Reviews

The Last Kingdom by Bernard Cornwell

car_theauthor's review against another edition

adventurous medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

tmessersmith89'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

5.0

sandysmith's review

adventurous dark emotional informative tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I'm gradually adding books I've read in 2021 to give a true reflection of the books I've read since keeping records.  This was the first book I read in 2021, and is what kick started my reading journey having put reading on the back burner whilst bringing up the children, previously being an avid reader.  A story of Alfred and Ahtred. Historical fiction (Saxons). Ahtred is born in the 9th century  and orphaned at 10. Captured and adopted by a Dane and taught the viking ways. Could to Alfred King of Wessex who survives a Danish assault. The struggles between the English and the Danes, Christianity versus paganism. Marriage ties him to the saxons, so he fights against the Danes who adopted him. So very far out of my comfort zone, picked as a bookclub choice that I would never had chosen for myself but I ended up enjoying it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Rape, and War

Moderate: Blood, Slavery, and Miscarriage

skylabeouf's review

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

3.75

jackiescozyspace's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

david_during's review against another edition

adventurous funny tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

dariatomescu29's review against another edition

4.0

i’m emotionally attached to this book.

now we shall see if i’m mentally prepared to read 12

donahuebn's review against another edition

3.0

It’s a great historical drama with an intriguing storyline. It is mostly about war and fighting (obviously) so it took discipline to keep myself engaged. Overall, I enjoyed what I learned about history through this novel.

celtic67's review

4.0

A good start to the Saxon Stories by Bernard Cornwell. The story of Alfred and Uhtred, polar opposites in many ways. Great and easy read. I look forward to reading more of Uhtred's saga.

echoesofbattle's review

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

In other words, we thought the word would go on as it ever did. 

And at the foot of Yggdrasil, the tree of life, the three spinners 

mocked us.

I normally really dislike first person stories, but an older and wiser Uhtred editorializing his early life was super interesting. Big The Phoenix on the Sword energy.