forestghost's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
Overall, this book was alright. I liked the main character Jorg for the most part; he had a distinct voice and an interesting enough backstory. Unfortunately, the other characters were not fleshed out to the same extent. In fact, most of them barely mattered at all and it was hard to care about them because they were just there. Jorg himself merely considered them pawns, and this was definitely reflected by the narrative. I think it would've been possible to give the side characters a bit more depth even while portraying that they are of little importance to Jorg.
The one thing I have nothing positive to say about is the plot. Most of the time, I had no idea what was going on, what Jorg was trying to accomplish or why I should even care about what he was up to at any given moment. It felt like Lawrence made the plot up as he went along - which is fine, some people just write like that, but the book could've greatly benefited from one more edit to make sure that all of the plot points are tied together more cohesively. As it was, it felt like the book simply jumped from scene to scene.
The world building was confusing to me, too. Many things that should have been established from the beginning were brought up much too casually halfway through the book, such as the clear confirmation that magic is real. Maybe I'm a bit spoiled by Sanderson's way of writing magic (which is absolutely brilliant), but I felt the book lacked any sort of explanation regarding its magic system. Even after finishing it, I don't know what magic can do, what it's limited to, etc. That aside, there were other aspects of the world building that I disliked, simply because they were not expanded on. The world seemed to be mostly based on the real one, as several philosophers were mentioned and Christianity exists, but it almost feels like those references are just thrown into the book to give that sort of medieval feeling that the author thought a fantasy book should have. Hopefully Lawrence dedicates some more time to the lore in the other books.
But, as I said, the book wasn't bad. It definitely wasn't great, and I'm not sure if I'd even recommend it, but I didn't hate it. I'll definitely read the other books to see how the story continues.
TL;DR: The main character is interesting and it's a fairly quick read. On the other hand, the secondary characters are not very interesting, the plot is not cohesive and hard to follow, the world building is lacking.
The one thing I have nothing positive to say about is the plot. Most of the time, I had no idea what was going on, what Jorg was trying to accomplish or why I should even care about what he was up to at any given moment. It felt like Lawrence made the plot up as he went along - which is fine, some people just write like that, but the book could've greatly benefited from one more edit to make sure that all of the plot points are tied together more cohesively. As it was, it felt like the book simply jumped from scene to scene.
The world building was confusing to me, too. Many things that should have been established from the beginning were brought up much too casually halfway through the book, such as the clear confirmation that magic is real. Maybe I'm a bit spoiled by Sanderson's way of writing magic (which is absolutely brilliant), but I felt the book lacked any sort of explanation regarding its magic system. Even after finishing it, I don't know what magic can do, what it's limited to, etc.
Spoiler
The necromancers were introduced pretty much out of nowhere, too, and again, we learn nothing about them, except that they can control people? Maybe?But, as I said, the book wasn't bad. It definitely wasn't great, and I'm not sure if I'd even recommend it, but I didn't hate it. I'll definitely read the other books to see how the story continues.
TL;DR: The main character is interesting and it's a fairly quick read. On the other hand, the secondary characters are not very interesting, the plot is not cohesive and hard to follow, the world building is lacking.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Minor: Racism, Rape, and Animal death
i_write_on_occasion's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
A dark story with the most messed up anti-hero I've ever read. Difficult to stomach at times
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Violence
Moderate: Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual content
Minor: Animal death and Cannibalism
writingcaia's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Interesting story this one of Jorg, the Prince caught in the thorns watching the ones he loves the most die while unable to stop it.
When you meet him he is a savage, brutal, uncaring, ruthless kid, only thirteen, which kind of boggles the mind. But, I guess it is the Broken Empire and there are explanations and manipulations but there’s still a lot of violence that felt a bit too gratuitous and less mentions to rape would have tasted much better, still we end up realising everything has a reason, somewhat.
The plot is solid, sometimes leading places you would never guess, which makes it surprising and fun, but then gore, again. It’s the authors choice I guess.
The writing is pretty good, but both plot and writing in the author’s Book of the Ancestor trilogy are far superior, which is one of the reasons for my rating too.
The ending was not bad, not too much of a cliffhanger, just enough for you to know what’s what and making clear that he will be likely a bit older on the next book but his aim the same. How he will get there? Well I want to find out.
When you meet him he is a savage, brutal, uncaring, ruthless kid, only thirteen, which kind of boggles the mind. But, I guess it is the Broken Empire and there are explanations and manipulations but there’s still a lot of violence that felt a bit too gratuitous and less mentions to rape would have tasted much better, still we end up realising everything has a reason, somewhat.
The plot is solid, sometimes leading places you would never guess, which makes it surprising and fun, but then gore, again. It’s the authors choice I guess.
The writing is pretty good, but both plot and writing in the author’s Book of the Ancestor trilogy are far superior, which is one of the reasons for my rating too.
The ending was not bad, not too much of a cliffhanger, just enough for you to know what’s what and making clear that he will be likely a bit older on the next book but his aim the same. How he will get there? Well I want to find out.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Blood, Murder, Body horror, Vomit, Animal death, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, and War
Moderate: Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Rape
voxelbee's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Torture, Violence, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Animal death, and Blood
Moderate: Sexual assault and War
Minor: Genocide, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Body horror, Body shaming, Cannibalism, Fatphobia, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexism, Sexual assault, Racism, and Rape
michaelferlazzo's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
So violent I almost couldn’t finish it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Animal death, Violence, Death of parent, Child death, and Death
Moderate: Sexual assault, Rape, Alcoholism, and Sexual harassment
pagesofash's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
“What's it going to take for you to open that door? Gold? Blood?"
"Your name and password."
"My name is Honorous Jorg Ancrath, my password is divine right. Now open the fecking door.”
