Bibliography

Date first published	3 October 2005
ISBN Number	0 00714 992 1
Page Count	400 h/b
h/b= hardback : p/b= paperback

Storyline

Uhtred, is bored. Uhtred is in the doghouse!

Fresh from the battle at Cynuit, and having slain Ubba, Uhtred should have been a hero. Instead he went to find his wife and son, and in the meantime someone has taken the credit for killing Ubba.

Uhtred soon brings upon himself further strife after he finds one of his servants has been selling trees from his land, and deals with the man in true Viking fashion, earning the displeasure of Alfred. Tired and bored of the farming life Uhtred decides to go raiding, and pretends to be a Viking Warlord. Unfortunately for him, he leaves a survivor, who tells Alfred of his deeds.

Uhtred is forced into a fight to the death to prove his inocence (quite difficult when you're guilty), and as the duel starts, he is saved when the Vikings launch an attack, forcing everyone to run for their lives. On the run, Uhtred eventually meets up with Alfred, and becomes responsibe for his safety.

Through the winter the King builds a small army, and in the early springs heads towards Ethandun where death and glory in the shield wall awaits.

Review

This book had a lot of expectation riding on it. I felt the first title was a truely excellent book, way above par for the author. So was this as good or a big let down?

The first book had a lot of pace, it took Uthred from his home as a child, to, eventually Alfreds side, during which time Uhtred switched alegiance, as he tried to stay alive. With this book the pressure was off and the pace slightly slackened. Uhtred still young and impetuos gradually decides where his fate lies. Uhtred has only chosen the Saxons because he believes that Earl Ragnar is dead, and that the other Viking warlords would have no hesitation in killing him.

The middle section of the book is quite slow paced, as Uhtred meets with Alfred, and they gain a bond. I wouldn't call it friendship, but a bond secured by an oath develops, as Alfred takes the war to the Vikings.

The story concludes, like all good books from Cornwell, with a masssive pulsating battle between the Vikings and the Saxon Fyrd meet, and for the first time the Fyrd defeat the Viking hoard.

Uhtreds journey is not without loss, he loses not only his son but also his lover. He loses his wife in a different sense, as following the death of his son she decides to join a nunnery.

The bookis full of wonderful detail, from the freezing winter landscape to life in the bigger towns. It also has a wonderful feeling of life changing as the old religions give way to the 'new' Christianity. Uhtred is definitely pagan, and is determined to stay that way even though those around him are becoming Christian, to avoid being marked as witches or evil. The joy of his paganism, and zest of life (and battle) are heavily at odds with the rather tiresome Christian attitude to life.

This is another cracking story. Perhaps not as good as the first one, but definitely a brilliant book that I read in altogether to short a time. Make sure you read this one after The Last Kingdom' so as to understand the characters. Well worth a second or third reading.

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