Sword Song

I am a huge fan but you get the feeling that his mind is elsewhere when reading this. I heard the author give a talk a while ago (when this book came out) and he didn't want to talk about it, but did seem really excited about his new Agincourt book he was working on.
The good news is this new book sounds great and I'm looking forward to it, the bad news is Sword Song just feels rushed and too short and bit lazy from the author

Not bad but the weakest so far (0/0 people found this helpful)

We're back on the warpath with Uhtred. Except we're not really.
There isn't much of an arc to this book. Uhtred is in pretty much the same position at the end as at the start.

Cornwell himself states in the epilogue that this is the most fictional of the books so far and I think this shows. I suppose there are only so many battles of that period for him to fight. It does feel like a stop gap book.

It's not a bad book though. The story such as it is romps along. Ragnar is not present but Pyrlig, Steepa and a few others join the fun.

Well worth £7 but I hope the next book is back to the form of the others. 3.5 really.

Exellent again. (0/0 people found this helpful)

This may be the best book yet as there is a major fight as Uhtred and Steapa and others take London and you dont have to wait til the end of the book. New Vikings have arrived from Norway and it is up to Uhtred to save the Kingdom. King Alfreds daughter is now married to Uhtreds cousin and in a twist of fate here very existence becomes a threat to King Alfred and Uhtred must decide who's side he is really on as he decides the whole future of England. This book tells the story of the making of England and is based on real events. A gripping story of love, deceit and lots of violence told through the eyes of Uhtred, Alfreds 'Lord of War'.The next installement is due out on 5th Oct 2009.

9thcentury fascination (1/1 people found this helpful)

Bernard Cornwell has a way of drawing you into his stories, having read all 4 in this series and most of the Sharpe series I developed a desire to know more of this period to the extent that I am now doing Ancient History and Archaeology at Uni. I certainly don't doze off reading his 'histories' but I certainly do my archaeology text, that is till I find something on my fav periods - Roman - Saxon - Viking occupation of Britain. He brings the status of warriors to the fore and illustrates the fragility of 'honour' - being sold into slavery to appease another warlord is a harsh reality but not uncommon for the period.
'Destiny is inexorable' - you can't outrun your fate, everything happens for a reason and this series shows that beautifully. No matter how you try to deviate from the path - it draws you back.
When is the next installment.

'I was death come from the morning' (6/7 people found this helpful)

'Sword Song' is set in a 9th century England divided between the Saxon kingdom of Wessex in the south and the Danish kingdom of the north.

As in the preceding three novels, Uhtred dominates this story. While his heroic actions are generally physical, his capacity to analyse situations and act quickly endow him with some very attractive leadership qualities. I enjoy the action in these novels and while I have a different mental picture of Alfred the Great, I can accept the picture as painted through Uhtred's eyes.

These are good novels in an historical setting, and breathe life into a time long past.

Highly recommended.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

Bernard Cornwell

Reader Reviews:

His mind is not on this book (0/0 people found this helpful)

Not bad but the weakest so far (0/0 people found this helpful)

Exellent again. (0/0 people found this helpful)

9thcentury fascination (1/1 people found this helpful)

'I was death come from the morning' (6/7 people found this helpful)

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