Reviews
There are bloody battles and political machinations and plenty of meticulously researched historical nuggets to keep readers interested. The story is likely to appeal to anyone who has enjoyed George R.R. Martin's Game of Thrones series…, As expected, the warfare is ferociously bloody, the sacrilege pointedly barbed, and the story expertly paced. Heck, we'd even extol Uhtred's budding spells of sober reflection about life and love-if we weren't certain he'd slice an ear off for saying so., Gripping. . . . Mr. Cornwell's 'Saxon Stories' subvert myths of national origin as few would dare. They are 'unofficial histories'-and all the more realistic for that., [M]asterful. . . . The surprise is that Cornwell's love scenes are as deft as his action scenes, though far fewer, of course-all driven by a hard-shelled, sporadically soft-hearted, always charismatic protagonist., Cornwell is adept at enveloping his fictional characters in British history. His use of geography, instruments of battle, strategy and ancient vocabulary is faultless....No knowledge of early British history or of his earlier Saxon volumes is necessary for a reader to enjoy his dexterous approach to historical fiction., Cornwell tells Alfred's story with wit, intelligence and absolute narrative authority.... Cornwell remains in full control of this colorful, violent material, and his steadily deepening portrait of Alfred's nascent England continues to enthrall., "Gripping. . . . Mr. Cornwell's 'Saxon Stories' subvert myths of national origin as few would dare. They are 'unofficial histories'--and all the more realistic for that." -- Tom Shippey, Wall Street Journal "[Cornwell] writes morally complicated and intricate stories, and he's won a following not just among readers but also among fellow writers." -- Gregory Cowles, New York Times Book Review "Likely to appeal to anyone who has enjoyed George R. R. Martin's Game of Thrones series....Cornwell is a master of historical fiction." -- Christian DuChateau, CNN "A master of historical fiction has produced another great read." -- Robert Conroy, Library Journal "Bernard Cornwell does the best battle scenes of any writer I've ever read, past or present." -- George R. R. Martin "Compelling." -- Publishers Weekly "Cornwell tells Alfred's story with wit, intelligence and absolute narrative authority.... Cornwell remains in full control of this colorful, violent material, and his steadily deepening portrait of Alfred's nascent England continues to enthrall." -- Washington Post Book World for Sword Song "Bernard Cornwell ranks as the current alpha male of testosterone-enriched historical fiction." -- Dierdre Donahue, USA Today "Robustly drawn characters and a keen appetite for bloodshed whip the reader along in a froth of excitement." -- James Urquhart, Financial Times "Cornwell is adept at enveloping his fictional characters in British history. His use of geography, instruments of battle, strategy and ancient vocabulary is faultless....No knowledge of early British history or of his earlier Saxon volumes is necessary for a reader to enjoy his dexterous approach to historical fiction." -- Dennis Lythgoe, BookPage "[Cornwell] has been described as a master of historical fiction, but that may be an understatement. Cornwell makes his subject material come alive. Better, his major protagonist is totally believable and human." -- Robert Conroy, Library Journal "[Cornwell] possesses a gift for narrative flow and an eye of the telling detail that are the main reasons for his primacy in bringing turbulent times to vivid life." -- Philadelphia Inquirer "History comes alive." -- Boston Globe "As expected, the warfare is ferociously bloody, the sacrilege pointedly barbed, and the story expertly paced. Heck, we'd even extol Uhtred's budding spells of sober reflection about life and love--if we weren't certain he'd slice an ear off for saying so." -- Entertainment Weekly for Sword Song "[M]asterful. . . . The surprise is that Cornwell's love scenes are as deft as his action scenes, though far fewer, of course--all driven by a hard-shelled, sporadically soft-hearted, always charismatic protagonist." -- Kirkus Reviews (starred review), [M]asterful….The surprise is that Cornwell's love scenes are as deft as his action scenes, though far fewer, of course - all driven by a hard-shelled, sporadically soft-hearted, always charismatic protagonist…, Likely to appeal to anyone who has enjoyed George R. R. Martin's Game of Thrones series....Cornwell is a master of historical fiction., [M]asterful. . . . The surprise is that Cornwell's love scenes are as deft as his action scenes, though far fewer, of course—all driven by a hard-shelled, sporadically soft-hearted, always charismatic protagonist., Robustly drawn characters and a keen appetite for bloodshed whip the reader along in a froth of excitement., Gripping….One of his great gifts is his fertile tactical imagination. No two battles are the same….Mr. Cornwell's 'Saxon Stories' subvert myths of national origin as few would dare. They are 'unofficial histories' - and all the more realistic for that., As expected, the warfare is ferociously bloody, the sacrilege pointedly barbed, and the story expertly paced. Heck, we'd even extol Uhtred's budding spells of sober reflection about life and love—if we weren't certain he'd slice an ear off for saying so., As expected, the warfare is ferociously bloody, the sacrilege pointedly barbed, and the story expertly paced. Heck, we'd even extol Uhtred's budding spells of sober reflection about life and love--if we weren't certain he'd slice an ear off for saying so., [Cornwell] writes morally complicated and intricate stories, and he's won a following not just among readers but also among fellow writers., Cornwell is adept at enveloping his fictional characters in British history. His use of geography, instruments of battle, strategy and ancient vocabulary is faultless….No knowledge of early British history or of his earlier Saxon volumes is necessary for a reader to enjoy his dexterous approach to historical fiction., Gripping. . . . Mr. Cornwell's 'Saxon Stories' subvert myths of national origin as few would dare. They are 'unofficial histories'—and all the more realistic for that., [M]asterful. . . . The surprise is that Cornwell's love scenes are as deft as his action scenes, though far fewer, of course--all driven by a hard-shelled, sporadically soft-hearted, always charismatic protagonist., Cornwell…writes morally complicated and intricate stories, and he's won a following not just among readers but also among fellow writers., [Cornwell] has been described as a master of historical fiction, but that may be an understatement. Cornwell makes his subject material come alive. Better, his major protagonist is totally believable and human., [Cornwell] possesses a gift for narrative flow and an eye of the telling detail that are the main reasons for his primacy in bringing turbulent times to vivid life., Gripping. . . . Mr. Cornwell's 'Saxon Stories' subvert myths of national origin as few would dare. They are 'unofficial histories'--and all the more realistic for that.
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