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rainyghost's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Death, Misogyny, Racism, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, and War
targrhaegar's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This is a very strange book. It starts very slowly and nothing much happens at first. Then the story starts to pick up around the 25% mark and it gets very interesting. I was wondering when the fantasy elements were going to appear, because there were none at the beginning of the book. Then we finally saw some magic happening and it was very fascinating, but extremely confusing.
One thing I don't understand is why in this fantasy world; with ghosts, necromancers, and such, Jesus Christ exists???? And why does Shakespeare also exist? I found that so random. I get it, this story takes place on planet Earth, but I just find it very strange that Jesus and the Catholic Chruch exist. I don't know. Like I said, I understand that this takes place on planet Earth, but whyyyyyyyyyy include real-world historical figures? It was so weird, and it took me out of the story every time they mentioned Jesus and freaking Shakespeare.
The last 25% of the book was confusing. And I mean really confusing. Don't ask me what happened because I have no idea. At least I did understand the ending.
I will continue with this series in the future, because I am interested in the story, and I do want to know how Jorg's journey will end.
One thing I don't understand is why in this fantasy world; with ghosts, necromancers, and such, Jesus Christ exists???? And why does Shakespeare also exist? I found that so random. I get it, this story takes place on planet Earth, but I just find it very strange that Jesus and the Catholic Chruch exist. I don't know. Like I said, I understand that this takes place on planet Earth, but whyyyyyyyyyy include real-world historical figures? It was so weird, and it took me out of the story every time they mentioned Jesus and freaking Shakespeare.
The last 25% of the book was confusing. And I mean really confusing. Don't ask me what happened because I have no idea. At least I did understand the ending.
I will continue with this series in the future, because I am interested in the story, and I do want to know how Jorg's journey will end.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Cursing, Misogyny, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder, and War
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, and Pregnancy
starlesssky72's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is one of my favorite books, the story and characters are very compelling, I could hardly put the book down. Mark Lawrence is a mastermind when it comes to making unique characters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Rape, Torture, Violence, and War
I've describe the main character as being akin to tv version of Ramsey Bolton (GOT). Please be aware of the warnings, they are not something to take lightly.samiac's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Violence, Murder, and War
Moderate: Incest, Racism, and Rape
carrionkid's review against another edition
4.0
Not gonna lie, the twist is ABSOLUTELY what sold me on this book, like it would've been so mid if it weren't for the reveal halfway through.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Gore, Torture, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and War
Moderate: Rape and Pregnancy
gladelein's review against another edition
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Violence, Xenophobia, and War
nice_frogboy's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
i think some of the reviews are missing the forest for the trees here - this protagonist isn't an edgy teen, he's a full-on sociopath. if you're not comfortable with inhabiting the mind of a genuinely bad person a la the works of Joe Abercrombie, you're going to have a bad time.
if you're cool with that, there's much here to enjoy. the writing is brisk and compelling, and i liked the buried lede that the settingis not a fantasy realm, but a post-apocalyptic Earth that has simply been bombed out of their ability to read thumb drives. the ending has a finality that makes this a pretty quality solo read, and i'd argue that the sequels end up being a little listless because of it.
if you're cool with that, there's much here to enjoy. the writing is brisk and compelling, and i liked the buried lede that the setting
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual violence, and War
Moderate: Blood
dampgrass's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.0
I have never given a book a 1 star rating. This one is an exception. It read like a bad fanfiction that an 11 year old boy wrote, while being mad at his parents. All characters have zero redeeming qualities and are extremely sexist. The story has no point to it. All these men do, is kill and rape. Not to mention that the main protagonist was between 10 and 14 in the book and already killed half of the worlds population just because he loves killing. I do not understand how this is a trilogy and I never want to see or hear anything about this book again. I would not be surprised if only men enjoy reading this and I hope no woman ever thought this is an okay book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Kidnapping, Murder, and War
whirl's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
An excellent anti-hero, dark and grim but captivating and interesting
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Death, Torture, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Rape
caia_in_wonderland's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Interesting story this one of Jorg, the Prince caught in the thorns watching the ones he loves the most die while unable to stop it.
When you meet him he is a savage, brutal, uncaring, ruthless kid, only thirteen, which kind of boggles the mind. But, I guess it is the Broken Empire and there are explanations and manipulations but there’s still a lot of violence that felt a bit too gratuitous and less mentions to rape would have tasted much better, still we end up realising everything has a reason, somewhat.
The plot is solid, sometimes leading places you would never guess, which makes it surprising and fun, but then gore, again. It’s the authors choice I guess.
The writing is pretty good, but both plot and writing in the author’s Book of the Ancestor trilogy are far superior, which is one of the reasons for my rating too.
The ending was not bad, not too much of a cliffhanger, just enough for you to know what’s what and making clear that he will be likely a bit older on the next book but his aim the same. How he will get there? Well I want to find out.
When you meet him he is a savage, brutal, uncaring, ruthless kid, only thirteen, which kind of boggles the mind. But, I guess it is the Broken Empire and there are explanations and manipulations but there’s still a lot of violence that felt a bit too gratuitous and less mentions to rape would have tasted much better, still we end up realising everything has a reason, somewhat.
The plot is solid, sometimes leading places you would never guess, which makes it surprising and fun, but then gore, again. It’s the authors choice I guess.
The writing is pretty good, but both plot and writing in the author’s Book of the Ancestor trilogy are far superior, which is one of the reasons for my rating too.
The ending was not bad, not too much of a cliffhanger, just enough for you to know what’s what and making clear that he will be likely a bit older on the next book but his aim the same. How he will get there? Well I want to find out.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Gore, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Cannibalism, and Death of parent
Minor: Rape