Title: The Burning Land        

Author: Bernard Cornwell       

Genre: Historical Fiction      

Publisher: HarperCollins      

Format: Paperback 

Pages: 336

Rating: 4/5 stars 

Synopsis (Goodreads):

The enemy is massing on the borders, a united force for once.

The king, a man of many victories, is in failing health, and his heir is an untested youth.

Uthred, the king’s champion, leads his country’s forces to war, but his victory is soured by personal tragedy and by the envy of the king’s court. So he breaks with the king and takes off for the land of his birth, determined to resist all calls for his return. That is, until one unexpected request…

This is the making of England brought magnificently to life by the master of historical fiction. 

Review:

This is the next book in the Saxon Chronicles, end again Cornwell spins another artfully crafted saga of Uhtred of Bebbanburg and his exploits with the Saxons and Danes of England before it is officially England!

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Alfred is ill and dying, and Uhtred’s loyalty is again tested once again! He meets new characters, goes on new adventures, and fights more battles for Wessex: except technically he has sworn himself to the lady Ethelflaed of Mercia, Alfred’s daughter, who is married to the lord of Mercia! I think she is my favourite character in this book because she turns into a strong woman who is not afraid to challenge the word of her husband, and is willing to do her own thing! It’s also cool how the men of Mercia are more willing to follow her word, and not the word of her husband, because she is more respected! This is a violent series with violence against both men and women, which represents the time well, but it’s nice to see a woman be strong! Excited to read and review the next book in the series! 

Happy reading!