Death of Kings
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- Create Date：2021-06-23 08:53:28
- Update Date：2025-09-06
- Status：finish
- Author：Bernard Cornwell
- ISBN：0007331800
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Summary
The master of historical fiction presents the iconic story of King Alfred and the making of a nation。
Alfred， the great king， is said to be dying。 Rivals for his succession are poised to tear the kingdom apart。 The country Alfred has worked thirty years to build is about to disintegrate。
Uhtred， the King’s warrior， Viking born but Saxon bred， wants more than anything else to go and fight to reclaim his stolen Northumbrian inheritance。 But he knows that if he deserts the King’s cause， Alfred’s dream – and indeed the very future of the English nation – will very likely vanish。
Death of Kings is an outstanding novel by a master storyteller of how England was made – and very nearly lost。
Alfred， the great king， is said to be dying。 Rivals for his succession are poised to tear the kingdom apart。 The country Alfred has worked thirty years to build is about to disintegrate。
Uhtred， the King’s warrior， Viking born but Saxon bred， wants more than anything else to go and fight to reclaim his stolen Northumbrian inheritance。 But he knows that if he deserts the King’s cause， Alfred’s dream – and indeed the very future of the English nation – will very likely vanish。
Death of Kings is an outstanding novel by a master storyteller of how England was made – and very nearly lost。
Reviews
Wania Cris
，
Sexto livro da saga Crônicas Saxônicas， temos um Uhtred ainda bastante debochado， porém mais maduro e experimentado。Alfredo， grande rei de Wessex está morrendo e com a iminência dessa morte a tensão pode ser sentida no ar pois o rei é tudo o que impede que os dinamarqueses tomem a futura Inglaterra e， na sua ausência， quem poderá evitar a terrível guerra que viria？Com o talento que lhe é próprio， Bernard no mantém ligados num enredo instigante， quase claustrofóbico， onde não sabemos quem são os Sexto livro da saga Crônicas Saxônicas， temos um Uhtred ainda bastante debochado， porém mais maduro e experimentado。Alfredo， grande rei de Wessex está morrendo e com a iminência dessa morte a tensão pode ser sentida no ar pois o rei é tudo o que impede que os dinamarqueses tomem a futura Inglaterra e， na sua ausência， quem poderá evitar a terrível guerra que viria？Com o talento que lhe é próprio， Bernard no mantém ligados num enredo instigante， quase claustrofóbico， onde não sabemos quem são os inimigos， sequer sabemos se eles existem ou tudo não passa de uma grande insegurança dada a instabilidade da época。Novas personagens nos são apresentadas， passando a compor o time de amigos que não queremos perder， mas， sabemos que vamos。。。 uma leitura de realmente tirar o fôlego e nos deixar ainda mais empolgados para o próximo livro。 。。。more
Kim
，
This wasn’t my favorite Uhtred story。。。I can’t put my finger on why， since it has many of the elements that captivated me in earlier books。。。 except to say it felt more like there was a lot of waiting in this book， and even with battle scenes， love， sex and political intrigue， it just didn’t do as much for me as proper books did。 Edward isn’t as interesting a king as Alfred which doesn’t help。 At any rate， I did enjoy this and will read the next， and on the whole this has been one of the better This wasn’t my favorite Uhtred story。。。I can’t put my finger on why， since it has many of the elements that captivated me in earlier books。。。 except to say it felt more like there was a lot of waiting in this book， and even with battle scenes， love， sex and political intrigue， it just didn’t do as much for me as proper books did。 Edward isn’t as interesting a king as Alfred which doesn’t help。 At any rate， I did enjoy this and will read the next， and on the whole this has been one of the better historical fiction series I’ve read 。。。more
Emily
，
My favourite book in this series to date！ I loved this edition - this book was definitely an action packed and exciting story with lots of twists and betrayals within the kingdom。 I loved how all the characters from the previous two books （（both of which to me at least definitely felt like set ups for this edition of the series）） all came together for a true clash between Danish and Saxon warriors。 The battles were exciting， the politics complicated but yet still comprehensible and easy enough t My favourite book in this series to date！ I loved this edition - this book was definitely an action packed and exciting story with lots of twists and betrayals within the kingdom。 I loved how all the characters from the previous two books （（both of which to me at least definitely felt like set ups for this edition of the series）） all came together for a true clash between Danish and Saxon warriors。 The battles were exciting， the politics complicated but yet still comprehensible and easy enough to follow。 This book made me excited and truly took me along for the ride。 I love AEthelflaed so much and I definitely prefer Edward and Uhtreds relationship and find it much less frustrating that his relationship with Alfred。 I can't wait to find out what happens in the next edition to this series！！ 。。。more
