Reviews with content warning for Blood - The Last Kingdom

It takes a bit for the action to really get going, but then it really gets going. Good points: the audio book reader was fantastic! Also, the action was fantastic, and it presented a historical period that I know little about. Bad points: I would have liked a bit more in the main character's relationship with his wife. But it was a pretty great book.

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sandysmith's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional informative tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I'm gradually adding books I've read in 2021 to give a true reflection of the books I've read since keeping records. This was the first book I read in 2021, and is what kick started my reading journey having put reading on the back burner whilst bringing up the children, previously being an avid reader. A story of Alfred and Ahtred. Historical fiction (Saxons). Ahtred is born in the 9th century and orphaned at 10. Captured and adopted by a Dane and taught the viking ways. Could to Alfred King of Wessex who survives a Danish assault. The struggles between the English and the Danes, Christianity versus paganism. Marriage ties him to the saxons, so he fights against the Danes who adopted him. So very far out of my comfort zone, picked as a bookclub choice that I would never had chosen for myself but I ended up enjoying it.

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jhbandcats's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark informative sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

The first half of the book wasn’t as compelling as the second - I like all the battles! But it provided necessary background on Uhtred’s complicated relationship with the Danes who kidnapped him, but whom he loved.

The English were awfully tedious compared to the Danes - only interested in living a pious and studious life. The Danes were warriors, and their interests were drinking, whoring, and fighting. They’d fight each other if no enemies were available. They definitely had a lot more fun than the dour English, and Uhtred was much happier with Ragnar and his warriors than he’d ever been with his own family. The parts with Ragnar were the strongest because of the bond between him and Uhtred.

Uhtred’s coming of age among the Danes was much more interesting than when he was forced back to Alfred and his priests. The details of life amongst the warriors were intriguing such as the love the Danes had for their ships. Overall a riveting tale of an obscure period of English history.

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eepeaden's review against another edition

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adventurous dark tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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erinbrenner's review against another edition

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adventurous tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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bookbelle5_17's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring sad tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Review of The Last Kingdom

By: Bernard Cornwell

Uhtred was born a Saxon, but during another one of the many battles with the Danes, Uhtred is taken by Dane Earl Ragnar after his father is killed. He is raised as a Dane grows to see Ragnar as a father. King Alfred, a Christian, takes the throne intending to either convert the Danes to Christianity or slaughter. He meets Uhtred and sees how skilled of warrior he is and wants to use him, but Uhtred is still loyal to the Danes.

Uhtred’s journey was exciting and fascinating as he learns to be a warrior and struggles with identity. He still wants to claim his home castle Bebbanburg, but he cares for the Danes seeing them as his family. Later, he ends up having to join Alfred’s army for his own survival. He stays loyal, but he must make compromises pretending he’s on the Saxon side, particularly because he wants to continue being a warrior. Cornwell knows how to write a thrilling battle scene. The scenes were chaotic and bloody, but you can feel Uhtred’s passion for the fight. I like the relationship between Uhtred and Ragnar. Ragnar shows compassion for Uhtred and saw something in him, though he could have killed or held him as prisoner. Cornwell does a wonderful job weaving fiction and actual history. He leaves a note at the end letting the reader know what parts of history he changed for the narrative and what facts he included.

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tmickey's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional informative inspiring tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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sheriffseraph's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

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