Warning: The following review contains topics that some readers may find disturbing. Reader discretion is advised.   

Prince of Thorns is the debut novel from English author Mark Lawrence. Having greatly enjoyed Lawrence’s Book of the Ancestor Trilogy, I was excited to jump into another of his works. This novel marks the start of the Broken Empire Trilogy and is published by Ace Books.

Prince of Thorns tells the story of Prince Jorg Ancrath. At the age of nine, Jorg’s mother and younger brother are brutally murdered by the forces of a rival lord named Count Renar. Jorg barely survives after falling into a nearby briar patch. Now at the age of fourteen, he begins his quest for revenge by taking control of the kingdom.

The setting of this story is one of my favorite aspects of the novel. The Broken Empire takes place in a warped, post-apocalyptic Europe in which humanity has returned to a medieval level of technology with a governmental structure reminiscent of the Dark Ages period. It’s an incredibly unique twist on the classic medieval fantasy trope.  I love how Lawrence builds worlds with subtle hints and descriptions that are gradually unveiled as the story progresses, rather than simply dumping exposition from the opening chapters.

I also respect the bold choice to tell this story from a first-person perspective, though there were certainly moments where I wished this wasn’t the case. Prince of Thorns is incredibly dark and features a truly deplorable cast of characters. Jorg himself is a twisted, sociopathic, murderer who will do anything in order to get what he wants. He leads a band of criminals who are similarly guilty of atrocious crimes.

Although the first-person perspective does allow Lawrence to deliver some exceptionally grim prose and thoroughly express Jorg’s voice, it certainly leaves you feeling uncomfortable.  Often, Jorg casually considers murdering others for the fun of it. This type of forced characterization can be intrusive to the story at times and I felt it unnecessary. Lawrence adeptly conveys just the kind of person Jorg is from the first few pages when we see him raiding a village with his crew.

Additionally, Jorg’s actions throughout Prince of Thorns all serve to enforce these negative character traits.  This book received a fair amount of controversy for referencing sexual assault. It’s not graphic by any means, but I understand that the inclusion can cause some immediate issues, especially when the characters involved feel no guilt over their crimes. It would be nice to see some character growth from Jorg, but that isn’t what this story is about. It’s an examination of evil and how the world can mold that evil into an unstoppable force.

Another personal flaw that I find in Lawrence’s books is his tendency to utilize extreme physicality for his protagonists.  Jorg is a child, but for the most part, fights with the strength of a highly trained man. He crushes foes double his size and is quite adept with weaponry despite only receiving basic training in the blade before leaving his home. It’s a little hard to believe from time to time and can zap tension from scenarios because of Jorg’s heavy plot armor.

Nonetheless, Prince of Thorns is still an engaging read for the most part. It’s the literary equivalent of watching a house burn down. You know it will end badly, but for some reason, you just can’t look away. Certainly not for everyone, but if you enjoy the grimdark subgenre, I think there is something worth your time here.

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Prince of Thorns

$8.99

5.5

Score

5.5/10

Pros

• Intriguing World
• Clever Prose

Cons

• Characters are Bad, Bad People
• Plot Armor