The Cracked Throne

When the White Fire passed through the city of Amenkor for the second time in a thousand years, it brought madness, drought, famine, and destruction. In order to stop it, Varis—a young girl from the slums of the city, trained to be an assassin—was forced to seize control of the Skewed Throne from the previous Mistress and become the new ruler of the city.

But Varis knows nothing about politics or power. She only knows how to survive. But as she grapples with the reins of leadership and retaining control of the Skewed Throne—helped by the Seeker Erick, her advisor Arrend, the merchant Borund, and the previous Mistress Eryn—a new threat arises. Something dreadful is coming. Something from the sea. Something that will challenge Varis' understanding of the powers of the throne and her hold on the city. Because this force knows of the throne, knows that Amenkor is vulnerable, and it is driven by complete and utter desperation. There is no turning back. It must have the Skewed Throne.

And it will destroy everything and everyone in Amenkor to get it.



JOSHUA PALMATIER is a fantasy author with a PhD in mathematics. He currently teaches at SUNY Oneonta in upstate New York while writing in his "spare" time, editing anthologies, and running the anthology-producing small press Zombies Need Brains LLC. His most recent fantasy novel, Crystal War, concludes the fantasy series begun in Crystal Lattice and Crystal Rebel, although you can also find his "Throne of Amenkor" series, the "Well of Sorrows" series, and the "Ley" series still on the shelves. He is currently hard at work writing his next fantasy and designing the Kickstarter for the next Zombies Need Brains anthology projects. You can find out more at www.joshuapalmatier.com or at the small press' site www.zombiesneedbrains.com. Or follow him on Blue Sky at joshuapalmatier.bsky.social or on X as @bentateauthor or @ZNBLLC. And check out the Zombies Need Brains Patreon and online magazine ZNB Presents at www.patreon.com/zombiesneedbrains.



“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.”



“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.”



"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.”