Lords of the North
by Bernard Cornwell
Lords of the North is the third book in the Saxon Tales series of books. You maybe familiar with the Last Kingdom historical Drama Television series. I loved this series of books about Uhtred, a young Saxon boy born in the 9th century into a wealthy family, but was abandoned by his uncle after his father’s death. He was found and raised by a Danish tribe who he came to love.
I enjoyed the entire series immensely. Lords of the North follows Uhtred who fought for King Alfred and was awarded an estate in Wessex. He decides to go to Lundene and then to Northumbria to claim his father’s estate, Bebbanburg. But first he has adventures. He travels with Hild a former nun. He meets Danes who he respects and likes, but fights nonetheless. His fate takes him to meet and save the life of Guthred son of Hardicnut who claims to be the King of Northumbria. He is a Dane but has converted to Chrisitanity and is surrounded by priests who believe he will bring Christianity to Northumbria.
There are many misadventures as Uhtred traverses Northumbria with King Guthred who promises to raise an army in Cumbraland to help Uhtred take Bebbanburg. But first they must take Eoferwic, (modern day York) then Dunholm which is ruled by a fierce Dane warrior named Ivarr.
If it were only that easy. They do raise an army and Guthred embraces the support of priests who carry the body of St. Cuthbert as a holy relic that creates miracles and protects Guthred’s army. With his father’s former men and the Church, they capture Eoferwic. But Uhtred is betrayed by Guthred when he makes a deal with Kjartan the Cruel who hates Uhtred.
He is sold into slavery, and Uhtred spends two years as a galley slave until he is rescued by his brother Ragnar who was sent by Alfred to find him. This part of the story is grim and you feel rage at how Uhtred was betrayed and forced into the worst conditions. His rescue is dramatic and he feels unbelievable relief and joy. Then he finds he is beholden to King Alfred and back into service for him.
The story continues as he is sent by Alfed to help the man who sold him into slavery, Guthred, because he is a Christian and a Dane and he rules both Saxon and Dane. The really bad men are horrific, while Uhtred is loyal and fair, but a frightening enemy to have because he has no mercy for his enemies. He is obsessed with getting Bebbanberg back, but in the meantime, he is forced into being Alfred’s warrior. The book is a roller coaster of joy and dispair. The entire series is well written, and it brings the dark ages to life, and the characters, some real and some fictional, will be loved or hated, but never boring.