Sword of Kings: The Last Kingdom Series, Book 12

I love Uhtred and all this series. That said, since capturing Bebbanburg, the driving force has gone out of both the series and the man. Both this book and the last take Uhtred away from home under false pretexts so he can have an adventure and be in jeopardy; this is necessary as Bebbanburg is impregnable to all except Uhtred. Little is said about Uhtred junior; he is simply a useful tool to guard Bebbanburg, while Uhtred senior is away. Even less is said about his eldest son - Uhtred/Judas, who was horribly maimed in the last book and simply disappears (I think there may be one mention of him and the name he now uses, but that may have been in Book 11). Another reviewer commented on Uhtred senior's ability to continue fighting and winning despite his age, but his ageing and gradual physical decline is mentioned throughout the series, and particularly in this book, it is obvious he is not the fit and young man he once was. My own personal dislike is his betrayal of Eadith - mental certainly, if not physical. He has had many women throughout the series, but he has never before been unfaithful to one he loved, and this is classic man crisis - falling for a younger version when he is an old man - disappointing. One thing I have noticed is that Uhtred's family are not truly part of the story; they are just props used to facilitate the story. All that said, I still love this series and have just ordered Book 13.

Enjoyed sturdy book

Good condition

This very captivating book is the 12th instalment of the excellent "Last Kingdom" series by the formidable author, Bernard Cornwell. (This series has also been adapted for TV/Film)The historical details concerning this book has been meticulously researched and documented, with Place Names and a well-drawn map of Wessex, East Anglia and Mercia at the beginning of the book, while at the back you'll notice a well detailed Historical Note and general explanations concerning Uhtred's story.Story-telling is as ever of a top-notch quality, all the figures featuring in this warlike historical story, whether they are great historical or wonderful fictional, come vividly to life, and the book contains great fighting actions and superbly pictured battle scenes.The book is set in the year, AD 924, and King Edward the Elder is at the end of his life, and in the wings there are two Princelings waiting, namely Athelstan and AElfweard, to become the next King of Wessex, East Anglia and Mercia.Uhtred, who's safely in Bebbanburg (Bamburgh) receives a plea for help from Queen Eadgifu, wife of King Edward, and that plea will set him on a course to Cent (Kent) in an attempt to rescue her from the clutches of AEthelhelm, and so take her back with him towards safety to Bebbanburg.On the way back Uhtred is waylaid by certain factors and heads for Lundene (London) to see and notice the lay of the land there, and while being there he gets ambushed by an invasion of reinforcements from East Anglia by AEthelhelm into Lundene, who's taken over the city by luring Merewalh out through treachery, and only by sheer luck and determination Uhtred and his followers manage to escape for a final confrontation.What will follow is a thrilling and excitable adventure in which Uhtred and his followers, now with the help of Merewalh and his garrison, will try to invade Lundene and complete his oath to Athelstan by killing AEthelhelm and AElfweard, an oath that will fail, but his personal nemesis at this moment Waormund will certainly face his deadly wrath in an attempt to regain his famous sword, Serpent-Breath, and in doing so finally paving the way for Athelstan to become King of Mercia, East Anglia and Wessex, and ultimately also becoming a serious future threat to Uhtred's still free Kingdom of Northumbria.Very much recommended, for this is another brilliant episode and splendid addition to the Last Kingdom series, and one that I would like to call: "A Marvellous Captivating (Uhtred) Sequel"!

The whole series is a great read but some of the history is suspect and the protagonist is not always a particularly pleasant character. Loyalty to his women is not always a strong point, particularly in this novel. Loyal Eadith deserved better, which I suppose Uhtred acknowledges. And he's unforgivingly bloodthirsty. (But then, it was a bloody age).Not much is known about Aelfweard, but it is unlikely that he was an incompetent psychopath. Why should the Wessex Witan have acknowledged him if this was the case? His cause of death is unknown (as Cornwell acknowledges in his comments in his postscript). I was unaware of Edward's Will, but in Anglo-Saxon times the next king was chosen by the Witan, not by his predecessor (who might have made a recommendation - eg: Harold by Edward the Confessor). Historically, Wessex chose Aelfweard, Mercia chose Aethelstan who had been brought up by Aethelflaed. Nor was there a war over the choices made as far as I know.This separation wad not unknown in Anglo-Saxon England. In later times, Mercia and Northumbria broke with Eadwig (Edmund's son who had succeeded Eadred) because of his incompetence , and elected his brother, Edgar.Wessex stayed with Eadwig, but elected Edgar (who became one of England's great early kings) when Eadwig died a year or so later. Later still, Edmund Ironside and Cnut made a like division after an indecisive war. When Edmund died not long afterwards (probably murdered though details are sketchy, particularly over responsibility), Cnut became sole king.Acknowledging that Cornwell's work is historical fiction (which he does himself), it is a good read. (I got through it in an afternoon and evening). I don't like Uhtred much (arrogant and somewhat selfish), but what's wrong about depicting a flawed hero? It makes him more realistic and interesting.As an afterthought, Cornwell has chosen to omit the fact that there was another brother, Edwin (I believe, Aelfweard's younger full brother and tacitly acknowledged as Aethelstan's heir)) who fell out with Aethelstan at a later date and was drowned at sea in a deliberately leaky boat (which Aethelstan reportedly felt guilty about afterwards). Also, Aethelstan may have intended to enable the succession of a brother (fairly common in any case (Aethelbald - Aethelbert - Aethelred I - Aelfred; Aelfweard - Aethelstan - Edmund - Eadred; Eadwig - Edgar; Edward II) - Aethelred II hence his not marrying.