Week 26 Review: Prince of Thorns

From Goodreads:

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. 

My Review:
This was a pretty great read! This world with its politics and these characters and their histories was really interesting, and I wanted what was going to happen next with Jorg and his band of outlaws. I've read the synopsis of the other two full length books in the series, and they have me intrigued for what's to come! 

I'm having a hard time talking about this book. On one hand, I know that it's grim dark. But on the other, the main character, right at the beginning, rapes a girl, and is so nonchalant about it. And that really bugged me. The rest of the violence, I can handle. But the rape, especially when he's just 14? Not cool. 

Jorg is political smart and conniving. He's crafty, and he's not afraid to get his hands dirty in some pretty awful situations. He's been hardened by his experiences, which is understandable, but he's very much the anti-hero, but it's more like he's less of a villain then the villain so by default he's the better option.

The history and politics and magic of this world was really interesting. As we learn more and more it gets more interesting and different, and I wanted to know more! And as the missions were completed and battles were won, it had me so excited to see where it was going to go next! 

This was a pretty good book for a debut, and I need to continue the series! 

Author: Mark Lawrence
Series: The Broken Empire #1
Read: June 29th, 2021
Source: Bought
Reason Why: Sounded really great, and it's a DAC Book and a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2021 Book!
Publisher: Penguin Berkley Ace
Published: August 2nd 2011

5/5 Hearts

4/5 Books

4/5 Stars