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Sword Song
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SS: Prologue, Part One: The Bride - Chapters 1-3
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The dead man thing was pretty interesting. I was like..did this cross into fantasy? Probably not. Must be a trick. It was cool seeing the warrior priest again. He's pretty funny. He also confirmed my suspicions that the dead man was just a ploy to get Uthred (and really Ragnar).
Time just a fair bit though. He's got 2 kids already and his brother in law is apparently "old". I didn't think he was that much older than Uthred, but maybe I was wrong. Of course old during that time period means something rather different than it does today.
I had always been under the impression Guthred was the same age or even younger than Uhtred. In the last book I pictured him as a clueless youth, probably because he was so naive.
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He was in the first or second book (first season of the show) and converted after being defeated by Uthred. Oops.
Too many similar names.
I finished this section, it's been a bit slow but still enjoyable. A few things that jumped out at me:
1) I no longer think Uthred's future/current wife is Alfred's daughter. That doesn't mean he doesn't marry her. He seems to go through wives pretty rapidly. But he doesn't seem to like his current wife much. So maybe she was a political marriage.
2) The priest ended up with Ragnar's sister! Good for him. That made me smile.
3) What game is Uthred playing at with Alfred's bastard?
4) I wonder if Alfred realizes the kind of man he gave his daughter up to, or he'll do anything about it if he learns how she seems to have been treated on her wedding night.
Ah, yes.Guthred = Gisela's brother, slave king, brother-in-law. Age never given, but seems young.
Guthrum = Dane earl, King of East Anglia, called Aethelstan and now christian. ALso quite old now.
I came to the same conclusion about his wife, since he talks about the current one like she's just one of many. But I bet something is going to be up with Alfred's daughter at some point!
Haven't finished the section yet, and haven't gotten to the part where we meet Thyra and Beocca again, but I figured as much after the previous book.
I will stop reading spoilers here now :)
I'm going to be a bit slow on this since I discovered it isn't one I own. I got it on overdrive from the library (listening) and right now can only listen when I'm at my computer. I need to get it onto my phone, but it is the middle of finals week and I can't take the time yet. Anyway - I'm about 2 chapters in - not bad! This is the first one I've listened to vs. read - it isn't a bad switch.
Hmm...yes the current wife seems pious, which COULD be Alfred's daughter, but he doesnt' seem to like her too much so...I agree, probably not.
Also, he calls her "my latest wife" like others would say "my latest horse". So seems she is insignificant, whereas Alfred's daughter is being set up as a minor character in the story, even if only a small girl at present.
Oh good catch - yes I think even now he has more respect for Alfred's daughter.
Dead man scene. He could have been lying buried there waiting to be "summoned" breathing through reeds (as if underwater). He doesn't actually get buried again as far as we see - everyone turns away and goes to the hall before he is actually put back into the ground. They tricked him, I don't think there's any witchcraft there.
And Pyrlig took the tumb off Siegefried. Can't swing an axe or sword without a thumb, so that's one bastard who won't stand in a shield wall again anytime soon!
Please keep all discussion and speculation to the events of Prologue, Chapters 1-3.
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Please do not discuss events from later chapters/books. Referring back to events from a previous book is fine.