Price drop: $1.99 in the Kindle Store today! 
 This is (I think) the 9th book in the Saxon Stories series. I would be hard pressed to pick a favorite of Uhtred's tales. This one is probably in the top three. 
 It was a little different from his usual stories. My one gripe with Uhtred has always been that he has always answered to someone. He has never been truly free to do as he pleased. Sometimes he has worked outside the rules to the displeasure of his rulers, but he's never just done as he pleased. In this book, Uhtred did exactly what Uhtred wanted to do and knew needed to be done. It was SO refreshing. The book ends with Uhtred's retirement to take care of his business in the North. While I can't wait to see his triumphant return to Bebbanburg, I'm also a little sad to know it's coming to an end. He is easily one of my all time favorite fictional characters.