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Death of Kings (The Saxon Stories #6)

4.16 of 5 stars 4.16 · rating details · 2,904 ratings · 321 reviews

The fate of a new nation rests in the hands of a reluctant warrior in this thrilling sixth volume in the acclaimed New York Times bestselling Saxon Tales series.

As the ninth century wanes, Alfred the Great lies dying, his dream of a unified England in danger and his kingdom on the brink of chaos. While his son, Edward, has been named his successor, there are other Saxon cl...more

Hardcover, 321 pages

Published January 17th 2012 by Harper (first published September 29th 2011)

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Apr 24, 2013 StoryTellerShannon rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: action, books-reviewed, historical-fiction, owned, need-reviewing

Uhtred is back in the sixth installment of the Saxon series. King Alfred (later known as Alfred the Great to us) is dying and is dead partway through the story, leaving the kingdom open to attack from different opponents, especially the Danes.

But they don't attack right away and this puzzles Uhtred so he goes off exploring into Dane territory as well as seeking the input from a witch. Of course, more is happening than Uhtred realizes and don't worry because there will be fighting with Danes. T...more

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May 16, 2012 Paula Lofting rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The blurb: The 6th book in the Uhtred series. As usual, Uhtred is at odds with most of his fellow countrymen, hunted by the Danes that he admires and banished to an impoverished estate in Mercia. His only ally is his lover Aethelflaed, Lady of the Mercians and King Alfred's daughter. When the King dies, Uhtred is compelled as usual to swear another oath and this time he pledges to serve his old King's son, Edward, the new king and ensure that Edward's cousin, Aethelwold, his cousin, does not get...more

The blurb: The 6th book in the Uhtred series. As usual, Uhtred is at odds with most of his fellow countrymen, hunted by the Danes that he admires and banished to an impoverished estate in Mercia. His only ally is his lover Aethelflaed, Lady of the Mercians and King Alfred's daughter. When the King dies, Uhtred is compelled as usual to swear another oath and this time he pledges to serve his old King's son, Edward, the new king and ensure that Edward's cousin, Aethelwold, his cousin, does not get his hands on the crown.But Edward's council of churchmen do not trust Uhtred who urges the young king to fight the Danes and Aethelwold who leads them in an alliance to gain Wessex. The council want Edward to play the peacemaker and employ a policy on conversion to Christianity for their enemies. The Danes talk peace, but really want war and it is up to Uhtred to stop them from destroying the Wessex of the English.

Bernard Cornwell is a master at writing historical fiction, interweaving facts with his creative story-telling and uses literary licence to play with characters both fictional and non-fictional. An example of this is where he has Uhtred, his fictional hero, as the lover of the non-fictional heroine. He researches his subjects very well and where there is ambiguity, he comes up with a plausable rationale and scene to create a readable story. Much of the sources available for writers of this time is sketchy and he openly admits to using his imagination to fill in the gaps. This he does in this book without taking the true account way off kilter and still manages to stay within the historical parameters. Even the love affair with Aethelflaed does not seem too outrageously historically incongruous.

Mr Cornwell is not one of the most flowery authors, but knows how to keep a story flowing without too much bother. I am not normally a fan of books written in the first person but Uhtred is one of my favoutrite characters of a hist fict novel, however he does sometimes come accross as subhuman and predictable. However the scene where he becomes emotional, a rare occurrence for him, as he waits by the bedside of King Alfred actually moved me to tears. Not something that a BC book has ever done before! Very impressive!

The plot is there and as usual pretty predictable but filled with all the great characters that have followed Uhtred throughout his journey. There is little character development amongst them all which is somewhat disappointing at times but Uhtred still remains a page turner at times. The battle scenes read much better in this volume than any of the others and did not become as drawn out as they sometimes do in other books written by this author.

In the end, a jolly good historical yarn and romp and i'm looking forward to the next one and stillwaiting for him to get Bebbanburgh back(less)

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Oct 02, 2011 Lee Broderick rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, fiction-historical

Uhtred is back. Without giving away plot spoilers though, the book occupies awkward territory. We know it's the penultimate book in the series and the entire novel reads like a build up to that climax. Which it is; a cruel trick to play on us readers and I can only hope that the final volume arrives a little more quickly than this episode did.

Uhtred has some fun along the way, but is mostly chasing shadows through the book, and it's always a little disappointing to figure things out before the h...more

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Feb 22, 2013 Jorgen Schäfer rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction

Der historische Roman Der sterbende König von Bernard Cornwell beginnt am Ende des neunten Jahrhunderts, zu einer Zeit, als sich die Dänen überraschend ruhig verhalten. König Alfred liegt im Sterben und sein Nachfolger Edward ist in Skandale verwickelt. Trotz dieser günstigen Gelegenheit scheinen die Dänen nicht angreifen zu wollen. Der Frieden, den der Christengott verspricht, scheint wahr zu werden. Als Kriegsherr Uhtred zu einer Bündnisverhandlung mit einem benachbarten König entsendet wird,...more

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Dec 15, 2012 Quinby6696 Frank rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I've never been able to get interested in Bernard Cornwell's Sharpe novels, but I love his other books!. Death of Kings (Saxon Tales) is a mesmerizing account of the death of Alfred the Great and the struggles of his successors to keep his dream of a united England alive. It doesn't matter that it takes at least half of the book to get the Aethelms, and Aelfadells, and Aethelflads straight in your head-- never mind the Sigulfs, and Sigurds, and Sigunns. You're routing for Uhtred the main charact...more

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Dec 14, 2012 Andrew Macrae rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

“Death of Kings” by Bernard Cornwell

The year is 899. The Saxons and Danes are locked in a centuries-old struggle for the British Isles. King Alfred the Great of Wessex is dying, the Danes are on the move, and in the middle of it all strides Saxon Lord Uhtred.

