Prince of Fools (The Red Queen's War)

Great to read after the trilogy. Quite a few tie in's to not only immerse you in the world more, but also gives you perspective on the timeline and when things take place. Well written just like the other books!

It's hard not to compare this first volume to the tone of the first trilogy, and that could be its shortcoming. If I had read this before Prince of Thorns, I'm sure I'd like it more. That's not to say this is a bad book--it's not. It just is a much smaller scale story and stars a character nothing like Jorg. And that took me a little time to get used to, but I applaud the author for doing something different. I believe it's customary for authors to follow up their first trilogy with something even bigger and better, but not here.

We're introduced to a prince, but not one with the ambition or dark outlook on life as Jorg. He seems to have no ambition other than his own gains, but that is soon changed when he finds himself "tied" to a massive Norseman who wants to save his family in the north. Here we begin to see the arc of Prince Jalan.

As other have said, the story is pretty straightforward and it felt at times like they stopped a lot of meaningless places along the way with a lot of meaningless scenes just to fill the time. However, the reason I'm excited to see where this story goes is because of how different it is than the first trilogy. It's a nice change of pace to read a smaller story than the typical "save the world" tropes that fantasy tends to be guilty of all too often.

Excellent first book in series. Significantly different from Lawrence's first offering. Set in the same world, appears to be running parallel with the first series. Very different hero. More humor and same great writing. 5+ stars

I really just couldn’t get into it. It seemed like a cheap rip-off of GOT, but this character would have definitely been killed off early on. The main character had no redeeming qualities, and even though that’s clearly the premise of the book his actions were quite eye-rolling. It bored me

I will eventually write a full review when I find time. For now let it suffice to say this is Mark Lawrence at his finest. Jalan is a fun protagonist to read and Snorri is a bad ass! I foresee many new readers jumping on the Lawrence bandwagon as PoF seems more palatable than Jorg's tale.

Much to be imagined (which isn't exactly my idea of good writing) with large swaths of time untidily swept into a sentence. The narrative is good, but I'm left with so many strings started late (namely the 'voices') started late and left empty in the end... There was some of this in his first three, but not so glaring.

I've enjoyed the series and DO NOT regret the purchase... But with a slate as wonderfully painted as the broken empire, why settle?

I do not like this book. Its so tired. Not to mention the fact that it revisits the world of Jorg at the exact same time. So we get to see all of the same characters, albeit at a new angle, but still the same characters. I just couldn't finish it to find out why Lawrence bothered to do the same story over again, I would have appreciated it if it would have continued the story right after Jorg's death in the original series. In each and every page we are reminded of the cowardice of Jarl's character. Ok I get it, he's a yellow bellied, lily livered cad, let's move on with the story. In Jorg's life, he needed not remind us on every single page what a monster/tyrant and hero he was. Can I get the same from Jarl, no. I guess not. I'm only reading it until my next set of books come in.

I enjoyed some parts of the story, but overall, I felt it was too violent and brutal a premise. A little too much like
the world beyond the wall in Game of Thrones. I have no interest in going further with this series.

Sometimes I love Jal, sometimes I want to punch him real hard, sometimes I want to cry for him, sometimes I hold my breathe waiting to see if he will do the right thing. No matter what, I love reading about him. Thanks Mr. Lawrence!

Honorous Jorg Ancr...wait...this isn't about Jorg. Immediately upon the reveal of the title Prince of Fools, comparisons were drawn between it and Mark Lawrence's debut, Prince of Thorns. Doubts were cast as to whether Lawrence could write a non-Jorg character or not. Both of them have prince in the title and both feature an eponymous young prince. Surely they must be the same, right? Wrong. The prince in Lawrence's second series is Jalan Kendeth of the Red March, tenth in line to the throne of his grandmother, the Red Queen. Jalan and Jorg are nothing alike. Where Jorg was an ambitious teenager out for vengeance - and willing to commit all manner of horrors to fulfill his ambition - Jalan is content with boozing, gambling, and womanizing. He's a man with no ambition of his own, a coward and a lair.

The Red Queen is guided by the unseen (except for few, Jalan included) Silent Sister, and she sees a war looming - an army of undead creatures is on the doorstep of the Red March. Jalan, in his content-with-the-world nature, refuses to believe the rumors, as if doing so would make them untrue. Eventually the truth is forced upon him, and Jalan finds himself attached - bonded even, through dark magic - to Snorri ver Snagason, a massive warrior from the frozen north. Jalan's cowardly nature has him riding the coattails of Snorri toward the Norseman's homeland with the hope of breaking the spell that binds them.

Jalan's character contrasts so starkly with Jorg's that it took me a while to get used to Jalan running from any and every conflict he encounters. Where Jorg's psychotic tendencies were utterly fascinating to read about, Jalan's character takes some time but becomes endearing rather quickly in the grand scheme of things. He's a very likable character. Despite being a self-proclaimed coward, he continually shows courageous tendencies, as the hulking Snorri likes to remind him. It's as the late, great, David Gemmell wrote in Legend: "By nature of definition only the coward is capable of the highest heroism." Jalan's denial of his courage is a trademark of Prince of Fools, and it goes hand in hand with the other big theme we're presented with - friendship.

Snorri ver Snagason is not your average lumbering Viking. He's not G.R.R.M.'s The Mountain. He's a surprisingly learned individual and is absolutely more than meets the eye. People jokingly wondered whether Lawrence was capable of writing characters who weren't despicable in some way. Prince of Fools has their answer. Lawrence's beautifully vivid but concise prose does wonders to bring to life the dynamic duo of Jalan and Snorri as their friendship develops throughout the story, and it's actually kind of heartwarming.

Prince of Fools, while not strictly as outright dark as Lawrence's Broken Empire trilogy, still contains its fair share of horror (and humor to boot). Creatures known as the Unborn are sent by the Dead King for whatever purpose he desires, and they are significantly more threatening than your average moaning, BRAAIINS-hungry zombie. The horror and darkness that are inherently embedded in the world of the Broken Empire are countered by the witty humor that is created when Jalan and Snorri are together. It's a perfect blend. Prince, King, and Emperor of Thorns all left me emotionally drained. This newest work is equally compelling, but in a different, not-so-draining way.