Lindsay Erwin
，
The continuing story of Uhtred。 King Alfred is dying， but before he does， he grants Uhtred land called Fagranforda， which will be a home for a while。 Sigurd， a Danish leader tries to lure Uhtred into a trap to kill him， but Uhtred spots it and escapes， later burning most of Sigurd's ships in retaliation。 After Alfred dies， there is a hiatus with no attacks， but then mount a surprise attack， forcing Uhtred to fight defensively beside the Thames。There are then various counter moves， and some treac The continuing story of Uhtred。 King Alfred is dying， but before he does， he grants Uhtred land called Fagranforda， which will be a home for a while。 Sigurd， a Danish leader tries to lure Uhtred into a trap to kill him， but Uhtred spots it and escapes， later burning most of Sigurd's ships in retaliation。 After Alfred dies， there is a hiatus with no attacks， but then mount a surprise attack， forcing Uhtred to fight defensively beside the Thames。There are then various counter moves， and some treachery， which Uhtred works out， then manages to use a ruse de guerre to rescue the situation。There is a further Game of Thrones like denoument with cavalry at the end。Bernard Cornwell's plots are intriguing， and the bonus is a history lesson。 。。。more
Alex Godkin
，
I just love The Last Kingdom books by Bernard Cornwall。 Fast rip-roaring adventure that is a joy to read。 Might be a little violent for some， but it is about war between the Saxons and the Danes。 This book in the series would not be my favourite but still a pleasure to lose myself in the world of Uhtred for a few hours。 These books are not long and move at such a pace that they can be devoured in no time at all。 I'll be back to the next installment soon。 I just love The Last Kingdom books by Bernard Cornwall。 Fast rip-roaring adventure that is a joy to read。 Might be a little violent for some， but it is about war between the Saxons and the Danes。 This book in the series would not be my favourite but still a pleasure to lose myself in the world of Uhtred for a few hours。 These books are not long and move at such a pace that they can be devoured in no time at all。 I'll be back to the next installment soon。 。。。more
Dayna
，
I have always loved Bernard Cornwell's Saxon Chronicles series， they are all very eventful。 I actually really enjoyed this book more than some of the other ones。 I was always entertained and couldn't put it down！ I have always loved Bernard Cornwell's Saxon Chronicles series， they are all very eventful。 I actually really enjoyed this book more than some of the other ones。 I was always entertained and couldn't put it down！ 。。。more
Petrik
，
I have a Booktube channel now！ Subscribe here: https://www。youtube。com/petrikleoThis was not as good as Season 3 of the TV series， but Cornwell successfully delivered a fitting conclusion to the first part of the series。I must first acknowledge that Season 3 of the TV series adaptation of The Last Kingdom is one of the greatest seasons I’ve watched。 Death of Kings， the sixth book in this series， and the previous book encapsulated the entire third season of the TV series， and it is difficult for I have a Booktube channel now！ Subscribe here: https://www。youtube。com/petrikleoThis was not as good as Season 3 of the TV series， but Cornwell successfully delivered a fitting conclusion to the first part of the series。I must first acknowledge that Season 3 of the TV series adaptation of The Last Kingdom is one of the greatest seasons I’ve watched。 Death of Kings， the sixth book in this series， and the previous book encapsulated the entire third season of the TV series， and it is difficult for me to not make any comparisons between these two even though they’re different mediums of storytelling。 So please do note that my reading experience of this book is colored by my bias towards Season 3 of the TV show adaptation。 “There are seasons of our lives when nothing seems to be happening， when no smoke betrays a burned town or homestead and few tears are shed for the newly dead。 I have learned not to trust those times， because if the world is at peace then it means someone is planning war。” Alfred the Great is dying; no， I don’t think that’s a spoiler。 Because of this， rivals—both Saxons and Danes—vying for the right to succeed after Alfred’s death are tearing the kingdom apart。 Uthred of Bebbanburg is， of course， once again tasked to protect Alfred’s reign even though the core of his dream is to retake Bebbanburg。 Fate， choices， faith， loyalties， and legacies remained the main themes of this particular installment; I really enjoyed reading this book。 As I mentioned before， The Last Kingdom series is starting to feel like a comfort read to me。 I was feeling slightly fatigued from continuous epic fantasy reads， and this was the right book for me to take a break and recharge。 