The story opens with yet another attempt on Uhtred’s life. Who, he wonders as he handily dispatches his attackers, wants him dead now? The Danes whom Uhtred has repeatedly defeated in battle? Another Saxon king who knows Uhtred has sworn all...more

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Oct 17, 2012 Ish Healy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: blog-reviews

Alfred the Great is dying, and the kingdom that he has spent his life building is poised to be torn apart by his many rivals. Enter Uhtred of Bebbanburg, Alfred's semi-tamed pagan warrior, who is in love with Alfred's daughter and has grown to share Alfred's dream of a united England.

I love the journey that Uhtred has taken in this series, and Death of Kings shows him finally beginning to be recognized for all he has done. To me that's always been the most infuriating thing about this series: e...more Alfred the Great is dying, and the kingdom that he has spent his life building is poised to be torn apart by his many rivals. Enter Uhtred of Bebbanburg, Alfred's semi-tamed pagan warrior, who is in love with Alfred's daughter and has grown to share Alfred's dream of a united England.

I love the journey that Uhtred has taken in this series, and Death of Kings shows him finally beginning to be recognized for all he has done. To me that's always been the most infuriating thing about this series: every time Uhtred accomplishes something he's very completely pushed back down into his place. I don't think a post-Alfred Wessex will be all that much more forgiving of Uhtred's pagan ways than the Alfredian Wessex, but at the same time I know the history and I know the tide's about to really turn for the Anglo-Saxons in the war against the Danes. I know it's only a matter of time before Uhtred really gets the recognition he deserves from the king that he so resentfully acknowledges and yet loyally defends, and this novel shows the start of that recognition. My favourite part of it all is the way in which Uhtred uses Lady Æthelflæd. Their love has been one that's long in the development, and I love the nature that it's taken - especially as Uhtred doesn't change the way that he acts when she's not around.

The one thing that actually really annoyed me about this novel was the anachronastic language. Previous books have always referred to the people using more time appropriate language; it wasn't the English, Welsh, and Scots fighting against the Danes so much as the Anglo-Saxons, Britons, and Picts, with references to the Gauls and the Celts. This book speaks of Scotland and Wales, to my great disliking. I really hope that it's just in my edition that this has happened, although I know better than to think that it is. Having read a lot of Cornwell's works before, in particular the similarly timed and themed Warlord Chronicles I was especially disappointed by this switch just because it didn't seem like him. It was a downside to an otherwise stellar book.

http://ishreviews.blogspot.ca/2012/10...(less)

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Jul 27, 2012 Ricardo rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: bernard-cornwell

Bernard Cornwell revela-se como um autor que aproveita os espaços em branco que há na História para aí colocar os seus romances, tramas plenas de imaginação de mãos dadas com situações documentadas. Apesar de na sua generalidade a escrita ser magnética, o anterior volume das Saxon Chronicles (The Burning Land) havia sido um longo bocejo de alguma banalidade. Perguntei-me na altura se a vontade do autor em escrever estas narrativas sobre a formação de Inglaterra pelos olhos de um seu longínquo an...more Bernard Cornwell revela-se como um autor que aproveita os espaços em branco que há na História para aí colocar os seus romances, tramas plenas de imaginação de mãos dadas com situações documentadas. Apesar de na sua generalidade a escrita ser magnética, o anterior volume das Saxon Chronicles (The Burning Land) havia sido um longo bocejo de alguma banalidade. Perguntei-me na altura se a vontade do autor em escrever estas narrativas sobre a formação de Inglaterra pelos olhos de um seu longínquo antepassado não se estaria a tornar um enfado e, quando comprei o mais recente volume (Death of Kings) , temi que pudesse ser um desperdício de dinheiro.

Tal não foi o caso e Bernard Cornwell redime-se totalmente nesta obra desse pecado que foi o volume anterior! Com Alfred cada vez mais doente começam as manobras de bastidores para a conquista de Wessex. Os reinos Vikings reúnem tripulações para a vitória final e os reinos Saxões manobram nos bastidores para assegurar que estão na linha da frente da sucessão, todos eles ameaçando o sonho do soberano em unir todas as terras dos Saxões. Peça central de ambas as tramas é Uthred, o senhor da guerra que tem actuado como o Escudo de Mercia, e que neste volume assume a vontade de ser a Espada dos Saxões. Preso por votos de lealdade à irmã de Edward, descendente predilecto de Alfred ao trono, todas as facções vão tentar removê-lo das contas da sucessão.

Pela sucinta descrição da obra dá para perceber que as grandes batalhas, imagem de marca de Cornwell pelo realismo visceral com que as descreve, não serão presença assídua nesta obra. Esse é precisamente o ponto mais forte! A obra que temos em mãos acaba por ser uma agradável mistura de intrigas e jogos de bastidores, sempre com o conflito do pagão Uthred com os beatos cristãos, com a dose certa de confrontos e que culmina com a muito aguardada grande batalha, para que então os adeptos mais tradicionalistas não se sintam defraudados.

