The Flame Bearer

Cornwell didnt surprise me with the quality of the writing, unpredictability of the plot or the depth of the characters. One of my favorite things about Cornwells handling of this story is how all of the action is in the present but it is being told as a memory of an old man so he can drop hints about whats to come. How clever. I love a good story and I certainly love a great historical, action adventure. I mostly love the story though. This story doesn’t have as much fighting action throughout it as the previous stories but it is filled with intrigue and plots. I love that too. Im also impressed with how Cornwell conveys Uhtreds inner thoughts on war, fear, necessity and readiness and how perspective changes with age along with his pragmatism over the subject. It is a beautifully written, human story. I have a feeling that people who do spectacular deeds think similarly to the way Uhtred is depicted in thought and Cornwell does such a spectacular job of conveying that thought in such frank human terms that it reminds me why he is one of my favorite authors. I am also impressed with the amount of conniving and deception of other characters and the reader that Cornwell so skillfully pulled off. This story has an intricate and complicated but completely believable plot which completely suspended my disbelief and absorbed me in the story as I read. This is a great book and is hours of cheap (okay, inexpensive) entertainment. I highly recommend this as the best in the series so far.

For ten novels weve been waiting for Uhtred to reclaim his ancestral home of Bebbanburg, and in The Flame Bearer we finally learn how that story ends. Fans of the series will recall that Uhtreds last attempt to capture the impregnable Northumbrian fortress took place in The Pagan Lord, where we were introduced to his son Uhtred as a young warrior. By The Flame Bearer, Uhtred the father is an old man, and with most of his enemies gone after the events in Warriors of the Storm, reclaiming Bebbanburg seems to be all that is left for Uhtreds tale.

Uhtred is a man possessed in this book, hell-bent on achieving the one thing hes longed for ever since his wicked uncle stole Bebbanburg from him in Cornwalls The Last Kingdom. Fortunately, before Uhtred gets too far along on his quest, Cornwell presents him (and us) with another mystery of the kind featured throughout the series. This time, the West Saxons are threatening Northumbria, in apparent breach of the truce reached at the end of Warriors of the Storm. And like most of the mysteries in this series, theres more to this move than meets the eye.

Eventually, however, the tale turns back to Bebbanburg, and how Uhtred is going to pull off this improbable siege. Uhtred may be old, but hes still the greatest warrior in England, and the last third of this novel offers one of the longest battle sequences in the series. Cornwell is a master of writing battles, with all of its violence, carnage, and shield walls, so fans of the series wont be disappointed. By the end, every open storyline from the prior two novels appears to reach its conclusion. That is, every storyline but one. So, in what looked to be the final book in the series, Cornwell drops a hint there may be more to come.

Even if Cornwell never goes beyond book ten, The Saxon Tales have been one of the great works of medieval fiction. Set in an important era in English history, its stories are engaging, its characters are memorable, and its hero is unforgettable. Someday, were going to miss the narrations of Uhtred of Bebbanburg. But until then, enjoy the ride.

If you are a fan of Bernard Cornwell, then you know how addictive his novels are. So The Flamebearer, book ten in the Saxon series, was eagerly anticipated. I am pleased to report that this had it all; thrilling battles, sea voyages, deception, laughs, etc., and best of all, Uhtred! I enjoy the television adaptation of Uhtred’s adventures, The Last Kingdom (also the name of the first book in the series), and there is disagreement and even dismay among fans about the casting of Alexander Dreymon as Uhtred. In this book the voice of rough and tough, large and fair (as clearly described by Cornwell), Uhtred is very distinct. TV show Uhtred did not infiltrate my consciousness as I devoured The Flamebearer, much as I enjoy Dreymon’s performance. Read the books! Watch the show! It’s all great!

I was given the first 8 books by a friend. I don’t do Saxons and battles and Game of Thrones, but a friend is a friend, so I promised to read 50 pages of the first book. I screamed in frustration when I finished the 8th book and realized there were two more. Thank you, Amazon, for having them. This series swept me up and carried me into a grand adventure. I can’t remember the last time I enjoyed such a long read this much. Just give the first book 50 pages, and I promise you the adventure of a lifetime.

Very disappointed. Not with the story, but with the price of this very slim paperback book.

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