Enter a world where bloody battles, and heroic deeds combine in the historic struggle to unite Britain in the face of a common enemy. The third instalment in Bernard Cornwell's King Alfred series, follows on from the outstanding previous novels The Last Kingdom and The Pale Horseman.

The fourth in the bestselling Alfred series from number one historical novelist, Bernard Cornwell.

Uhtred is an English boy, born into the aristocracy of ninth-century Northumbria. Orphaned at ten, he is captured and adopted by a Dane and taught the Viking ways. Yet Uhtred's fate is bound up with Alfred, King of Wessex, who rules over the English kingdom to survive the Danish assault. This book is set in England during the reign of King Alfred.

It is the lowest time for the Saxons. Defeated by the Vikings who now occupy most of England, Alfred and his group of surviving followers retreat to the trackless marshlands of Somerset. Only Uhtred remains resolute. His plan is to become accepted by their leaders, and to sit in their councils and uncover their plans.