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  • The Empty Throne

  • The Last Kingdom Series, Book 8
  • By: Bernard Cornwell
  • Narrated by: Matt Bates
  • Length: 11 hrs and 12 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (1,350 ratings)
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The Empty Throne cover art

The Empty Throne

By: Bernard Cornwell
Narrated by: Matt Bates
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Summary

The new novel in Bernard Cornwell's number-one best-selling series "The Warrior Chronicles", on the making of England and the fate of his great hero, Uhtred of Bebbanburg.

In the battle for power, there can be only one ruler.

England is fractured, torn apart more by internal fighting than the threat of Viking invasion. The ruler of Mercia is dying, leaving no legitimate heir. His wife is a formidable fighter and great leader, but no woman has ever ruled over an English kingdom. And she is without her strongest warrior and champion, Uhtred of Bebbanburg.

So the scene is set for an explosive battle between elders and warriors for an empty throne. The vacant throne leaves a dangerous opportunity for the rival West Saxons to seize Mercia. But Edward of Wessex is distracted by the succession of his own throne, with two heirs claiming the right to be West Saxon king. And while the kingdoms are in disarray, the Vikings, this time coming from the west, will go on the rampage once more.

The very future of England hangs in the balance. A hero is needed, a hero who can destroy the threat to Mercia, a hero who will ultimately decide the fate of a nation…

©2014 Bernard Cornwell (P)2014 HarperCollins Publishers Limited

Critic reviews

Praise for Bernard Cornwell:

"The best battle scenes of any writer I've ever read, past or present. Cornwell really makes history come alive" (George R.R. Martin)
"Cornwell is always in full command of his material" (Sunday Times)
"Like GAME OF THRONES, but real" (Observer)
"Tense, powerful, compulsive" (The Times)
"He's called a master storyteller. Really he's cleverer than that" (Telegraph)
"Nobody in the world does this better than Cornwell" (Lee Child)

What listeners say about The Empty Throne

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

An adequate replacement for Jonathan Keeble

I found it really hard to get through the books between Sword Song and this book because of the change from Jonathan Keeble to the others. Matt Bates is great at playing a different voice for each character so it is never confusing for the listener. He lacks the hoarse battle beaten storyteller voice of Keeble but he is certainly second best

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Good but nothing new

I have listened to all the others so I guess I will keep going, although I have to say it is getting quite difficult to differentiate between the titles. Its more slashing, burning and colourful insults (amusing and entertaining but not challenging or particularly surprising). It does exactly what you would expect, good fun, but in many ways a bit dull. This series needs to go out with a bang. ASAP.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Much better narration

Matt Bates seems to have found his feet! Still miss Jonathan Keeble, but I've grown to like Matt

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Good book - another enjoyable story.

Well written, well read but at times the readers accents and voices seem to blur into one which made it tricky to follow in parts where all the characters had similar names! I enjoyed it and looking forward to the next instalment.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Bernie is slipping

Shame….the last book lacked so much of the "wow factor" the however many previous books in the series had. ..and this one lags along, treading absolutely nothing new or exciting along a predictable linear track. There was a book called the Pale Horseman…well this is the Pale Impression… I feel and wish the good Lord Ut had captured Bebbingburg a few books back and not persisted in re appearing and tempting me to expect another fabulous and exciting journey like the initial three or four books. With the Athurian books it was left as a trilogy and worked fine, this is tired and boring..like Sharp became, ..but worse.
Come on Bernie end it soon and put me out of my misery..

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Another easy listen from BC

If you like the series you'll like this. An easy listen with our hero remaining a hero. Somewhat predictable but never the less entertaining.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Bernard Cornwall never fails!!

What made the experience of listening to The Empty Throne (The Warrior Chronicles, Book 8) the most enjoyable?

I couldn't wait to listen to it.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Empty Throne (The Warrior Chronicles, Book 8)?

When Ethelfled was made ruler of Mercia

Which character – as performed by Matt Bates – was your favourite?

Utred

Any additional comments?

Audible is really let down by the app. It could really benefit from being able to search for books, access account information and buy books through it. And please fix the stability issues!

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Another Uhtred epic

Another Uhtred epic full of surprises and plenty of action. Even in his old age he's still bossing it!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

BC nails the humour in this book. The story evolves effortlessly. The master craftsman at work.

Very little. I am now used to Matt’s reading and would even acknowledge I have become a fan.
Took a while, but his style does win you over in the end.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

An epic story.

Atotally captivating and truly epic story. I have never enjoyed a series quite like it. The consumate skill of the author is outstanding.

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