The Empty Throne
 First edition cover | |
| Author | Bernard Cornwell |
|---|---|
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Series | The Saxon Stories |
| Genre | Historical novel |
| Published | 23 October 2014 HarperCollins |
| Media type | |
| Pages | 400 hardback edition |
| ISBN | 978-0-00-750416-9 (hardback edition) |
| Preceded by | The Pagan Lord |
| Followed by | Warriors of the Storm |
The Empty Throne is the eighth historical novel in The Saxon Stories series by Bernard Cornwell, first published in October 2014. It is set in 10th-century Mercia and Dyfed.
Plot summary
911: The forces of Wessex and Mercia have united against the Danes, but instability and the threat of Viking raids still hang heavy over Britain’s kingdoms. For Aethelred, Lord of the Mercians, is dying, leaving no heir and the stage is set for rivals to fight for the throne.
Uhtred of Bebbanburg, Mercia's greatest warrior, has always supported Athelflaed to be Mercia's next ruler, but will the aristocracy ever accept a woman as their leader? Aethelred's widow and sister to the king of Wessex is the candidate. As the Mercians squabble and the West Saxons try to annex their country, new enemies appear on the northern frontier. The Saxons desperately need strong leadership, but instead they are fighting each other to fill an empty throne. They threaten to undo the unity and strength that underlies Englaland.[1]
Characters
Fictional
- Uhtred - narrator, dispossessed Ealdorman of Bebbanburg
- Uhtred - Son of Uhtred, narrator of prologue
- Finan the Agile - Former Irish slave, and Uhtred's second-in-command
- Osferth - King Alfred's illegitimate son, and one of Uhtred's most trusted followers
- Stiorra - Uhtred's daughter
- Eardwulf - Former commander of Æthelred, Lord of the Mercians
- Eadith - Eardwulf's sister, and Æthelred's former lover
Historical
- Æthelflæd - King Alfred's eldest daughter, Lady of the Mercians
- King Edward - King Alfred's son and King of Wessex
- Æthelstan - son of King Edward from his first wife, Ecgwynn
- Sigtryggr - Danish jarl leading an invasion into Mercia
- Æthelhelm - King Edward’s father-in-law, and the most powerful ealdorman in Wessex
Reviews
One reviewer wrote of this installment, "copious bloodletting, ever-so-slightly anachronistic profanities, and intriguing political maneuvering", obviously liking what Cornwell has written as the latest in the Saxon Tales. "Cornwell’s action-sequences are pearls of pure adrenaline", amid well-constructed characters with the historical detail skillfully woven into the plot.[2]
Kirkus Reviews says, "the lusty, rollicking narrative is totally accessible and great good fun.".[3]
References
- ↑ Bernard Cornwell. "The Empty Throne". Retrieved 6 September 2014.
- ↑ "Book Review: The Empty Throne". Open Letters Monthly. Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts. Retrieved 10 November 2015.
- ↑ "The Empty Throne". Kirkus Reviews. 15 December 2014. Retrieved 10 November 2015.