Prince of Thorns

Title: The Prince of Thorns
Series: Broken Empire #1
Author: Mark Lawrence
Publisher: Ufuk Fantasy Pbl (2011)
ISBN:9786021834930
Pages: 512 pages
Original Published Date: 2011
Literary awards: Prix Imaginales Nominee (2013), David Gemmell Morningstar Award Nominee (2012), Goodreads Choice Award Finalist for Best Fantasy (2011), Goodreads Choice Nominee for Best Fantasy (2011)

RULE BY THE SWORD

When he was nine, he watched as his mother and brother were killed before him. At thirteen, he led a band of bloodthirsty thugs. By fifteen, he intends to be king... 

It's time for Prince Honorous Jorg Ancrath to return to the castle he turned his back on, to take what's rightfully his. Since the day he hung pinned on the thorns of a briar patch and watched Count Renar's men slaughter his mother and young brother, Jorg has been driven to vent his rage. Life and death are no more than a game to him--and he has nothing left to lose. But treachery awaits him in his father's castle. Treachery and dark magic. No matter how fierce his will, can one young man conquer enemies with power beyond his imagining?

Looking at the reviews' page of this book, clearly that this is whether LOVE it or HATE it kind of book, no medial rating. For me, after pass through the shocked of first few pages, I completely drawn in his rage and ambition. If Jorg is one badass 13 year old boy warrior, so be it. He had his reasons, very good ones too. If his ambition subdues his willingness to repent, lets just see how far it would take him. Part of me wanted him to be death, burned in all eternity for all his impious cruelty, but larger part of me call for the best wishes still exist for the young prince. D*mn you Jorg!

Jorg, Katherine, Sir Malkin and The Nuba
Taken from enife.deviantart.com

For the story sake, it was great that it gave no time to waste for reasoning for his nasty behaviour. His mother and brother slayed, his father made their death a comodity. That made him thirsty of avenging, a frenzy madness that made him see no different of killing one people or few hundreds, burning fields after fields, in return of victory. No lingering explainations. That just it. Period. If there was an explaination, it was for his action -which he gave to his brothers one time or another- and that just to add terror in his resume.

I also liked the twists near the end. That thing his father did to him, well, didn't expected that, I thought it's gonna be the other way around. spoiler[No, take that back, if a king could turn his queen and son's death into bargain of war, what stop him to do it again with his other son. I should have seen it came miles away.] Jorg was filthy, his father was filthier. And that last turned with the necromancies and what they've done in the kingdoms, it set the story to whole other direction. Wonder how it's gonna fit with Jorg's big scheme. King by 15, Emperor by 20.


One thing that I found a little off in this story was that mechanical voice guarding the big door under the red castle. I mean, it's a bit ludicrous and certainly out of place. Name and Password. 1111 years. In the land far far away? Then, it was a useless jest, because the door was unlock??!? oh, plueeaaasseee..... --> *Luke Jorg, I am your father.* *whoops, wrong dream* T_T

So, Jorg, you obviously well educated and quick wit, strong will and never waver, sometimes a poet on you even emerged, a suitable material for such an Emperor. But like that glowing leucrota kid said, you'll need a reason to fight your war. I hope you'll find a good one, and sit on your throne without too much darkness behind you. It's been a while since I found such a worthy antihero. I'll see you again in the next book.

         

http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/660244363