Death of Kings: Saxon Tales, Book 6

Anyone who has survived to age 10 while attending public school knows that humans, like the animals roaming the Serengeti, are divided into predators and prey. However, for humans, it's not our ability to digest meat or plant foods that divides us, but our personality/psychology. Most readers, or writers for that matter, of historical fiction, belong to the prey group and are more likely to worry about losing their lunch money to a new boy at the playground than to imagine an opportunity to take advantage of him. Generations of English teachers have been haranguing us that a character appeals to us because he is like us and we "identify" with him or her. Mr. Cornwell has mastered the art of the contrarian view, that is, that a person totally unlike us the readers can be a source of superb entertainment. In previous "Saxon Tales" novels, Mr. Cornwell has honed that skill, producing the Lord Uhtred, a schoolyard bully writ large, who not only robs other "boys" (and grown men) of their money but delights in slitting their throats and watching the blood stream out in a scarlet fountain as the expression fades from their eyes."Death of Kings" gives us another action-packed episode in Uhtred's life, and like the others, it keeps you on the edge of your seat. Why didn't I give it 5 stars, then? Because, in this book, Uhtred has reached middle age, and we know from previous encounters that he is ultimately going to regain his stronghold of Bebbanburg. Three things are troubling me about this book: one is that I was looking forward to the battle-royal to capture Bebbanburg from Uhtred's usurper uncle Aelfric, and didn't get it. The other is that as a physical warrior like Uhtred reaches middle age, he ought to be climbing the career ladder to generalship. It's apparent Mr. Cornwell is aware of that and he puts considerable intrigue and subtle maneuvering into this book, more than the others, but it still seems to me Uhtred is most at home in the center of the front rank of the shield wall, with his trusty sword Serpent's-Breath sheathed and his shorter dirk, Wasp-Sting, in his right hand while his shield is on his left arm. He's in his 40's now, which was even older, relatively speaking, in the ninth century when few people lived to be 70 than it seems now. Why isn't he watching from behind the lines, mounted, with a standard-bearer beside him to hold his halberd with the wolf's head banner? Through messengers, he could better control the battle that way, and from a horse he'd have a clear view over the infantry's heads.The third problem, from the point of view of believability, is that all his life, Uhtred has been "The Sword of the Saxons" against the Danes. However, he's still a pagan, and remains so to the end of his life, since he's telling the story in old age. In King Alfred's time, it simply seems improbable that a mature man could do this when everyone around him is Christian. Sure, a young rebel can be pagan because everyone else has embraced the new faith and he wants to be different; he also likes the Danes, he says repeatedly. But after more than 20 years of service to the Christian king, whom he had the opportunity to escape a couple of times but didn't take it, it seems to me he would eventually either convert or at least pretend to convert. Then there's the question of whether he could really have gotten away with being a pagan in King Alfred's service. In the Heimskringla, Olaf Digre, King of Norway in the 11th century, actually has people who sacrifice to pagan gods executed! In that period of aggressive, expanding Christianity, it just doesn't ring true that Uhtred could be pagan his whole life.However, these thoughts came to me after I'd finished reading the book. It's a thrilling tale of Wessex's narrow escape from chaos after King Alfred's death, amply endowed with the bloody battles we've come to enjoy in the previous books of the series, and with just a little of the commander's point of view showing. It's strongly recommended even though I didn't give it 5 stars. I have mixed feelings about criticizing an author because he didn't write the book I was expecting; the book he did write is superb entertainment and also gives you a history lesson.But I'd like to see Uhtred, in the next book, use his newly acquired wealth in land to raise a fleet and an army, and carry out his life's mission of recovering his castle. In remote Northumberland, the religion issue would seem less important, too. On to Bebbanburg!

I love the Saxon Chronicles (aka The Last Kingdom) books, they are superbly written with small details that allow for vivid visualization! HOWEVER, I ordered a used book described as being in "very good" condition, which is it clearly not, so I wouldn't trust this seller again. The cover is torn and has dried food on the front and back, there are pick marks on the cover and the inside pages are ripped from the cover. I mean, couldn't they have at leat wiped the book clean???? Gross!!!