A narração é, como nos outros volumes, feita a partir das impressões de Uthred o que significa que o leitor vai tendo o desfiar das intrigas à medida que elas são reveladas ao personagem, ou à medida que o personagem as vai resolvendo. Sim, porque neste volume a idade começa a atingir Uthred, com ele a recordar alguns episódios marcantes e a perder um pouco a imagem de bruto que resolve todos os problemas com a espada.

Death of Kings não representa a morte definitiva do autor, da série e muito menos da vontade dos leitores em lerem a sua conclusão , pelo contrário representa o início da sucessão de Alfred e com ela uma nova possibilidade para Cornwell empregar a sua pena a preencher os intervalos da História com batalhas apaixonantes e intrigas saídas de uma das mentes mais marcantes do panorama livresco actual.(less)

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May 14, 2012 Mark rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: anyone keen on blood and gore but able to cross their legs

Recommended to Mark by: W H Smith

Shelves: audiobooks, first-person-narration

A few days ago I was sent the following joke.

'A girl, no better than she should be, goes to the local council to gain some help. She has ten sons and when asked their names she says
"Nathan, Nathan, Nathan, Nathan etc ". The official asks her 'Isn't that a bit confusing ?'. 'No', she says 'It makes my life so much easier. I just go out into the street and say 'Nathan, time for bed' or 'Nathan, time for supper' and in they come. Simple as that'.

'But what happens if you want to speak to one individ...more

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May 05, 2012 Robin Carter rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction

I have to say that recently with Bernard Cornwell my loyalty to his skill and many years in the business have kept me coming back more that the books, dont get me wrong they were a good read, but they were not books i "HAD" to read, you know, the type that jumps to the top of your reading pile.

Well Death of Kings puts that to bed, Bernard is really back to his best, for me at least. I always loved the sarcasm and explosive violence of Uthred, his utter disregard for the church in a time where ev...more I have to say that recently with Bernard Cornwell my loyalty to his skill and many years in the business have kept me coming back more that the books, dont get me wrong they were a good read, but they were not books i "HAD" to read, you know, the type that jumps to the top of your reading pile.

Well Death of Kings puts that to bed, Bernard is really back to his best, for me at least. I always loved the sarcasm and explosive violence of Uthred, his utter disregard for the church in a time where everyone wanted to prove how pious they were. This went a bit stale in the last couple of books, but in Death of Kings its like he has a new lease on life and a new lease on his unique view of how the world should be.

As usual the wirting skills are self evident from a man classed as " Mr Historical Fiction" by his peers, this time this is back coupled with the pace power and plot we the readers knew in the early uthred and the Early sharpe books. This really is a man back to his best.

I highly reccomend this book...especially for those with a sarcastic personality and those who like their history to be a little more real.

(Parm)

Product Description (From Back of Book)
The master of historical fiction presents the iconic story of King Alfred and the making of a nation.

As the ninth century wanes, England appears about to be plunged into chaos once more. For the Viking-raised but Saxon-born warrior, Uhtred, whose life seems to shadow the making of England, this presents him with difficult choices.

King Alfred is dying and his passing threatens the island of Britain to renewed warfare. 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`s loyalty - and his vows - were to Alfred, not to his son, and despite his long years of service to Alfred, he is still not committed to the Saxon cause. His own desire is to reclaim his long lost lands and castle to the north. But the challenge to him, as the king's warrior, is that he knows that he will either be the means of making Alfred's dream of a united and Christian England come to pass or be responsible for condemning it to oblivion.

This novel is a dramatic story of the power of tribal commitment and the terrible difficulties of divided loyalties.

This is the making of England magnificently brought to life by the master of historical fiction. (less)

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Apr 12, 2012 Jamie Langes rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Another great continuation of the story of Uhtred!

As with the other 5 Saxon stories, this novel offers the evolution of the Saxons toward Englishman via a continuation of Uhtred's narrative. What I think is both great about the other stories in the series but also a bit more unique about this novel in the series, is the clever military strategy. The Death of Kings really does keep you guessing as to what will happen across the chess board. There are many moving parts to consider, and the betraya...more

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Mar 31, 2012 Stephen rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Alfred the Great, King of Wessex, lays on his deathbed. Aged and long infirm, he has created a legacy to be proud of. He has united most of the Saxons under his kingdom, and for decades defended Britain against the expansion of the Danes. But his work is not yet complete; many still live within the realm of the Danish conquerors, and even what unity he has achieved may be destroyed upon his death, as Danish armies use it as an opportunity to resume their expansion. Alfred alone unites the Saxon...more Alfred the Great, King of Wessex, lays on his deathbed. Aged and long infirm, he has created a legacy to be proud of. He has united most of the Saxons under his kingdom, and for decades defended Britain against the expansion of the Danes. But his work is not yet complete; many still live within the realm of the Danish conquerors, and even what unity he has achieved may be destroyed upon his death, as Danish armies use it as an opportunity to resume their expansion. Alfred alone unites the Saxons, but if he dies the various petty kingdoms that Wessex consumed in its rise may break apart again. Alfred's son Edward does not command their respect the way Alfred did, however grudgingly, and a weak heir would threaten to reverse all of Alfred's accomplishments. But the dying king has a hope: he has...Uhtred of Bebbanberg, a Saxon prince raised by Danes who nonetheless serves Alfred, a true lord of war whose might and wit have been been the tools with which Alfred created and defended his kingdom. Now, in Alfred's final hours, he dispatches a final message to Uhtred, calling him to serve his court one more time. And so Uhtred is called to fight in what may be Wessex' darkest hour, and his battle provides another solid contribution to the Saxon stories series.

