The Pagan Lord & The Empty Thrones by Bernard Cornwell REVIEW

Started: 29/04/20

Finished: 17/05/20

Spoilers: Yes

I read The Pagan Lord and The Empty Throne back to back while I’m watching season 4 of the The Last Kingdom, and I’m so into it. You’re damn right I’ve gone straight into book 9. I’ve been savouring these books for years, reading them only when a new season comes out. But I can hold it back no longer. Just give me Uhtred and Finan for the rest of my life please, and I’ll die happy.

But, because I read books 7 and 8 back to back, they’ve blurred into one and now I can’t remember where one ends and another begins, so they’ll be sharing this review.

That’s what I love about this series, though. Each book is pretty small and easy to digest. It’s easier still to just roll straight into the next one. The story itself, from one book to the next, is seamless. It really feels like one long book that I’m just taking a damn long time to read.

Bernard Cornwell remains a master of written combat. Just the mention of a shield wall and I’m grinning like a fool. Each book pretty much ends with a climatic battle scene or badass fight sequence and I anticipate it every time. Nothing quite like a good Viking battle.

I love this series. The fact that I’ve made it to book 9 proves that. I’ve started many series, and finished few. Some I’ve given up on. Some are on-hold. Some have simply fallen by the wayside, but these Uhtred books/Saxon Stories/The Last Kingdom/whatever you wish to call them, are a staple in my reading life. I’m going to be gutted when the series ends. And that end is drawing closer with each book.

I found The Empty Throne particularly interesting because Uhtred spent so long injured and unable to fight. This was a massive blow for our favourite pagan war lord. Uhtred unable to lift his sword is no Uhtred at all.

After the ambiguous ending of The Pagan Lord, I would have said Uhtred had died, if I didn’t have another three books in this series sitting on my shelf. And then the opening of The Empty Throne threw me completely, as Uhtred’s son takes the reigns of narration. I was ready to freak the fuck out, but luckily Bernard was just teasing us, and the Uhtred we know and love is back at the helm by the next chapter.

Finan is a sweet Irish cinnamon roll. His loyalty and love for Uhtred is so endearing. Even though he’s a Christian and Uhtred is Pagan, and Uhtred asks him to do things ordinarily considered sinful, or against his belief, Finan does it anyway with a smile on his face. He’s just happy to serve and fight at Uhtred’s side. They have a total bromance and I adore them both so much.

At this rate, I’ll likely read Warriors of the Storm and The Flame Bearer back to back too and then mourn the fact that I don’t own the next three books yet.