Fans of Lawrence's debut trilogy need fear nothing when it comes to whether they'll enjoy Prince of Fools or not. There's no slump here. New readers stumbling across Lawrence may find this as an easier entry point than Prince of Thorns, and they certainly can, but the effectiveness of the brief but awesome encounter with Jorg and his Brothers will be lost.

Prince of Fools is a powerful tale of friendship and courage in a broken world, and it effectively cements Mark Lawrence on my list of favorite authors (a prestigious place to be, I assure you).

That's right the book was so good I used made up words, although I stole them from the author's facebook so they aren't wholly mine. I really did enjoy this book. I was worried for a bit that another trilogy featuring another prince in the Broken Empire series wouldn't live up to the first and I'm glad I was wrong. I finished the book on Kindle and am mad that the second one isn't out already.

Five stars! If you aren't familiar with Mark Lawrence and his work then you are missing out. I would suggest you read this if you're interested in reading a book that has an original plot and characters that are are original and unique. Prince of Fools will make you laugh, make you cry, and make you go WTF just happened cause that was awesome.

I was concerned about his ability to pull off a coward afraid of everything but cowardice but I'll be damned if he didn't make me love that shifty soulless bastard nearly as much as Jorg! Already waiting for book two!!

It was good, but nothing compared to the Broken Empire trilogy. I was a little disappointed in that Jorg is one of the most well-developed characters I have ever met, and Jal seems to lack that composition. Still a fun read though.

Anyone who's ever been chilled to the bone must know that there can be no suffering like traveling across a icy, barren wasteland with your own fate waiting to be decided by a Dead King in a frozen castle.

I enjoyed the broken empire, but did find it very dark.
Whilst not your standard happy go lucky novel, prince of fools was still heart warming and very funny in parts.
Well written.
Loved it!

Mark Lawrence delivers again! He is one author you whose books you cannot put down once you start reading.Prince of Fools does Not disappoint!!!! 5 stars all the way! ALL hail the great Mark Lawrence!

If you read and loved the broken empire trilogy like I did. Then you will probably read this book regardless of what the reviews say. But be warned this book has a completely different feel to it. If you go into this book with an open mind you will find an entertaining story with interesting character dynamics set in a familiar world. Good action with good humor. I'll be checking out the next installment.

While the tone is so different from the Broken empire books, there is no denying Mark's skill with the written word no matter his chosen voice. From the pulse-pounding opening to the lecherous asides, all the way to the satisfying conclusion, Prince of Fools stands out as yet another victory for fantasy readers everywhere.

Not as good as Prince of Thorns or their following novels. I think the author should have either stuck with an established character or struck out into a new world. This felt like much of the same, except done without as interesting a protagonist as if the book was a throwaway to the overall world.

One of the most boring, uninspired books I've read. I must've missed something based on the overwhelmingly glowing and positive reviews.

There are so many odd choices for this book. Seemingly random and trivial encounters (the various towns for instance) get highly detailed, long winded descriptions while the combat scenes and actual plot elements are glossed over. The various scenes that make up the order of the plot have essentially no bearing on one another, and you would have the same book if they were read in a different order. Without giving spoilers, the "infilitration" of the big bad guy's area took literally less than 2 pages. The big climactic battle with the "bad guy" isn't much longer.

The characters are flat as can be. Snorri is the only character with any dimension or believable traits. Jalan is the 2nd worst character I think I've ever read (the worst character ever is Tavi from Jim Butcher's "Furies of Calderon"). No one else in the book matters, so for half of the main cast to be so unlikable and empty really makes the text a drag to read. The "curse" elements and the "angels" could have been so much more interesting and useful to the plot, yet are more or less trivialized and barely mentioned in any kind of detail. So much set up for the "second sister", yet again a completely arbitrary scene that was over before it began, and had once more no impact on the story.

The entire book feels like a "set up" for the next book. There's this plodding shell game of "keep reading, we're almost getting to something", but the payoff never comes.

I don't like giving bad reviews but this was a bad first impression for Mark Lawrence. I do not recommend this book.

Same world as the thorns trilogy during the same time period but from the perspective of a character constantly fighting his many flaws. A little lengthy but entertaining inner dialogue and a fair amount of character development. Worth the read.

The main character is a coward.

We know this because he says so. Over and over again. At great length. And reading about a coward is about as much fun as you'd think, for about as long as you would think is tolerable.

The Broken Empire trilogy was amazing. Unfortunately, this is a weak follow up character on the heels of Jorg, in a world the fate of which we already know anyway.

This book could have been a good story, but the author spent more time in the main character's head than he did actually telling the story. When the story came to battles or exciting places, the author often skipped over them or drastically shortened them.

Not as good as the Ancrath series where Jorg was a blatant psychopath, whereas Prince Jalan is a sociopath., One finds oneself not really caring what happens to these characters who are either morally lacking or just plain stupid. And another attack by the undead? That theme is getting a bit tiresome.

I really enjoy Mr. Lawrence s writing, the story moves along and there's always interesting characters. I just couldn't get into the story. I found that the most interesting part of the story was in when Jorg was around. I guess the Prince of Thorns is just to deeply routed in my brain.

Within the first four pages I knew the essence of the ending. (No spoilers here.) And by watching the percentile progress I knew when to expect the next major plot point. Lawrence followed the structural rules assiduously--in the absence of creative novelty pad ever more dire battles and narrow escapes, ever more villainous evil-doers onto the armature of a seductive Beginning (25% more or less), a tension building and expository Middle (50% more or less), and a frantic tense and bloody Ending (25% more or less). Its a buddy road trip tale, a cliche, done admirably because Lawrence knows how to write English prose that the reader wants to follow from one sentence to the next even though the reader might be seeing all the tricks and slights of hand and manipulations that go into writing genre fiction.

The characters are all out of Central Casting, Jalan,the protagonist, is a rogue of the kind that became a stock character in 1600s Spanish picaresque literature,(Jalan's continual over-emphatic enumeration of his self-indulgent, dishonest, lecherous and cowardly character flaws stand out draw attention to the rule-bound nature of the text for in genre fiction the travails of the plot must change the protagonist for the better, flaws must be redeemed or the novel itself is irredeemable. And then there is Snorri, Jalan's murderous, musclebound, blond-braided Viking sidekick and savior who has been a handy fictional device since Hal Foster dreamed up Baltar in the Prince Valiant Sunday Funnies back in '37. But both of these two have enough charm and non-stock integrity that I wanted to see them through to the end of their quest and I almost forgave Snorri (and Lawrence) for telling lies that set the quest, and thus the plot, off in the first place.

