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alyssafraley's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
skylabeouf's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
loveinkind's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
informative
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
stormlightreader's review against another edition
3.5
The book focuses a lot on Uhtred’s role to provide for his men despite being poor, which is good to address. It's one thing I always think about when watching the show - how loyal his followers must be to follow him through thick and thin for little reward. He attempts to take back Bebbanburg but is unsuccessful. He's very cold in this book (disowning Uhtred, his attitude of women ). I missed how much of my favourite characters (Finan, Æthelflaed) that we got in the previous book. This book was also less atmospheric. Normally I get a real sense of the story and how the Saxon and Norse influences on Uhtred are very much at odds, but this feels lacking in this book. Despite feeling like a filler, this book still had some great battle scenes. I just wish Alexander Dreymon narrated these books.
skepticcurmudgeon's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this one more than the last couple. Uhtred is not quite as indestructable but craftier than ever.
christina_a_f's review
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
mjporterauthor's review against another edition
4.0
I've not read a Bernard Cornwell book for some years. I think I simply ran out of enthusiasm for Uhtred and his ways, there's only so many ways he can be obnoxious and right, all at the same time.
It's an odd book, as aimless and listless as its main character for the first 50%, and the constant gripping about the weather annoyed me as much as old Bamburgh being described as grey and forbidding (the sun does shine in the North you know!) but as I've moaned about that a lot before I shan't go on about it too much (honest!). The last 50% is just a rush into the final battle, and Uhtred being proved right, as normal!
There's a nice twist at the end, but as the next book is already out, and the after notes allude to what's happening next, it almost seems a little pointless.
Will I read the next one? Probably, but only when it's out in p/back and only because I'm waiting to see if the sun will shine on Bamburgh when Uhtred claims it back.
It's an odd book, as aimless and listless as its main character for the first 50%, and the constant gripping about the weather annoyed me as much as old Bamburgh being described as grey and forbidding (the sun does shine in the North you know!) but as I've moaned about that a lot before I shan't go on about it too much (honest!). The last 50% is just a rush into the final battle, and Uhtred being proved right, as normal!
There's a nice twist at the end, but as the next book is already out, and the after notes allude to what's happening next, it almost seems a little pointless.
Will I read the next one? Probably, but only when it's out in p/back and only because I'm waiting to see if the sun will shine on Bamburgh when Uhtred claims it back.