The Vacant Throne

The Skewed Throne has been destroyed, sacrificed in order to stop invaders from the sea, a desperate people called the Chorl, driven from their islands and in search of a new home. But the threat of the Chorl has not ended. They have retreated...and disappeared. With the cracking of the Skewed Throne, their attention has turned elsewhere and Varis does not know why or where. Reeling from the attack, the city of Amenkor in ruins, she has little time to ponder it. Until she begins to experience some of the same visions and powers she had while attached to the Skewed Throne. But that is impossible. The Skewed Throne is dead. She senses nothing when she touches it. And yet... When an envoy from the city of Venitte arrives, Varis finds herself thrust into the politics of the entire coast. This erstwhile ally comes with dire news. The Chorl are on the march up the coast. Their target: Venitte. No one in Venitte understands why, but they need Amenkor's help. Varis has faced the Chorl before...and survived. And she now understands what is driving them to Venitte in the first place. There is a second throne. And the Chorl will stop at nothing to get it. ******************* Praise for the Throne of Amenkor series: "I give The Skewed Throne four and a half out of five really creepy-ass iconic chairs, and a strong suggestion that it not walk down any dark alleys alone. I highly recommend it." ―Seanan McGuire, New York Times bestselling author of the Toby Daye series "[The Skewed Throne is] A gritty, edgy, unsettling book. This tough young woman makes her choices in a world where good and evil often look like twins. I was riveted by her story!" ―Tamora Pierce, New York Times bestselling author of the Song of the Lioness series "Joshua Palmatier has written a vivid, passionate story about a tough-minded heroine fighting for survival. What makes her especially compelling is her own struggle to understand right and wrong, and to confront what necessity can force you to do. This promising first novel should lead to equally confident sequels." ―Kate Elliott, New York Times bestselling author of Spiritwalker series "The strength of Palmatier's book lies in Varis. Varis is a bitter girl, hardened by years of living in the Dredge, but she retains a core of humanity. Her ability to slip into what she calls the river, where threats stand out as splashes of red in the currents of the world around her, makes her an intriguing point of view character...if you enjoy grittier fantasy, I would recommend picking up The Skewed Throne." ―Jim C. Hines, author of the Magic ex Libris series "If you are familiar with Arya Stark in George R.R. Martin's Song of Ice and Fire series, you'll love Varis, who has a similar tenacity and toughness. I highly recommend The Skewed Throne and fans of gritty fantasy will love this book." ―Paul Genesse, author of the Iron Dragon series "This novel grips the reader with a swift-moving tale of political intrigue and economic survival in a world where the most dangerous secrets are never forgotten." ―Publishers Weekly "For those who like their fantasy gritty and real, without sugarcoating, Joshua Palmatier's "The Skewed Throne" is a gift. With not a dragon or an unicorn in sight, it's the people and the places where they live that matter in here - Varis is a strong and sympathetic heroine, even the walk-on parts have their own story, and the city of Amenkor has earned a place of its own in the atlas of fantasy lands." -- Alma Alexander, author of Worldweavers: Gift of the Unmage