FICTION

Warriors of the Storm

by Bernard Cornwell
Harper. Jan. 2016. 320p. ISBN 9780062250940. $27.99; ebk. ISBN 9780062250964. F
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The irascible and combative Uhtred Uhtredson returns in the ninth book (after The Empty Throne) of Cornwell's historical series set in a fractured ninth-century England. The aging Saxon warrior is surprised by a Norse attack from across the Irish Sea. Worse, he learns that a former lover has allied with the invader, Ragnall Ivarson: the latter wants a kingdom, and the former to annihilate Uhtred and his grown children. Threaded throughout 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 his offspring and the future of his land.
VERDICT Cornwell again offers an exciting and tricky retelling of history from the standpoint of a colorful warrior lord. Historical fiction fans, especially of this period, as well as viewers of BBC America's The Last Kingdom (based on this series) will want to read the entire set. [See Prepub Alert, 7/27/15.]
Reviewed by W. Keith McCoy, Somerset Cty. Lib. Syst., Bridgewater, NJ , Jan 01, 2016
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