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4.21 AVERAGE
4.21 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I now have a YouTube channel that I run with my brother, called 'The Brothers Gwynne'. Check it out - The Brothers Gwynne
“I had a taste for this kind of madness. In madness lies change, in change is opportunity and in opportunity are riches”
Finished The Lords of the North, the third instalment of The Saxon Stories, otherwise called The Last Kingdom due to the TV adaptation. This book forms the first half of what Season 2 is compiled from, so makes up the first five episodes. Very different to the first two instalments of this series, The Lords of the North explored new settings and political situations, exploring the situation of Northumbria in contrast to Wessex where the majority of The Last Kingdom and The Pale Horseman take place, despite still strongly linking to each other and the wider through line of the series. This was a refreshing change but one that overall I feel had greater potential.
We have some favourite characters cropping up, with Ragnar playing more of a central role in The Lords of the North, which I enjoyed. But, there were also some really strong and entertaining new additions to this Saxon story.
“Wyrd bið ful aræd”
I really enjoyed the new characters who were introduced in this story. Guthred the charming, out of his depth, aspiring king of Northumbria, who endeavours to be slightly like Alfred, but does not have the confidence or intelligence of the king of Wessex. Then of course to any who have read or watched this, Finan, the Irish warrior and friend of Uhtred's. He is a really great and unique character I look forward to seeing more in the future instalments.
To avoid spoilers I will not mention how Uhtred meets Finan, but I will still say that other than meeting a great character, that phase of the story felt completely wasted. It could have been used to explore character growth so, so well, and take Uhtred in a new direction, expanding more on the traumas of his past. But it was ended quickly, with little to no characterisation present, which seemed like such a huge waste.
But, despite that, there are still sections that explore character really well, and with Bernard Cornwell’s masterfully economic prose that crafts a scene and tone effortlessly, The Lords of the North still had many enjoyable moments.
“If a man can’t remember the laws,” Ragnar said, “then he’s got too many of them.”
The only other scene that fell short for me was what was meant to be the actual climax of the story, This has been something that has built since early on in the first instalment of the series, and with that much tension, it was anti-climactic. Uhtred started summarising what happened as a narrator rather than immersing us in this what should have been cathartic and satisfying moment. It was another shame in The Lords of the North.
It speaks volumes however that despite the shortcomings I have mentioned, The Lords of the North was still an enjoyable and entertaining tale that I look forward to including with the fourth instalment of this series. Uhtred is an awesome character, this is an awesome story, and Bernard Cornwell is one of the best writers out there, so a ‘bad’ book by him is still good in any other circumstances.
3/5 STARS
“I had a taste for this kind of madness. In madness lies change, in change is opportunity and in opportunity are riches”
Finished The Lords of the North, the third instalment of The Saxon Stories, otherwise called The Last Kingdom due to the TV adaptation. This book forms the first half of what Season 2 is compiled from, so makes up the first five episodes. Very different to the first two instalments of this series, The Lords of the North explored new settings and political situations, exploring the situation of Northumbria in contrast to Wessex where the majority of The Last Kingdom and The Pale Horseman take place, despite still strongly linking to each other and the wider through line of the series. This was a refreshing change but one that overall I feel had greater potential.
We have some favourite characters cropping up, with Ragnar playing more of a central role in The Lords of the North, which I enjoyed. But, there were also some really strong and entertaining new additions to this Saxon story.
“Wyrd bið ful aræd”
I really enjoyed the new characters who were introduced in this story. Guthred the charming, out of his depth, aspiring king of Northumbria, who endeavours to be slightly like Alfred, but does not have the confidence or intelligence of the king of Wessex. Then of course to any who have read or watched this, Finan, the Irish warrior and friend of Uhtred's. He is a really great and unique character I look forward to seeing more in the future instalments.
To avoid spoilers I will not mention how Uhtred meets Finan, but I will still say that other than meeting a great character, that phase of the story felt completely wasted. It could have been used to explore character growth so, so well, and take Uhtred in a new direction, expanding more on the traumas of his past. But it was ended quickly, with little to no characterisation present, which seemed like such a huge waste.
But, despite that, there are still sections that explore character really well, and with Bernard Cornwell’s masterfully economic prose that crafts a scene and tone effortlessly, The Lords of the North still had many enjoyable moments.
“If a man can’t remember the laws,” Ragnar said, “then he’s got too many of them.”
The only other scene that fell short for me was what was meant to be the actual climax of the story, This has been something that has built since early on in the first instalment of the series, and with that much tension, it was anti-climactic. Uhtred started summarising what happened as a narrator rather than immersing us in this what should have been cathartic and satisfying moment. It was another shame in The Lords of the North.
It speaks volumes however that despite the shortcomings I have mentioned, The Lords of the North was still an enjoyable and entertaining tale that I look forward to including with the fourth instalment of this series. Uhtred is an awesome character, this is an awesome story, and Bernard Cornwell is one of the best writers out there, so a ‘bad’ book by him is still good in any other circumstances.
3/5 STARS
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
adventurous
medium-paced
adventurous
funny
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
dark
informative
inspiring
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Wessex is finally free from the threat of Danes and Uhtred is finally free from his vow to Alfred. He’s free to fulfill his bloodfued and can finally kill the man who killed Earl Ragnar.
Born in Northumbria, Uhtred was supposed to become Lord of Bebbanburg but when his father was killed in battle, his uncle took over and stole his lands. It was the Danes who took in Uhtred, they raised him as their own, taught him about their gods and how to fight. One night, a man named Kjartan came into the hall and killed his foster father Ragnar, killed his foster mother and stole his foster sister. Now years later, Uhtred travels back to his home, to avenge their deaths and save his sister. Along the way he meets a would be king, becomes a slave and must once again pledge his allegiance to Alfred, King of Wessex.
Though I liked this book and still had a great time reading it, I felt it wasn’t as great in comparison with the other books. Uhtred is as always fantastically dramatized, he’s a warrior with pizazz. His sense of humor is perfection and he knows how to fight. The battles were just as epic as ever but there was no pause in this story, no time to connect with the characters. You really would of had to read the first two books to be able to enjoy this one. I still enjoyed it and you would too, just make sure to read the other books first.
Born in Northumbria, Uhtred was supposed to become Lord of Bebbanburg but when his father was killed in battle, his uncle took over and stole his lands. It was the Danes who took in Uhtred, they raised him as their own, taught him about their gods and how to fight. One night, a man named Kjartan came into the hall and killed his foster father Ragnar, killed his foster mother and stole his foster sister. Now years later, Uhtred travels back to his home, to avenge their deaths and save his sister. Along the way he meets a would be king, becomes a slave and must once again pledge his allegiance to Alfred, King of Wessex.
Though I liked this book and still had a great time reading it, I felt it wasn’t as great in comparison with the other books. Uhtred is as always fantastically dramatized, he’s a warrior with pizazz. His sense of humor is perfection and he knows how to fight. The battles were just as epic as ever but there was no pause in this story, no time to connect with the characters. You really would of had to read the first two books to be able to enjoy this one. I still enjoyed it and you would too, just make sure to read the other books first.