The year is and England is at peace divided between the Danish kingdom to the north and the Saxon kingdom of Wessex in the south Uhtred the dispossessed son of a Northumbrian lordwarrior by instinct Viking by naturehas finally settled down He has land a wife and two children and a duty given to him by King Alfred to hold the frontier on the Thames But then trouble stirs a dead man has risen and new Vikings have arrived to occupy the decayed Roman city of London Their dream is to conquer Wessex and to do it they need Uhtreds help Alfred has other ideas He wants Uhtred to expel the Viking raiders from London Uhtred must weigh his oath to the king against the dangerous turning tide of shifting allegiances and deadly power struggles It is Uhtredhalf Saxon half Danewhose uncertain loyalties must now decide Englands future.
