The tenth installment of Bernard Cornwell’s New York Times bestselling series chronicling the epic saga of the making of England, “like Game of Thrones, but real” (The Observer, London)—the basis for The Last Kingdom, the hit television series.
Britain is in a state of uneasy peace. Northumbria’s Viking ruler, Sigtryggr, and Mercia’s Saxon Queen Aethelflaed have agreed a truce. And so England’s greatest warrior, Uhtred of Bebbanburg, at last has the chance to take back the home his traitorous uncle stole from him so many years ago—and which his scheming cousin still occupies.
But fate is inexorable, and the enemies Uhtred has made and the oaths he has sworn conspire to distract him from his dream of recapturing his home. New enemies enter into the fight for England’s kingdoms: the redoubtable Constantin of Scotland seizes an opportunity for conquest and leads his armies south. Britain’s precarious peace threatens to turn into a war of annihilation. Yet Uhtred is determined that nothing—neither the new adversaries nor the old foes who combine against him—will keep him from his birthright.
“Historical novels stand or fall on detail, and Mr. Cornwell writes as if he has been to ninth-century Wessex and back.”
—Wall Street Journal
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"This is the tenth book of the Saxon Series by Bernard Cornwell. I suggest that you start with "The Last Kingdom" which is the first book and read them chronologically as they should be read in order. They flow from one book to another. This particular story finally addresses the issue that is introduced in the first book. The recapture of Bebbanburg that was stolen from him by his Uncle. It was a very good read, but then again, I love everything that Mr. Cornwell has ever written."
— Chap (5 out of 5 stars)
“Bernard Cornwell does the best battle scenes of any writer I’ve ever read, past or present.”
— George R. R. Martin, praise for the author“Nobody describes bloody battle scenes better than Cornwell, and even he outdoes himself with this riveting novel about the epic naval battle off Spain’s Cape Trafalgar in 1805.”
— Publishers WeeklyBernard Cornwell, born in London, worked for the BBC and Thames Television before coming to the United States to write full time. His sweeping historical novels, including the acclaimed Richard Sharpe series and many more, make him a number one bestselling author in the United Kingdom and around the world. He is the author of the acclaimed New York Times bestselling Saxon Tales series, which serves as the basis for the hit television series The Last Kingdom.
Matt Bates is a voice actor who can be heard in video games, documentaries, audiobooks, and other media.