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blueinkandpaperstars's review against another edition
adventurous
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? Yes
4.0
lmmountford's review against another edition
3.0
Of all the Uthred Books, think i've enjoyed this the least of all. I was very disappointed by how all of Uthred's old enemies were all killed off and with so little emotion. I'm not sure but it has the feeling that there are not to be many more Uthred books left and this was the cleaning house before the finally. Appart from that, there was no finall showdown, merely a brush over and that was a major anti-climax. Also there was some unanswered questions, the whore Mus, why was she trying to stir things up between the two forces, why was she playing her double act, and did her husband know?
Very dissapointing after the year wait.
Very dissapointing after the year wait.
jonnyrwhit's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
fermqs's review against another edition
5.0
Meu autor favorito da vida continuando uma das melhores séries que já escreveu (compete com As Crônicas de Artur). Como esse já é o nono livro, não tem muito o que possa dizer que não vá estragar a série. Mas, se ainda não leu essa série, por favor comece! O Bernard Cornwell descreve as melhores batalhas de guerra e os melhores personagens (Uthred e Finan e AEthelflaed <3). Focada na unificação da Inglaterra e na luta contra os vikings, a quantidade de pesquisa e a habilidade do autor são absurdas.
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susani_'s review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this book! So much that I ignored all my uni work to spend today reading this💁🏻♀️
It was worth it!
It was worth it!
thejdizzler's review against another edition
3.0
Fun, but kind of same-y. Uhtred seems to get out of everything with little cost to himself, which makes for some crazy fun battles that lack in tension because it's obvious he's going to live.
constantreader471's review against another edition
4.0
This is the 49th book that I have read by Bernard Cornwell and I have enjoyed every one. My late father in law introduced me to Cornwell and I will be forever grateful. In this book, #9 in the Saxon Stories series, Uhtred of Bebbanburg faces a formidable enemy, Ragnall Ivarson, a Northman who has recruited Irish mercenaries and Northumbrians to invade and take over Mercia, attacking Uhtred first.
How Uhtred confronts them makes for a rousing tale that I read in 3 days.
The Saxon Stories are set in 9th century England, with Saxons fighting encroaching Northmen and Danes. Cornwell's battle scenes are vivid and probably the best in this genre of historical fiction.
One quote: "Thirty paces, twenty, and you can see the eyes of the men who will try to kill you, and see the spear blades, and the instinct is to stop, to straighten the shields. We cringe from battle, fear claws at us, time seems to stop, there is silence though a thousand men shout, and at that moment, when terror savages the heart like a trapped beast, you must hurl yourself into the horror."
This was a library book.
How Uhtred confronts them makes for a rousing tale that I read in 3 days.
The Saxon Stories are set in 9th century England, with Saxons fighting encroaching Northmen and Danes. Cornwell's battle scenes are vivid and probably the best in this genre of historical fiction.
One quote: "Thirty paces, twenty, and you can see the eyes of the men who will try to kill you, and see the spear blades, and the instinct is to stop, to straighten the shields. We cringe from battle, fear claws at us, time seems to stop, there is silence though a thousand men shout, and at that moment, when terror savages the heart like a trapped beast, you must hurl yourself into the horror."
This was a library book.
jaggert's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
aiight's review against another edition
2.0
I guess these books are not meant to be read back-to-back because it really starts to feel like the author copy-pasted large sections of writing from book to book to book (e.g. battle descriptions and Uhtred's ruminations, among others). The character development is very thin here, and the book feels like filler because it is a setup to (hopefully) the main character finally returning to take back his home. Cornwell admits this story is more fictionalized than previous books and that also shows. The plot is also thin, relying on a lot of questionable last minute persuasions of warriors to break their oaths which they all conveniently do. It has been several books since Uhtred has experienced any consequences for his rash decisions and it makes it feel like he can't lose no matter what he does. At least in the early books, he might win some or lose some. You didn't know what could happen. Now everything feels preordained and so there is no tension. Hopefully Cornwell can recreate some of the magic from those early books.