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4.06 AVERAGE
4.06 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
The Netflix adaptation of this series single-handedly began my fascination with the Anglo-Saxons, so it came as no surprise that I loved this novel. To finally read the original source material was extremely rewarding, as it’s objectively superior to the show in most ways and unsurprisingly includes way more detail than the show could possibly have had.
To begin with, Cornwell is a phenomenal writer and story teller. His balance of action, world building, and characterization is seriously impressive for a historical fiction writer. Moreover, his research was clearly thorough, as the events surrounding Uhtred are largely based in fact and historically authentic, at least according to my own limited research. The battles are also amazing, with the recurring emphasis on ‘the shield wall’ being a cool running theme. Through this, Cornwell does a great job representing the brutality of medieval warfare. Simultaneously, he showcases the often disregarded beauty of the High Middle Ages, with detailed descriptions of the landscapes, cultures and societies of the medieval British Isles.
My only issue with the book is the almost constant defamation of the clergy and the Church, which is mostly dished out by Uhtred himself. I am biased with this gripe (Orthodox Christian) and I understand that Cornwell is an atheist who likely wanted Uhtred to be a more nuanced and skeptical protagonist, but the slander does come off as a bit dated, edgy, and repetitive. Still, he includes a lot of good representations of Christianity through his other characters (Alfred, Beocca, Leofric, Willibald, etc), so it’s not an entirely negative portrayal. However, I do have a suspicion that this is mostly due to the book covering Uhtred’s early years, and that his attitudes toward religion will evolve throughout the series.
Overall, this is a fanatic novel, and I recommend it to anyone interested in medieval or British history. Can’t wait to move on to the next book. 9/10.
To begin with, Cornwell is a phenomenal writer and story teller. His balance of action, world building, and characterization is seriously impressive for a historical fiction writer. Moreover, his research was clearly thorough, as the events surrounding Uhtred are largely based in fact and historically authentic, at least according to my own limited research. The battles are also amazing, with the recurring emphasis on ‘the shield wall’ being a cool running theme. Through this, Cornwell does a great job representing the brutality of medieval warfare. Simultaneously, he showcases the often disregarded beauty of the High Middle Ages, with detailed descriptions of the landscapes, cultures and societies of the medieval British Isles.
My only issue with the book is the almost constant defamation of the clergy and the Church, which is mostly dished out by Uhtred himself. I am biased with this gripe (Orthodox Christian) and I understand that Cornwell is an atheist who likely wanted Uhtred to be a more nuanced and skeptical protagonist, but the slander does come off as a bit dated, edgy, and repetitive. Still, he includes a lot of good representations of Christianity through his other characters (Alfred, Beocca, Leofric, Willibald, etc), so it’s not an entirely negative portrayal. However, I do have a suspicion that this is mostly due to the book covering Uhtred’s early years, and that his attitudes toward religion will evolve throughout the series.
Overall, this is a fanatic novel, and I recommend it to anyone interested in medieval or British history. Can’t wait to move on to the next book. 9/10.
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The problem with history novels that strive to be mostly accurate and depict fictionalized versions of many real-life people is that sometimes the authors hit the history points harder than they do the development of their characters.
Uhtred's not the worst protagonist of historical fiction I've read about. In fact, his story is quite interesting. Mostly I liked the "I'm old now, but I'm telling my story," POV (though it did bug me at times when he alluded to things that will happen in future books and not this first one). The people he meets, interacts with, and/or fights are fascinating. His dispassion for Christianity was actually quite fun and refreshing.
It was in his personal relationships, however, that I found the depth of his character lacking. Possibly it could simply be the author's interpretation of what a battle-hardened boy/young man of this time period would feel or react (or the emotional distance from the events as an old man relaying his story), but I just felt it was too many wordy-thoughts and not enough realistic emotion.
To go back and end on a positive note, the history was interesting, the battles and violence were well-written (and why else would you be reading a book with Vikings, AKA 'raiding Danes,' if not for the battles and violence), and the story pacing was decent for a series.
Uhtred's not the worst protagonist of historical fiction I've read about. In fact, his story is quite interesting. Mostly I liked the "I'm old now, but I'm telling my story," POV (though it did bug me at times when he alluded to things that will happen in future books and not this first one). The people he meets, interacts with, and/or fights are fascinating. His dispassion for Christianity was actually quite fun and refreshing.
It was in his personal relationships, however, that I found the depth of his character lacking. Possibly it could simply be the author's interpretation of what a battle-hardened boy/young man of this time period would feel or react (or the emotional distance from the events as an old man relaying his story), but I just felt it was too many wordy-thoughts and not enough realistic emotion.
To go back and end on a positive note, the history was interesting, the battles and violence were well-written (and why else would you be reading a book with Vikings, AKA 'raiding Danes,' if not for the battles and violence), and the story pacing was decent for a series.
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
adventurous
informative
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No