Book: Warriors of the Storm by Bernard Cornwell

[Krishna]

Continues the Saxon Series that we have been following : The earlier books in the series are  –    The Last Kingdom, The Pale Horseman , The Lords of The North. The Sword Song,The Burning Land , The Death of Kings, The Pagan Lord. and  The Empty Throne

 

The story continues from where the last book left off.

 

When Uhtred sees that the newly built castle by Aethelflad is burning, he takes his army to go and investigate and finds that the castle is intact. He guesses that perhaps the ships are put to fire.

 

He learns that Haasten whom he had defeated earlier has joined forces with Ragnar Ivarson and the latter has quit Ireland to come and make his kingdom by conquering Britain.

 

There is a priest who comes with a ragged bunch and claims asylum in Uhtred’s fort in Caester. Uhtred thinks that Ragnall wants Babbenburg. They go meet Ragnall for a parley. Ragnall leaves and Haesten professes conversion to Chrstianity. Uhtred sees through the ruse where Ragnall will return and Haesten delivers Caester to him. While Aethelflad and the priests get taken in, Uhtred proves the treachery and in a fascinating duel with the prince, gets him killed.

 

Then he completely fools Ragnall by a midnight attack, and grievously reduces his army. He then hears that his daughter Stiorra, who married Ragnall’s younger brother Stygtyrr, is herself under siege and using a captured Danish ship sails boldly into Ireland and captures one of the two enemy ships laying siege to the fortress.

 

He joins with his daughter and in an explosive scene, takes her as a ‘captive’ to the witch who wants her for Ragnall, and manages to kill her. Amazing story.

 

When he taunts Ragnall with his victories, he gets himself cornered in a fort with an overwhelming force of Ragnall around. These scenes remind you why Bernard is a great writer who ups the tension to the maximum before delivering a surprise verdict.

 

This time though there is no surprise rescue by an ally (Aethelflad for instance) because that would have been too repetitive, there is enough tension, drama and pizzaz to make it a thoroughly satisfying ending. Kudos again to Bernard for delivering a rollicking good read, though this has more fiction in it than usual and in fact almost the entire story is fictional, by his own admission in the epilog.

 

8 / 10

 

– – Krishna