Death of Kings begins on an unlikely note, with Uhtred being asked to negotiate a peace conference. A chance exists that a Saxon king allied to the Danes may be persuaded to change loyalties, or at the very least refrain from joining the Danes in war against Wessex, and Alfred's court believes only Uhtred is strong enough to ensure that the king sees reason. Even so, Uhtred is a questionable choice for diplomat; he once killed a priest for insulting his wife, and did so as casually with one blow as we might swat a fly. Tact is a word that Uhtred doesn't know the meaning of, in either his own Old English or in Danish. But as one might expect from Cornwell, peace is only the calm before the storm. Soon enough the king will die, and Edward will be forced to fight rebellion and outside invasion simultaneously. Worse yet, he may not find the courage to use his strong arm, Uhtred, given that the warlord is hated by the Christians of the royal court for his pride and irreverence. However much the court dislikes Uhtred, he's a fantastic narrator. That irreverence provides humor in spades, and he has a penchant for drama; his tradition of introducing himself with a speech is maintained in the Death of Kings. Even more so than Richard Sharpe, Uhtred is earnest. He exults in the joy of life, even in battle. He sees himself as an actor in a larger drama, but what that story is, he leaves to the fates. While he despises the piety of the priests who make his life at court miserable, Uhtred's own faith in destiny -- his motto, 'Fate is inexorable' -- give him courage to try fantastic feats in the face of overwhelming odds. The result is a good read, often as funny as it is thrilling.(less)

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Mar 18, 2012 Joe rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction

Ah, another historical action novels from one of my guilty pleasures, Bernard Cornwell. I know, it's not literature but it sure is fun. I've heard him called the greatest living historical novelist. That might be true if we insist on the "living" qualification. While his books are always grand action-adventures of male fantasy, he's not quite Patrick O'Brian.

This latest addition to the chronical of Uhtred, the Saxon warlord is a delightful departure from the usual Cornwell style. The grand, spla...more

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Jan 31, 2012 Shawn Gordon rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Bernard Cornwell is one of my guilty pleasures. I love his historical fiction. I prefer Patrick O'Brian, but Patrick O'Brian is dead and Bernard Cornwell is still writing. I enjoyed all the Sharpe novels and I am enjoying the Saxon Stories as well. I don't pretend that this is great literature (it isn't, although I would make an argument that Patrick O'Brian is) but it is fun. If you enjoy military themed historical fiction, which is well researched and quickly paced, this is the stuff for you....more

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Jan 16, 2012 James rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Everyone

Bernard Cornwell has been, for some time, one of my favourite authors. And this book is an example why. I have only given it Four Stars and not five because there were periods where it was a tad slow - however, I know that as a historical fiction writer Cornwell has to write within the restraints of history, and as such these dull (in comparison to the rest) periods cannot be avoided, and I do not hold it against him. However, it is regrettably these slower parts that do bring this Excellent boo...more Bernard Cornwell has been, for some time, one of my favourite authors. And this book is an example why. I have only given it Four Stars and not five because there were periods where it was a tad slow - however, I know that as a historical fiction writer Cornwell has to write within the restraints of history, and as such these dull (in comparison to the rest) periods cannot be avoided, and I do not hold it against him. However, it is regrettably these slower parts that do bring this Excellent book down from a five to a four.

So what about the plot? I really did like what he did here. As I have already mentioned Cornwell has to work within the boundaries of historical facts, but the way he does it is brilliant. The little adventures that he somehow ties into the whole major plot line - such as the peace talks Uhtred goes on, the sorceress and prophecy she gives and his own faux-prophecy - are so brilliantly done and interesting in and of their own rights, that while yes, some parts are slightly slow he still manages to entertain brilliantly.

What I also really like about the plot line is the relationships between the characters, and the way that these relationships are made to be appear to shape history. Now, they can't of, because Uhtred did not exist and so on so forth, but the way that he makes it out to be true is amazing: I wouldn't be surprised if someone actually mistook Uhtred for a real historical figure.

Then you have the characters themselves; they are brilliant - a perfect example of why Cornwell is so often described as a Master Storyteller. He manages to take Uhtred, who by his actions and his nature, might easily have been made into a bad guy, and he has made him a hero. But what is so great about this, is the way that he does it realistically. Uhtred is a man of the times who we come to love, he is not some 21st century man transplanted into the early medieval period. He is a true man of his times, and his actions back that up. Too often authors will make the characters friendly to our modern sensibilities; Uhtred is not like that, but at the same time we like him. (I know I have repeated again and again in this paragraph - excuse me, I just think this is such an important part of historical fiction).

And that's only one of the characters: the rest are just as brilliant. Alfred (The Great) is amazing, and I actually felt the beginning of tears at his death-bed scene. Edward, Finnan, Ludda, Aethelflaed and so on so forth are so complex and so real for their times that... they have become a real in my mind, so vivid that when I read about them they become tangible. That is how good an author he is.