And of course there is the standard genre gimmick (in this case magic) that is the glue that pervades all genre fiction so as to turn a hodge-podge of otherwise useless cliches into an honest to god story. But the magic here was insprired--Jalan and Snorri would have never been buddies and the story would have died about page 30 had it not been for magic.It was comparable to the love potions central to so many other older stories.

though it can still turn for the better, considering Lawrence's skill in novel crafting.

Again set in the our world in the future, we now follow a Princeling from another realm, who chnace has sided with a Norseman ( always a plus imho )..

Slow at starting, perfectly median untill halfway though, it starts to improve from thereon and, as said, has all the makings to make it another "must" fantasy trilogy. It will all depend on where, and how, Lawrence decides to guide us along.

More clicheed than Jorg's trilogy, it is, nevertheless, well deserving of a read, and, again, I wager it will get better and better.

I'm an amateur writer myself, so I don't like to give less-than-stellar book reviews. However, I feel obligated to mention that this book is written in the first person. Some readers (such as myself) may have difficulty immersing themselves fully in the story. I got through about half of the book before I gave up on it and moved on.

I was very disappointed by this book. If you are looking for a story like Kingkiller Chronicles or the Shattered Sea Trilogy, this is not it. A fictional world that still has Vikings, the Vatican and mountains named Aups (the long list of mildly altered nouns used for this world was an embarrassment). A traveling circus with a sign that reads "Lions and tigers and bears oh my". Seriously?
I don't understand where the positive reviews could be coming from. Too many hours of my life wasted on this one.

Nice, quick read with the steady pace and dark humor that may help one to forget that nothing about this story makes any sense at all. When reading the Broken Empire novels, I had a hard time putting the post-apocalyptic Earth setting into perspective. These books are also set in the same place and time - nice to see Jorg up to no good at one point of this book. For me, it is too absurd of a jump between train tunnels and mannequins to necromancy and magic chunks of rock. The futuristic, interwoven Norse and Christian themes... it just doesn't make sense. Regardless, I liked the underlying story and will add the next to my growing list of trilogies to juggle.

When I first saw that Mark Lawrence was releasing a new trilogy of books in the same world as the Broken Empire Trilogy but in a previously unseen area with all new characters, I wasn't 100% sold on the idea as I really enjoyed Jorg in the first series. However, after spending a couple of chapters with the new viewpoint character, the Vagabond Prince Jalan and his counter-part the Honorable Viking Snorri, I was all in with this series. Jalan is the youngest son of the youngest song of the infamous Red Queen, and he's so far down the line of succession that he can spend all of his time drinking, gambling, and seducing all of the women at court. At the beginning of the book, he's had a series of bad bets and is heavily in debt to the wrong person, and decides to bring the impressive Viking slave, who had just won his freedom by giving an account of the movements of the Red Queen's enemies, to the underground fighting ring as repayment. What followed was a horrible series of events, where the two of them broke the trap set by the Silent Sister (the Red Queen's secret magical advisor) for a Powerful Undead Agent hiding in plain sight, mistakenly letting it escape while entwining the two souls of Jalan and Snorri together with opposing forces of light and darkness. This is the beginning of an epic journey where they attempt to undo the spell while gaining vengeance on the people that killed Snorri's family and his entire village.

I had a lot of fun with this book, and I honestly think that Prince of Fools is an great introduction to Mark Lawrence's excellent writing, perhaps better than Prince of Thorns. The viewpoint character of Jalan is much more likeable than Jorg, especially on the outset, and even though he can be a coward, he also shows a lot of heroic tendencies. I also loved the interplay between Jalan and Snorri, which was incredibly entertaining and reminded me of a classic buddy cop pairing, but with swords/axes and sorcery instead of guns and mustaches. I would recommend this book and the whole series to any fan of Fantasy, and I think it could be a good intro to Fantasy to a reader that's new to it, as Lawrence really knows how to turn a phrase. His writing is definitely well above average for the Fantasy World of Books, and this book and series cemented him as one of my favorite authors.

I'm a horrible, horrible person because I've taken *months* to finish Prince of Fools (The Red Queen's War #1) by Mark Lawrence (Goodreads tells me I started during December last year and it's quite inexcusable, really, that I've tarried so long). But that's what Mark's writing is to me – something to savour. The Red Queen's War is the next trilogy to get into if you've discovered and loved The Broken Empire trilogy.

But let's talk about Jorg Ancrath first, our bad-boy, maverick prince from The Broken Empire. Here we were faced with a delightfully psychopathic adventurer who had absolutely no regard for his own personal safety or long-term survival. Jorg would heedlessly fling himself from one untenable situation to the next, offering astute commentary along the way that signals a lively mind and a somewhat absurd sense of humour.

The howling of readers by the time book three drew to a close, that Mark was *finished* with Jorg... Well, it was adorable. [She says with a smile, gives Mark a high five for stopping when the going is good.]

Sensibly, Mark went on to create an entirely different tone in The Red Queen's War with our new friend Jalan Kendeth, 10th in line to the Red Queen's throne and unashamedly a lying, gambling womaniser, whose healthy sense of cowardice has kept him alive all this time. While Jalan is no Jorg, he's certainly still a smart-mouthed chap, so his explanation of events as they unfurl is half the fun.

Jalan is a reluctant hero. Haring off to the frozen north to face a great evil is the last thing on his mind, but there are larger forces at play in this cracked world where magic is bleeding back in to cause untold chaos. Jalan, and his equally reluctant counterpart Snorri ver Snagason, find themselves bound together as pawns in a game where they don't have all the rules. True to Mark's writing, there is plenty of bloodshed, death, violence, wenching and all the things that soft-hearted, gentle readers may want to avoid.

Evidently I'm not a soft-hearted, gentle reader, so I quite happily followed our two lads from one misadventure to the next. Knowing what I do about Mark's writing, and how he puts his stories together, I'm suitably entertained and looking forward to the other two instalments in the trilogy.

I must add here that I particularly adore Snorri. Part of me feels as if *he* is the actual hero of the story; Jalan is merely the storyteller spinning a saga about a mythic warrior and father on a quest to save his family. On the outside, Snorri appears to be *just* a hulking brute, but slowly the layers are peeled back and you discover a character of great complexity and subtle intelligence. I like it when that happens.

