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adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Death, Gore, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Blood, War, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Chronic illness, Cursing, Infidelity, Vomit, Grief, Religious bigotry, Alcohol
Minor: Sexual content
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
An “historical” novel whose writing style reminded me of that of the fantasy writer David Gemmell. Characters are pretty stereotypical: the brutal, bloodthirsty pagan MC, who is impatient of those with scholarly intellect; the pathetically pious Christian clergy, though there is a laid-back one who is ok; the scholarly king, naive in diplomacy (of course, “virtuous” appeasement fails) and timorous in battle. And then there’s is a bit of fantasy fiction added into the mix through the character of a young pagan woman with mystical predictive powers.
As for the historicity, given surviving evidence of the period is limited, inevitably there is a lot of fictional colouring-in of characterisation, relationships and politics; and even some known historical events have been switched around to enhance the plot, as the author’s “Historical Notes” at the end acknowledge. In short, the novel is more “inspired by actual events” than realistic historical fiction.
Lots of action, running around the countryside, fighting passim and brutalising of the innocent. It’s engagingly written, I grant you, but fairly superficial. 3.75/5 in the “superficial but fun to read” category.
As for the historicity, given surviving evidence of the period is limited, inevitably there is a lot of fictional colouring-in of characterisation, relationships and politics; and even some known historical events have been switched around to enhance the plot, as the author’s “Historical Notes” at the end acknowledge. In short, the novel is more “inspired by actual events” than realistic historical fiction.
Lots of action, running around the countryside, fighting passim and brutalising of the innocent. It’s engagingly written, I grant you, but fairly superficial. 3.75/5 in the “superficial but fun to read” category.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Rape, Violence, War
Moderate: Animal death, Child death, Death, Infidelity, Racial slurs, Alcohol
Minor: Sexual violence, Slavery, Vomit
adventurous
dark
tense
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:
No
I am happy to live in the modern era. Sometimes I wonder what it was like to be in older times.. and then Bernard Cornwell pulled me through a vivid imaginary painting of it.
Until very recently we were just another creature trying to survive. It’s honestly amazing and very strange that any of us survived this and many other periods of history as a species and are here today.
Until very recently we were just another creature trying to survive. It’s honestly amazing and very strange that any of us survived this and many other periods of history as a species and are here today.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Rape, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child death
adventurous
dark
funny
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Review of The Pale Horseman
By: Bernard Cornwell
In the second book of The Saxon series Uhtred continues to serve Alfred though he doesn’t believe in Christianity and is still loyal to his Gods. Unfortunately, the Danes return, not to the surprise of Uhtred, who expected it, to take back their land. Alfred believes God will help him, but he realizes he needs Uhtred on his side, because he is a true warrior and knows how the Danes think.
Uhtred’s journey as a struggling young man who just wants his home back but is forced to ally himself with people who don’t have the same spiritual beliefs as he does. He is frustrated and exasperated with his situation and with Alfred, but he is given hope by Iseult, a woman excused of witchcraft because of her visions of the future, that Alfred could win. I still don’t like Mildrith, because she is forceful with her insistence that Uhtred convert, which comes from fear of Paganism being the devil’s work. At the same time, I felt sorry for her that she experiences a great grief. Iseult is an interesting woman with her dreams of the future and her good heart, but because of these visions she is called a shadow queen, evil. She can’t see her own future making her life unpredictable. The only other female character is Hild, a nun, who was attacked sexually. She is a good Christian, but full of rage from her assault. Rightfully so and determined to get her vengeance. I hate Asser because he is so judgmental and arrogant, but I like Pyrlig. He is friendly and doesn’t push Uhtred to convert and he understands being a warrior. Uhtred’s alliance with Svein is interesting, but they respect each other, though they’re enemies. The battle scenes are intense and exciting as I didn’t know if the Saxons or the Danes would win, and Cornwell shows what every significant character is doing on the battlefield. The pace is good, and I always wanted to know what comes next in the story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Sexual assault, Slavery, Violence, Blood, War
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Gore, Violence
Minor: Vomit
adventurous
dark
informative
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Minor: Animal death, Child death, Death, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence
adventurous
challenging
dark
informative
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Religious bigotry
dark
informative
tense
medium-paced
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Violence, Blood
Moderate: Child death, Chronic illness, Infidelity, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Grief