Ubbe Lofbrockson at the battle of Cynuit (sorry guys about the spelling here, I listened to the audio version of this book and my spelling is gobshite). Having killed Ubbe, Uhtred races home to his wife and child to ensure their safety and then travels to the king, only to find out that Odder (The Younger) had beaten him there and taken credit for the victory.
Nursing his ego, Uhtred is sent home by a displeased King Alfred. Bored and restless, Uhtred takes a ship of Saxons and raids up the coast of Cornwallum. This leads him to meet a Shadow Queen, Iseult, with whom he falls in love (in a very Uhtred way). When he returns to Alfred, he finds himself accused of burning the newly made monastery at Cynuit and killing the monks there. He elects to stand trial by combat against Steapa. In the middle of the trial, the Saxon town is overrun by Danes.
Uhtred finds Alfred retreating to the swamp lands and helps him regain his army and self-respect. Nothing works out quite as Uhtred planned (fate is inexorable - he reminds us constantly) and there are many turns to the ultimate battle at Ethandun.
The writing in these stories is engaging and Uhtred is a wonderful narrator for the events. He's realistic and has the right amount of cynicism for a soldier and story teller. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series (listening). Tom Sellwood as the narrator for the audio book is so amazing and funny (he did the original CD version that the library has, I have no idea how Jonathan Keeble is at narrating but I know I'll be disappointed when it comes time to switch narrators).
Apparently this is now a BBC series. If there's some way I can start watching this I will.
4/5 Stars.