And his writing. Often I say that most authors manage either shocking prose or acceptable prose that goes unnoticed. Only a few ever make brilliant prose, and Cornwell is definitely among them: he weaves the story so well, if I ever became published it would be my dream to be compared to him in even the slightest possible way. His writing style is something that should be admired worldwide, and I am sure, it is.

So should you read this? Without a doubt. New to historical fiction? Look no further; Cornwell is the master of his genre and a master of writing in general. Even if this series does not appeal - you mad, mad person - then his others (Grail Quest, Sharpe, Agincourt, Forct etc) are unmissable.

Have Fun Reading. (less)

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Dec 14, 2011 Kate Quinn rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The sixth installment in the adventures of Uhtred of Bebbanburg, impatiently awaited and worth the wait. This one has a more thoughtful tone than the others, since it hinges on everyone waiting to see when Alfred the Great will die, and whether they will be able to survive the attack that will surely come from the Danes afterward. Their best hope of keeping Alfred's fragile kingdom together is Uhtred, but will Alfred's young successor trust him? Uhtred snaps and snarls and swears at priests, del...more

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Nov 06, 2011 Susan Johnson rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Uhtred fights again which is not surprising since his main goal in life is to die with a sword in his hand. Uhtred is a warrior through and through. He finds peace boring and trains his men every day so they can be the best warriors. He and his sword, Sepent-Breath, was the most famous Saxon warrior. In one battle he says. "Still more men came to kill me because my name was the name poets would give to their glory."
But Uhtred is more than a warrior. He may be the Saxon warrior leader but he was...more Uhtred fights again which is not surprising since his main goal in life is to die with a sword in his hand. Uhtred is a warrior through and through. He finds peace boring and trains his men every day so they can be the best warriors. He and his sword, Sepent-Breath, was the most famous Saxon warrior. In one battle he says. "Still more men came to kill me because my name was the name poets would give to their glory."
But Uhtred is more than a warrior. He may be the Saxon warrior leader but he was raised by the Danes who had invaded England. Although King Alfred was converting the Saxons to Christianity, he proudly fought with the sword of Thor on his neck. He cheerfully uses a banner of Christ as a weapon in one battle. The priests are married and often help plan military strategy that includes converting the Danes to Christians. One time he is asked to negiotate a peace treaty. He finds the sixteen monks who are to escort him by finding them "eating my food and drinking my ale." When he discovers they are bringing many banners, he asks if he is supposed to carry those rags and asks to carry a banner for Thor or Woden or a naked woman saint.
Uhtred is complex. He reads and writes. He is a natural leader and a brilliant military tactician. He is a believer in Thor but fights for the Christians. He devises some interesting traps for the enemy including using female prostitutes. He is funny too. When the woman he loves, Aethelflaed- Alfred's daughter, is kidnapped, he tells her husband that he rides to protect her honor.
This book tells of the death of Alfred and the start of his son's, Edward, rule. As usual, the Danes are fighting for England's land. Alfred and Edward want to unify England by preserving Saxon culture, keeping the English language, and converting everyone to Christianity. Uhtred has one real goal- to get control of his swindled estate, Bebbanburgh and the way to do that is serve the Saxon Kings.
Uhtred is himself no matter what. He does not change to accomodate anyone even if would make his life easier. He loves Aethelflaed but has other wives and sleeps with many women. He worships Thor. He leads men. Most of all, he has "battle-joy". He says, "That joy. That madness. The gods must feel that way every moment of every day. In that moment you can do no wrong and you will for ever and your name will be blazoned across the heavens in a glort of white fire because you are the god of battle."
This book, the 6th in the series, has not lost any steam. We are rewarded by reading about such a complex hero and a time most of us know little. It's well worth the read and I cannot wait for the next one.

(less)

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Nov 03, 2011 Richard rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011

Right from the start I've got to tell you, I love Bernard Cornwell. I've read The Warlord Chronicles (King Arthur and Co.,) Agincourt, and the previous five volumes of The Saxon Tales, and I have yet to be disappointed.

This sixth volume of the tales takes us to Alfred's death, the ascension of his son Edward, and the inevitable and continuing battle to unite England and defeat the Danes. All the great characters return, first and foremost Uhtred of Bebbanburg, a Dane who has pledged allegiance...more Right from the start I've got to tell you, I love Bernard Cornwell. I've read The Warlord Chronicles (King Arthur and Co.,) Agincourt, and the previous five volumes of The Saxon Tales, and I have yet to be disappointed.

This sixth volume of the tales takes us to Alfred's death, the ascension of his son Edward, and the inevitable and continuing battle to unite England and defeat the Danes. All the great characters return, first and foremost Uhtred of Bebbanburg, a Dane who has pledged allegiance to Alfred, and acted as his sword through a lifetime of battles. Uhtred is the guy you want on your side. He's big, bold, earthy, witty, a brilliant strategist and fighter, a great friend, and does not suffer fools. He can be a battle crazed killing machine and a lover. But, he never seems either corny or out of proportion. Though there are a raft of great recurring characters, they're all second to Uhtred.

The book is written in the first person, and the author's skill is so great that even though you know Uhtred will always make it through - he's telling the story - the tension still rises as you expect for some lucky thrust to make it through the shield wall and cut him down.