In essence, Prince of Fools is a dudebro quest, so it's probably not going to appeal to those wanting a story that passes the Bechdel test. That being said, there were some cameo appearances that amused me greatly (you'll understand why when you read the book – it does take place during the same time that Jorg has his adventures). And seriously, this was just a huge load of fun to read, gore and all, especially with Jalan's witty observations along the way and some of the unexpected twists that had me shaking my head.

As a fan of the Broken Empire series I started Prince of Fools with some mild apprehension. I love the way Mark Lawrence writes, but other people, who already read the book, often used the word `different' to describe it and I didn't like different. I wanted the same, whatever this particular blend was I previously liked so much.

I opened the book and got different. It was a great story, that I started to enjoy from the first moment and with a definite `Mark Lawrence-ness' quietly rumbling deep down at its core, but it left me wondering if the magic will somehow once again reach out of the pages and stun me into falling head over crazy, as before.

And soon enough the book twisted and turned, it changed, considered, conspired until it accomplished its aim and I was utterly captured, the prose overwriting my concepts on beautiful, heart stolen away giggle by giggle, line by line, opened with a secret key, cradling me until the dark caressed my daylights into nights.

At the same time Prince Jalan Kendeth, third son of the Red Queen`s third son, became just as trapped in the legendary Snorri ver Snagason`s eloquent tales, only to find them turning into cold reality around him that would melt him, freeze him, hammer him into a destiny written by a blood-soaked game played behind hidden veils, drawing their lives toward a single point and time upon which a dream may wake from blood and sacrifice.

I found this book a lot more colourful than the first three, every location of the journey painted with attentive, precise strokes of a thousand shades, characters, interactions, even movements felt more vivid, described in a way that leaks the words into pictures, fiction swallowing your reality, opening a door you willingly enter, forgetting your body far behind.

Closing it left me with one of those peculiar moods that you might experience after listening to a captivating melody or watching a sunset. Not something you want to discuss straight away, but preferring to stay quiet, smiling, enjoying and preserving the feelings it created inside.

And now, that I`m ready to speak, my only fear is that I might not find the right words to tell just how much I loved it.

Prince of Fools byMark Lawrence is the first book of The Red Queen's War trilogy set. If anything, this author knows how to go against the grain and write stories that doesn't necessarily conform to what you'd normally expect from your every-other-book protagonist. If you've read his previous works, you'll know that he tends to tread more towards the dark and gritty side when fleshing out his characters and honestly, I love it when authors do this. With Prince of Fools, I would say that it treads a bit away from the dark side but the story is nonetheless very enjoyable to read and I wasn't disappointed in the least.

Here we get to follow none other than Prince Jalen, a self-confessed coward. It is for this simple fact which makes this story so much fun to read! Let's be real with ourselves. Many of us read fantasy books and stories about mighty heroes taking down the villains and whatnot because we look at it as a way to escape from our reality. Deep within ourselves however, we all know that we're more cowards than anything else! Prince Jalan's character is proud of this fact and you just can't help but like the guy for it. When a character outlines the different ways on how to "expertly" escape a certain situation in the most cowardly way possible, you know you're in for some fun times! Of course, reading the cowardly ways of a character can only go so far without being stale. To balance things out, we get a dose of masculinity in Snorri, the Viking. Pair these two unlikely characters together and you've got a classic recipe for some hilarious scenes and conversations. Pacing was great throughout. Both Snorri and Jalan keeps things moving by traveling to different locations frequently with battles sprinkled every now and again to entertain us.

If you're wanting to read a fantasy that has a bit of everything, I highly recommend checking out this series. This is especially true if you're looking for some comedy. You'll definitely get that here. Despite loving Prince of Fools, I'm not sure when or even if I'll continue with the next book. Such is the life of someone having to balance work time and having a large to-read list! The good news is that Prince of Fools in my opinion can be read as a standalone and I thoroughly enjoyed every second of it.

Mark Lawrence is, for my money, the best new fantasy author of the last decade. His Prince of Thorns trilogy, culminating in Emperor of Thorns, was one of the best series I’ve had the pleasure of reading in that time frame - raw, emotional, with anti-heroes and machinations and genuine horror all around. Prince of Fools is the beginning of Lawrence’s next entry into that world of the Broken Empire, the post-post-apocalyptic vision of a Europe where the laws of physics have given way to those of magic.

Lawrence’s new anti-hero protagonist, Prince Jalan, would seem to share a lot in common with young Prince Jorg of Ancrath from the Broken Empire trilogy. He’s a prince, he’s young, he’s honestly pretty hard to like. However, to suggest that he’s really anything like Jorg would be wrong. Jalan is from Red March, another of the Broken Empire’s petty kingdoms, and is a self-described coward. He’s lazy, a liar, and worthless in most circumstances.

However, over time, you begin to discover that this isn’t the truth. The depth and complexity of Jalan, a shallow and simple character when you first meet him, is really amazing to discover over the course of Prince of Fools. Then, of course, there is Snorri, a figure vaguely familiar to Broken Empire fans, who really comes into his own within Prince of Fools.

I knew as soon as the Red Queen’s War trilogy (Prince of Fools is #1 in that set) completed I needed to get to it, but I was frankly afraid that it would turn out as something less than the Broken Empire series. Now, having read the first entry in Red Queen’s War, I can’t wait to continue on and find where Jalan and Snorri go from here.

I'm not a prude and can handle vulgarity but the language became more than I could hack. This author used the name of Jesus in the most offensive manner, and more than once. When I read, "Jesus, f--- me on the cross" I was done. Returned for a refund. It takes NO talent to be offensive.

I've heard many good things about the author prior to reading, and that sometimes worries me.  But, in this instance, it was well-founded.  

At first, I had a hard time getting into Prince of Fools, but that is because I'm not a big fan of 1st person novels.  Additionally, the author jumps around with the thoughts of the main character Jalan, but that is to be expected, once you get to know him.  It fits his character.

All in all, the quality of the writing, and the development of the characters within this novel kept me going.  I can look past personal preference if the writing is good.  And this is.  I really liked Jalan throughout the book, but I feel his companion, Snorri the Viking, steals the proverbial stage.  

