The Vacant Throne

by Joshua Palmatier

Book Overview

Ruled by the Mistress of the Skewed Throne, the city of Amenkor has just survived a devastating invasion, paying a terrible price both in the loss of lives and destruction in the city itself. Yet perhaps the most crucial loss is the throne of Amenkor-the true seat of power in every sense-now totally drained of the magic, knowledge, life force, and memories of previous rulers. The city's only hope lies with its sometime ally, the city of Venitte, home...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0756404622
• ISBN13: 9780756404628
• Release Date: January 2008
• Publisher: Daw Books
• Length: 532 Pages
• Weight: 0.10 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.6" x 6.5" x 9.3"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

The Vacant Throne won't leave you feeling empty!

Teenage Varis, the Mistress of Amenkor, has managed to save her city from an attack by the deadly and powerful Chorl. Amenkor lay in ruins. The Skewed Throne sits cracked and useless. Its power is dead. But their troubles with the blue-skinned, magic wielding Chorl are far from over. After the destruction of the Chorl's High Priestest, known as the Ochean, the invaders begin a well-calculated plan to take over the nearby city of Venitte instead. At first it is believed they want the port city because it is a major trading stop, but as Varis learns more through dreams she should no longer be able to have and expands her visions and experience beyond the realm of Amenkor, the motivations become a whole lot clearer. Two Thrones were created by the Seven Adepts thousands of years ago to protect Venitte and Amenkor. One was brought to Amenkor, the other; the Stone Throne seems to have vanished. Varis comes to believe it never left Venitte, though no one seems to know where it is. It's a race against time and the threat of more Chorl attacks as Varis and a small fleet of Amenkor ships set out to warn Lord March in Venitte of the Chorl and save the Stone Throne from destruction or conquest. There's a little something for everyone in Joshua Palmatier's "The Vacant Throne", the final book in the Throne of Amenkor series. For the ladies, we have a budding romance for Mistress Varis. A sense of sisterhood begins to form in the most unlikely of places, between what should be bitter enemies. For the men, battles... lots and lots of sword-swinging, hell-screaming, bloody battles. I'm not usually one to get all choked up over a book, but Joshua had me in tears a few times with some extremely touching and emotional moments as well. This final novel wraps up most of the threads spun in the first two, but we are still left with a few tantalizing questions. There would certainly be room for another book about this fascinating coastal world, but for now, I am satisfied to let those questions rest. I am greatly looking forward to Joshua's next novel, "Well of Sorrows" which I hear is due to come out in the Spring of 2010!

Did not want to put it down

I'm extremely busy with work etc.., who isn't? Haven't been able to sit down and finish a book in a loooong time picked up "Vacant Throne at my local library and I really did not want to stop reading. I have not read the previous books of this series but this story does well on its own. I love any type of genre, fantasy, scifi... that involves a strong female character. "Vacant Throne" is exciting and an excellent read!

Keeps on getting better!!!!

I read this whole entire book in one day!!! And you know what it didn't disappoint me. Varis has managed to save her city, but not without some extensive damage. She has managed to believe in her abilities both magical and leadership wise. The only thing that bugged me some what was the lack of details when it came to describing the other cities and ports outside of Amenkor. But that was just a minor blip on the whole thing. I loved how vividly each character was written and portrayed. The plot was fantastic and, and...you'll just have to read it.

An excellent fantasy

This book is the third fantasy in a series, and would benefit from reading the first 2 in series. The main character, Varis, who is now the Mistress of Amenkor, is facing the difficult recovery of her city from a deadly, barely repulsed, invasion of the Chorl. Facing the threat of the Chorl coming back, Varis and others want to improve Amenkor's defenses, as well as help other coastal cities prepare for the inevitable fight, all while the main source of Amenkor's magic is gone. Varis herself, and her allies are sympathetic and interesting. The magic is fairly conventional but well-proportioned: formidable but not unlimited. The Chorl emerge with some more intersting detail, and the pace suitably quick, combining frantic combat, tense waiting, and occasional periods of relaxation. The cities themselves are a bit sketchy, but the interesting characters and tense plot carry the story. The book comes to a suitable resolution, but a place for a sequel is clear, and I, for one, am looking forward to it.

Excellent Throne fantasy

The Chorl unprovoked assault almost destroyed Amenkor. The nation's ruler Varis had to employ a desperate ploy to save her people. However, by destroying THE SKEWED THRONE, Varis insured Amenkor defeated the invaders. However, the cost of the war has left her country in a devastating state as much of the nation lies in ruins with starvation a real probability and nothing left to defend against another Chorl invasion. Varis knows they must rebuild fast, but fears she will lead alone as her mentor and advisor Erick remains near death following a vicious torture by the Chorl. Her hope resides with finding the Stone Throne that was built to protect the southern seaport Venitte, but vanished hundreds of years ago. She heads to that city hoping to forge an alliance and find a cure for Erick while the Chorl has regrouped and are ready to renew their vigorous insidious attacks by land and sea. The Throne fantasy tales (see THE CRACKED THRONE and THE SKEWED THRONE) are some of the best the genre has to offer. THE VACANT THRONE contains an engaging plot starring a strong courageous female ruler who faces monstrous problems with no time to fix them. Readers will continue to cherish the Throne saga delivers as a desperate Varis tries to find ways to provide the basic needs to her beleaguered people. Harriet Klausner