As the last unvanquished piece of England, Wessex is eyed hungrily by the fearsome Viking conquerors. Uhtred, a dispossessed young nobleman, is tied to the imperiled land by birth and marriage but was raised by the Danish invadersand he questions where his allegiance must lie. But blood is his destiny, and when the overwhelming Viking horde attacks out of a wintry darkness, Uhtred must put aside all hatred and distrust and stand beside his embattled countrys staunch defenderthe fugitive King Alfred. New York Times bestselling author Bernard Cornwells The Pale Horseman is a gripping, monumental adventure that gives breathtaking life to one of the most important epochs in English history. Cornwells characters are vividly drawn, betrayals lurk around every corner, the humor is as sharp as the swords, and the action is non-stop. NPR