I swore I wouldn’t contact you. I’m sure you’re overwhelmed with messages about your books. But I am writing to thank you for your work, especially The Last Kingdom. I ran across it at the beginning of the pandemic, on Netflix of course. I watched the Netflix series not once, or twice, but three times. I found it mesmerizing (how can you keep your eyes off of Uhtred of Bebbanburg). While I awaited the fifth and final season, I turned to your 13-book series. I have been reading the series in order for the last couple of months (I just finished the tenth book). I am dazzled by your writing. Reviewers often mention your ability to take us to 10th-century England, especially to its battlefields, but that is not what interests me. What I admire is your use of language: the rich vocabulary you employ (I’ve never looked up so many words in my life), the ingenious turns of phrases on every page, your ability to handle dialogue, etc. But, more than that, your understated humor. In the tenth book I laughed aloud when Uhtred adopted “Mus” as his battle cry (after finding out the town whore was the mysterious wife of the newly-appointed bishop). In my mind, you deserve all of the accolades you’ve received, and then some. For me, your writing has been an unexpected delight and has helped me through these strange pandemic days. For that, I am ever grateful (and I’m not through: three more books to go). Yours—

William Nikola