The Lost Kingdom

The year is 866 A.D., a brutal time in England as Viking raiders pillage practically every city in the hopes of taking over the fertile and wealthy country. Uhtred is only a boy, the son of an English lord, when he is kidnapped by Ragnar, a strong and clever Viking who spares his life in battle and ends up being far more likable than Uhtred's father. Uhtred is torn between his loyalty to his country and his desire for adventure with Ragnar. He finds Vikings to be much more entertaining and fun-loving than the English who, he believes, spend too much time praying and being solemn. Uhtred prefers listening to tales about Odin and Thor, watching battles from behind the shield wall, and sailing on the sea in a Viking Ship with a serpent prow, but when England starts fighting back in ernest under the leadership of King Alfred, Uhtred is forced to make a difficult decision. Those who enjoy historical fiction with plenty of action will enjoy this first book in The Last Kingdom Series by Barnard Cornwell.