Prince of Fools

April 14, 2014
A not-so-heroic prince is trapped in a deadly mission that could decide the fate of the kingdom in this trilogy opener set in Lawrence’s alt-European Broken Empire world. Prince Jalan Kendeth, 10th in line for the throne and a self-described coward, has few life ambitions beyond drinking, gambling, and wenching. But the Dead King is raising a vast army that threatens Jalan’s home of Red March. Jalan’s grandmother, the Red Queen, has a secret weapon: a mysterious sorceress called the Silent Sister. Jalan knows the Silent Sister is capable of horrors, but that knowledge doesn’t protect him when he and enslaved Norse warrior Snorri ver Snagson are caught in one of her spells. Bound by magic, the two men become unlikely traveling companions. Shrewd Jalan and honorable Snorri make a marvelous team, lightening a very dark story with wry humor. The brisk adventure and black magic will leave readers eager for the next chapter in the series.

Starred review from May 15, 2014

Being tenth in line for the throne of the Red March is a pretty good gig for Prince Jalan. He has his pick of pretty girls, the wine is always flowing, and he can usually charm his way out of trouble. But he will need more than charm and quick wits to face the hardship coming. There are rumors that the dead are rising, and Jal seems to be one of the few who can see the Silent Sister who hovers over his grandmother, the Red Queen. Caught in a curse from the mysterious crone, Jal finds that his fate is linked to that of an escaped slave from the Norse lands, and the two must travel to the far north to undo the spell. VERDICT Jal is a perfect cad of a hero. Although he cheats and lies and seems as shallow as can be, when push comes to shove he is not a bad man to have at your back (as long as it's in his best interests). Set in another part of the world Lawrence explored in his "Broken Empire" series (Prince of Thorns), the book's exciting action and quick-witted dialog make it a fantastic summer page-turner for epic fantasy fans.

Copyright 2014 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 15, 2014
Set in the world of Lawrence's Broken Empire trilogy but rather lighter in tone, this is the story of Prince Jalan Kendeth, grandson of the Red Queen, self-confessed coward, dedicated ladies' man, and devout shirker of anything remotely resembling responsibility. After a plot to kill him goes awry, Jalan winds up on the run, paired up with a Norseman whose warrior skills are matched by his keen intelligence, to discover the truth about an army of the undead that threatens to destroy the realm. This is the first installment of a projected trilogy, set more or less concurrently with the Broken Empire trilogy; it's not quite an outright comedy, but it comes very close. Jalan is a great characterhe's a Falstaffian ne'er-do-well, and he's content to remain that wayand the story is as richly told as the earlier trilogy: the author makes this place, a post-cataclysm earth of the far future, feel as real as any place you've ever visited. For fans of the Broken Empire series and readers who enjoy a good, epic-sized fantasy story (readers of, say, George R. R. Martin), this is a must-read.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)