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 HekArtemis on

4 of 5 stars

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To be honest I wasn't really wanting to read this, I knew it was going to be dark and horrible and that Jorg is a douche and a rapist and all of that. I love the Book of the Ancestor, it has quickly found it's way into my top favourites of all time list and The Book of the Ice is probably going to a preorder for me. I do realise that BOA is considered completely different from Broken Empire and Red Queens War, so loving BOA doesn't mean I would like this trilogy and indeed many who hate this happen to love BOA like I do. But I own Emperor of Thorns in deadtree format and I wanted to challenge myself to read something seemingly outside of my comfort zone. Also I like Mark Lawrence on r/fantasy and elsewhere and I was curious about this evil book written by such a not evil guy.

It wasn't even that bad, I feel like I armoured myself against a foam sword that just has some little stabby burrs in it. I couldn't give this 5 stars because I did hate the way the characters treat women in this story. Outside of that though, I actually liked this story, I enjoyed the characters and I don't even hate Jorg. What?!? No I don't. I mean if he were real I would hate him, but he isn't and I find his character and arc compelling. I love Makin - again in real life I would find his actions to be contemptible and loyalty is no excuse, but in a fantasy story his loyalty is commendable. Funny how that works.

I especially love the world building. Now I did know going in that the world is our world. I don't think that is a real spoiler - I mean Jorg is reading Plutarch and they exclaim "Jesus" and "Christ" and have a pope in Roma... it's pretty obvious even if you don't know beforehand. It just happens to be a favourite thing of mine, fantasy worlds that are actually our world. I love reading about our destroyed civilisation. I enjoyed the random mentions of the signs of our existence, I enjoyed the fact that at one point Jorg is obviously electrocuted when he stabs a control panel. Idiot. It's hilarious.

I will be continuing this series. And then I guess I have to read Red Queens War as well, given it's in the same world and I happen to like the world.

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  • 23 June, 2019: Reviewed