Here's what I like about the series: battle, politics, battle, intrigue, authenticity, battle, sex, battle, comedy, battle. Did I mention "battle." I have a feeling the list sums up what most of Bernard Cornwell's readers like. Well, he gives it to us. When I'm immersed in one of these tales I can just about feel the lice, smell the burning thatch, see the eviscerated civilians, warriors, and livestock. I get fed up with the priests, angered by the traitors, and interested in the women. And, I get really excited by the battles, large and small. Mr. Cornwell gives you a good read.

All that being said, there's a lot of peace in this book, and as Uhtred rightly points out, "Peace is boring." So, there are a few stretches where the peace lasts a little too long, and the litany of character and place names can also be a little trying. But once you get past the Aethelflaed's, and Aethelweard's, and Aefthrpth's of the world the book moves right along.

I don't think I'm giving anything away by telling you the last phrase in the Historical Note at the end of the book is, "so Uhtred will fight again." All I can say is, "Slaughter them, O Lord!(less)

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Oct 23, 2011 Judith Arnopp rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I (and many others) have waited a long time for this book and pre-ordered it so as to get my hands on it as soon as possible. It is set in my favourite period and I love the beligerent character Uhtred and the way Bernard Cornwell has brought the historical characters to life. But, although I read it avidly, quickly, longing for the buzz of the early books, it never came. Although I have given this book four stars, it would have got five if it hadn't left me feeling a little short changed.

The e...more

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Jan 19, 2013 Sharon rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

There were times in this novel when I felt like I was watching a very violent movie as Bernard Cornwell seems a master of imagery. Violent, because he writes of the ever-impending wars that dominated the lives of the Angles and Saxons who lived in what was to become Britain. He writes not just of the logistics but of what it was like to be in battle in those days: "the short blade went under his chin, up through his mouth, breaking teeth, piercing his tongue,shattering the small nasal bones and...more

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Apr 15, 2012 Grace rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: history

This was nothing new, but i love the spirit of Cornwell's writing (and the excitement of battle; the visceral glory of Uhtred) SO MUCH that i'll read as much of this as i can. xoxo

It was sad to see Alfred depart in Death of Kings, and as frustrating as Edward was for his replacement in the story, he carries the torch in spite of himself.

From Cornwell's Historical Note:

"Alfred undoubtedly wanted to be king of all the English, and by the time of his death he was by far the most notable and powerfu...more

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Feb 05, 2012 T.D. McKinnon rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

‘Death of Kings’ is the sixth book in the ‘Saxon Chronicles’ series. The land that would one day be England, at the end of the 9th century AD, is more than fifty percent occupied by Danish speaking Norsemen. They initially raided as Vikings more than one hundred years before, and had now been invading and settling the land for nearly fifty years.

By this time most of the English speaking population had converted to Christianity and King Alfred (remembered now as Alfred the Great), King of Wessex...more
‘Death of Kings’ is the sixth book in the ‘Saxon Chronicles’ series. The land that would one day be England, at the end of the 9th century AD, is more than fifty percent occupied by Danish speaking Norsemen. They initially raided as Vikings more than one hundred years before, and had now been invading and settling the land for nearly fifty years.

By this time most of the English speaking population had converted to Christianity and King Alfred (remembered now as Alfred the Great), King of Wessex, who was a very religious King, had a dream of uniting the whole of England into one country, with one religion and one language.

Most of the Danes were pagans, worshiping the Old Norse gods like Odin and Thor, believing that to die with a sword in your hand was the only way to enter Valhalla, home of the gods; however, Christianity had begun its slow, deceptively innocuous spread even among the ferocious Norsemen.

The central figure, first person protagonist, is Uhtred of Babbanburg, Alfred’s champion and chief war leader; this, in spite of the fact he was brought up by the Danes, is pagan himself (much to Alfred’s chagrin he refuses to be converted), and has respect for and even prefers the company of the savage Norsemen. Well into his middle years, Uhtred is still one the most feared warriors in the land.

‘Death of Kings’ is a fast paced action/thriller, historical fiction, with everything in just the right amount: intrigue, deceit, retribution, and 9th century warfare and battle action so real you can smell it. It even has a little romance.

With any series, as a new book is released, I try not to expect the impact its predecessors had; I only need to be disappointed once to drop a series and sometimes even an author, but Bernard Cornwell, and particularly his Saxon Chronicles, just keeps getting better. This is an historical novel with teeth. Actually, I think he is improving with age. He is a consummate historical novelist and I give ‘Death of Kings’ five stars.

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Oct 25, 2011 Jennifer (JC-S) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Jennifer (JC-S) by: fionnabhair@bigpond.com

Shelves: librarybooks

‘The three Norns were weaving the threads close together and that had to be for a purpose.’

It is close to 900 AD, and King Alfred of Wessex is dying after reigning for over 28 years. The Danes, who rule much of what will later be England, are waiting eagerly to tear apart King Alfred’s Christian kingdom. Uhtred of Bebbanburg returns to the south at King Alfred’s request and is asked to negotiate a treaty with King Eohric of East Anglia.

‘Every day is ordinary, I thought, until it gets interesting...more ‘The three Norns were weaving the threads close together and that had to be for a purpose.’

It is close to 900 AD, and King Alfred of Wessex is dying after reigning for over 28 years. The Danes, who rule much of what will later be England, are waiting eagerly to tear apart King Alfred’s Christian kingdom. Uhtred of Bebbanburg returns to the south at King Alfred’s request and is asked to negotiate a treaty with King Eohric of East Anglia.

‘Every day is ordinary, I thought, until it gets interesting.’

