Uhtred can be a bastard and is a real piece of work at times. Books and series featuring perfect people bore me because, at times, I can be the same and can relate.

That said, the manner in which Uhtred treated Stiorra was shameful. I'm not going to go further into this because of book spoilers; but will say this. I am weary with reading how horrible Uhtred was treated when his daughter was allowed to run off with Sigtryggr.

The child had been placed under the care of Athelflead and her horrible husband to babysit a child whose father wanted to murder her. Athelflead was pushing Stiorria to marry Aethelhelm (the old man); a man of questionable intent. I see no evidence of Uhtred's intervention on his daughter's behalf. He was too smitten with his lover and Babbenburg.

I'm sure Stiorra shared this with Sigtryggr and they planned their escape together. Sigtryggr was too keen a stragist to have overlook it. Otherwise Stiorria had found a measure of safety not provided by her father and took it.

But how many of us have, at times, failed our children?