The Empty Throne is the eighth historical novel in The Saxon Stories series by Bernard Cornwell, first published in October 2014.

Aethelred, the King of the Mercians and estranged husband of Aethelflaed, is dying after being wounded in a battle at Teotanheale.

However, upon the discovery that Aethelhelm, the most powerful ealdorman in Wessex, is at the meeting, he realises this is a ploy to draw him away from Aethelstan, the son of King Edward's first wife.

Aethelhelm wishes the boy to be killed to remove the only serious rival to his own grandson as heir to the throne of Wessex (his daughter being Edward's second wife).

Uhtred refuses, but just before Eardwulf can attack, Aethelflaed arrives, seemingly with hundreds of warriors (though this is a deception), and commands him to return to Gloucester.

They join forces and rout a Norse raiding party which burned down a monastery, tortured and killed the monks, and took Ice-Spite.

Uhtred realises that the exiled Eardwulf has joined a Norse fleet from Ireland, led by Sigtryggr.

The Norse will abandon another, half-finished fort they had already captured, surrender half their weapons, and sail away the next day, as neither army has enough men to guarantee victory.

"[1] Kirkus Reviews says, "the lusty, rollicking narrative is totally accessible and great good fun.".

[2] One reviewer wrote of this instalment, "copious bloodletting, ever-so-slightly anachronistic profanities, and intriguing political maneuvering", obviously liking what Cornwell has written as the latest in the Saxon Tales.

"Cornwell's action-sequences are pearls of pure adrenaline", amid well-constructed characters with the historical detail skillfully woven into the plot.

[3] Keith McCoy, writing for Library Journal, summarises highlights of the plot, including continuity from the previous novel, when both Uhtred and Aethelred were wounded, but Aethelred is dying, while Uhtred seeks a missing sword to heal himself and protect two children, and then remarks that "Once again, Cornwell perfectly mixes the history and personalities of tenth-century England with several doses of battles, trickery, and treachery.