The Last Kingdom, By Bernard Cornwell

In The Last Kingdom, part of the series Saxon Tales by Bernard Cornwell, Osbert is 10 years old and the second son of Ealdorman Uhtred, Lord of Beddanburg in Northumbria, present day Eastern England. The Danes raid England and Osbert's brother and father are killed and he is re-baptized as Uhtred. After attending an attack on Danish fortress Uhtred is captured and taken by the Danes. Uhtred's uncle takes the fortress of Beddanburg from him and Jarl Ragnar adopts him.  As Uhtred grows he harbors an immense love of the Danes but has clashes with one of the boys, Sven, son of Kjartan. When Sven does something wrong Ragnar destroys Sven's face and throws his father out of his service. Years later he is attacked by a grown Sven and older Kjartan who kills Ragnar and Uthred runs away back to the English where he joins King Alfred of Wessex. He sails with the fleet of Twelve ships and makes new friends. After a battle with the Danes he meets Ragnar the younger, Ragnar's real son.  They become the best friends , but Uhtred has never fought in a shield-wall and his challenge is met when he finds himself fighting in the battle of Cynwit...

  This was the best book I've read so far. I loved how historically accurate this book was. I was completely blown away by this type of writing and I cannot read anymore books because they all seem shallow compared to this one.  I would give it a 10/10 rating. I highly recommend this book to anybody who likes historical fiction.

 - Reviewed by P. G. , grade 9