Hmm.. well it has been a long adventure having just begun the final chapter, War Lord. I’ve been reading these books for close to 20 years (!!!)because I started at the beginning when The Last Kingdom came out.
Now that I’m reading the last book, I’m not recognizing so many of the names like I used to, because this has spanned over 50 years, obviously many new people have entered the story and too many of the older have died.
I am wondering whatever happened to Eadith, Uhtred’s most recent wife, I don’t even know if she’s alive or dead but I’m assuming she died. I don’t know what happened to her, as he is with Benedetta now. (someone should make a link of all of his women with a timeline). and I know he gave him Dunholm, but where is Sihtric? And we haven’t seen Osfwrth since Stiorra died. I miss a lot of the characters and I have forgotten a lot as well. Probably time to reread.
I know uhtred is older now, probably mid 70s or early 70s, and he has his home back so he wouldn’t be getting into nearly as many petty scrapes, flights and battles/mini wars as he did when he was more hot tempered and younger . Since the release of Flamebearer, Uhtred doesn’t mention all the amazing war horses, sleek ships , beautiful, sorcerous women and my personal favorite: his collection of pet priests over the years. 😄 When this series began, it seemed like he had one or two new ones every book . because now that he has reclaimed his heritage and as Lord of Bebbanburg, I’m sure he has plenty of all these things, but that’s some thing I am missing in the last few books.
And even though he is as pagan as ever, he has really grown away from his adopted Danish heritage, which I don’t mind too badly. He was conflicted for so long and eventually had to choose who he was. I really like the way he turned out, he has always been graph, grumpy, grouchy and able to I really like the way he turned out, he has always been gruff, grumpy, grouchy and able to kill anyone who needs killing, rescue slaves and free them, protect women and has saved money from rape or help them avenge themselves afterward, protected the weak and innocent and saved a lot of men he didn’t feel deserved to die. (Sihtric, Berg, Haesten-who he should have just drowned lol) I am very happy that he still has Finan at his side. However when I started this book, a concern I have with every series popped up, one of the two main players in this is likely to die by the end and I believe it will be Finan. I have no reason to think this yet. Also the timeline of the entire series basically matches the timeline of actual history and the rulers of Northumbria. Ida was a real person-I did check to see how long his holdings stayed in his own countries possession, and it was very interesting to see where they wind up and what year. that gives me a little hint of which side Uhtred will choose to join at Aethelstan’s ‘Meeting of the kings of Britain’
All in all, I think the tone of the last few books matches the tone of what his life would be like, more settled but still bloody, cunning, political etc. I’ll post final thoughts after I finish War Lord, I’m not even halfway through.
