Emperor of Thorns by Mark Lawrence

emperor-of-thorns“The path to the throne is broken – only the broken can walk it.
 
The world is cracked and time has run through, leaving us clutching at the end days. These are the days that have waited for us all our lives. These are my days. I will stand before the Hundred and they will listen. I will take the throne no matter who stands against me, living or dead, and if I must be the last emperor then I will make of it such an ending.
 
This is where the wise man turns away. This is where the holy kneed and call on God. These are the last miles, my brothers. Don’t look to me to save you. Run if you have the wit. Pray if you have the soul. Stand your ground if courage is yours. But don’t follow me.
 
Follow me, and I will break your heart.”

Writing a review for the third book in a trilogy is difficult – the fans of the story so far will get their hands on it. You don’t need to have read the previous books in the trilogy as Mark Lawrence provides a helpful recap of what has gone before, but if you don’t your enjoyment of the story will be limited.

Jorg Ancrath, King of Renar is on the road to Vyene to attend the congression where the Hundred – the kings of the Broken Empire look for votes to become the Emperor.

He is not a good man, but this is a world where the good die young and to survive one must be brutal and be willing to commit dark acts to take what one wants and committed to holding what has been taken.

Jorg is a bastard and he is very aware of this; this awareness is perhaps that is what is needed to accomplish what he needs – to secure an empire and save the world. His enemies are on the move as well – the ghosts in the Builder’s machines fight amongst themselves some wanting to scour the world and others wanting to make slaves of the living. The Dead King’s hordes are on the move, his emissaries en route to the congression and then there are his human enemies, each desiring power and dominion over the world.

If you like your fantasy bloody and your heroes with flaws then The Broken Empire is for you.

If you cannot bear to reread A Song of Ice and Fire again while waiting for GRR Martin’s next book then why wait?

Mark Lawrence has created a world built on the ashes of our own and peopled with the worst that humanity has to offer – but even their vision of uniting humanity are better than the alternatives.

The Prince of Thorns was a brilliant introduction to Jorg Ancrath and his world.

The King of Thorns cemented Mark Lawrence’s position as one of my favourite writers of modern fantasy

The Emperor of Thorns ends the trilogy the only way it can – with blood, death and an extremely satisfying conclusion to the story.

Seriously start at the beginning and read your way through to the end, you can do this safely knowing you will not have to wait years for the next instalment!

Comments are closed.

Post Navigation