Jorg you murderous wry little bastard I fucken love you! You’re right up there with Galharrow in my list of all-time favourite characters.
“… I leapt from the saddle. Or got as close to a leap as a man in full plate can, which is to say that I chose where I fell.”
I imagine that anti-heroes must be hard to write; like truly scary horror, or comedy movies that make you laugh right up till the end, else we’d see more of them. Either that or there’s just not as much demand for a solid anti-hero as I think – perhaps I’m just a special kind of twisted for liking them so much?
Whatever the truth may be this is a fact, you will be hard pressed to find a better anti-hero then good ol Jorgie here. Er I mean bad ol Jorgie… He’s sarcastic, he’s intelligent, he’s murderously ambitious and motivated and he comes equipped with a serious lack of respect for the sanctity of life. Not to wax lyrically about one character but Prince of Thorns is what I’d consider to be a character driven story. It’s not that the plot isn’t interesting, it truly is, and it’s not that there aren’t other characters worthy of your admiration. It’s that if you remove Jorg from this story there wouldn’t be a story, it’s HIS story, cf: title, duh! Don’t go looking for multiple POV’s here, you won’t get them (can I get a hallelujah!?).
Jorg ricochets through these pages leaving all manner of chaos in his wake; everything from torn and bloody bodies to rape, and yes my dear children, even a little bit of cannibalism – which, “is in fact frowned upon in most societies”. So DON’T go reading this book if you’re afraid it will offend your delicate sensibilities. If I read one more review about how such and such didn’t like this because of the violence etc. I’m going to have get medieval on someone’s ass! Clearly if you feel that way then you shouldn’t have picked it up in the first place. There are plenty of reviews stating the type of content contained within, you have been warned and I have no sympathy for any idiocy resulting from such warnings going unheeded. Okay, rant over, where was I? Oh yes…
Despite the destruction he causes and his flat-out amoral actions you can’t help but root for him through every blood torn and mud smeared chapter. Perhaps it’s his backstory, perhaps it’s the subtle nods to something deeper in Jorg’s character. Perhaps it’s the savage company he keeps or the fact that the world he inhabits is full of hard cruel characters. All I know is he’s a funny little bastard who’s not afraid to gamble it all and I would never bet against him.
More than Jorg though I love this book for the writing and the world it depicts. It’s a nihilistic place but the Empire feels like it could still manage to be pulled back from the brink. I think that’s what I find so captivating, a world gone backward that feels like it could be brought forward again if only the right person had hold of the reigns. And whose to say Jorg isn’t the right person for the job? I love the wit and sarcasm that oozes off of every page and the atmosphere of a world so dark that hope is all it has left. Hope and a psychopath.
"Your name and password."
"My name is Honorous Jorg Ancrath, my password is divine right. Now open the fecking door.”
Jorg you murderous wry little bastard I fucken love you! You’re right up there with Galharrow in my list of all-time favourite characters.
“… I leapt from the saddle. Or got as close to a leap as a man in full plate can, which is to say that I chose where I fell.”
I imagine that anti-heroes must be hard to write; like truly scary horror, or comedy movies that make you laugh right up till the end, else we’d see more of them. Either that or there’s just not as much demand for a solid anti-hero as I think – perhaps I’m just a special kind of twisted for liking them so much?
Whatever the truth may be this is a fact, you will be hard pressed to find a better anti-hero then good ol Jorgie here. Er I mean bad ol Jorgie… He’s sarcastic, he’s intelligent, he’s murderously ambitious and motivated and he comes equipped with a serious lack of respect for the sanctity of life. Not to wax lyrically about one character but Prince of Thorns is what I’d consider to be a character driven story. It’s not that the plot isn’t interesting, it truly is, and it’s not that there aren’t other characters worthy of your admiration. It’s that if you remove Jorg from this story there wouldn’t be a story, it’s HIS story, cf: title, duh! Don’t go looking for multiple POV’s here, you won’t get them (can I get a hallelujah!?).
Jorg ricochets through these pages leaving all manner of chaos in his wake; everything from torn and bloody bodies to rape, and yes my dear children, even a little bit of cannibalism – which, “is in fact frowned upon in most societies”. So DON’T go reading this book if you’re afraid it will offend your delicate sensibilities. If I read one more review about how such and such didn’t like this because of the violence etc. I’m going to have get medieval on someone’s ass! Clearly if you feel that way then you shouldn’t have picked it up in the first place. There are plenty of reviews stating the type of content contained within, you have been warned and I have no sympathy for any idiocy resulting from such warnings going unheeded. Okay, rant over, where was I? Oh yes…
Despite the destruction he causes and his flat-out amoral actions you can’t help but root for him through every blood torn and mud smeared chapter. Perhaps it’s his backstory, perhaps it’s the subtle nods to something deeper in Jorg’s character. Perhaps it’s the savage company he keeps or the fact that the world he inhabits is full of hard cruel characters. All I know is he’s a funny little bastard who’s not afraid to gamble it all and I would never bet against him.
More than Jorg though I love this book for the writing and the world it depicts. It’s a nihilistic place but the Empire feels like it could still manage to be pulled back from the brink. I think that’s what I find so captivating, a world gone backward that feels like it could be brought forward again if only the right person had hold of the reigns. And whose to say Jorg isn’t the right person for the job? I love the wit and sarcasm that oozes off of every page and the atmosphere of a world so dark that hope is all it has left. Hope and a psychopath.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Violence, Torture, and Murder
Moderate: Racism, Death of parent, Rape, and Sexism
areaderheart's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Death, Animal death, Death of parent, Violence, Sexual content, Sexism, Sexual assault, Gore, Body horror, Torture, Religious bigotry, Blood, Cannibalism, Child death, Genocide, Murder, Physical abuse, and Racial slurs
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