King of Thorns
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Author Description
The second book in the Broken Empire series, Lawrence takes his young anti-hero one step closer to his grand ambition.To reach greatness you must step on bodies, and many brothers lie trodden in my wake. I’ve walked from pawn to player and I’ll win this game of ours, though the cost of it may drown the world in blood…The land burns with the fires of a hundred battles as lords and petty kings fight for the Broken Empire. The long road to avenge the slaughter of his mother and brother has shown Prince Honorous Jorg Ancrath the hidden hands behind this endless war. He saw the game and vowed to sweep the board. First though he must gather his own pieces, learn the rules of play, and discover how to break them.A six nation army, twenty thousand strong, marches toward Jorg's gates, led by a champion beloved of the people. Every decent man prays this shining hero will unite the empire and heal its wounds. Every omen says he will. Every good king knows to bend the knee in the face of overwhelming odds, if only to save their people and their lands. But King Jorg is not a good king.Faced by an enemy many times his strength Jorg knows that he cannot win a fair fight. But playing fair was never part of Jorg’s game plan.
Menrva's Summary
THE PULSE
Prince Honorous Jorg Ancrath must defend his kingdom against an overwhelming twenty-thousand-strong army while navigating the treacherous political landscape of the Broken Empire. Jorg, a ruthless and calculating anti-hero, seeks to consolidate power and dismantle the forces that orchestrated the destruction of his family. The narrative employs a non-linear structure, alternating between Jorg's past experiences and his present desperate defense of his gates. He faces immense physical odds and moral ambiguity, relying on cunning and unconventional warfare to survive against a champion who represents the traditional, virtuous ideal of kingship.
INSIDE THE PAGES
- First-person perspective providing intimate access to the protagonist's cold, strategic internal monologue.
- Non-linear narrative structure that weaves together past trauma and current military campaigns.
- Grimdark world-building featuring a post-apocalyptic landscape disguised as a medieval setting.
- Focus on political maneuvering and the subversion of traditional heroic tropes.
- Exploration of the moral cost of ambition and the necessity of cruelty in leadership.
- High-stakes military conflict involving siege warfare and asymmetrical tactics.
- Inclusion of supernatural elements and ancient technology hidden within the ruins of the old world.
- Character-driven plot that prioritizes the evolution of the protagonist's ruthless philosophy.
THE COLLECTIVE ECHO
This work is frequently noted for its uncompromising tone and the polarizing nature of its protagonist, Jorg Ancrath. Readers often highlight the sharp contrast between the traditional epic fantasy setting and the brutal, nihilistic perspective of the lead character. The narrative pacing is described as intense, with many pointing to the clever subversion of standard hero-versus-villain dynamics as a defining feature. The prose style is recognized for its visceral descriptions and the consistent maintenance of a dark, atmospheric tension throughout the conflict.
Page Count:
384
Publication Date:
2012-08-12
Publisher:
Harper Voyager
ISBN-10:
0007481896
ISBN-13:
9780007481897
Adventure
Fantasy
Dark Fantasy
Epic Fantasy
Grimdark
Subjects
Community Tags
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