After the colorful but sympathetic picture of Danes painted in the first book, I had expected more of the same, but this time the Saxons are the heroes - if anybody is. Ragnar is still portrayed as a good fellow, but I think that the most entertaining character in this book is Father Pyrlig, a lively and garrulous Welsh priest. In here Danes show no mercy and indulge in plenty of rape and pillage. Alfred didn't exactly shine in the first book - sickly, pious and sneaky - but here he gradually comes to life. He has a turning point while watching those famous cakes become charcoal, and gets beaten by an eel for his creative genius in describing England. Uhtred makes a wonderful narrator and gives an enthusiastic eyewitness report of events, seasoned with remarks about the people he encounters and his foot-in-both-camps viewpoint a la Flashman. We all know that Cornwell is first rate at writing battle scenes, and there are plenty in here - visiting Bratton Camp in Wiltshire will never be the same again. Stirring stuff, no treading water in this middle book like in many trilogies. Do I really have to wait a whole year for book three?