Uhtred the conflicted Anglo-Saxon returns in this, the latest in Cornwell’s Dark Ages series. The previous books in the series (“The Last Kingdom“, “The Pale Horseman“, and “Lords of the North“) were wonderful, vivid adventures. Sadly, this one is a letdown. It’s not bad, but the events in this volume don’t move the story forward much and I was left wondering whether Cornwell cranked it out to pay for some home remodeling or something. Worse, parts of it reads almost as a parody of Cornwell’s style. Cornwell has always been a reliable author and I hope he recovers his form for his next book.