A review by neilsef
Prince of Thorns by Mark Lawrence

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This took me a bit by surprise with how dark the tone of the story is as it follows Jorge, a boy who at thirteen years of age is the leader of a band of blood thirsty mercenaries, and who comes across as a bit of a homicidal maniac, which is the result of a traumatic event in his past.

The tale is brutal and doesn't pull any punches in it's depiction of the life the mercenaries lead, but because of this it exerts a compelling fascination, which is only increased by the characters and their interactions with each other.

There are several nice twists and slow reveals that pulled me up short, and which also made previous events make more sense.

If you like dark fantasy, with interesting characters and a fascinating plot, then this could be worth a read.