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4.19 AVERAGE
4.19 AVERAGE
adventurous
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The latest (at the time of writing) in [a:Bernard Cornwell|12542|Bernard Cornwell|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1504578807p2/12542.jpg]'s series of books about the making of England, and we're now a lifetime on from Alfred (the Great's) death, with Alfred himself being a key player in those earlier books.
However, Uhtred is still tied to Alfred's family by various oaths he has made over the years, with one such oath causing him to leave his (reclaimed) homeland of Northumbria, and in particular Bebbanburg, and travel south in an attempt to fulfil that oath.
With large portions of this novel set mainly in and around London (or Lundene), this felt to me somewhat like a bridging novel, setting up the future status quo and laying seeds fro what is still to come (the unification of England)
However, Uhtred is still tied to Alfred's family by various oaths he has made over the years, with one such oath causing him to leave his (reclaimed) homeland of Northumbria, and in particular Bebbanburg, and travel south in an attempt to fulfil that oath.
With large portions of this novel set mainly in and around London (or Lundene), this felt to me somewhat like a bridging novel, setting up the future status quo and laying seeds fro what is still to come (the unification of England)
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Fifteen years and twelve books since Uhtred's story began, it continues to be brutally spectacular, a total package of fine writing and exceptional storytelling, and one of my very favorite series ever. I wish it would never end.
Wyrd bið ful aræd.
Wyrd bið ful aræd.
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
medium-paced
Random note to start with: there has definitely been a change in tone since King Alfred died, one I'm happy about. While watching the show, the biggest annoyance for me was Uhtred being tethered to Alfred because of a vow he'd made, which felt less prominent in the books, even when Alfred was alive, but since Alfred's death and him taking back Bebbanburg, it feels like Uhtred is more free. Even though he is still keeping promises to Alfred's kids, it still doesn't feel like he's in the same kind of chokehold as he is in the show.
Sword of Kings is another good book which feels a little repetitive and one plot thread make a reappearance (Uhtred's wife conveniently ends up dead just as he's found a replacement wife 🙄, which is tiresome but the show prepared me for that). However, I am enjoying how Uhtred's aging is being portrayed, and that he isn't faultless in this book. It's not the first book in the series that feels like a filler book but there is some slight differences in this one. The most notable being that Uhtred encounters quite a humiliating encounter at the hands of an enemy, which naturally Finan rescues him from. If it wasn't for the intervention of others, namely Finan, Uhtred may not still be alive at the end of Book 12. Finan, once again is the best character in this book!
I never grow tired of Cornwell's action scenes. I like that the past couple of books have been set on ships - random thing to review, but I liked that. These books have without a doubt become a comfort read for me and you know exactly what you're getting from them, and if that's what you want in your comfort reads then you won't be disappointed.
One more book to go!
Sword of Kings is another good book which feels a little repetitive and one plot thread make a reappearance (Uhtred's wife conveniently ends up dead just as he's found a replacement wife 🙄, which is tiresome but the show prepared me for that). However, I am enjoying how Uhtred's aging is being portrayed, and that he isn't faultless in this book. It's not the first book in the series that feels like a filler book but there is some slight differences in this one. The most notable being that Uhtred encounters quite a humiliating encounter at the hands of an enemy, which naturally Finan rescues him from. If it wasn't for the intervention of others, namely Finan, Uhtred may not still be alive at the end of Book 12. Finan, once again is the best character in this book!
I never grow tired of Cornwell's action scenes. I like that the past couple of books have been set on ships - random thing to review, but I liked that. These books have without a doubt become a comfort read for me and you know exactly what you're getting from them, and if that's what you want in your comfort reads then you won't be disappointed.
One more book to go!
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
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:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Another great book in the series. Although there is some repetition, I appreciate how Uhtred's aging is portrayed, and how he doesn't appear as a faultless hero but a 3-dimensional character with flaws and vices.