** No Spoilers ** King Alfred of Wessex is dying, and the Viking invaders unify in hopes of unleashing an invincible army to destroy the Saxon forces once and for all. Uhtred of Bebbanburg, Sword of the Saxons seeks his destiny during this turbulent period walking the razor’s edge fighting friends and foes alike, and unable to trust no one. Death of Kings the sixth installment in a thirteen-book series known as the Saxon Tales aka The Last Kingdom written by Bernard Cornwell continues to fascinate and certainly entertain. Mr. Cornwell is rapidly becoming one of my favorite authors and I have truly enjoyed the series so far. As I have stated in previous reviews of the books, I became aware of Uhtred’s story after watching the amazing Netflix series. The television show is a great introduction into this lavish and interesting world but I find that it is the books that really provide insight into the characters and really do a wonderful job of transporting you to this period in time. Although a work of historical fiction the author weaves many real historical characters into his work. For example, if one were to study the real biography of King Alfred the Great you could not help but notice the author is none other than a 9th-century welsh scholar and Bishop our friend Asser, a constant source of irritation to Uhtred.

I am a big fan of Cornwell but this latest book worries me. Uhtred is becoming...gasp...boring. There is nothing in this book that readers of the Saxon Chronicles haven't been over before. The battles are all short and frankly boring. The best fight was toward the beginning of the book when Uhtred was defending a bridge. I found the insights into Uhtred's strategy insightful and these were entertaining, especially when he set a trap for the Danish army. However, the climatic battle was a total letdown. It seems all the villians in the book were hastily drawn so they could be dropped together for Uhtred to kill in one place then be rescued from death though you knew he wasn't going to die. After six Saxon Chronicles and the three books of the Arthurian trilogy we get it already about christianity. The endless jabs and run downs about the church are becoming overkill and are no longer interesting. It is boring that every priest and bishop that shouts at Uhtred and calls him a heretic is incompetant and bad for Wessex while the ones that drink and like women or are doddering old men like Uhtred. There are no compelling christian clergy in the series at this point, all of them are little more than directly from one dimensional central casting.It feel a bit sad when Uhtred recalls his deeds like when he killed Ubba by the sea or I remember him defending the causeway against Danes in the marsh because those were thrilling tales. Now I find myself not really caring what Uhtred is doing against this nameless Jarl or that boring warlord. Can we press fast forward to get to the battle for Bebbenburg already? This book spans about 3 or 4 years of time and half of it is spent waiting for Alfred to die. It seems to me the book would have been better served if it had started out with Alfred dying and the events of this book taking up the first half then moving forward with the plot. Uhtred apparantly receives vast estates and wealth here but does nothing to advance his cause for Bebbenburg. In fact when he is poor at the start of this book he has 53 men, but when he becomes what seems to be the second most powerful lord in Mercia he has only 143? Toward the end of the book we are given Uhtred's age as 45. That surely has to be well into old age for the dark ages (Alfred died at 50), you would think Uhtred would feel some urgency for retaking Bebbenburg.Cornwell states in the historical notes that is it a shame the history of England seems like it begins in 1066 and I find it admirable that he is writing this history of Saxon of England but perhaps it is time to wrap up this series. Edward, the new king rules for another 22 years. Are we really going to be fighting petty Danish warlords with a 55 year old Uhtred for the next 3 books? I will continue reading Cornwell because he writes the best historical fiction out there but this series needs an infusion of new blood.