Other than that， although this is slower-paced compared to the previous books， I still find the topics and character’s development absolutely enjoyable。 “Together we would make reputation， we would have men in halls across Britain telling the story of our exploit。 Or of our deaths。 They were friends， they were oath-men， they were young， they were warriors， and with such men it might be possible to storm the gates of Asgard itself。" Uthred is now 45 years old in Death of Kings， and I loved seeing how his relationship with all the characters he has met throughout his journey developed。 In this book， we get to see Uthred’s relationship with Sithric， Steapa， Aethelflaed， Alfred， and Edward deepens again。 Death of Kings also some of the most snappy and snarky lines from Uthred so far; seriously， some of the curses and mockery he threw out were hilarious and brutal。 But can we blame him？ I mean， the Christians’ attitude towards him was astoundingly maddening。 I am， however， surprised by how some key points of the narrative differ so much from the TV series。 I personally think the changes done in the TV series made the TV series a much more riveting show。 I honestly still don’t know how these differences will play in the long run of the series; I’m about halfway through the book series now， and I’m excited to find out。 “Men do not relish the shield wall。 They do not rush to death's embrace。 You look ahead and see the overlapping shields， the helmets， the glint of axes and spears and swords， and you know you must go into the reach of those blades， into the place of death， and it takes time to summon the courage， to heat the blood， to let the madness overtake caution。” There isn’t much else for me to say， really。 As you can expect from Cornwell’s formulaic greatness， Death of Kings was another wonderful—and melancholic—read。 After the events of this book， things certainly won’t stay the same。 Although I definitely preferred the third season of the TV series compared to The Burning Land and Death of Kings， I found this to be a great conclusion to the first part of The Last Kingdom series。 I’ve mentioned in my review of The Burning Land that Alfred’s treatment towards Uthred was awful—and I won’t take that back—but I have to remember that their relationship is more complex than a simple love or hate， and I was gladdened to read Uthred’s contemplation and exploration on how he really feels about Alfred the Great。 I’m closing this review with a long passage from the book of that notion: “I had not liked him。 I had struggled against him and for him， I had cursed him and thanked him， despised him and admired him。 I hated his religion and its cold disapproving gaze， its malevolence that cloaked itself in pretended kindness， and its allegiance to a god who would drain the joy from the world by naming it sin， but Alfred’s religion had made him a good man and a good king。 And Alfred’s joyless soul had proved a rock against which the Danes had broken themselves。 Time and again they had attacked， and time and again Alfred had out-thought them， and Wessex grew ever stronger and richer and all that was because of Alfred。 We think of kings as privileged men who rule over us and have the freedom to make， break and flaunt the law， but Alfred was never above the law he loved to make。 He saw his life as a duty to his god and to the people of Wessex and I have never seen a better king， and I doubt my sons， grandsons and their children’s children will ever see a better one。 I never liked him， but I have never stopped admiring him。 He was my king and all that I now have I owe to him。 The food that I eat， the hall where I live and the swords of my men， all started with Alfred， who hated me at times， loved me at times， and was generous with me。 He was a gold-giver。” You can order the book from: Book Depository （Free shipping）You can find this and the rest of my reviews at Novel NotionsSpecial thanks to my Patrons on Patreon for giving me extra support towards my passion for reading and reviewing！My Patrons: Alfred， Alya， Annabeth， Ben， Blaise， Devin， Diana， Dylan， Edward， Ellen， Gary， Hamad， Helen， Jimmy Nutts， Joie， Luis， Lufi， Melinda， Mike， Miracle， Nicholas， Sarah， Seth， Shaad， Summer， Wendy， Zoe。 。。。more
Bill
，
Least favorite one of the series so far。 Maybe it's because I have read six in a row。 However， I know that is not the reason because I have started number seven of the series and like it much better。 Cornwell became corny and predictable （more than the first five books） and was just ready to move on to number seven。 Least favorite one of the series so far。 Maybe it's because I have read six in a row。 However， I know that is not the reason because I have started number seven of the series and like it much better。 Cornwell became corny and predictable （more than the first five books） and was just ready to move on to number seven。 。。。more
Robb
，
This one was a bit slower than the rest of books but I enjoyed it nonetheless
