The empty throne

About “The empty throne”

In the early tenth century AD, Britain faces change as Viking raids from Ireland increase and Saxon leadership in Mercia becomes unstable. Æthelred, the ruler of Mercia, is dying without a legitimate heir, creating a power vacuum. The West Saxons want their king, but Uhtred supports Æthelflaed, the widow of Æthelred and sister to King Edward of Wessex. Despite her popularity and leadership qualities, her gender presents a challenge in a male-dominated society. Meanwhile, Uhtred struggles to recover from battle wounds and must find the sword that injured him, a quest complicated by its loss in the chaos of battle. The outcome of the conflict depends on a single hero who will confront the Viking threat and shape England's future.