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4.21 AVERAGE
4.21 AVERAGE
SLJ review:
Adult/High School-This third novel that focuses on Uhtred is filled with plenty of action, betrayal, and bloodshed, along with a healthy dose of religion and superstition, as Saxons, Christians, and Scots battle for the ground that will become Great Britain. Set amid actual historical events and people, the story picks up where The Pale Horseman (HarperCollins, 2006) left off and is told by Uhtred; his tone is straightforward in a manly, congenial way. Going from an honored warrior of King Alfred to a slave and back, he is tested again and again as he fights not only for the king, but also for the woman he wants. The knowledge that his fate is set by the gods is a constant reminder that, although he is a mighty warrior, he is, in the end, only a man subject to their whims. A blood feud has charted his course, and his outlook on life is only to make a good accounting of himself before he takes up his rightful place in the corpse-hall. Although it may be difficult for newcomers to the series to grasp the characters' tangled relationships, historical fiction lovers and those who want a good old-fashioned action tale should enjoy this book.-Charli Osborne, Oxford Public Library, MI
Adult/High School-This third novel that focuses on Uhtred is filled with plenty of action, betrayal, and bloodshed, along with a healthy dose of religion and superstition, as Saxons, Christians, and Scots battle for the ground that will become Great Britain. Set amid actual historical events and people, the story picks up where The Pale Horseman (HarperCollins, 2006) left off and is told by Uhtred; his tone is straightforward in a manly, congenial way. Going from an honored warrior of King Alfred to a slave and back, he is tested again and again as he fights not only for the king, but also for the woman he wants. The knowledge that his fate is set by the gods is a constant reminder that, although he is a mighty warrior, he is, in the end, only a man subject to their whims. A blood feud has charted his course, and his outlook on life is only to make a good accounting of himself before he takes up his rightful place in the corpse-hall. Although it may be difficult for newcomers to the series to grasp the characters' tangled relationships, historical fiction lovers and those who want a good old-fashioned action tale should enjoy this book.-Charli Osborne, Oxford Public Library, MI
I continue to really enjoy this series. It's nice to see that by book 3, the character development is still strong and I haven't tired of any of the characters. The battle scenes are skillfully written, and the plot is developing and widening as we go. They're also the perfect length for a quick several week read, which is unusual for this genre, and refreshing. The author seems to know what's important, what's not, and doesn't bother you with the fluff. Five stars for Lords of the North!
Another awesome entry in The Last Kingdom Series. Packed from start to finish with striking combat and warfare both historical and fictional!
Uhtred attempts to get back on track, ditching Alfred and heading north to Northumbria to recover his birthright. But, as one might expect, things don't go according to plan. He is as delightfully brash and self-confident and competent as ever. All the historical, cultural and military details which provide the colorful background are of course impeccably researched. The plot moves right along, without holes or dead spots, with plenty of action and a diverse set of characters we have no trouble keeping track of. A few minor criticisms - the TV versions of Father Beorca and the nun Hild are much better drawn and more worthy of Uhtred's friendship and our admiration than the originals in the book who are weak and silly. Also, although Tom Sellwood did a pretty good job narrating this audiobook edition, his decision to give somewhat exaggerated Danish accents to all the Danes was an unfortunate one.
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
adventurous
challenging
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Review of Lords of the North
By: Bernard Cornwell
Uhtred, along with Hild, leave Alfred cross paths with former king Guthred, who was enslaved, and after rescuing him, Uhtred finds himself making an oath to Guthred. Wanting to become a good king Guthred becomes Christian and is manipulated by one of his priests and an ally, who is an enemy of Uhtred’s, to sell Uhtred into slavery for that alliance.
Uhtred’s journey continues as we find he has temporarily left Alfred for a new king, but this king is just as pious as Alfred. Uhtred is once again surrounded by Christian’s, but he stays true to his beliefs. It’s ironic that Guthred ends up asking Uhtred what Alfred would, because not liking him Uhtred still thinks Alfred is a good king and he respects him. Uhtred’s got guts and a lot of rage in this book especially after being enslaved. He even finds a friend during his enslavement, Finan, an Irishman. He’s a fun and brave character that I look forward to getting to know more in the next book. We also finally get the reunion of Uhtred and Ragnar and it’s such an emotional moment to read about. The battle scenes in this one are a little smaller scale than the big all-out war in the last big. Gisela was a nice edition, and she understands Uhtred better than Hild does, and I’m happy he has someone that has the same beliefs as he does. The scenes between Uhtred and Hild are sweet though and I like how she is a good, forgiving person. Once again, the humor and insulting between the characters is crass and vulgar, but that comes with stories about Vikings
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Rape, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Religious bigotry, War
This might have been my favorite book so far into the series, the battles were less epic but I kind of enjoyed being in the north and that Alfred wasn’t in it as much. Huge game of thrones vibes here