Lord Uhtred, the central character of The Warrior Chronicles series by Bernard Cornwell, finds himself out of favour with King Edward of Wessex, son of Alfred the Great. He makes matters worse by killing a priest and goes on the run, disowning his eldest son who had become a priest, and elevating his younger son to the position of first born - renaming him Uhtred. Almost in desperation, and with very few loyal men left in his band, he goes on a daring raid to Bebbanberg, his childhood home - and Northumbrian fortress - to wrest control from his uncle, who had stolen it from him following his father's death. Things don't quite go according to plan - though he does kill his uncle and kidnap his cousin's wife and son in order to escape. In an odd symmetry, he discovers that he is being blamed for kidnapping the family of Cnut Longsword - his old Viking enemy - and the man who is leading the Danes in the North, ready to invade the Saxon held areas, including Wessex. Lord Uhtred is The Pagan Lord of the title and sets out to scupper the invasion plans, primarily to save Aethelflead - his lover - and sister to King Edward. As always with Mr Cornwell, this is a total page-turner. So pacey that it almost leaves you breathless at times. The characters are now so well-developed (this is the seventh book in these tales) that it's like hooking up with old friends - albeit exceptionally foul-mouthed and violent friends who you just wouldn't cross! The reader is immersed in the filth, politics and uncertain nature of the times. It feels so authentic that it's hard not to feel your blood rising and heart rate increasing with every twist and turn. Another great book from one of the most consistent authors alive today. If you haven't read one of these thrilling tales, what are you waiting for?
My STAR rating: FOUR.
Length: 320 print pages.
Price I paid: free, borrowed from library.
Formats available: print; unabridged audio CD; unabridged audio download; ebook.
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