r2bone's review
3.0
another good read from the adventures of Uthred...Maybe i read it too fast but it seemed to be a shorter book than the previous ones.
clayjd's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
ynait's review
2.0
It was a huge disappointing. I quit,c'est la vie, 10 books later I don't care anymore.
croissandra's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
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
4.0
mhkennadixon's review
5.0
Just as good as the rest of this series!! Always excited to read the next book.
tasmanian_bibliophile's review against another edition
4.0
‘When we are young we yearn for battle.’
As Book 10 of ‘The Last Kingdom’ series opens, Uhtred has still not returned to Bebbanburg. But under cover of an uneasy peace between Æthelflæd’s Mercia and Northumbria, now ruled by Uhtred’s son-in-law Sigtryggr, Uhtred has a plan.
‘We make plans, but the gods and the three Norns at the foot of Yggdrasil decide our fate.’
Uhtred’s plan looks doomed, when the Scots lay claim to the north of England, and the West Saxons, led by Æthelhelm invade Northumbria from the south. Can Uhtred, with a small army, defeat both the West Saxons and the Scots? How? Will Uhtred recapture Bebbanburg? Will this be the last novel in the series?
While this novel is shorter than the other novels in the series, there is no shortage of action and intrigue. Uhtred has a number of enemies and rivals, all interested in retaining or capturing Bebbanburg. One of the most intriguing characters is ‘the mad bishop’: A Danish jarl named Dagfinnr ‘who had declared himself the Bishop of Gyruum and given himself a new name, Ieremias.’
It’s difficult to avoid spoilers when writing about this novel. If you’ve enjoyed the series so far, you’ll find this novel satisfying. I read this book quickly, keen to know how it would end, keen to see if Uhtred would finally return to Bebbanburg. After all, he’s not getting any younger. If you’ve not read the first nine books, I strongly recommend that you do before reading this one. Uhtred’s backstory and the setting are all important.
While it’s important, for those concerned with historical accuracy, to read Mr Cornwell’s historical note to differentiate fact from fiction, I just get swept up in the story. Uhtred is real, to me, and I’ve been following his fortunes closely for the past twelve years.
I finished this book satisfied, but wanting more.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
As Book 10 of ‘The Last Kingdom’ series opens, Uhtred has still not returned to Bebbanburg. But under cover of an uneasy peace between Æthelflæd’s Mercia and Northumbria, now ruled by Uhtred’s son-in-law Sigtryggr, Uhtred has a plan.
‘We make plans, but the gods and the three Norns at the foot of Yggdrasil decide our fate.’
Uhtred’s plan looks doomed, when the Scots lay claim to the north of England, and the West Saxons, led by Æthelhelm invade Northumbria from the south. Can Uhtred, with a small army, defeat both the West Saxons and the Scots? How? Will Uhtred recapture Bebbanburg? Will this be the last novel in the series?
While this novel is shorter than the other novels in the series, there is no shortage of action and intrigue. Uhtred has a number of enemies and rivals, all interested in retaining or capturing Bebbanburg. One of the most intriguing characters is ‘the mad bishop’: A Danish jarl named Dagfinnr ‘who had declared himself the Bishop of Gyruum and given himself a new name, Ieremias.’
It’s difficult to avoid spoilers when writing about this novel. If you’ve enjoyed the series so far, you’ll find this novel satisfying. I read this book quickly, keen to know how it would end, keen to see if Uhtred would finally return to Bebbanburg. After all, he’s not getting any younger. If you’ve not read the first nine books, I strongly recommend that you do before reading this one. Uhtred’s backstory and the setting are all important.
While it’s important, for those concerned with historical accuracy, to read Mr Cornwell’s historical note to differentiate fact from fiction, I just get swept up in the story. Uhtred is real, to me, and I’ve been following his fortunes closely for the past twelve years.
I finished this book satisfied, but wanting more.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
booklover_bev's review
5.0
This series just gets better and better as Uhtred and his band of warriors get older and greyer. This book has all the ingredients from the previous books - great dialogue, an interesting plot, and an ending that kept me on the edge of my seat! Throw in the bad boy Vikings and the Scots, and the story just got even better. Great stuff. I'm now looking forward to the next book in the series!
baileyes's review
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Gore and War
mkrmkr's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0