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4.19 AVERAGE
4.19 AVERAGE
“When those blades cut, they cause tears that feed the well of Urdr that lies beside the world tree, and the well gives the water that keeps Yggdrasil alive, and if Yggdrasil dies then the world dies, and so the well must be kept filled and for that there must be tears.”
With the trailer for the FINAL season of The Last Kingdom being released last week, I needed to binge as much of this series as I can before it is released! The trailer looked so awesome, and I am now over halfway through reading the books. You cannot get enough of Uhtred!
I was disappointed with the previous instalment, but The Pagan Lord was certainly a return to form in my opinion. The series does often follow a template, but this also has numerous moments that makes it stick out as an individual tale, with the ending of this book being particularly brilliant. It was hilarious, but emotional and moving at the same time, with subtle character exploration and culmination of so much of what the previous books have been building towards.
“The art of war,” I told him, “is to make the enemy do your bidding.”
Whilst it retains the 'template form' with Uhtred facing a new threat that tests his loyalties, in which he must gather a force and end the book in a climactic action sequence, The Pagan Lord at the same time felt very different. It still has those beats, but the character interactions and standout characters make it feel fresh. And, as I said before, the ending is fantastic. One of the best endings of any book, ever. It said so much about Uhtred who we have now followed for seven books, in what was a humorous but also emotional scene. If you've read this, then you know!
This is a great series, and Bernard Cornwell has created one of my favourite characters in this series. Uhtred is a complex, divided man who feels the responsibility of leadership as well as the conflict of loyalty. Born a saxon, raised a dane, there are those he loves on both sides, but the struggle between the two is always present, and executed brilliantly.
5/5 STARS
With the trailer for the FINAL season of The Last Kingdom being released last week, I needed to binge as much of this series as I can before it is released! The trailer looked so awesome, and I am now over halfway through reading the books. You cannot get enough of Uhtred!
I was disappointed with the previous instalment, but The Pagan Lord was certainly a return to form in my opinion. The series does often follow a template, but this also has numerous moments that makes it stick out as an individual tale, with the ending of this book being particularly brilliant. It was hilarious, but emotional and moving at the same time, with subtle character exploration and culmination of so much of what the previous books have been building towards.
“The art of war,” I told him, “is to make the enemy do your bidding.”
Whilst it retains the 'template form' with Uhtred facing a new threat that tests his loyalties, in which he must gather a force and end the book in a climactic action sequence, The Pagan Lord at the same time felt very different. It still has those beats, but the character interactions and standout characters make it feel fresh. And, as I said before, the ending is fantastic. One of the best endings of any book, ever. It said so much about Uhtred who we have now followed for seven books, in what was a humorous but also emotional scene. If you've read this, then you know!
This is a great series, and Bernard Cornwell has created one of my favourite characters in this series. Uhtred is a complex, divided man who feels the responsibility of leadership as well as the conflict of loyalty. Born a saxon, raised a dane, there are those he loves on both sides, but the struggle between the two is always present, and executed brilliantly.
5/5 STARS
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
The voice of Uthred is such fun. I love these stories.
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Fast paced and full of action .
Only one strong female character and unfortunately she is a love interest (no dialogue between women)
Only one strong female character and unfortunately she is a love interest (no dialogue between women)
What can I say? I love the Saxon Tales. He repeats himself a bit, but that's a good thing as it's been some time between this release and the last (and the names are tough to remember). Great pacing, great characters, and a wonderful sense of a feel close to real history. My only complaint is that it's too short! I could have used another 300 pages.
Uhtred of Bebbanberg is my freakin hero.
Uhtred of Bebbanberg is my freakin hero.
Not the best of the series so far. Felt like Cornwell was reaching a bit to pad out Uhtred's life 10 years on, and probably didn't have a lot to go on from the historical record. Nonetheless, the battle scenes are described vividly, felt like I was right there in the shield wall along side our favourite Saxon!
Another rollercoaster story which was gripping from start to end
No! I really didn't want to finish this book. I tried to take my time. And I did. But this chapter of Uhtred's adventures had to come to an end - and what an end it was!
It was funny how angry and bitter Uhtred has become. In the first chapter, he 'accidentally' kills Abbot Wihtred and disowns his eldest son because he wanted to become a priest (he renames him Father Judas and renames his younger son Uhtred). It was a hilarious beginning.
After being banished from his home, Uhtred takes his men (there were fifty or sixty of them, I think) and attempts to recapture Bebbanburg from his uncle Ælfric. That mission might as well have been a suicide mission. As predicted, he fails, but, thankfully, he and his men manage to escape the slaughter while capturing his cousin's wife and son. I remember thinking how pointless that was for the story, until later. Turns out someone had spread rumours that Uhtred was finally killed in that futile attempt. The rumours helped Uhtred get information about the whereabouts of Cnut Ranulfson's army.
When I was halfway into this book, I decided that I would probably end up giving it 4 stars, because not much was happening other than Uhtred not knowing where to go after being exiled from his home. I was kinda disappointed at first. But it certainly got better. The last 5 chapters redeemed the book and are definitely why I'm giving it 5 stars.
It was funny how angry and bitter Uhtred has become. In the first chapter, he 'accidentally' kills Abbot Wihtred and disowns his eldest son because he wanted to become a priest (he renames him Father Judas and renames his younger son Uhtred). It was a hilarious beginning.
After being banished from his home, Uhtred takes his men (there were fifty or sixty of them, I think) and attempts to recapture Bebbanburg from his uncle Ælfric. That mission might as well have been a suicide mission. As predicted, he fails, but, thankfully, he and his men manage to escape the slaughter while capturing his cousin's wife and son. I remember thinking how pointless that was for the story, until later. Turns out someone had spread rumours that Uhtred was finally killed in that futile attempt. The rumours helped Uhtred get information about the whereabouts of Cnut Ranulfson's army.
When I was halfway into this book, I decided that I would probably end up giving it 4 stars, because not much was happening other than Uhtred not knowing where to go after being exiled from his home. I was kinda disappointed at first. But it certainly got better. The last 5 chapters redeemed the book and are definitely why I'm giving it 5 stars.
adventurous
funny
inspiring
relaxing
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Audio Book
Cornwell really does immerse you into Uhtred's world, the basic language, the descriptions of the land and battles he finds himself in. You really can smell the stench of death, dirt and decay.
For such a beast of a man you can not but like Uhtred. Though life should have been so much simpler in those days, if you got the most basic of tasks wrong or just be at the wrong place at the wrong time you would end up dead. A brutal read at times, but absolutely fascinating. 'I am Uhtred, son of Uhtred', yes get used to this for Uhtred says this an awful lot through the story.
A 12 hour audio book, which half way through I did increase the speed of the reader to 1.25, something I've not done with other books. I felt the story was becoming a little repetitive.
Cornwell really does immerse you into Uhtred's world, the basic language, the descriptions of the land and battles he finds himself in. You really can smell the stench of death, dirt and decay.
For such a beast of a man you can not but like Uhtred. Though life should have been so much simpler in those days, if you got the most basic of tasks wrong or just be at the wrong place at the wrong time you would end up dead. A brutal read at times, but absolutely fascinating. 'I am Uhtred, son of Uhtred', yes get used to this for Uhtred says this an awful lot through the story.
A 12 hour audio book, which half way through I did increase the speed of the reader to 1.25, something I've not done with other books. I felt the story was becoming a little repetitive.