Uhtred has grown to admire Alfred, albeit grudgingly at times, but does not feel the same respect for Alfred’s heir, the ætheling Edward. Uhtred knows that Edward mistrusts him and he also knows that battles will need to be fought if the country is to be united. The Danes are not the only enemies: there is also a rival claimant for the throne.

‘.., but victory does not come to men who listen to their fears.’

We see a number of different aspects of Uhtred in this novel: the tenderness he feels for King Alfred’s daughter Æthelflaed; his delight in annoying the priests who believe that prayer is the path to victory; and his capacity for strategic planning for the battles he knows must be fought. Uhtred may be battle ready and cynical about the role of Christianity but his encounter with a mysterious pagan witch still leaves him shaken.

Uhtred of Bebbanburg is larger than life and while he dominates the story, it fits within what we know of the history. In this blending of history and fiction, Bernard Cornwell brings this period to life. There are reminders that while Alfred’s kingdom is becoming increasingly Christian, there are many who still believe in the old gods. The use of the old place names makes the setting seem more authentic – even though I had to keep turning back to check them against the current place names.

‘I sometimes lie awake in the long nights of old age and I think of the mad things I have done, the risks, the dice throws that challenge the gods.’

This is the sixth instalment in The Saxon Stories, and Uhtred is now in his mid-forties. I’m looking forward to the next instalment.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith
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Aug 18, 2012 Speesh rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: vikings

I'm going to have to stick my neck out and say this (number six) is the best of the series so far. Certainly the most enjoyable one for me.

There's no doubt about it, 'Death Of Kings' is much more sure, more direct, more honest and more perceptive than most of Cornwall's competitors out there. A really satisfying, considered and poignant exploration of the main character of Uhtred and origins of what we now think of as 'England'.

I don't know about anyone else, but Alfred The Great was always an i...more

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Nov 10, 2011 Eileen Granfors rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Lots of head lopping. . . but it's the Vikings, the Angles and the Saxons.

Bernard Cornwell, the prolific author of novels about early England as well the the Sharpe series, has added a new volume to his Saxon tales. It is "Death of Kings," and what a tale he tells. As someone whose first download to my Kindle was the epic "Beowulf," I cannot praise "Death of Kings" too highly.

Uhtred is a warrior. He is tied to the ancient code of thanes bound in duty to a king so long as the king lives up to h...more

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Sep 28, 2012 Nate rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: middle-ages

So yeah, these are still good. I've pretty much run out of ways to say "these books are still good" in the beginning of these reviews without actually saying it so I figured I'd just actually say it. This one was a bit different in vibe from the others, though. It's hard to pin down exactly what made it stand out from the other so much. It seemed darker, mostly due to the whole Alfred thing. Also the whole "cave witch" scene rivaled the talking corpse from Sword Song in terms of creepiest scenes...more So yeah, these are still good. I've pretty much run out of ways to say "these books are still good" in the beginning of these reviews without actually saying it so I figured I'd just actually say it. This one was a bit different in vibe from the others, though. It's hard to pin down exactly what made it stand out from the other so much. It seemed darker, mostly due to the whole Alfred thing. Also the whole "cave witch" scene rivaled the talking corpse from Sword Song in terms of creepiest scenes having to do with "magic" from this series. It's easy to look at these things as a 21st-century person and see them as the obvious, cheesy human trickery that it is, but on the other hand I'm sure it seemed very real and terrifying to the people at the time and I think Cornwell captures that well.

The action of the story was a slight change of pace, it seemed almost more in line with Lords of the North than one of the novels like The Pale Horseman or The Burning Land. It has more to do with mysteries, plots and intrigue that Uhtred is confronted with and how he goes about dealing with it rather than big history-making battles (although Cornwell does have his usual scrap at the end.) The struggle of the story is more a mental one involving deception and sketchy stuff like that rather than one of physical conflict.

You just have to like Uhtred at this point. Throughout the novel he's constantly out-thinking his enemies, publicly shaming people for hypocrisy and general douchery, committing hilarious acts of blasphemous counterintelligence and displaying a fierce loyalty to the Saxons. For all of the back-and-forth he went through in the other novels between the Danes and Saxons it's clear where his loyalty is at this point and it's refreshing. He almost comes off as warm and genial in some scenes, although he's still the kind of guy that hangs people and stuff. In general he's a big difference from the guy in The Last Kingdom and The Pale Horseman, which I think shows a deeper characterization than I think a lot of people give Cornwell credit for.

Well, I'm finally caught up with this series. I haven't been disappointed yet and I'm looking forward to the next one in the series. There are several loose ends that need to be wrapped including the obvious big one and I definitely need to see those. At some point in the near future I'm going to start Cornwell's Arthur stuff and I'm excited to read a different series by this author and see how it strikes me.(less)

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May 29, 2012 Bernie Charbonneau rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ebook, historical-fiction

I am not sure how to honestly describe this book. Mr. Cornwell is probably my favorite historical Fiction writer and the Saxon Series, is for me, one of the best running series going. I have really enjoyed all the previous 5 novels but this latest one is a conundrum.
In this latest novel I felt it was a disconnection from the the previous novels. The excitement and flow of the adventure just wasn't apparent in this piece of the Anglo-Saxon history. This to me read like a recap of what has transpi...more

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Feb 19, 2013 Shawn Inmon rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I like Bernard Cornwell, but this series is dragging for me, which is a shame. I love Uhtred, the drinking/swearing/fighting protagonist of the series. It just feels like it is falling into a rut.

