The Empty Throne by Bernard Cornwell
Reviewed by: Diane Soffietti, Reference Assistant
Genre: Historical Fiction
Suggested Age: Adults
What is the book about?: Pagan warrior, Lord Uhtred, was severely injured in a battle he led against the Danes and Vikings, who want to plunder and control Mercia and West Saxon lands that are held by Christian kings and lords. This battle took place in the last book of this series, The Pagan Lord. As this novel opens the ruling lords have come together to decide the fate of the West Saxon lands when their ruler dies. Priests, Bishops, lords and warriors must decide who will lead the fight and fill the empty throne. Political treachery and intrigue go hand-in-hand, as Cornwell weaves his historical fiction.
My review: This author’s strength is his character development, but also his sense of history in the battle scenes is remarkable. I have enjoyed all eight of these novels and others by Bernard Cornwell, as well. As the main character has aged and negotiated his life through battles and pitfalls, yet Uhtred has remained constant. Conflict and skullduggery make this novel a page-turner even if you know the history of the time period. Anyone who loves the Vikings series on the History Channel or Ken Follett’s Pillars of the Earth will want to read the Saxon Tales and The Empty Throne.
Rating: 5/5
About FDL Reads
Welcome to FDL Reads, weekly book reviews from Fondulac District Library. Librarians (and possibly some other guest reviewers) review all types of books, from children’s picture books, young adult favorites, to the latest adult thriller, and share their thoughts each week at fondulaclibrary.org. If the book is owned by Fondulac District Library (or another local library), you’ll see a direct link to the catalog entry and whether or not it is available. If it is checked out or at another local library, you will be able to place a hold as long as you have your library card and PIN numbers. As with any book review, these are our opinions…we disagree amongst ourselves about books frequently. We all have different likes and dislikes, which is what makes the world an interesting place. Please enjoy, and keep on reading!