This is classic Fantasy, not in the Tolkien sense, but in that there is magic, swordplay, heroes and villains...oh yeah, and a quest.  Classic.  I enjoyed it a lot and will look for the next book in the series.

3.75 of 5 Stars (rounds to 4)

Set in the Broken Empire, it was nice to experience it again, and getting a short dose of Jorg and company was a real treat. Thanks, Mr. Lawrence. This story centers around Prince Jalen Kendeth, grandson of the Red Queen, and a Norseman warrior Snorri. Magically connected, the unlikely duo set out on a quest to find Snorri's wife and son, a mission of vengeance for Snorri, quite something else for the worthless Prince, who just wants to sever the connection, letting him get back to his life of useless folly. It's a dark tale with Jalen's character adding a good dose of humor, making it a fun read.
As with many of my reads, I listened to this one on audible. Tim Gerard Reynolds did his usual wonderful job, bringing the authors vision to life.

I liked this book. I've already bought the second one in the series. It's funny (laugh aloud kind at times). And above all its original. You don't know what's going to happen next. And the characters are believable. It's not as good as the Fire & Ice series, Name of the Wind series, The Stormlight Archive series or the Lightbringer series. But its enjoyable and that's not so easy to find. I didn't know that this series came after the Broken Empire series so I didn't read Prince of Thorns first (nor the next 2 in that series) and I can say that you don't need to read them to understand this book. While I read it I wasn't aware that the characters had already appeared in the Broken Empire series. If the Red Queen's War series continues to be as good, I will move on to the Broken Empire series (even if it is the wrong reading order).

Mark Lawrence is obviously a fan of George MacDonald Fraser, who wrote the classic Flashman series in the ‘70s and ‘80s. Flashman may not have been the first antihero, but he was a very good one: An admitted coward, bully, toady and general all-around bad person, Flashman would somehow, through luck and raw cunning, survive and often look like a hero.

Lawrence has taken that antihero model and placed him in a typical fantasy world, where powerful magicians and gods are battling for the fate of the world. Prince Jalan Kendreth is the Flashman here, and he’s paired with all-around Norse hero Snorri Snorgason (they are linked by a magic spell they cannot break) as they battle with the undead, various spirits and the machinations of the Red Queen and the Lady in Blue. “Prince of Fools” (Ace, $26.95, 355 pages) is in fact the first book in the Red Queen’s War series, and by giving the antihero a humorous spin, Lawrence has hit upon a formula that should carry him and Prince Jalan at least through this series, if not more.

All in all, a fun read and an excellent twist on a familiar genre.

Prince of Fools, the first installment in the Red Queen's War, was a delightful read. The story centers around Prince Jalan, a cowardly young prince who, despite his intentions to spend his pampered existence doing little but drinking, gambling, and womanizing, finds himself thrust unexpectedly into the role of the hero. When Jalan crosses paths with a huge Norseman named Snorri ver Snagason, the lives of both men are irrevocably changed. The two unlikely companions set out on something of a comedic road trip, a raucous romp across the Broken Empire that turns many of the tropes of the traditional quest adventure on their head. There is plenty of magic and adventure along the way, but interspersed with a healthy dose of irreverent humor. Definitely worth checking out.
A Way with Magic (The Draakonor Chronicles) (Volume 1)

Mark Lawrence has a habit of taking anti-heroes, drinkers, gamblers, usually princes, and bringing them forth to shine against all odds. Prince Jalan gets caught is a spell together with a mighty Norse warrior and goes to save the world. I loved the way the bond between these two grows, even if they are completely different: linked by a spell both dark and light, they become two faces of one pawn, thrown in the game to befuddle powerful enemies.

ANALYSIS: Last year after finishing off his debut trilogy in grand style, Mark Lawrence left his readers further conflicted about his main character Jorg, the bleak world encapsulated within & how he capped off the story. This incredible review over at Pornokitsch [...] does manage to capture in strong essence why so many readers have been conflicted (as well as in awe of) about this series. Beware though it has major spoilers for the entire trilogy but it along with a majority of Jorg haters draws some conclusions that don't necessarily jive with what the author was aiming for.

In his last book Emperor Of Thorns, Mark Lawrence introduced a pair of characters called the Red Queen and the Silent Sister. Both of whom are too rich to be discarded to cameo appearances and thus we have the Red Queen’s War, the new trilogy set in the same world and time frame as the previous one. Of course this story focuses upon Jalan Kendrath & Snorri Ver Snagason, the former a prince and a distant grandson of the deadly Red Queen, and the latter a Viking slave who is far from his homeland but hasn’t lost any of his mettle in all matters related to blood. The story then unfolds in a haphazard manner as the author intended for our mismatched duo to find out why fate has put them together.

Here’s why I thought that this book was so much better than the Prince Of Thorns. Firstly the characterization, the author nails it with Jalan and Snorri, unlike Jorg who was a sociopath and very hard to sympathize with. In this case the author does a fantastic job as he presents two individuals who are vastly different but are both pleasantly relatable. The second aspect is that here as well, the author further explores the fascinating post-apocalyptic world that he has created. Plus we also get to meet (or glimpse) brother Jorg, and the rest of his brethren. This was a cool way to relive a couple of events from the first book, plus we get to meet characters like Chella, Katherine & her sister. These interactions do add depth to the events that we have read previously.

Now going to the pace side of things and this is another factor that made this book factor strongly against Mark’s debut title. In Prince Of Thorns, the pace was slightly uneven and with the story broken into two timelines, it caused a bit of discord for many a reader. This time around there’s no dual timeline, just a singular straightforward plot that will propel the reader rapidly. But while keeping the plot streamlined, the author hasn’t dropped any quality. The humor in his previous was dark and present whenever possible, with this title however the humor while similarly dark is present copiously and that strengthens this particular story.

The author has thrown in some sharp references to his previous work, the best one I thought was:

“Dropping into a thorn bush can lead to no end of grief!”

Another aspect that I loved was a possible nod to David Gemmell & two of his favorite creations “Snaga & Druss” via the character of Snorri Ver Snagason. Who says this about himself as an axeman:

“An axe for me. Swords trick you into thinking you can defend. With an axe, all you can do is attack. That’s what my father named me. Snorri, it means attack. Men think they can defend against me, but when I knock they open.”

