This is the third Saxon Chronicles book by Cornwell that I’ve read in a row.  The first one, The Last Kingdom, I read last year.  All four of the books have been enjoyable, but let me throw out a few applicable clichés.

“It’s possible to have too much of a good thing.”

“Everything in moderation.”

“The early bird gets the worm.”

The first two apply to reading three of these books in a row.  The third one does not. Frankly, I was just on a roll and didn’t feel like deleting it.

In this installment, Uhtred fights, he swears oaths, he wishes he could break his oath, he fights some more, he contemplates, he does some more fighting, he comes close to dying, and then he fights a bit more.  I surmise that had I read this book a year after reading the previous one, I would have thoroughly enjoyed it. As it was, it was too much of a good thing.  The plot had too many of the same aspects of the previous books.

That’s not to say the book isn’t good. I enjoyed it. It’s a solid installment for the series, and I’ll definitely read the next book as it looks like there is more to come. However, I warn you Dear Reader, everything in moderation.

3 stars – See our rating system here

Bernard Cornwell continues his epic tale with Uhtred of Bebbanburg.  After helping Alfred reclaim Wessex in The Pale Horesman, Uhtred is given a small land holding. Taking offense with the meager reward, Uhtred buries his wealth and heads north to reclaim his ancestral home.

Along the way, he unwittingly frees a slave that has been picked to become the king of Northumbria.  Uhtred sees Guthrum as his means to recapturing his own homeland, so they set off together to reclaim Northumbria from the Danes.

What follows is a rousing tale of revenge, treachery and redemption.  Uhtred comes so close to seeing his dreams realized, only to find himself in worse trouble than he could have imagined. Rescued by Alfred, whom he hates, he once again finds himself sworn to him.

The action in the book doesn’t waver from the previous tale.  Great fight scenes, interesting characters, and changing allegiances kept me intrigued throughout. Cornwell treats us once again with a historical note about the characters, what they really did, and which ones were made up.  He also reveals that he is descended from a family with the name Uhtred who ruled in Bebbanburg.  I thought that was an interesting aside to what continues to be a great series.

3 star – see the book rating explanation here