Book: The Empty Throne by Bernard Cornwell
Krishna
Another book in the Saxon series from Bernard Cornwell. This follows the earlier books – The Last Kingdom, The Pale Horseman , The Lords of The North. The Sword Song,The Burning Land , The Death of Kings. and The Pagan Lord.
Initially, in this book, the narrator is the son Uhtred of the narrator of all the previous stories. Times have moved on and Uhtred Sr is very old so the son takes over the narration of youthful battles and adventures. You really miss the old Uhtred because you have sort of travelled with him all this way and to find a different man talking to you, even though it is the same author’s voice and style feels like something is missing.
But there is a surprise waiting.
Uhtred, the Jr one, defeats the Viking Hans with a plan hatched by Aethelflad, the queen and Alfred’s daughter. It is fun to see Aethelflad described as ugly and vicious, and the Uhtred boy wondering what his father sees in her.
He brings the treasure and Haki only for the treasure to be confiscated by men of Aethelred, the ailing regent of Mercia and the husband of Aethelflad. He meets his father at the inn and the familiar Uhtred continues the story!
He is called to see a different lord (Eardwulf) marrying Aethelred’s (and Aethelflad’s) daughter. A spy, Priest Penda, tells him that he has been called here not to witness or protest but to get him out of the way while they planned to kidnap Aethelstan who was in his custody. He feigns grave illness and rushes back.
Nice scenes of a priest hitting his daughter in the mouth and how she kills him. Also nice scenes of how the Aethelhelm’s men are defeated by son Uhtred. Bernard seems to improve over the years as he narrates more tales. This one is really breathtaking. Then they all retire to a different location, fearing Aethelhelm’s revenge.
He then goes to rescue Aethelflad’s daughter whom her husband has betrothed to an evil man Eardwulf. Takes his daughter who has a plan to kidnap the girl but finds that King Edward is attending the wedding with his army. He gets the girl and runs towards Aethelflad before realizing that the enemy is outflanking him and coming at his puny army with a massive force.
When Aethelflad saves him he realizes that she also does not have enough army to stop the ambitious man Eardwulf from killing both of them, he lays a trap for the man. He succeeds in sending him to exile. He claims the loyalty of her sister, who cures him of his wound when he finds the sword that had injured him earlier. He realizes that Caester is under attack and goes back to save it.
He tricks Styggyr in a trap and takes him as hostage after making him lose an eye. Keeping him as a hostage, he forces the Danes to depart. Then kills the great Dane, who is his enemy all along.
The story ends with a nice twist. Bernard has done it again. Beautiful narration and good, gripping, story.
8/10
– – Krishna