I read Cornwell's Grail Quest series and never got that feeling, so I don't know if I've read too many of his books and just have his rhythm down too well, or if he's slipping.

The plot of this felt a little too by-the-numbers for me, and there were honestly long gaps where not much happened. Because I h...more

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Apr 29, 2012 Michael Kmartin rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I started reading Bernard Cornwell with the Sharpe series. Not only was I entertained, I also gobbled up several thousand dollars worth of history classes. I now know a lot about the Wellington's campaigns in Portugal, Spain, and France.

This book covers another era altogether, and probably has more speculation in it, because the history around the Dane/Saxon wars in England is is a lot older and incomplete. However, the characters are strongly written, and I gobbled this book in a matter of day...more

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Jul 14, 2012 Graham rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: anglo-saxon, historical, viking

The sixth book in Bernard Cornwell's Saxon Stories - following straight on from THE BURNING LAND - offers more of the same for those familiar with Uhtred's adventures. In essence, it's a time of fractured peace, with Danes lurking ever-present on the horizon and threatening to upset England's fragile state.

It's no great spoiler to reveal that Alfred the Great dies in this outing, which makes for some intriguing events, but elsewhere there's little to distinguish this book from the rest in the se...more

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About Bernard Cornwell

Cornwell was born in London in 1944. His father was a Canadian airman, and his mother was English, a member of the Women's Auxiliary Air Force. He was adopted and brought up in Essex by the Wiggins family, who were members of the Peculiar People, a strict Protestant sect who banned frivolity of all kinds and even medicine. After he left them, he changed his name to his mother's maiden name, Cornwe...more Cornwell was born in London in 1944. His father was a Canadian airman, and his mother was English, a member of the Women's Auxiliary Air Force. He was adopted and brought up in Essex by the Wiggins family, who were members of the Peculiar People, a strict Protestant sect who banned frivolity of all kinds and even medicine. After he left them, he changed his name to his mother's maiden name, Cornwell.

Cornwell was sent away to Monkton Combe School, attended the University of London, and after graduating, worked as a teacher. He attempted to enlist in the British armed services at least three times, but was rejected on the grounds of myopia.

He then joined BBC's Nationwide and was promoted to become head of current affairs at BBC Northern Ireland. He then joined Thames Television as editor of Thames News. He relocated to the United States in 1980 after marrying an American. Unable to get a Green Card, he started writing novels, as this did not require a work permit.

As a child, Cornwell loved the novels of C.S. Forester, chronicling the adventures of fictional British naval officer Horatio Hornblower during the Napoleonic Wars, and was surprised to find that there were no such novels following Lord Wellington's campaign on land. Motivated by the need to support himself in the U.S. through writing, Cornwell decided to write such a series. He named his chief protagonist Richard Sharpe, a rifleman involved in most major battles of the Peninsular War.

Cornwell wanted to start the series with the Siege of Badajoz but decided instead to start with a couple of "warm-up" novels. These were Sharpe's Eagle and Sharpe's Gold, both published in 1981. Sharpe's Eagle was picked up by a publisher, and Cornwell got a three-book deal. He went on to tell the story of Badajoz in his third Sharpe novel Sharpe's Company published in 1982.

Cornwell and wife Judy co-wrote a series of novels, published under the pseudonym "Susannah Kells". These were A Crowning Mercy, published in 1983, Fallen Angels in 1984, and Coat of Arms (aka The Aristocrats) in 1986. (Cornwell's strict Protestant upbringing informed the background of A Crowning Mercy, which took place during the English Civil War.) He also published Redcoat, an American Revolutionary War novel set in Philadelphia during its 1777 occupation by the British, in 1987.

After publishing 8 books in his ongoing Sharpe series, Cornwell was approached by a production company interested in adapting them for television. The producers asked him to write a prequel to give them a starting point to the series. They also requested that the story feature a large role for Spanish characters to secure co-funding from Spain. The result was Sharpe’s Rifles, published in 1987 and a series of Sharpe television films staring Sean Bean.

A series of contemporary thrillers with sailing as a background and common themes followed: Wildtrack published in 1988, Sea Lord (aka Killer's Wake) in 1989, Crackdown in 1990, Stormchild in 1991, and a political thriller called Scoundrel in 1992.

In June 2006, Cornwell was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the Queen's 80th Birthday Honours List.

Cornwell's latest work is titled Azincourt and was released in the UK in October 2008. The protagonist is an archer who participates in the Battle of Agincourt, another devastating defeat suffered by the French in the Hundred Years War. However Cornwell has stated that it will not be about Thomas of Hookton from The Grail Quest or any of his relatives.(less)

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Books by Bernard Cornwell

The Last Kingdom (The Saxon Stories, #1)

The Winter King (The Warlord Chronicles, #1)

Lords of the North (The Saxon Stories, #3)

The Pale Horseman (The Saxon Stories, #2)

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“Every day is ordinary, until it isn't.” — 8 people liked it

“There are seasons of our lives when nothing seems to be happening, when no smoke betrays a burned town or homestead and few tears are shed for the newly dead. I have learned not to trust those times, because if the world is at peace then it means someone is planning war.” — 3 people liked it

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Death of Kings (The Saxon Stories #6)

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