Warriors of the Storm

A Novel

By: Bernard Cornwell

Narrated by: Matt Bates

The ninth installment in the New York Times best-selling Saxon Tales, the epic saga of the making of England, magnificently brought to life by "the reigning king of historical fiction" (USA Today).

A fragile peace reigns in Wessex, Mercia, and East Anglia. King Alfred's son, Edward, and formidable daughter, Aethelflaed, rule the kingdoms. But all around, the restless Northmen, eyeing the rich lands and wealthy churches, are mounting raids.

Uhtred of Bebbanburg, the kingdoms' greatest warrior, controls Northern Mercia from the strongly fortified city of Chester. But forces are gathering against him. Northmen allied to the Irish, led by the fierce warrior Ragnall Ivarson, are soon joined by the Northumbrians, and their strength could prove overwhelming. Despite the gathering threat, both Edward and Aethelflaed are reluctant to move out of the safety of their fortifications. But with Uhtred's own daughter married to Ivarson's brother, who can be trusted?

In the struggle between family and loyalty, between personal ambition and political commitment, there will be no easy path. But a man with a warrior's courage may be able to find it. Such a man is Uhtred, and this may be his finest hour.

©2016 Bernard Cornwell (P)2016 HarperCollins Publishers

They keep getting better, awesome story.

Bernard is a master of painting vivid mental images while still keeping the action moving along. His series on Arthur 'The Winter King' and his other story 'The Archers Tale' are all very entertaining.

Want the Old Narrator Back

This new one is okay but he really messes your relationships built with the characters and your imagination over the past 7 books. His accent is too cockney English, which makes me picture all the Vikings like Oliver Twist villains.

Cornwall is rushing write these books to get them out and it shows.

Love all his books

Listened to them all, just wish the same narrator had been used for all the books, Matt Bates did a great job.

Excellent

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

yes

Any additional comments?

Having read all of Bernard Cornwall's books, I regard this as one of his best in the Uthred series. Some clever plot twists and a satisfying conclusion with a sequel indicator at the end which gives us something to look forward to. Why are some of your commentators taking the reader to task? He was perfectly fine.

Another excellent chapter of Saxon Tales.

Love binge listening and enjoy doing this in December each year - so far I have finished the first nine and look forward to the Flame Bearer.

too short.<br />

loved but SPOILER ALERT, what book do we read about him taking back his own lands?

Another Great One

Another awesome book in The Last Kingdom series! Five stars, two thumbs up, and 10 of 10!

Great Story!

Probably my favorite book in the series thus far. Uhtred is older but still got it! Matt Bates is decent but no Jonathan Keeble. I just don't understand how on earth does he get "Ran-yal" from from Ragnar!? It is pronounced Rag-nar! Ragnar Ragnar Ragnar!!!!

Rich, rugged, authentic

Cornwell once again lures me in with the tensions between the old and new religion, and Uhtred's struggles with his warrior gene. Forget all the OCD fuss about how the names are pronounced. It's the story that matters, and this is a helluva story. Bates, for me, has the perfect voice.

Love Cornwall's Books

I believe Bernard Cornwell write good history as well as good stories. His characters are very much alive and his plots are twisted enough to keep reading.