I loved to read about Snorri & the revelations that were laid bare in the latter half of the story really made the book that much meatier. I loved how the author explored these two personas and the transformation they both undergo as the journey culminated into a horrific climax. Lastly the magic system showcased was also that much more clearer than the previous work in the same milieu and I can’t wait to read more about the Red Queen’s struggle against the Dead King.

Mark Lawrence really hits one out of the park with the opening salvo of the Red Queen’s War and for all those left with a sour taste while following Jorg’s odyssey. Prince Of Fools is sure to change your perception if you give it a read with an open mind. For me, I had no complaints with Prince Of Fools besides the tiny fact that I’ll have to wait for a year atleast to read what happens next.

CONCLUSION: Prince Of Fools is Mark Lawrence’s newest and perhaps best attempt at proving what a talented wordsmith he is. Be sure to read this one if you enjoy dark fantasy rife with superb characterization, black humour & a fast paced plot that will leave you hooked till the very end. Mark wins this round and now it's up to the rest of SFF fandom to accept his ascendancy towards fantasy pantheon’s upper echelons.

I don’t write book reviews, mostly because I don’t have the time and… well, I couldn’t really be bothered. Not writing this one however, was like dangling a carrot stuffed with hundred dollar notes in front of me and expecting me not to grab at it.

Characters are without a doubt the single most important thing to me in narrative. If I don't care for any of your characters don't expect me to enjoy your book. Looking back at the Broken Empire, Jorg (or poor Jorgy as I like to remember him) quickly became a literary favourite of mine somehow managing to tug at my limited sympathy despite being a colossal arse. I delayed with Fools, I hesitated because I wasn't ready to read a similar character so soon, and secretly, I wasn't entirely convinced that, Lawrence, as brilliant a writer as I perceive him to be, would be able to pull it off to my satisfaction for a second time.

The result? I was wrong, so ashamedly wrong. I couldn't put it down. Not only did I enjoy this as much as the Broken Empire but I loved it even more. I went as far as purchasing the audio book so my time at work wouldn't slow me down (I coincidentally have a new found love for these as well). Jalan became an instant favourite, surpassing my mad love for the characters of the Night Angel Trilogy (sorry Brent Weeks you had a good run). I could completely relate to Jalan and his whimsical cynicism on a level far greater than any other character I've read before, how could I not love him?

There is plenty of humour to go around, as others have previously stated, quite a bit if you catch it and it's handled perfectly without detracting from the seriousness and darkness of the tale. Snorri adds a handsomely brutish balance between the two heroes while bearing a tragic burden of his own. If reminiscing is your thing then you'll also encounter a few familiar faces from Ancrath along the way. No (more) spoilers.

Lawrence continues in Prince of Fools to both inspire and defeat me with his excellent choice of words, phrases and descriptions constantly making me doubt my competence and skill level in the writing of my own saga. I'll get there one day but until then I'll have the Red Queen's War. Bring on next year! I can't recommend Prince of Fools enough for you to understand how much 'enough' is so that you'll read it.

You can ignore everything I’ve written here, disagree or argue it but remember this… I don’t throw 5 stars around lightly, so you should pay attention when I do.

Actual rating - 4.5/5

Lawrence is one of the best in the business, no doubt about it. Funny, thoughtful, centred around strong characters. Jalan starts as a scum, but it's impossible not to like him. Snorri is a viking badass.

Longer review may come, but if it doesn't, just remember to read it if you haven't already.

I have to admit, I started this with some nagging feeling I wouldn't like it without Jorg. The first chapter solved that. Without spoilers I'll jist say this book has great characterization, the themes of a frightened main character having to face his fears, and grow up and face reality play well when contrasted with Snorri, and the bond createf between them is a good story of friendship that doesn't come across as cliche or corny, I still like Jorg better, but there is much more empathy and emotional connection with Jalan and Snorri. The new unborn are a great menace, the fantasy elements have fresh twists, action is great without being to predictible (Jalans soliutions to threats are as good as Jorg's but very different.), and I enjoyed seeing Lawrence continue fleshing out his intriguing well built world. Excellent book.

I can't believe I forgot to write a review for this one. I finished this book a while ago, and what can I say other than simply superb?

You don't find voices like Jalan's often in high-fantasy books. It was a breath of fresh air, masterfully done (though I'm more of a Snorri kind of gal. It's impossible not to love that adorable force of nature).

The narration flowed impeccably, plot developed perfectly...I'm usually very nit-picky, but this book was simply amazing. Oh, and the deaths of certain family members, holy s***, they were brutal and horrible and they made me queasy, and that was awesome! Words, creating such a strong reaction. It's the beauty of writing.

Brilliant book.

I liked this book a lot, much as I did his prince of thorns series. Good action, good characters, but it gets a little weird with the necromancy aspect and the magic. I think I would have liked it more if this storyline took place at a different time than the prince of thorns series, and I really felt the meeting of storylines was unnecessary (or example, bar scene with both princes present), but it does not hurt the story at all; I do wonder if I hadn't read the P.O.T. books if those points would have left me very confused since they didn't really add anything to the story.

Overall, I still feel this is an easy, quick, entertaining, and worthwhile read.

P.s. I also think the author has improved his ability to splice different times together in the storyline... I.e. Snorri's past

“I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.” Nelson Mandela

There is a chance Mark Lawrence had this quote in mind when he conjured Prince of Fools as it was an enthralling and gripping exploration of courage and fear and how one cannot exist without the other.

We follow a young Prince Jalen as he is swept up in an adventure that is for once not of his own design and, likewise, one that he cannot escape. And oh he has many means of saving his own skin does our Jalen, including flashing his perfect smile and trumpeting his royal credentials but his preferred method is simply to run, and specifically, to run in whatever direction he is facing.

Jalen lives in a world of moral grey with a cheeky smile on his face as he indulges in all the pleasures of being a member of the royal family, albeit 10th in line to the throne, while shirking as many of the responsibilities as he can.

“Enjoy the world while you can, I say. A shallow enough philosophy by which to live, but shallow is what I’ve got. Besides, deep is apt to drown you.”

You can’t argue with his logic and I knew the Lawrence had completely sucked me in when I realised I'd missed an entire Queens speech, something that would normally be used to establish plot, characters and the whole thrust of the book, to his inner musings about how much of pain the arse everyone was. At that point he became really fun too and I couldn’t help but admire how deep his knowledge of his self was and his decision to embrace it.

