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The Last Kingdom
Bernard Cornwell
4.6
The Pale Horseman: A Novel
by Bernard Cornwell
About this book
In ninth-century Britain, the dream of a unified England hangs by a thread as Viking invaders systematically dismantle the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms. Wessex stands as the final bastion of resistance, but it is a realm fractured by internal strife and the looming shadow of total conquest. At the center of this volatile landscape is Uhtred, a nobleman by birth but a warrior shaped by the very Danes who seek to claim his homeland.
Torn between his fierce loyalty to his upbringing and his ancestral duty to the crown, Uhtred occupies a precarious middle ground where he is trusted by neither side. When a brutal wintry assault leaves Wessex teetering on the brink of annihilation, Uhtred finds himself bound to the fugitive King Alfred—a man he despises yet must protect to ensure their mutual survival. Their uneasy alliance forms the heart of a desperate campaign to reclaim a fallen kingdom from a ruthless enemy.
As the landscape burns, Uhtred must navigate a treacherous path of shifting allegiances and blood-soaked battlefields, ultimately deciding whether his future lies with the people who raised him or the land he is destined to defend.
Available Formats
Kindle: $14.98 Audiobook: $0.00
What readers are saying
Ronda TuttTotally Addicting! I love love love Uhtred of Bebbanburg. What a fierce warrior he is!
"Excellent!!!! I'm totally addicted. What an exciting tale of the Vikings and their battles with the Saxons. I love love love Uhtred of Bebbanburg. What a fierce warrior he is! I won’t go into great detail of this awesome book but it continues from the first book and I have to say King Alfred almost loses his kingdom. He finally grows some balls I’d say. I’d also like to note how the Christian religion plays a major roll during this time period. It reminded me of how things were forced upon everyone and were killed if they didn’t convert. I’m so glad our world today isn’t like that, however I think of how close it could be like that again if the Muslims try to force their religion on us by killing all the infidels - but thinking back to that time period, man were those brutal years for every person that lived in that region. In this book the Saxons win back their land after a brutal battle. The battles are descriptively described and will have you hooked on every word. I really liked the shadow queen and was sad to see her killed. Poor Uhtred! Well his Saxon wife is still alive even though she has become practically a Nun. I think Uhtred’s battle of loyalty between the Vikings and the Saxons is very interesting. I know I think I would of told Alfred to go take a flying leap and stuck with the Vikings. The writing is so vivid and is addicting. I could hardly put the book down. In a way, I wish the Vikings would of wiped England off the map just because I hated the way the monks and the way they forced Christianity on everyone. Don’t get me wrong, I believe in God, I just don’t believe in all these different types of Christianity’s. Those Monks literally made stuff up and or had some tale of a miracle of a heroic Saint to get their point across. What’s funny about that is that the Vikings thought it humorous as did I when a lord stated the story of a saint depicted from a picture of an arrow piercing him and the lord protected him and he did not die. So the Vikings tested that theory and stated that if they fired arrows upon the Lord and it didn’t kill him then they’d convert to Christianity. Well, that Lord died as they put 6 arrows through him. (I totally laughed out loud at the ignorance of that Lord) Now sorry but that’s funny and made me think how stupid these people were and how their common sense was out the window gone. Over all this is just an excellent read and I highly recommend it. ["
July 30, 2017 Verified Purchase
Ward FamilyFast-paced historical fiction, a fun read!
"Fast on the heels of The Last Kingdom, I plunged into the reading of The Pale Horseman, and whether it was just my mood for a fast-paced adventure or just Cornwell's good writing style, I thoroughly enjoyed every word. Sure, there are those moments, when you read a sequel so swiftly after the initial book in a series, when you are re-introduced and phrases feel almost too frequently repeated, but it didn't hinder the tale in its telling. "The poets often sing of that battle, and for once they get something right when they tell of the sword joy, the blade song, the slaughter. ... The battle calm was on me at last and I could do no wrong." We learn more about Uhtred and the way he thinks, and I believe he has matured slowly through this part of the story of Alfred, the last king of an invaded kingdom. If not for a curious mix of bravery, timing, and pure dumb luck, we might never have known an England, and while Alfred himself doesn't inspire much in this reader's heart, his purpose is great. He would not have been granted that moniker by historians if he hadn't been in the right place, at that right time, surrounded by capable and believing fighters. Of course I'm pleased to finish this and already have the bookmark moved to the beginning of the next in this series. Cornwell's writing compels me on, and I enjoy also the curiosity to seek more of the historical knowledge and background that inspired these stories. A rousing adventure, and colorful characters continue to draw me ever onward, to read even more! ["
June 4, 2019 Verified Purchase
Sonica DalismaGreat buy
"Great book and just like in the pictures my boyfriend loved it for his birthday I’m grateful I made the right choice because he loves books and he’s been interested in this one and it came in great new condition ["
April 3, 2026 Verified Purchase
Jeremy CastersonDo you want to fight in a shield wall?
"One major reason The Saxon Chronicles are so enjoyable is the main character, Uhtred. Put simply, Uhtred rules. He might possibly be the coolest main character narrator to every grace the pages of a book. Cornwell is an expert on religions of the time, and the Saxon Chronicles has a heavy dose of religious history and the growing domination of Christianity. Cornwell doesn't hide the fact that he's a fan of paganism, and I love that aspect of his writing. Descriptions of battles just don't get any better. These aren't Braveheart-style free-for-alls, but true to history 9th century battles. Men fought in shield walls, slipped over blood and guts, moved the enemy's shield a fraction so you could get a sword in to cut at his ankles. Not romantic by any means, but realistic and absolutely thrilling. Cornwell's blow-by-blow descriptions put you smack dab in the middle of the action. Some of you may think a historical fiction book would read like a textbook. You couldn't be more wrong. I'm not sure I've ever read as fast-paced a book as these Saxon Chronicles. You can't read four pages without action. If you're looking for some very entertaining medieval historical fiction, look no farther than the Saxon Chronicles. I would give all these books 4.5 stars out of 5 and I'm really having a hard time deciding whether to give them 4 or 5. I just can't put much fantasy on the same level as George R. R. Martin, but this gets close. Book 2 is just as good as the first in the series. ["
January 15, 2010 Verified Purchase