The empty throne

Cornwell continues his excellent Saxon Tales stories with an all-new installment chronicling the exploits of Uhtred of Bebbanburg as England teeters on the precipice of either unification or destruction. The eighth installment in this saga features a hero who has aged considerably, relying more and more on experience and cunning rather than physical prowess. Though the battle scenes still resonate, it is definitely time for a more refined political strategy as Aethelred, king of Mercia, dies and a power vacuum is waiting to be filled. Though Uhtred champions Aethelflaed, the king's widow, there are several adversaries who covet the Saxon throne. In addition, those pesky Vikings are still lurking about, and Uhtred must recover the sword that caused him cataclysmic injury in his last battle in order to fully regain his strength. Mysticism, history, brutality, muck, and mire combine to splendid effect in this compelling fictional version of the birth of a great nation.--Flanagan, Margaret Copyright 2014 Booklist

The eighth volume in Cornwell's "Saxon Tales" series finds the intrepid Uhtred Uhtredson ailing after being speared in the battle that ended the last book (The Pagan Lord). That same battle also wounded Aethelred, Lord of Mercia. Now he lies dying in Gleawecestre, and the Mercian landowners have been summoned to select a successor. Of course, there is conniving, with various pretenders to the throne, plus the threats of the Danes invading and the Welsh marauding. Uhtred has his hands full, fiercely defending one royal's claim, searching for the stolen sword that he believes will cure his festering wound, and protecting two children who, the fortune tellers predict, will produce future kings of the realm. Verdict Once again, Cornwell perfectly mixes the history and personalities of tenth-century England with several doses of battles, trickery, and treachery. Is there a fan of historical fiction anywhere who has not yet read a Cornwell? If so, hook them on this series, and they will knight you. [See Prepub Alert, 7/28/14.]-W. Keith McCoy, Somerset Cty. Lib. Syst., Bridgewater, NJ (c) Copyright 2014. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

As conspiracies breed in their wake, Lord Uhtred of Bebbanburg and Lady thelflaed ally to drive invaders from Mercia in Cornwell's (The Pagan Lord, 2014, etc.) eighth in his Saxon series. "In the year of our Lord 911," Alfred the Great is gone. "Alfred had dreamed of uniting the Saxons. That meant driving the Danes out of northern Mercia, from East Anglia, and, eventually, from Northumbria." King Edward now rules Wessex, and Lord thelred is Edward's reeve in Mercia, but he's been mortally wounded in battle, and it is his wife, Lady thelflaed, who has "the love of the Mercians." A heroine lost in history's mist, the lady is Cornwell's homage to a warrior, a leader who preserved Mercia against invading Danes and the Vikings encroaching from Ireland. With her lover Uhtred, thelflaed fights battles across "Englaland"the best and bloodiest against the Viking lord Sigtryggrand manipulates the ealdormen (lords) to accept her leadership upon thelred's death. This novel easily stands alone, with perfectly choreographed battle scenes and political infighting between thelhelm, Edward's father-in-law, "the richest man in Wessex," and Eardwulf, thelred's traitorous henchman. The protagonists, and Uhtred's daughter, Stiorra, who flees with Sigtryggr, are perfectly drawn. Other characters shine: the giant Gerbruht and Folcbald, Frisian warriors; Finan, Uhtred's droll second-in-command; and Eadith, Eardwulf's sister, who wins Uhtred's affection and heals him with his vanquished enemy's sword. Despite Cornwell's use of ancient names and places, the lusty, rollicking narrative (accompanied by a map) is totally accessible and great good fun. Cornwell's done it again. New readers: Draw a flagon of ale, and be prepared to find the first seven in the series. Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.