A far as the story, Jalen finds his fate intertwined with Snorri Ver Snagason, a viking whose heroic qualities are only outnumbered by the troubles in his life. I swear he was given this name because Mark Lawrence is sadistic and it was ANOTHER burden for this ‘golden age’ hero to bear. We meet him as a prisoner brought to tell the Red Queen and her heirs tales of horror from the North about the Undead King.

Despite being released, Jalen sensing the opportunity for a way out of a debt falsely denies him his freedom and has him thrown into the fighting ring. How and why they journey together is something I wont ruin for you but throughout their journey he often misinterprets the actions of Jalen as heroic and tell him so. His openness to seeing such a coward become a hero is an adorable quality for a rough and tough viking, who, when faced with a bear, will ask for it’s bigger brother and though him we see the opportunity for Jalen to become, perhaps, something more. Snorri’s journey is very much in counter balance to Jalens and gives us a different set of questions to consider like what makes a true hero, is anyone incorruptible, how much light and dark can co exist inside a man and what does it make him decision by decision?

As the two are bound together by a magic/curse of sorts they must travel to Snorri’s homeland, during which Jalen will finally be forced to take stock of his own choices and decide what sort of man he wants to become. The answer to that question is first and foremost, one that is still alive, whether he will move past that is where the reader is most drawn in.

The story is entertaining and very well paced. The characters are rich, detailed and relatable as human beings despite their far off fictional setting. The writing is tight, fast paced and imaginative and I think this is an outstanding yarn and one that I can easily see myself reading again before the release of the next book.

Dark but also light hearted.

Mark Lawrence's The Broken Empire was something of a grimdark masterpiece, a fantasy trilogy with a dark protagonist, set in a time of post-apocalyptic darkness, and filled with acts of dark conquest. It wasn't just dark, it was violent and cruel in its execution - gloriously so. Anybody who expected The Red Queen's War to be more of the same is in for a shock. Both trilogies share the same deep, dark roots, but each has twisted and grown around its own unique protagonist.

Make no mistake, Prince of Fools is indeed dark, but in a very different sort of way than its predecessor. Here, the darkness goes far beyond dark fantasy, beyond even grimdark territory, and into a realm that approaches pure horror. It's spooky, it's creepy, and it's entirely unsettling. There's the Silent Sister, a grizzled old sorceress, blind in one eye, whom everybody fears, but only a select few can see. There's a mysterious old Uncle, crippled and shut away in the highest tower, left there to slowly rot away. The Dead King figures prominently here, a sinister force in the underworld who is, as it turns out, is even more directly at odds with Jalan than Jorg. Then there are the Unborn . . . infant children, brought back from the grave through necromantic sorcery to serve the Dead King's plans. They are just as unnatural and unsettling as you might expect, but more fearsome and far more of a threat than you can imagine.

As for Jalan, he is an entirely new sort of character for Lawrence, a pompous, immature, debauched young coward who prefers his conquests in the bedroom or in the gambling halls. He's entirely aware of his own failings - to the point of being self-depreciating - and more interested in living in the moment than anticipating any grand sort of end-game.

"Humanity can be divided into madmen and cowards. My personal tragedy is in being born into a world where sanity is held to be a character flaw"

Having said that, there's a core of moral and emotional strength to him, a reluctant brand of loyalty that makes up for any of his failings. As exceptionally good as he is at running away, however, Jalan is not a man to be cornered. There's a hidden warrior, trapped deep inside, who gives lie to his modesty about being an accidental hero of Aral Pass. Immediately endearing, in a scandalous sort of way, he's many of the things Jorg was not, and all of them likable.

In terms of the story itself, this is less the epic conquest of The Broken Empire and more of a straightforward, personal quest. It's the story of two men, Jalan Kendeth and Snorri ver Snaggason, linked together by a dark curse, and propelled along by Snorri's need to avenge the betrayal of his clan and the death of his family. At times, it approaches the edges of a buddy comedy, with some genuinely funny moments shining deep within the overpowering darkness of the tale, as the two mismatched champions must fight their way across kingdoms - including Ancrath - on their way to the frozen north. Chased by the magic of the Silent Sister into the very arms of the Dead King's minions, these are two men quite literally trapped between a rock and cold, hard place.

For those wondering where Jalan's story fits into Jorg's original story arc, the two occur simultaneously. In fact, there are a few moments where their paths almost cross, including a fantastic scene where, after being brought to his knees by a well-placed kick from Katherine Ap Scorron, Jalan finds himself agreeing to Queen Sareth's request that he rough up this bully, this boy-prince named Jorg. All puffed up and proud of himself, sure that the stories will forget the fact that the man he bested was just a boy, Jalan quickly turns tail and flees the city the moment he learns that this boy killed the king’s champion in single combat.

I wouldn't say this is a happier book by any means, particularly given the fate of Snorri's family and the sense of doom hanging over our two protagonists, but it is a lighter one - at times. Lawrence sprinkles a little more easy humor throughout the tale, particularly in Jalan's narration and his conversations with Snorri, the barbarian from the north. It plays very well against the dark core of the tale, and serves to provide the reader with some much-needed emotional relief. Having said that, Prince of Fools demonstrates the same deft touch with combat and betrayals that readers will remember from The Broken Empire, with the standoff upon the ledge of a frozen mountain topped only by the final climax within the Black Fort in terms of thrills.

A different sort of read from Mark Lawrence, but still immediately recognizable in terms of style and storytelling. It's more of a straightforward fantasy tale, with little of the Builders influence that was so pivotal to Jorg's tale, but with that strong undercurrent of horror I mentioned earlier. It remains to be seen, of course, how Jalan will ultimately compare to Jorg, but Lawrence is to be commended for taking a chance, stepping aside from what (and who) readers know so well, and finding an exciting new way into his world. Some readers may find Prince of Fools doesn't have quite the same biting edge, but it may just be a stronger, more well-rounded tale. Highly recommended.

