Prince of Thorns by Mark Lawrence

Prince of Thorns (The Broken Empire, #1)

by Mark Lawrence

Prince of Thorns is the first volume in a powerful new epic fantasy trilogy, original, absorbing and challenging.

Before the thorns taught me their sharp lessons and bled weakness from me I had but one brother, and I loved him well. But those days are gone and what is left of them lies in my mother's tomb. Now I have many brothers, quick with knife and sword, and as evil as you please. We ride this broken empire and loot its corpse. They say these are violent times, the end of days when the dead roam and monsters haunt the night. All that's true enough, but there's something worse out there, in the dark. Much worse.

From being a privileged royal child, raised by a loving mother, Jorg Ancrath has become the Prince of Thorns, a charming, immoral boy leading a grim band of outlaws in a series of raids and atrocities. The world is in chaos: violence is rife, nightmares everywhere. Jorg has the ability to master the living and the dead, but there is still one thing that puts a chill in him. Returning to his father's castle Jorg must confront horrors from his childhood and carve himself a future with all hands turned against him.

Mark Lawrence's debut novel tells a tale of blood and treachery, magic and brotherhood and paints a compelling and brutal, and sometimes beautiful, picture of an exceptional boy on his journey toward manhood and the throne.

Reviewed by natpatreads on

2 of 5 stars

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2.5*

I struggle to rate this book - there are things I greatly enjoyed in it, but also so much that was so awful!

But fair warning - this book is not for everyone - in fact if you struggle with any aspect of dark fantasy keep this far away from you.
(E.G. if you have no time to reflect or have compassion for Snape by the end of Harry Potter don't even think about reading this.)

Jorg Ancrath is the Prince of Anrath who really is the least like any "Disney Prince" that a prince could be. I enjoy a "good" anti-hero....he is beyond that. He actively instigates and ignores blatant abuse and evil that is around him. He leads a band of outlaws in a world where almost everyone is doing something evil and/or chaotic. This world is brutal, chaotic, and quite evil - and it takes you right into the heart of it.

I enjoy a book where it isn't obvious where it is going - I didn't know the ending by the second chapter. I am shocked by the main character in the first paragraph.

But ultimately the downplaying of abuse (especially the casualness that rape is treated in this story) made it very challenging for me to read or get into the world. I know it happens - I even get it for a plot point, but this book treated it to a point where it has no more lasting effect than a swiping of a chocolate bar.

The redeeming point for me in this book was being surprised by some of the plot points in this book. I also listened to the audiobook and quite enjoyed the narration by James Clamp.

I may end up finishing the series (just cause I hate to leave them hanging), but this book falls in a solid 2.5 stars for me primarily for the casualness of some issues that were discussed beyond the point of plot building or "art".

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 18 December, 2021: Finished reading
  • 18 December, 2021: Reviewed