WotW: Part One: The Wild Lands

[Kat]

Part 1

Please keep all discussion and speculation to the events of Part One.

No spoiler tags required. Though it would be highly appreciated if you Uncheck Add to my Update Feed to avoid accidentally spoiling things for your good read friends.

Please do not discuss events from later sections/books. Referring back to events from a previous book is fine.

[Kat]

Just started today and haven't gotten far yet. Uhtred has just started the attack on the guys besieging Caester and the warriors are running towards the arena.

I'm not liking this - too many people on the walls, the horses not where they're supposed to be, no guards covering the approach from all directions.... I think I smell a trap.

I bet Edward is orchestrating all of this to get Uhtred and his best men out of the North, so he can invade Northumbria behind Uhtred's back.

I shall find out tomorrow.

[Ctgt]

Yeah, you can definitely smell a rat.

[Kat]

So, Uhtred has been played. Probably by Whatshisnamehelm, but it's not confirmed yet.

I'm itching for him to get back to Northumbria, but he seems quite relaxed about the whole thing at the moment.

[Richard]

I enjoyed the first part. I was thinking that the story would lead to an attack on Bebbenburg, but thankfully Mr Cornwall decided not to go that direction. So Uhtred was lured out not for Bebbenburg, but possibly for him.
As always, the pacing was good and the battles well detailed.

[Kat]

I liked meeting Gomer/Mus/Sunngifu again :-)

[Ctgt]

I thought the last book would have been a good spot to end the series but this was pretty engaging.

[Richard]

Due to Uhtred's age, i don't think there will be many more (he is 60 in this book after all - which is ancient for the times).
However, as long as the books are enjoyable and we don't get into farce, then i am all in favour of more.

[Kat]

I wanted to finish Part 1 yesterday, but my train was so full that I had to stand squished in a corner and could not get my book out. Grrr.

I'm such a slow reader due to not having enough time!

[Kat]

So I made it to the end of Part One (yey).

Uhtred seems to be making a lot of time-consuming decisions that slow him down. First he dawdles at Ceaster, then he goes after the monk instead of riding home as fast as he can. Then he goes into Cumbraland, then he decides he wants prisoners, thereby attracting Sköll's ire.

He could have been in Jorvik weeks ago, if he'd saddled his horses as soon as he found out he'd been played at Ceaster! Very unlike Uhtred so far.

Starting Part Two tonight.

[Ctgt]

Sorry Kat.....I've been a terrible reading buddy :(

[Kat]

Don"t worry, me too. I'm the slowest reader ever at the moment!