Warriors of the Storm by Bernard Cornwell
Reviewed by Keith McCoy, Somerset County Library System
Originally Submitted to Library
Journal
The irascible and combative Uhtred Uhtredson returns in the
ninth book of Cornwell’s Saxon Tales.
Set in a fractured ninth century England, the aging Saxon warrior is
surprised by a Norse attack from across the Irish Sea. Worse, he quickly finds out that a former
lover has allied with the invader, Ragnall Ivarson: the latter wants a kingdom, and the former
wants to annihilate Uhtred and his grown children. Threaded through the battle scenes is the
nascent Celtic Christianity, and how it melds or conflicts with the old
religious ways. The desire to create (or
prevent) a unified England under Edward of Wessex is behind much of the
maneuvering, too. Uhtred uses all of his
martial prowess, wits, and gut instinct to save most of his offspring, and the
future of his land. Cornwell again
provides an exciting and tricky retelling of history from the standpoint of a
colorful warrior lord.
Verdict: Not just for lovers of historic fiction, but those who
catch the first episodes of The Last Kingdom (based on this series) on BBC
America will want to read all the stories.
