Prince of Thorns

by Mark Lawrence
Prince of Thorns cover
Good Books rating 4.17
Fantasy
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Waterstones
Paperback • £9.99
Amazon
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Technical
  • ID: 2263
  • Added: 2025-10-13
  • Updated: 2025-10-24
  • ISBN: 9781101543290
  • Publisher: Penguin
  • Published: 2011-08-02
  • Formats: 1
  • Reviews: 4

Prince Jorg Ancrath, orphaned and hardened by tragedy, leads a band of ruthless thugs in his quest for revenge. His journey back to his father's castle is fraught with danger, treachery, and dark magic. Jorg's unyielding will and thirst for power drive him to confront enemies beyond his wildest imaginings. The novel is praised for its subversion of traditional fantasy tropes, offering a gritty and unflinching exploration of power, vengeance, and the human psyche. /n/n Set in a brutal and unforgiving world, 'Prince of Thorns' is the first book in the Broken Empire trilogy. It challenges the conventions of medievalesque fantasy with its dark themes and complex protagonist. The narrative delves into the psychological depths of its characters, making it a standout in the genre.

Reviews
Fantasy Book Review · Alice Wybrew · 2025-10-22
fantastic 4.50

The book is a dark and powerful debut that showcases a young protagonist's struggle for control in a harsh world. The reviewer praises the intense and immersive storytelling, making it a standout in the fantasy genre.

Alice Wybrew from Fantasy Book Review highlights the dark and intense nature of Prince of Thorns, calling it a fantastic tale of one boy's fight for control in a world threatening to engulf him. She appreciates the book's clout and the way it draws readers into its brutal and unforgiving world. The reviewer finds the protagonist's journey compelling and the storytelling immersive, making it a standout in the fantasy genre. Despite the book's dark themes, Wybrew praises its powerful narrative and the way it keeps readers engaged from start to finish.

Quick quotes

    A dark debut with a lot of clout, Prince of Thorns is a fantastic tale of one boy's fight for control in a world threatening to engulf him.

    The book's intense and immersive storytelling makes it a standout in the fantasy genre.

    The protagonist's journey is compelling, and the narrative is powerful, keeping readers engaged throughout.

Iris Marsh Blog · 2025-10-21
excellent 4.00

The book is an excellent start to the trilogy, balancing violence and action with moments of reflection. The dark and brutal tone is offset by moments of beauty and brotherhood.

Iris Marsh Blog praises Prince of Thorns as an excellent beginning to the Broken Empire trilogy. The reviewer appreciates the balance of violence and action with moments of rest and reflection, creating a well-rounded narrative. The dark and brutal tone is offset by moments of beauty and brotherhood, making the story both intense and emotionally resonant. The reviewer finds the book to be a compelling read, with a mix of action and introspection that keeps the reader engaged.

Quick quotes

    Prince of Thorns is an excellent beginning to the Broken Empire trilogy.

    There's lots of violence, it has action, and also moments of rest and reflection.

    The dark and brutal tone is offset by moments of beauty and brotherhood.

The Fantasy Reviews · 2024-02-15
addictive 4.00

The writing style is punchy and addictive, creating a short book that tells a longer story than expected. The reviewer appreciates the tight and efficient storytelling, making it a memorable read.

The Fantasy Reviews praises Mark Lawrence's writing style, describing it as punchy and addictive. They note that despite its length, the book manages to tell a longer story than one might expect, with not a single word wasted. The reviewer appreciates the tight and efficient storytelling, which makes the book a memorable and engaging read. They also highlight the book's dark and gruesome elements, as well as its complex and intriguing protagonist, who adds depth to the narrative. Overall, the reviewer finds Prince of Thorns to be a compelling and well-crafted fantasy novel.

Quick quotes

    Lawrence's writing style is punchy and addictive, creating a short book that tells a longer story than you would expect.

    Not one word is wasted, making the book a tight and efficient read.

    The book's dark and gruesome elements, as well as its complex and intriguing protagonist, add depth to the narrative.

The Book Lion · 2023-02-20
refreshing 4.20

The protagonist is refreshingly amoral and evil, offering a unique perspective in fantasy literature. The story's dark and depressing tone is balanced by its compelling narrative.

The Book Lion highlights the protagonist's amoral and evil nature, which provides a refreshing and unique perspective in fantasy literature. The reviewer appreciates the dark and depressing tone of the story, which is balanced by its compelling narrative. The protagonist's actions and motivations are explored in depth, making for a thought-provoking and engaging read. The reviewer finds the book to be a standout in the genre, with a protagonist who is as intriguing as he is disturbing.

Quick quotes

    The Prince of Thorns has a refreshingly amoral main character.

    Ok, let's be honest: he's evil.

    So many main fantasy characters are heroic, but the protagonist's actions and motivations are explored in depth.

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