Reviews

I've read reviews that complain of tiresome writing and following an aging warrior, but if you're going to invest in a series, you need to accept that the writing is likely to become fairly formulaic and yes, the main character is going to age.

I am very much a series person. I like changing places and adding new characters, but ultimately following a character, or group of characters. Warriors of the Storm was a good instalment in the series, with some great character development and appearances.

It was great to get some of

Finan's backstory but it wrapped up too quickly for my liking

. However, getting some more on what

drove Finan from Ireland

was good. We got some friction between

Uhtred and Æthelflaed,

which makes sense since they tend to disagree (and we didn't really see friction between them in the show).

Æthelflaed

does so much more in the books and that's so good to see.

Even though her position as queen is disputed by a lot of male characters

, it's what you'd expect given the time period the books are set in and this didn't feel like it was addressed as much in the show. Stiorra is incredible in the books! I like her in the show but in the books she is fantastic!

Stiorra kills Brida in the show and the books but in the books it's even more wildly done

. Excellent scene.

Overall, it felt like a bit of a filler but better than The Pagan Lord and still enjoyable.

mjporterauthor's review against another edition

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4.0

I am, as many people know, a grudging reader of the Uhtred books. I want to like them much more than I do (and having reread Books 1 and 2 recently I know that the series started very strongly, and that the TV series has been a very poor cousin) but I'm growing tired of Uhtred always being right (is anyone a king within England at this time who hasn't been put there by Uhtred? - why then has he not managed to take back Bebbanburg?), and I think the opportunity has been missed to make more of his second oldest son, the other Uhtred. I also really have a problem with the use of the terms Wales, Scotland and Ireland whilst insisting on using the Anglo-Saxon spellings for the places in England - whilst people might find it comforting, there was no Wales, Scotland or Ireland at this time or even Engaland (or however that's being spelt as well).
This book feels contrived, and when I got to the end of it I was dismayed to learn that this was the least historical of the books so far (although, I think I'd maybe guessed along the way). The lack of dates is frustrating, and although we're learning that Uhtred is old, I wouldn't mind knowing how old he actually is. Will he live forever, becoming as immortal as his Gods? Who knows?
The use of the phrase wolf-light is liberal, it never seems to do anything but rain in Anglo-Saxon England and yet, and yet, it was an okay read and it kept me quiet for a weekend. It's also the first book that I've read in about 2 months, so it can't be all bad. Can it? It's easier to criticise than heap praise and yet, when I read the 'blurb' comments, I can't help thinking I've maybe read the wrong book!

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