Prince of Thorns

June 13, 2011
This morbidly gripping, gritty fantasy tale is not for the squeamish. Prince Jorg was 10 years old when Count Renar's soldiers hung him on a hook-briar while his mother and brother were murdered. Vicious and desperate for revenge, he joined a bandit gang. Four years later, he's their leader and determined to end a multigenerational war by resurrecting the old empire and becoming emperor. Jorg is the epitome of the antihero, killing not just in battle but whenever he feels the need to set an example. Only toward the end of the book does a startling revelation focus his violence on clearly deserving targets. But Jorg is a product of his world, no worse than any other power there, and Lawrence increasingly makes readers believe that Jorg may indeed be able to use small savageries to end the ongoing greater ones.

August 1, 2011

The only survivor of a treacherous ambush that killed his mother and younger brother, Jorg Ancrath learned to survive by his wits and his gifts for combat and leadership. By the time he turned 13, he commanded a group of cold-blooded mercenaries. On his 14th birthday, Jorg decides to return to the castle of his boyhood and reclaim his rightful title as Prince Honorous Jorg Ancrath. Lawrence's debut features a young protagonist with the sensibilities of a man many years older, whose hard life and harder companions lead to a brotherhood based on loyalty and blood. Dark sorcery and fierce combat are the hallmarks of this action-packed tale of revenge and intrigue set in a darkly somber medieval world. VERDICT Strong writing and an unforgettable narrator lend firsthand intimacy to this series opener. The author's style is reminiscent of Glen Cook's "Black Company" series and should appeal to readers who enjoy their fantasy tempered by gritty realism and gore.

Copyright 2011 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.