Glenda
，
Another great installment in Uhtred's story。 This is one is a bit different from the previous books but I liked it quite a lot。 Uhtred is older and wiser， his approach more thinking and methodical yet he still feels the pull of battle and the joy （if you will） to be found in fighting and defeating the enemy。 Alfred has passed leaving Wessex in the hands of his son， Edward。 Uhtred accepts his fate and oath to Edward， and is also rewarded by Alfred for all he has done in the name of Wessex， Alfred Another great installment in Uhtred's story。 This is one is a bit different from the previous books but I liked it quite a lot。 Uhtred is older and wiser， his approach more thinking and methodical yet he still feels the pull of battle and the joy （if you will） to be found in fighting and defeating the enemy。 Alfred has passed leaving Wessex in the hands of his son， Edward。 Uhtred accepts his fate and oath to Edward， and is also rewarded by Alfred for all he has done in the name of Wessex， Alfred， and perhaps as a bribe to swear an oath to Edward。 I was on edge as much as Uhtred waiting for the last battle of the book with the Danes， the unnerving delay to attack that smacked of a trap waiting to spring。 I'm still not totally on board with Uhtred and Athleflaed's relationship， not because she's married or because they have something like a 15 year age gap， but more her character I think。 An excellent read， looking forward to the next。 。。。more
Kimia Habibi
，
My enjoyment of this series goes down with each book unfortunately。 I feel like the later books are much more limited in the amount of time they cover so it feels like not much actually happens。
Lissa
，
review to come
Chris
，
Very much a serial book but I like it。 It has become very different from the details of the tv series。 The events are still there but the machinations are different with new people。 They are formulaic but it is enough that I enjoy the personal relationships and intrigue going on。 This is 6 so 2 more before I am in uncharted territory and they are a quick read。
Sue Roselle
，
Sixth installment of the making of England。 Alfred has died and warfare has returned to compete for his succession。 Brutal battle of tribal commitment to command and divided loyalties。 Saxons once again overpower the Danes， who were actually joined by some Saxon tribes。 Great series！
Julia
，
Uhtred is ageing， but has not changed - and neither have his exploits。 The Saxon-Dane wars continue， Alfred dies， his son is King in name only while factions plot and the Danes wait。 These books continue to be enjoyable， if a bit predictable at this point。 The elderly Uhtred narrator becomes more interesting in comparison to the younger arrogant hero。
Justo Martiañez
，
3。5/5 Estrellas。Sexto libro de la serie y sigue manteniendo el nivel。 Los ingredientes se mantienen， grandes dosis de acción e integración creíble de los hechos históricos。Nos encontramos en 898， el rey Alfredo de Wessex está dando sus últimas bocanadas。 El edificio que ha construido para resistir los embates daneses parece que empieza a tambalearse， ante las dudas que genera el heredero Eduardo: los sajones que están en la órbita de Wessex， pero que no son sajones del oeste empiezan a dudar y a 3。5/5 Estrellas。Sexto libro de la serie y sigue manteniendo el nivel。 Los ingredientes se mantienen， grandes dosis de acción e integración creíble de los hechos históricos。Nos encontramos en 898， el rey Alfredo de Wessex está dando sus últimas bocanadas。 El edificio que ha construido para resistir los embates daneses parece que empieza a tambalearse， ante las dudas que genera el heredero Eduardo: los sajones que están en la órbita de Wessex， pero que no son sajones del oeste empiezan a dudar y a plantearse escenarios alternativos， Kent， la Mercia Sajona， un antiguo sobrino de Alfredo， Etelwoldo， relegado en su ascenso al trono empieza a moverse y buscar aliados en el Danelaw， donde tienen nuevos caudillos， que afilan sus cuchillos esperando la muerte del rey y el caos previsible para abalanzarse sobre una presa tanto tiempo anhelada。La situación es complicada pero， cuando en 899 muere el gran rey que ha permitido la supervivencia de los sajones durante largos y duros años， sorprendentemente no pasa nada。。。。。calma。 Demasiados caudillos en el lado danés， Etelwoldo， Eohric （rey de Anglia Oriental）， varía poderosos jarls de Mercia y Northumbría。 Todos ellos quieren el mando y dificultan un acuerdo en cuanto a la estrategia a seguir para la invasión。 Esto da 2-3 años de margen a Eduardo para asentarse en el trono y afrontar la invasión， que finalmente se produce， con garantías。Tenemos a nuestro caudillo Uhtred， ya cuarentón， asentado en Mercia， amante de la hermana del heredero y pagano recalcitrante。 Cómo siempre， el autor lo mete en todos los fregados， de forma magistral， hasta concluir con una gran batalla， que pone fin a este nuevo intento de invasión， la batalla de Holme， confuso episodio histórico， que el autor resuelve de la mejor manera posible y con unas dosis de acción altamente disfrutables。En definitiva， que ya tengo los dos siguientes en mi estantería， que me garantizan dos grandes lecturas en los meses venideros。Gran serie。 。。。more