I bought the first two volumes in the series on recommendation and found them to be an enjoyable read, with a sufficient historical element to carry me forward to the success of Wessex. I bought the next four books and, as I progressed, found the repetitiveness of non-historical narrative to be irksome at first and then just boring. I have lost count of the number of occasions on which the hero's choice of long versus short sword was based on the organisation (or otherwise) of the Shield Wall, on which his life and fame depended, or of the protection to spear, arrow, and axe attack from overhead by the shield of the warrior behind our hero, or of the use of the hook shape of a Danish aggresor's axe to grapple our hero's shield, drag it down and so make him vulnerable to a sword thrust. These and other repetitions fill out the pages and retard the narrative which is, for the most part, inventive, often unexpected, enjoyable and sometimes related to historical fact. After finding that much of my satisfaction came from reading the closing appendices where Cornwell clearly and succinctly relates his faction to his sources, Anglo-Saxon Chronicles to the fore, I have turned to a more accurate retelling of history and am currently enjoying a serious perusal of the life and times of King Alfred's daughter, Æthelflæd (also purchased from Amazon).

I have faithfully read all the Last Kingdom books, and it is clear now that having Uhtred the eternally grumpy narrate the story was a mistake. The world of the Anglo Saxon era warrior chieftain is brutal, limited and a bit boring. It doesn't help that all of the books seem to be set in the depths of winter, and it is either raining or dreary and cold. There is no humour, no colour, no liveliness and no positivity- all is grey. I found myself longing for a joke or any other spark of life. Uhtred hates Christianity and most Christians, and bangs on about it constantly. Who likes a hater? And the periods of actual battle are surrounded by greatly longer periods of wandering about and chit chatting about politics. I love the Anglo-saxon period, have taught myself some old English and have read many histories of that time, and I have to say these books don't really have the flavour of those vibrant and exciting times. Disappointing.

Read this book in 2011, and its the 6th volume of the "Last Kingdom" series.The book is set in the year AD 899, and King Alfred is dying, and he wants his son Edward on the throne.Various contenders will come forward to claim the throne of Wessex, Saxons and even pagan Vikings in the north.It will come to Uhtred to secure the throne for the rightful heir, due to his vow to King Alfred, and so in a tale of power and divided loyalties Uhtred will come to his senses and the powerful instrument of making Alfred's dream come true of a united England.What is to follow is an action-packed historical story where loyalties will be tested to the limit in an effort to make Wessex secure for the foreseeable future.Highly recommended, for this another great addition to this series, and that's why I like to call this episode: "A Glorious Death Of Kings"!

Uhtred returns to slay his way across England. Someone's out to get him, and he spends some of the novel trying to find out, then ends up foiling a plot by the dastardly Danes to rule Wessex.Bernard Cornwell has a workable formula. The hero is an outcast, has enemies close as well as on the other side, in addition a famous historic figure appears throughout the series, and Cornwell puts his slant on past events. Sound familiar? Could be the Arthur books, could be Sharpe. Either way, he does it very well, although with varying degrees of success.OK, so I like his stuff, but there were a few issues. The whole of the Uhtred series suffers from a lack of individuality. None of the books really stand out with a memorable story, it's all just Uhtred riding around killing people. With Sharpe, they were each self contained stories, much more linear, more memorable villains. This series suffers a little from sameness, and I have to say, far too many Aethels to work out what was what.Of course, many would say, and with some justification, that this is nit picking. Death of Kings is still a good read, but not the best that Bernard Cornwell has done.Other books you might like to read Cold Steel on the Rocks We Are Cold Steel Kalter Stahl auf den Felsen Wir Sind Kalter StahlCold Steel on the RocksWe Are Cold SteelKalter Stahl auf den FelsenWir Sind Kalter Stahl

As the series progresses, the believable and enthralling story does not waver once. Each character is unique and caused their own draw of emotional connection, be it a level of hatred, like for athelwold, or admiration, like for aethelflead.This story sees Alfred's torch of uniting England passed on to his son, who is far less equipped than his father for this role, at the moment at least. Interestingly, when the Danes gear of Alfred's passing, they do not attack straight away, but wait and wait, spreading false hope, even if not intentionally. They do however break the peace eventually, like Uhtred knew they would.I will be diving straight into the next book as soon as possible.