Book info

• Title The Burning Land
• Author Bernard Cornwell
• Year 2009
• Genre Historical

To King Alfred he is the ‘lord of battles’. He has gained riches, loyal men and a beloved wife. But Uhtred is dogged by betrayal and tragedy. The ailing Alfred presses Uhtred to swear loyalty to his son and heir Edward, preventing the warrior lord from taking vengeance on those who stole his home at Bebbanburg. Now Uthred will once again defend the Christian kingdom – in a battle which could smash the growing power of the deadly Danes. In so doing he meets a woman more dangerous than any warlord. A killer, a schemer with a dark power over men’s hearts: Skade. Uhtred of Bebbanburg’s mind is as sharp as his sword. A thorn in the side of the priests and nobles who shape his fate, this Saxon raised by Vikings is torn between the life he loves and those he has sworn to serve.

Thoughts

This was a good story in the Saxon series, which so far has been a bit of a rollercoaster for me. Sometimes good, sometimes bad, this one veered towards the good, thankfully. There were lots of oathes being sworn this way and that, political allegiences being made and broken. It’s always good when Uhtred is reunited with old friends, and this time we were facing off a scary new enemy - I like that she was a powerful woman, although the witchy element wasn’t ideal. Still, a good read.

Rating: 4 / 5