THE LAST KINGDOM

Uhtred, an English nobleman's son, is raised by Danish chieftain Ragnar after being captured in battle. He learns the ways of the Danes and bonds with Ragnar. Then a turn in battle forces Uhtred to decide between the two sides of himself. The story is full of bloody action, yet narrator Jamie Glover keeps the emphasis on Uhtred's struggles with conflicting loyalties, shaping the characters to show both their sympathetic and violent natures. Narrating as Uhtred, Glover brings alive both the boy and the wiser man, foreshadowing without giving too much away and showing the war through the eyes of a character who sees the views of both sides. The novel might be too bloody for some, but its take on loyalty and its historical detail are fascinating. J.A.S. 2006 Audie Award Finalist © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine [Published: JUNE/JULY 05]