Alex Bowers
，
The truth is that， up until the final third of the book， it was close to being my favourite of the series so far。 However， I found that the prose got a little repetitive near the end， almost as if the editors finished work early。。。 I nevertheless enjoyed it， as is always the case with Bernard Cornwell。
Adelle Kehoe
，
On his deathbed， Alfred finally thanks Uhtred， which is a nice last touch （and a long time coming）。 The final battle in the book is less clear cut in terms of 'who won'， however Uhtred killed all the big enemies （including Athelwold） as per usual。I love Cornwell's historical notes at the end of each book and found his personal commentary in this one really impactful: "It has always puzzled me that we English are so incurious about our nation's genesis。 In school it sometimes seems as if Britain' On his deathbed， Alfred finally thanks Uhtred， which is a nice last touch （and a long time coming）。 The final battle in the book is less clear cut in terms of 'who won'， however Uhtred killed all the big enemies （including Athelwold） as per usual。I love Cornwell's historical notes at the end of each book and found his personal commentary in this one really impactful: "It has always puzzled me that we English are so incurious about our nation's genesis。 In school it sometimes seems as if Britain's history begins in AD 1066， and all that went before is irrelevant， but the story of how England came to exist is a massive， exciting and noble tale。" - This is definitely a period of history that I hadn't been interested in before， and certainly the 'popular' historical angle is focused on the Vikings。 But Alfred's vision of an England， and defence of Wessex really were incredibly important in determining who we are as a nation now。 。。。more
Morgan
，
In some ways， this moves along more quickly and is more compact than the previous novels in the series。 It they all end in a big， Saxon victory at the end of the novel， though， I may abandon the series。 It seems as though the series is caught up to the books， so I am interested in reading more。 I love Aethelflaed！ I just don't get why the show killed off （leaving space for spoilers。。。。）Beocca， Thyra， and Ragnar。 Thyra is happy！ Doing well！ having babies！ The show did her dirty。 In some ways， this moves along more quickly and is more compact than the previous novels in the series。 It they all end in a big， Saxon victory at the end of the novel， though， I may abandon the series。 It seems as though the series is caught up to the books， so I am interested in reading more。 I love Aethelflaed！ I just don't get why the show killed off （leaving space for spoilers。。。。）Beocca， Thyra， and Ragnar。 Thyra is happy！ Doing well！ having babies！ The show did her dirty。 。。。more
M。R。W。
，
This series gets stronger and stronger with each entry。 This is by far some of the best yet。 Cornwell knocks it out of the park again with his masterful storytelling and the depth he gives his characters
Elizabeth
，
Sometimes I wonder why I am still reading these。 They are really violent！ Yet， I keep going。 On to #7！
Gustavo Nascimento
，
Cornwell faz um ótimo trabalho em manter a história interessante， personagens vão envelhecendo， morrendo e novos surgem。 O que ele faz com fiapos da História que sobrou pra nós daquela época e preenche com a ficção é fora de série。
Amanda
，
I really like this installment！
Chris Bolger
，
Not my favorite book in the series， I thought it lagged between the big death in the middle and the big battle at the end。 But， Cornwell writes such incredible battle scenes and the one at the end is perhaps the most well-written one thus far！
Paul
，
Trap trap trap。。who can trap Uthred？
Azar Farehi
，
I had missed Uhtred！ It's good to read of that crazy man and his madness again I had missed Uhtred！ It's good to read of that crazy man and his madness again 。。。more
Inge
，
Relaxing to read， but not the greatest installment， though the last 20 pages or so made up for the long lack of action。
Sam Mason
，
Utred， Son of Utred！ Book 6 of 13。 Better than the previous few。 Had some new twists and turns。 The historical significance becomes increasingly clear as more members of the royal family are introduced as important characters。
daniel mathieson
，
UhtredUhtred keeps us engrossed in battle being betrayed but rising above and beyond for King & Queen to save England from the Danes
pat Tonge
，
My first Bernard Cornwell。 Struggled along with the unusual names but finished ok。 May try one of hisother books。
Reference
google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=Death of Kings
hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=Death of Kings&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft
The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,Death of Kings&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0