As the ninth century wanes, Alfred the Great’s dream of a unified England is in danger; his kingdom on the brink of chaos. While his son, Edward, has been named his successor, there are other Saxon claimants to the throne—as well as ambitious pagan Vikings to the north.

Uhtred, the Saxon-born, Viking-raised warrior, whose life seems to shadow the making of England itself, is torn between his vows to Alfred and his desire to reclaim his long lost ancestral lands. As the king’s warrior he is duty-bound, but Alfred’s reign is nearing its end, and Uhtred has sworn no oath to Edward. Despite long years of service, Uhtred is still reluctant to commit to the old king’s cause of a united and Christian England. Now, he must make a momentous choice, a decision that will forever transform his life . . . and the course of history: take up arms—and Alfred’s mantle—or lay his sword down and watch it fall.

The Death of Kings