The Shadow Throne (24 page)

A
New York Times
Notable Children’s book

A
Publishers Weekly
Best Book of the Year

Winner of the Cybils Award

Chicago Public Library “Best of the Best” Children’s Book

“A page-turner.” —
The New York Times Book Review

“A swashbuckling origin story.” —
Los Angeles Times

“An impressive, promising story.” —
Publishers Weekly
, starred review

“Ruthless ambition, fierce action and plotting, complex characters and lots of sword play . . . keep pages flipping.” —
Kirkus Reviews

“Should appeal to fans of . . . Suzanne Collins. . . . A sure-fire mix of adventure, mystery, and suspense.” —
The Horn Book

“High adventure abounds with nail-biting drama.” —
Kirkus Reviews

“An exciting, breakneck tale.” —
Publishers Weekly

“A fast-paced and thrilling read with twists and turns that never let up.” —
School Library Journal

Copyright © 2014 by Jennifer A. Nielsen

Map by Kayley LeFaiver

All rights reserved. Published by Scholastic Press, an imprint of Scholastic Inc.,
Publishers since 1920
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SCHOLASTIC
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SCHOLASTIC PRESS
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Nielsen, Jennifer A.,

The shadow throne / Jennifer A. Nielsen. — First edition.

pages cm. — (The ascendance trilogy ; book three)

Summary: Young King Jaron has had nothing but trouble with his advisors and regents since he ascended the throne of Carthya, and now King Vargan of Avenia has invaded the land and captured Imogen — and Jaron must find some way to rescue her and save his kingdom.

ISBN 978-0-545-28417-2 (jacketed hardcover) 1. Kings and rulers — Juvenile fiction. 2. Rescues — Juvenile fiction. 3. Battles — Juvenile fiction. 4. Adventure stories. [1. Kings, queens, rulers, etc. — Fiction. 2. Rescues — Fiction. 3. Battles — Fiction. 4. Adventure and adventurers — Fiction.] I. Title. II. Series: Nielsen, Jennifer A. Ascendance trilogy ; bk. 3.

PZ7.N5672Sh 2014

813.6 — dc23

2013021841

e-ISBN 978-0-545-63379-6

First edition, March 2014

Cover art ©2014 by Ken Choi

Cover design by Christopher Stengel

All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. No part of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereafter invented, without the express written permission of the publisher. For information regarding permission, write to Scholastic Inc., Attention: Permissions Department, 557 Broadway, New York, NY 10012.