War of the Wolf

War of the Wolf
Bernard Cornwell
Harper Collins Publishers
New York, New York
ISBN: 978-0-06-256317-0
2018
$ 28.99
333 pages

How could anyone teach about life in the late 900s or early 1000 A.D.?    The time of Saxons, Mercians, Danes all battling over land that would become England.   Along side the land issue is the decision of religion.   Christianity is being followed by most of the inhabitants while the many of the Danes hold on to their beliefs and loyalties to the Norse Gods.   Naturally, among each side are inner battles of ambitious rulers fighting and acquiring loyalties for power and possessions.
War of the Wolf is the eleventh book in Bernard Cornwell’s Saxon series explaining how England became a single country.   All of these books feature Uhtred, who in my mind resembles one of the larger fighting men in Game of Thrones with numerous scars and battle wounds from constant altercations.
War of the Wolf is seen through the eyes of  Uhtred, now an older and wiser man.   In the first book, I viewed him with distaste as his taste of fighting seemed impulsive.   Throughout the series, Uhtred grows more interlining from his experiences and challenges so that now he thinks, plots, and attempts to outwit his enemy.   Now, it is easier to see Uhtred as wise and even caring and protective of his friends, allies, and family.
Uhtred now has reestablished his life in his northern family home of Bebbanburg which took many years.   He is comfortable in his northern home and would rather be home than fighting.   He realizes that even though home, peace is always temporary with the constant threat of the Viking invaders, the  wild fighting Scots from the northern lands and the battling for power from the Mercians, now in control of England.  
Uhtred is summoned to King Edward in Wessex to decide the next king whether through oldest illegitimate sons, legitimate heirs, or other lesser leaders.   Uhtred has no intention of going until he discovers the problems of his son-in-law.   The needs and vengeances of the family outweigh the dangers.
In War of the Wolf, Uhtred proves his leadership and acquired wisdom in this battle of kings as well as a new challenger proves a threat to him, his family, and his ancestral homeland.  His skills or lack of skills in this new world of diplomacy as well as his strategic fighting abilities demonstrates that peace is never permanent.  There is always a new, younger, stronger, and perhaps smarter challenger.
War of the Wolf is thoroughly enthralling as Uhtred enters of a world of constant change.
For a reader unfamiliar with this series, I would strongly recommend to read at least the first book or to watch the television series The Last Kingdom before this particular novel.  Being acquainted with the characters, especially the names is extremely helpful as well as understanding the people.  Personally, I enjoy how each person matures and their previous life choices affecting their life in this eleventh book.
How could anyone learn of life in the 900s and 1000 A.D. in England.  Read the Saxon series by Bernard Cornwell.
Bernard Cornwell is a master storyteller with this newest book in the Saxon series, War of the Wolf.