Sword Song: The Battle for London (Saxon Tales)

Should you buy the book? Will you like the book?

If you've read the first three, it's a no-brainer because Bernard Cornwell delivers in Sword Song another entertaining, historically oriented adventure story. You know you're going to like it.

My wife, not a reader of this genre, picked up the book as soon as I finished it and she loved it. She commented on how much she enjoyed Mr. Cornwell's writing style, the way he told the story and how he grabbed her from the first page.

Great historical fiction with good action. I enjoy studying about this historical age and find that a fictional account can help to understand the reality of life during those times. The author seems to have a desire to reduce the Christian faith to a collection of faults while avoiding the stability and benefits that it brought to England during this time.

Reading in sequence is a must, Bernard ties all the Saxon Chronicles together so well and the tales are ones you get into and cannot put the book down, even if I read them on a kindle. Never a dull moment. Since I am originally from Mercia I can visualize where they happen and the type of people. Great reading

I am a big fan of Bernard Cornwell. I really love Saxon Chronicles series. I liked Lords of the North a bit less than the other three books. But Sword Song is really great, a fun read. Can't wait for the next book to come out!

Having read the exciting and highly addictive "The Last Kingdom", "The Pale Horseman", and "Lords of the North", I was eager to read the next installment, the beautifully titled "Sword Song". Initially (for me and a few friends of mine) the book was difficult to get into as the author didn't seem to give much thought into drawing his reader into the story. Since he's such a good writer, I could forgive him that, but overall I found the story tame, rather on the bland side, and definately disappointing. In the first three books the story moved well taking different paths with many unexpected surprises, but "Sword Song" seemed to take one long road with few variations. And I kept looking for Lord Ragnar! So I was disappointed, but that's not to say I won't buy the next installment.

This is a great series. It follows Uhtred of Bebanburg and how he unwittingly gets himself involved in the Kings business. This is in the day when a mans word was everything and his oath couldn't be undone.

Pulp fiction with English, Danes and Vikings. Lord Utred is a legend. Bernard Cornwell's characters are either lovable or scoundrels or a happy combination of both. There is so much action. You have to love it, but the names are brutal like Ragnar and Chieppa??? Oh well! Remember - not a classic but plenty of fun!

I have read the book, but I am still waiting for my CD copy. I love to listen to the stories while I bake and do the house work. It takes the drudgery out of it. I have the CD's on order with the store and although they are having some difficulty obtaining a copy I would still like them to keep trying. I want to collect the whole Saxon Series.

Good story. Decently written. Definitely Walter Mitty for VIkings, but who cares? A little repetitious, but characters are more one dimensional. Nice nod to historical facts, maybe???
I keep buying them, so they are at least satisfying escape literature.

The characters are 2 dimensional. The story line is interesting but he portrays the King as a fumbling idealist who is saved from losing every battle by the heroics of the protagonist. If you have read and liked the Sharpe series you will find this a disappointment.

I have read most of Bernard's books and enjoyed every one of them, especially for their historical context and interesting reading. Sword Song is the same, exciting and historical reading that kept me glued to the book till the end. If you like Bernard Cornwell you will enjoy this one.

I can never wait to get the next installment in this series, this book did not disappoint. Once again Bernard Cornwell has written an enjoyable and exciting book, the story kept me involved and reading until I was finished.

This is the fourth novel in this series I have read. I came upon Bernard Cornwell about four months ago as I was setting out for a trip through England. I thought "The Last Kingdom" would be a nice diversion as I set off in search of the Anglo-Saxon remnants of England. Then I got hooked on Cornwell, at least on this series, and enough to make me curious about The"Warlord Chronicles" series.

His use of understatement is pointedly humorous; his main character is believeably human; and all the characters, without stereotype, capture a part of the ethos of what I imagine those times were like. And, of course, the battle scenes are spectacularly descriptive.
In fact, his descriptive writing, with never a purple patch, brings the settings to life and plays into the mood of the scene and of the characters.

This story is another great read from a master story teller, continuing the adventures of Uhtred, as he serves his King, Arthur, and battles the Vikings who seek to overpower the kingdoms of what will become England.