Book info

• Title The Pale Horseman
• Author Bernard Cornwell
• Year 2006
• Genre Historical

When peace is torn apart by bloody Danish steel, Uhtred must fight to save a king who distrusts him. Skeptical of a treaty between the Vikings and Wessex, Uhtred takes his talent for mayhem to Cornwall, gaining treasure and a mysterious woman on the way. But when he is accused of massacring Christians, he finds lies can be as deadly as steel. Still, when pious King Alfred flees to a watery refuge, it is the pagan warrior he relies on. Now Uhtred must fight a battle which will shape history – and confront the Viking with the banner of the white horse... 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

The second of the Saxon stories features our intrepid hero getting into more scrapes. I’m always surprised by how young our main character is, he gets up to all sorts. This time there are solo raids and a duel, and then some far bigger battles to attend to as well. A little bit of romance here and there (so sad at times!) but the heart of these stories is about torn allegiances, about not really knowing your identity and trying to find where you fit in the world - ideas that are as relevant now as they were back then in the dark ages.

Rating: 3 / 5