War of the Wolf

The Last Kingdom Series, Book 11

By: Bernard Cornwell

Narrated by: Matt Bates

Length: 13 hrs and 28 mins

Publisher's summary

The 11th book in the epic and best-selling series that has gripped millions. 

A hero will be forged from this broken land. As seen on Netflix and BBC around the world. 

Lord Uhtred of Bebbanburg knows that peace is far from reach. Though he has won the battle for his ancestral home, rebellion looms in Mercia and invading Norsemen appear at every turn. With the country in turmoil, Uhtred comes face to face with King Skoll, a violent Norseman leading an army of úlfheðinn, or wolf warriors, hellbent on seizing a kingdom – and killing any in his path. Surrounded and outnumbered by new enemies, Uhtred must call on all his skill and courage to survive and prevent his beloved Northumbria from falling to the Viking hordes.

©2018 Bernard Cornwell (P)2018 HarperCollins Publishers

Critic reviews

"Excellent...Cornwell is masterly." (The Times)

"There can surely be no better writer of historical dramas than Bernard Cornwell." (Daily Express)

"Tight plotting, vivid action...great." (Independent)

One of the weakest in the series.

Definitely not the best in the series. a fine performance but at times the story seemed to border on silly.

A Bit Lacking

I have loved all the Last Kingdom books up to this point. I re-listened to the series before starting this book, and each one is absolutely fabulous. But I have to say, this particular book seemed a bit tired and formulaic, it lost it's edge. I wish that more of the story line surrounding Steora and Seatrigger had been included. It just seemed like several characters were touched on but their story wasn't really developed. Also the ending of Uhtred's marriage to Edith was a bit of a let down. He was so passionate and committed to his other loves, and this relationship just sort of fizzled out. As the storyline of this book progressed, Uhtred's ongoing self doubt and self blame became tedious, so for me this book was a bit of a disappointment.

RIVALS GAME OF THRONES!!

I absolutely love The Last Kingdom series & I cannot get enough!

Intense
Funny
Historical

Great

This was another great addition to the already great series. Go and read this book

Still an amazing series..

The series is still very entertaining and I enjoyed the book but the plots are just not as exciting as they use to be. Uthred The old is boring, I miss the old days with his rage in the fierce battles.. And all the stories of the beautiful women he would meet...
I did enjoy at the end with the historical part about the fiction and nonfiction, those would have been great in all the other books as well..

Great Read!

Matt Bates is an excellent narrator that brings energy and life to the story. I love the smaller scale of the conflict, and several plot twists keep things exciting!

A good story

I like the book, and Bates is growing on me as the narrator of the books, especially now that most of the characters have been “replaced” and the pronunciations, names and dialects are more consistent with the previous book.

That said the historical part of the book is where it’s lacking for me. I’m not a historian, but it feels as if there are more deviations form the actual history here than in most of the other books.
That said it is still a great story and well worth it of you have come this far following Uthred.

Fabulous Storytelling of pre-England

Thoroughly enjoyed The Last Kingdom series by Bernard Cornwell! What a magnificent storyteller! I really didn’t want it to end!

Plot twists galore!

Honestly, the best part of this book is the Author, Bernard Cornwell’s recitation if the Anglo-Saxon poem, ‘The Wanderer’ in Anglo-Saxon English which sounds nothing like the English spoken today.

As for the novel itself, it is more fiction than actual history. At best, it contains historical elements with a big heaping of fictionalisation.

Looking for omens and portents in everyday objects or events, like a cat chasing a mouse, or a bird flying northwards, is overly tiresome due to the repetitiveness with which its inserted into the storyline.

For the most part this is a decent read and Bates does an okay job with the narration.

truly a masterpiece

there is no better way to spend the time than to read the Saxon stories

Audible got this very wrong

Although a great story, the opening started at Chapter 7 or 8 and the second half of the book played first, with the ending in the middle of the recording. Not what I expect from Audible and to be frank, it ruined a good book and story.
Audible at fault not Bernard Cornwell.

When is the next one coming??!!!

I have been waiting with bated breath for the latest addition to this outstanding series and in all honesty I could not put this down. As with all the previous instalments this one leaves you wanting more, brilliant again from Bernard Cornwell.

A book you can not stop reading until you get to the end.

The pace of the War of the Wolf is fast and furious. You can not put it down as you have to find out what will happen next. You are swept along with Uhtred, feeling his frustration with the situation he finds himself in, the limitation that his advancing age has on his strength and speed and his pain at the death of his daughter. I was expecting that while one of his warriors disappears early on in the final battle, that he would turn up later and have some important consequence and was pleased to be right. Good triumphs over evil and the reader draws a breath of relief. But then you realise it’s a long wait until the next instalment.

Just dragging it out

Story feels below par from a much loved author. The hero is getting a bit old for all this

Story ruined

Book downloaded automatically second part first so I knew the end before the beginning. Big big shame

a bit dissapointing

didn't think it as good as the others in the series. Narration was excellent though and the mad bishop hilarious 😂

He does it again!

As with all Bernard Cornwall books a superb read and Matt Bates does it brilliantley

perfect as always. never fails to keep me enthrall

absolutely fantastic as always
absolutely love Bernard cormwell Ang his enthralling novels. excellent read x

Tale of Uhtred continues to engross and enthrall.

To my mind Bernard Cornwall is peerless in Historical fiction, and this series is my favourite. I wonder why I left it so long to read the latest instalment of Uhtred's saga - but as soon as I started reading and listening I knew I would not get much done until I finished. If you have enjoyed the previous books this one will not disappoint - and if you have not, you should, though you would do well to start with the first book not this one which is no. eleven methinks. Bring on no. twelve! The narration is top-notch in the audiobook!

Good solid Bernard Cornwell

As ever a good solid Bernard Cornwell novel that’s excellently narrated by Matt Bates
A little predictable to Cornwell fans but still well worth the listen