Death of Kings

Death of Kings This is the sixth book of Bernard Cornwell’s series “Saxon Tales”. The tale of blood, gore, and intrigue maintains it’s intensity. Indeed the first three pages embroil you in battle, and the fights continue. Uhtred’s position and influence among the Saxons increases in this volume, as King Alfred dies, and Edward takes the throne, but his main goal of recapturing his birthright Bebbanburg is not yet attained when the book closes. Personally, as I read these tales, aside from Uhtred’s escapades, it is his interactions with the priests that holds my interest. In this volume Bernard introduces yet another one, Cuthbert. Cuthbert, proves to be as interesting a character as any of Bernard’s other beloved priests, even if he does, perhaps even because of his fondness for fawns. I look forward to the end of these tales, only because I’d like to draw up a monograph on pastoral theology using the characters of these stories, and it’s depiction of Christianity. In anycase, those who have been following the story thus far, will no doubt once again enjoy the ease in which Bernard weaves the story of Uhtred, a thread through the canvass of war and blood shed marking this tumultuous period, as if he himself was sitting at the roots of yggdrasil eavesdropping on the Norns in all their beauty. They will not be disappointed, and though one could pick up and begin reading her with this book, those that do, will be satisfying themselves with past volumes of this great story while waiting for the next installment.