Reviews for The Burning Land (Saxon Tales #5)

The average rating for The Burning Land (Saxon Tales #5) based on 2 reviews is 4.5 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2015-06-14 00:00:00 Michael Enos There is nothing I'd like to see more than Uhtred completely re-joining the Danes. I'd like to see him join forces with Ragnar Ragnarson. I'd like to see the two stood side by side in the shield wall. I'd like to see them smash Alfred's forces and Uhtred plunge Serpents Breath into the heart of Wessex. But, alas, Alfred has Uhtred's oath of loyalty and obedience. He may leave his side for a time, but it would never, and could never, be permanent. A strong test of loyalty However, when he accidently breaks a priest's neck, when he tried to get him to shut up by punching him in the face, he is forced to flee from Alfred's court. Despite the victory Uhtred has just granted Alfred, which literally saved his kingdom he is banished because he accidently kills a simple minded priest. Indeed, the men he has just saved call for his blood: the blood of the warrior without whom they would all be dead. Well, that's gratitude for you. Who could blame Uhtred for finally trying to fulfil his heart's desire? I was without a lord. I was outcast. I was free. I was going Viking. Unfortunately Uhtred has a soft spot for Alfred's daughter. When she comes requesting his help he is forced to make, yet, another hard decision. He is torn between wanting to fight with his Danish brothers and the King he has sworn his service to. Alfred's daughter reminds him of his oath, and one he also made to her in private. Uhtred is in a difficult situation because if he goes with her he may have to face his beloved friend Ragnar Ragnarson, which is a fate worse than death. How could Uhtred fight the man he loves for the man he hates? Bad choices I really don't like Alfred the Great in this novel. He owes everything to Uhtred, as without him he would have lost his kingdom long ago, yet time and time again he rewards him with punishment. I cannot comprehend why Uhtred still fights for this man. He clearly cannot lead him to the retaking of his childhood home; he clearly cannot lead him to any serious wealth. And to top it all off he manipulates Uhtred into fighting for him in the most devious ways. If I was Uhtred, I would long have abandoned this King. I think he is a bad choice of a man to follow. The thing I enjoy most about this series is the way it is narrated by an Uhtred who is looking back on his life. You can almost see the smile on the aged warrior's face as he recalls the memories of his youth and the battles past. Also, you can hear his regret and the bad decisions he has made, and the decisions he would now make instead. I hope at the end of the series he finally gets his birth right, which will give the warrior a sense of peace and completion. He will have no more reason to raid or fight someone else's enemies. He can be his own lord. Overall, this is another great edition to the series. In this Uhtred gets the closest he has ever been to joining the Danes since he was among them in the beginning. I feel like the author has almost teased me with it in this novel; it's like his shown us something that could have happened and then turned the novel back in on itself and showed us what will always happen. Damn you Bernard Cornwell for getting my foolish hopes up once again. The Saxon Stories 1. The Last Kingdom- A fine five stars 2. The Pale Horsman- A brilliant five stars 3.Lords of the North-A vengeful four stars 4.Sword Song- A familiar four stars 5.The Burning Land- A loyal five stars 6. Death of Kings A mighty five stars

Review # 2 was written on 2019-05-16 00:00:00 George Egan This one really surprised me. I thought Uhtred was on his way to freedom but Norse Gods have something else set for him..