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| 'Warriors of the Storm' by Bernard Cornwell (HarperCollins, 2015) |
Holed up in the fortress at Chester,Uhtred awakes to news of smoke spotted on the horizon. Driven across the sea from Ireland, the formidable Ragnall Ivarson has begun an invasion, but things are not as they seem. As Mercia's future hangs in the balance once more, many questions are raised. Has Uhtred's son-in-law, Ragnall's brother, joined this fight? Will Uhtred's loyal lieutenant Finan's Irish connection prove a blessing or a curse as his countrymen join the would-be conqueror? Will the aging Uhtred's luck hold as tries to predict his enemy's next move? As his oathsworn mistress, Aethelflaed of Mercia, and King Edward of Wessex, her brother, are slow to act, Uhtred finds himself the only man ready to take a stand against this latest Norse threat to the fledgling England.
First of all, I know you shouldn't judge a book by it's cover, but I bloody love the imagery used on this one. It's almost 3D! I could practically hear the sound of weapons being struck against shields just by looking at it, so I was understandably desperate to get started on this latest Cornwell novel.
'Warriors of the Storm' is a good adventure story, although I did feel that it wasn't one of the best in the series. I thought it took a while to get going, but once it did, boy was it on form. The narrative has reached a maturity so that this no longer feels like Uhtred's story alone, It's become an ensemble piece of warriors, family and enemies, all familiar characters that are great to spend time with and root for or curse. As the royals take a back seat, this emerges as a more personal tale, one of alliances and ambitions closer to Uhtred's heart rather than those of his masters.
There are many references to Uhtred's ageing and our growling hero is in reflective mood. After a lifetime longing for what is rightfully his - the formidable fortress of Bebbanburg - the author seems to be finally revealing how Uhtred could end up exactly where he's always wanted to be. In previous books, sections have suggested that he does achieve his aim, and, to be honest, it's only going to be a matter of time before it becomes impossible for readers to ignore how unlikely it is for Uhtred to still be alive. Let's face it, he should've snuffed it by now, whether in war or through illness.
So, unusually perhaps, this book ended on a note of hope rather than relief. Normally, we want to cheer as yet another foolish Jarl gets his comeuppance on the battlefield, but in 'Warriors of the Storm' I both wanted to celebrate and read on as for the first time I felt Uhtred was finally going to get his just reward for a lifetime of service. Hopefully I'm not just being sentimental. Let's face it, Bernard Cornwell would reach Downton Abbey Christmas Special bastard levels if he blithely led us through nine books then didn't let Uhtred win his prize. Call me soft, but I think that would even make Uhtred cry.
Anyway, despite a slow start and a relatively small scale, 'Warriors of the Story' is a great historical adventure story, up to Bernard Cornwell's usual high standards. A fantastic way to escape modern realities between episodes of 'The Last Kingdom' on BBC 2. Just can't get away from the aersling lately...
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'Sword Song' by Bernard Cornwell (Saxon Story Four)
'The Burning Land' by Bernard Cornwell (Saxon Story Five)
'The Death of Kings' by Bernard Cornwell (Saxon Story Six)
'The Pagan Lord' by Bernard Cornwell (Saxon Story Seven)
'The Empty Throne' by Bernard Cornwell (Saxon Story Eight)
