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A review by icarusabides
The Last Kingdom by Bernard Cornwell
5.0
Annoyed at myself for having slept on Bernard Cornwell's books for so long because they're bloody great and The Last Kingdom is no exception, in either bloodiness or greatness. Unfortunately seeing some of the TV show years ago put me off this particular series which is a real shame, especially as it turns out they compacted two thirds of this particular book into one episode. No wonder it seemed jumbled.
Uhtred son to the Ealdorman of Bebbanburg's life gets turned upside down at 8 years of age when Danes attack in force to take an unprepared Kingdom of Northumbria leading to his eventual adoption into the culture of those same conquerors. A young man growing up torn between identities of being a Dane like those who adopted him, and with whom he most easily relates, and that of the West Saxons who soon man the only surviving Kingdom not to fall to the invaders. All the while longing to reclaim his birthright as Ealdorman of Bebbanburg.
A lesser author would have made this too black and white with the evil invading Danes being the clear villains but Cornwell does a great job of creating shade throughout this story and of building in Uhtred a richly developed character of two conflicting worlds.
It's packed full of other great characters too that are written with real depth and vibrancy by Cornwell, whether they're based on real life counterparts such as King Alfred and the three sons of Lothbrok or entirely of his own creation. Like Joe Abercrombie he just seems to have a knack for writing about soldiers and the gritty harshness of war. That said there is more hope in Cornwell's world than there tends to be with Abercrombie's work.
Uhtred son to the Ealdorman of Bebbanburg's life gets turned upside down at 8 years of age when Danes attack in force to take an unprepared Kingdom of Northumbria leading to his eventual adoption into the culture of those same conquerors. A young man growing up torn between identities of being a Dane like those who adopted him, and with whom he most easily relates, and that of the West Saxons who soon man the only surviving Kingdom not to fall to the invaders. All the while longing to reclaim his birthright as Ealdorman of Bebbanburg.
A lesser author would have made this too black and white with the evil invading Danes being the clear villains but Cornwell does a great job of creating shade throughout this story and of building in Uhtred a richly developed character of two conflicting worlds.
It's packed full of other great characters too that are written with real depth and vibrancy by Cornwell, whether they're based on real life counterparts such as King Alfred and the three sons of Lothbrok or entirely of his own creation. Like Joe Abercrombie he just seems to have a knack for writing about soldiers and the gritty harshness of war. That said there is more hope in Cornwell's world than there tends to be with Abercrombie's work.