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amandasbookreview 's review for:
The Last Kingdom
by Bernard Cornwell
This is a rare moment. I may have watched the show The Last Kingdom, before starting the book series. I know, I know, but I LOVE the show, so my hopes were high before I began the books. The Last Kingdom by Bernard Cornwell is the first book in The Saxon Stories. So far, there are 12 books in the series and rumor has it that book 13 will be coming out this year. The book takes readers to England in the 9th Century. Except the land isn’t England as we know it. England is divided and also being attacked by the Danes. Uhtred, Son of Uhtred of Bebbanburg is just a young boy when the Danes arrive. His father goes off to fight in the shield wall. This battle leaves Uhtred an orphan but also kidnapped by the Danes. He is then raised by Ragnar and becomes accepted in the Danish community. As years pass, (a lot happens here, but I want to avoid spoilers) he comes in contact with Alfred who is King of Wessex and will become to be known as Alfred the Great. Uhtred finds himself torn between these two vastly different worlds.
As I said, my hopes were high for this series and I have to say it went above and beyond! This is definitely the start of a new series obsession. I couldn’t stop listening to this book. I have my degree in European History and this is exactly the era that is one of my favorites. The author really captures the rugged wilderness and uncertainty of the time. Even though this is a fictional account, it feels so real. The research that went behind this fictional account is phenomenal. After I finished the book, I found out that the author discovered that his heritage dates back to the Saxons who controlled the fort Bebbanburg, which was the inspiration for this series. —How incredible is that?! Bernard Cornwell has officially been added to my “authors I have must meet” list.
So the descriptions and time period are fantastic, but the characters are utterly superb. We see so many familiar historical characters and it is wonderful to see them come to life outside of a history book. I really loved the collision of the two cultures, especially with the religious beliefs. (My minor in college was Religious Studies.) Uhtred is such an entertaining character. I laughed, I cried, and I already want to pick up book 2.
Not only is the writing phenomenal but the narrator, Johnathon Keeble is BRILLIANT! There is so much emotion in his voice. When he would narrate the battle scenes, it felt like he was fighting a battle. He was out of breath and yelling, and I loved every minute of it. I love when narrators really immerse themselves in the story. So this audiobook is definitely getting 5 perfect stars! I am already having withdrawals.
As I said, my hopes were high for this series and I have to say it went above and beyond! This is definitely the start of a new series obsession. I couldn’t stop listening to this book. I have my degree in European History and this is exactly the era that is one of my favorites. The author really captures the rugged wilderness and uncertainty of the time. Even though this is a fictional account, it feels so real. The research that went behind this fictional account is phenomenal. After I finished the book, I found out that the author discovered that his heritage dates back to the Saxons who controlled the fort Bebbanburg, which was the inspiration for this series. —How incredible is that?! Bernard Cornwell has officially been added to my “authors I have must meet” list.
So the descriptions and time period are fantastic, but the characters are utterly superb. We see so many familiar historical characters and it is wonderful to see them come to life outside of a history book. I really loved the collision of the two cultures, especially with the religious beliefs. (My minor in college was Religious Studies.) Uhtred is such an entertaining character. I laughed, I cried, and I already want to pick up book 2.
Not only is the writing phenomenal but the narrator, Johnathon Keeble is BRILLIANT! There is so much emotion in his voice. When he would narrate the battle scenes, it felt like he was fighting a battle. He was out of breath and yelling, and I loved every minute of it. I love when narrators really immerse themselves in the story. So this audiobook is definitely getting 5 perfect stars! I am already having withdrawals.