Emperor of Thorns by Mark Lawrence

2 STARS

The Broken Empire - Book 3

Free at last, free at last, thank God Almighty, I'm free at last! Yes, I finally finished this book and this series. I vowed that I would finish it before I allowed myself to even think of reading something else. And it was a slog, let me tell you. The first book in the series was fascinating, intriguing, full of interesting characters full of flaws and quirks. The second... well, it got off track a lot, I thought and I had a helluva time following all the time jumping. This final book, which I was hoping would return to the plusses of the first, sadly, was the hardest of all to get through.

I guess, in the end, I just didn't get the point. The writing itself is good. Mark Lawrence can turn a phrase. And I enjoyed all the references to the pre-apocalyptic world, some of the pop culture that remained in very oblique ways. There was a big deal made about the archway entrance to the big city, and I felt that I should have known what monument it was, but I assume it was European and sadly, North-American me is probably not as knowledgeable as I should be about those types of things.

Was this the story about Jorg's journey from child to young man and how the choices he made were preordained? Was the story about removing magic from this world? Did the world blow up in the end? Was it another apocalypse? Or did it all take place in Jorg's head? I sincerely don't know... and to be honest... by the end... I didn't really care. I'm all for dark fantasy books - God knows, I love CS Friedman's Coldfire Trilogy, but usually there are a few bright spots, positive things in the narrative... somewhere so that the story isn't totally bleak and unforgiving. Sadly I couldn't find them here.

I wanted to love this trilogy and it started off so well, but sadly, in the end, I didn't.

King of Thorns by Mark Lawrence

3 STARS

The Broken Empire - Book 2

This is Book 2 of The Broken Empire and sadly, it didn't hold me as enthralled as the first book. I couldn't put the first one down and kept putting things aside to continue reading, but reading King of Thorns had none of that urgency. I kept muttering to myself, "And the point of all this is...?"

Part of what disturbed me was that I never knew when I was. Yes, when. We had what I think was current time in chapters called "Wedding Day" and then the "Four Years Earlier" as well as journal entries by the Lady Katherine that sort of filled in the time between the two, I guess. And really, did all this have TIME to happen on the "Wedding Day"? It bugged me and left me questioning all the way through the book.

Now, that being said, there was still enjoyment to be had. I do like the way the author turns a phrase. And the way he drops little gems in like this one: "When a game cannot be won, change the game. I read that in the book of Kirk." Are we to equate the dark Prince Jorg with the rebellious and heroic Captain Kirk from Star Trek? I hope not, because he doesn't. Except for the pride. Prince Jorg has pride to spare and then some!

Again, some of the secondary/supporting characters are exceptional. Sir Malkin, Gog, Uncle Robert, Miana, the Brothers that are left and even Katherine has redeeming features. The Arrow brothers - that was a very interesting conclusion to that story arc. Caught me totally by surprise.

OH, and If you're keeping track, I've still not forgiven the author for what he did 2/3rds of the way through the first book.

One of the fascinating things about these books, is trying to figure out the post-apocalyptic places and items and things. Some very interesting and in-depth world-building has gone on here and I appreciate it. If only the map in the front of the book was bigger for my old eyes! *LOL* And I do love the way Lawrence brings all the different threads of the plot together at the end (actually he does this throughout the book saving the HUGE ones until the end) and doesn't leave us with an obvious, throw the book across the room, cliff-hanger. (Although... Coddin... )

So all in all, it was a decent read and I will read the concluding volume in the trilogy, but not right away. I can't take much more of the dark! *LOL*

Prince of Thorns by Mark Lawrence

4 STARS

The Broken Empire - Book 1

This was something completely different. I'd had this book and it's two sequels on my 'to acquire' list for a while and was pleased when my son gave me the whole trilogy for Christmas. I had been warned, however, that the first book, at least, was very dark and the main character not very likable, but the book was good if one could deal with that.

Well, my friend was quite right. The main character of Jorg is HORRID. Wicked, evil with very, very few redeeming features. But a few chapters in - and they are very short chapters - and I was totally fascinated. Not just with Jorg, but with his band of 'brothers' as well. Makin, Nuban, Pike, Liar, Elhan as well as Gog and Golgoth. A bunch of more unsavory characters would be hard to find, but they are wonderful in their own way.

The writing itself works for me. Written in the 1st person POV of Jorg, the reading is easy and full, by which I mean it clips along quite nicely but there are some lovely turns of phrases and descriptions that put you 'on location' as it were. Clever turns of phrase like - "Brother Gains convinced Gorgoth to call a rest halt by stumbling into space, and wailing for a good ten seconds before the unseen floor convinced him to shut up." I laughed out loud reading that one. Jorg has a dry, sarcastic tone that I quite enjoy. I mentioned the quick chapters. I find this leads to a quick-paced book and the fact that most of them are around the same length, it doesn't pain my reader's brain the way some books do with their 3-page chapters followed by a 35-page chapter.

I don't know that this book would be for everyone. It's dark and violent - unrepentantly so - and there sure aren't a lot of warm fuzzies to be found. IF ANY. But if you enjoy fantasy that strays outside the norm, this is a good book for you. There are some fun surprises to be had as well - well, fun for the reader, but sometimes not fun too. *g*

Mark Lawrence has definitely captured my imagination although I may never forgive him for what happens 2/3rds of the way through the book. :)