Customer Reviews: Read 6 more reviews...
 The 4th Uhtred and Alfred novel... still going strong October 22, 2008
Our Hero Uhtred just as he thinks things are settling down, he gets some new enemies to fight.... well it wouldn't be a Cornwell without would it? He is stuck fighting for the Saxons and their King Alfred, of which he has no love, and against the Danes who he has an affinity to. Not suprisingly this gives him problems just about every where he turns. This first person narrative style is different to the other Cornwell series and is a nice change. This is not the strongest in the series, but still excellent. well researched, gripping historical fiction from the master Bernard Cornwell! Only problem is I dont know when the next book is due.......
 A great saga October 9, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Not appealing for all readers, for the atipic "old british" scenario, at levels of Sharpe's or the Arthur's books, the Saxons stories are like (almost) every Cornwell's book: solid plot, well done battle scenes, big characters, a bit of fine humorism. In a saga, some books are better than others, by the point of view of readers, but for a Cornwell's fan a new book on the wars between Saxons and Vikings are good (very good) news.
And Sword song is the last (but non least) adventure of a group of "old friends".
 Uninspiring October 1, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
As I find this period of British history fascinating I thought I'd give Sword song a try, but I must admit defeat - I have abandoned reading it after only 73 pages. Yes, it has period feel, yes, the research is there - but it fails to hold me. I find the personalities less than gripping, and the story doesn't really flow for me. It is rather basic stuff, adventure for boys, but even then it is less engaging than Rosemary Sutcliffe or W.E. Johns. Obviously a matter of taste as the author seems very popular!
I would recommend the books by Alfred Duggan from the same period - the same gritty imperfect heroes, but smarter writing, with more humor - which seems completely missing from this book, and that makes it not very readable for me.
 not as good August 8, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
Sadly, I was very disapointed with this book, definitely not a patch on the other three, I really was very disapointed and feel quite let down. Alfred was portrayed as a untrustworthy idiot, only interested in his books and his priests. The Danes I am sure would have most certainly killed any "traitor" out of hand, and were the Irish ever involved? if they were, I certainly never learnt that in school, and in my day we were actually taught History although we did know that the Norseman did land there in Eire and make settlements, as they did in America.
I just hope that the next book is better.
History lessons you don't fall asleep during! July 5, 2008
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
Well I'll get all the negative stuff out of the way first! Uhtred really is just a dark ages 'Sharpe' he even has an Irish side kick now and whilst Sharpe was loathed as a commoner amongst upper class twit fellow officers, Uhtred is loathed because he is a pagan amongst pious preachy christians!
That said for many years I loved Sharpe! and likewise I am loving Uhtred and the Saxons, a major part of our national history largely ignored till now! Romans and vikings by the score, Saxons, hardly any!.
Back to the book it's architypical Cornwell. Our hero is unloved by his masters, out numbered by his foe's but backed up by his savage comrades. Yes we've seen it a hundred times before from Cornwell but it is such a winning formula and he does it probably better than anyone. Also I like the stories being told from the first person perspective by Uhtred himself as you really feel like you are in the heart of the action.
This book starts with the re-taking of London from the Danes an actual event but then takes a sharp left down imagination lane to put Uhtred in a daring rescue bid. As with most Cornwell stories the action is compelling gritty and believable, the book is fast paced though perhaps a hundred pages short of what we normally expect of him.
We are promised more Uhtred action shortley by the author and I'll no doubt be there with my credit card though I hope he doesn't over do it as I felt he did with Sharpe as there are so many other great bits of history he can take us to but I have not quite had enough of Uhtred yet! So I'll be sharpening my battle axe for next time.
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