Death of Kings (The Warrior Chronicles, Book 6) (The Last Kingdom Series)

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After a little pause, the King stretched out his hand, and the axe fell, the executioner severing his head in one clean blow. A strong chapter in the tales of Uhtred, though I have to wonder if he's ever going to go north and retake his castle as he's been threatening since Book 1? I was feeling slightly fatigued from continuous epic fantasy reads, and this was the right book for me to take a break and recharge. Alfred was dying and his death would surely bring the pagan swords and hearth fire to Mercia and Wessex. Super octavo softcover (VG+); all our specials have minimal description to keep listing them viable.

Finally, I don’t want to leave the impression that the present novel is all about politics and palace intrigue. Fate, choices, faith, loyalties, and legacies remained the main themes of this particular installment; I really enjoyed reading this book. The food that I eat, the hall where I live and the swords of my men, all started with Alfred, who hated me at times, loved me at times, and was generous with me. The dashing and glamourous Henry V probably died of cancer of the rectum, a fate that also befell Edward I.

Cornwell wanted to start the series with the Siege of Badajoz but decided instead to start with a couple of "warm-up" novels. Uhtred is eager to conquer enemies before they get too strong and wangles a way to reveal their intentions. He is, by his lights, a man of integrity and loyalty, he recognizes his faults (though doesn't seem to want to do anything to address them which somehow makes him more attractively honest)and he has the great fortune to gather around himself some very quick witted and funny comrades. She is estranged from her treacherous Saxon husband and is now tucked away by Alfred in a nunnery, neither of which stops Uhtred.

It is extraordinary how many variations of Aethel-something can be crammed into a couple of dynasties. It seems like Bernard has got a bit of a template now for each story in the series, making it a bit repetitive.

The protagonist is an archer who participates in the Battle of Agincourt, another devastating defeat suffered by the French in the Hundred Years War. Uhtred, the King’s warrior, Viking born but Saxon bred, wants more than anything else to go and fight to reclaim his stolen Northumbrian inheritance.

As a king he has chosen the path of religion, and his forgiveness of his enemies will be paid in blood by the succesion wars that are sure to follow.On his death bed he tries one more time to unify England under the banner of Wessex, and, as ever, Uthred must lead this final unrewarding attempt. Alfred wants his son, Edward, to succeed him but there are other Saxon claimants to the throne as well as ambitious pagan Vikings to the north. Uhtred retreats to a rotten fort at Cracgelad only to be surrounded by a Danish force led by Haesten. Fortunately for King Edward, son and heir of Alfred, Uhtred has a special relationship with his sister Aethelflaed, because his oath to Alfred does not transfer to the son.