The Last Kingdom by Bernard Cornwell

Plot, plot, and more plot

The Last Kingdom by Bernard Cornwall is an enjoyable novel of historical fiction, set in England and focusing on the battles between the invading Danes and the English during the time of King Alfred. Read it for an immersion in the life of a warrior in England during the 9th century. The focus here is on plot and history, less on character.

Where are the ladies?

Women are decidedly behind the scenes, even when they are in the scene. One female character, and there are only three that I recall in the entire novel, accompanies our narrator on his adventures for about a third of the book, but she is rarely mentioned and has no dialogue until her parting scene, when she utters 3 or 4 words.

The focus here is on warriors, battles, and bloodshed, less on character.  This book is the first in a series, but it did not leave me eagerly awaiting the next installment.