Prince of Thorns: Broken Empire 1

By: Mark Lawrence

Narrated by: Joe Jameson

Prince of Thorns is the first volume in a powerful new epic fantasy trilogy, original, absorbing and challenging.

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.

©2012 Mark Lawrence (P)2012 HarperCollins Publishers Limited

Critic reviews

‘Dark and relentless, Prince of Thorns will pull you under and drown you in story. A two in the morning page turner. Jaw-dropping’
Robin Hobb

‘This is a lean, cold knife-thrust of a novel, a revenge fantasy anchored on the compelling voice and savage purpose of its titular Prince. There is never a safe moment in Lawrence’s debut’
Robert Redick, author of The Red-Wolf Conspiracy

'Prince of Thorns got hold of me from page one and didn’t let go until I finished it on my second reading session on the second day. There’s humour here, gut-wrenching realism, high adventure, something that might be magic in the story, and certainly is in the telling of it. It was almost as if the shade of David Gemmell had returned, somewhat nastier for the experience. Thoroughly recommended. Thanks Mr Lawrence'
Neal Asher

'Prince of Thorns is one of this year’s most anticipated fantasy debuts; and now I know why! It's incredible'
civilian-reader.blogspot.com

Great, fresh and unique.

Narrator gives a very on point portrayal of the main character. A very gripping story if you enjoy a protagonist who is quite crazy, ruthless and unpredictable. Great book overall, but at times feels a bit rushed, especially the ending.

excellent storyline

What did you love best about Prince of Thorns: Broken Empire 1?

The hero is actually shaped by his environment and circumstances and has evolved naturally

What was one of the most memorable moments of Prince of Thorns: Broken Empire 1?

When you realize that this civilization has come after our own was decimated in wars, and the similarity it holds to our middle ages

Humerous kid anti-hero

Young prince travels with a gang of cutthroat mercenaries raping and pillaging through a war-torn world divided into a hundred tiny kingdoms all run by kings whose brutality is only surpassed by their cruelty and greed. So our hero is not really a likeable fellow, he is a little evil vengeful brat to be quite honest. But he is also at times a quite funny and not to mention a clever fellow. That and the fact that we are early on introduced to the event that made him such a monster helps us understand him somewhat, combined with the fact that everyone else seems like such complete bastards and we end up cheering for him anyway.
He is clearly traumatized, ensorcelled even, but he keep going. Brutally so. Now there isn’t really that much violence in this novel. Oh, they speak of violence all the time as they threaten each other or reminisce, but it is more a book about trauma and vengeful thoughts than and a true action novel. It is dark though, there is no hiding that. Dark and at times quite humorous:

“Most men have at least one redeeming feature. Finding one for Brother Rike requires a stretch. Is 'big' a redeeming feature?”

A cunning, cruel and ruthless protagonist.

Joe Jameson's captivating performance is the reason I finished this book in record time, though his accent may present an obstacle to non native English speakers.

Different story and good narrator

The different storyline kept me listening but I am not sure I am not sold. The narrator kept me in the game though to the end.

Amazing

Captivating story with an all out brilliant storyteller! I would highly recommend this book to any and all that enjoy the fantasy /medieval genre.

amazing! character

Out of my last dussin audiobooks this is my favorite narrator for this harshest of characters.

Good book for dark fatasy fans.

Good writing, interesting story and fitting naration 9/10! Will listen to the rest of the books in the series.

Dark, violent, sarcastic and unapologetic about it

Any additional comments?

Prince Jorg was faced with the murder of his mother and brother and it transformed him and his world view. He is not a “BATMAN” out to save the world, but just one more “BAD MAN” living in it but not giving in to it. Equipped with his own unique ultra-morals he makes his merry way and to hell with those living or dead who cross him.

A real surprise

Any additional comments?

I expected more of the same cliché fantasy characters and plots. This is far from cliché. I loved the dark, human, aspect of the lead character. Also, the back story is very interesting. More of it develops in the second book and hints at real complexity in the story.