Mark Lawrence's debut novel Prince of Thorns is still one of my favourite debuts I've read since starting A Fantastical Librarian. And while it took me a while to get to reading King of Thorns, I loved that as well, so much so that I've yet to read Emperor of Thorns; partly because reviewing obligations, but also because I'm not sure I want Jorg's story to be over. But as I unlocked it as one of my unstretch goals last month, sooner or later Jorg's journey well have to end for me too. So I was really excited to start a new adventure set in the world of the Broken Empire, this time focusing on a different part of it, but set concurrently with Jorg's tale. And to be honest, I might be even more reluctant to finish this one when book three comes out, because Jalan is just a wonderful narrator and his story is great.
Jalan definitely is not Jorg. They certainly have things in common - both are princes, both have lost their mother - but where Jorg was angry and rather sociopathic, Jalan is a hedonist and a coward, though I suspect perhaps the latter is more by choice than disposition. Because while Jalan certainly talks the talk, he doesn't quite walk the walk; in fact, in those cases where it really counts he's far braver than he gives himself credit for. He prides himself on being shallow, because being deep is too much work, but he has to work really hard to retain his veneer of shallowness. He doesn't want anyone thinking that he cares about anything in any way, except for of course Prince Jalan. This mind-set made his utter shock when he refers to Snorri as a friend, even funnier, as he really didn't (want to) see it coming.

Like Jorg, Jalan has a boon companion, but Snorri is no Makin. Both are amazingly-skilled fighters, but where Makin is dedicated to Jorg out of a strained sort of loving duty, Snorri has his own goals and, at least at the start of their association, Jalan is all but incidental to these. Snorri is a tragic hero; a good man driven to darker deeds through circumstance. We get his story relayed through Jalan, who recounts them when Snorri occasionally tells parts of his story at night by the camp fire. This did make me wonder about the details of the story, because Jalan's world view is bound to colour his recounting of the story. Snorri's tale is wrought through with grief and vengeance and it's painful to read, but I also admired that Snorri sets his despair aside once he sees the larger picture and puts the greater good before his shattered heart.

The world building remained wonderful. I enjoyed seeing more of the Broken Empire and seeing more clues to our own world spring up. The narrative intersects with The Broken Empire books, both geographically and in the form of what can almost be called easter eggs, even glimpsing Jorg and Katherine in passing. There is a section of the book set in Ancrath where Jalan, Snorri, Jorg and Makin pass each other like ships in the night, but where we know exactly who they are. That section was so cool and I loved how Lawrence set it up. I also liked that when I went back to Prince of Thorns, I could find the scene easily and in there Jalan and Snorri's presence can only be glimpsed in one sentence, but it is there. That's just the sort of detail that makes a book so much richer in texture and depth to me. I also loved the bit of Katherine we saw in the book! Her handling of Jalan's wandering eyes and hands was brilliant. This does lead me to my least favourite passage in the book: Jalan's encounter with the Queen, Jorg's stepmother. I really didn't like how she tried to get Jalan to do what she wanted by making him think with his little head instead of his big head. I thought it demeaned both her and him, even if for most of the book Jalan is set up as a ladies' man with appetites--it just felt like an easy choice.

Lawrence's prose has always been a draw for me. I love how he can find beauty in the most awful things. In Prince of Fools, he not only gives us some more wonderful descriptions, he also litters his text with amazing aphorisms, some of them philosophical, some of them humorous. He also once again includes some great allusions to our own world in the narrative, such as Snorri telling Jalan they'll take a train - not really a carriage on tracks, but a road following the ancient railway, which cleared a pretty straight track through some rather mountainous terrain - and weaving in the first few lines of Marvell's To His Coy Mistress. This tickled my inner English student and also made me reconsider the text in a different light. All of this makes Lawrence's writing compelling, but what makes it even more enjoyable is that the dialogue and Jalan's observations are also often freaking funny. Jalan has a similar sense of wit as Jorg has, though he's less dark - dare I say grim? - about it.

In short, I loved Prince of Fools. With Prince of Thorns Mark Lawrence captured my attention, King of Thorns made him a must-read, but Prince of Fools captured my heart. Snorri's love and grief for his family broke my heart and the slowly, but surely, growing friendship between Jalan and Snorri went some way to repair it. I can't wait to return to Jalan and Snorri in the next book, but in the meantime, I'll have to just go read Emperor of Thorns to catch up with Jorg. Prince of Fools is a great start to the Red Queen's War and a great entry point into Lawrence's world of The Broken Empire. For those of you who were put off by the gritty and dark flavour of Prince of Thorns, Prince of Fools might just be the book to reel you back in. While Prince of Fools is classic Lawrence, it is somewhat lighter on the grit and so perhaps somewhat more accessible than its predecessor. One of my favourite reads so far this year and highly recommended.

This book was provided by the publisher.

Prince of Fools is a remarkable book and people who liked his Broken Empire series should buy it, no questions asked. For those that were put off by the psychopathic protagonist Jorg, I can assure you that Jal is a person easier to like. If you were one of those put off, I've got a blog post on that matter you might find interesting.

Mark Lawrence's books shine through their masterful first person narrators. His skill in creating unique and memorable protagonists is what elevates his books above many of the competing fantasy books. While I like his setting and plot, they're clearly overshadowed by the might and strength his characters radiate through the pages. This is true for The Broken Empire and promises the same with the first installment of his new trilogy titled Red Queen's War. With the same setting with only a difference in location, the new series still has the possibility of lifting the overall plot to the same heights as the characters.

While the plot of Prince of Fools is definitely interesting, it takes a back seat behind Jal and his companion Snorri. Both of them are incredibly compelling characters that drive the plot forward and I'd wager people would still read stories about them doing mundane things like going fishing together, or building a doghouse. Thinking of Jal, I do believe that would not go as smoothly as planned.
While Snorri is the epitome of a viking hero with also all the traits of a civilized gentleman, Jal is only one thing: A coward. But he's not your average coward shivering under the table. He's a coward that has perfected his trade. If you ever want to become a better coward (for whatever reason) he can show you how to do it. He actually has some very good tips at how to be a successful coward. Another Blog post with more information.
It's ironic that his attempts at escaping danger often leads him into even more. Sometimes his heedless running away even culminate in him being mistaken for a hero. And never forget, there's more to him that you might see at first.

That's how Jal is, and despite what you might think about him now, you'll probably end up loving him. Why? Because he knows that there are times you have to stand and fight, even if your legs are about to give out from under you in fear. As already shown in his other series, Mark is an author that writes believable change. His protagonists don't stand on the same spot for the whole book/series, they always display change, even if only in the minutest details.

The book is very similar to Prince of Thorns and that shouldn't surprise people. Not only does it display the same setting and similarly uncommon protagonists, the world is as brutal and bloody as Jorg ever was. On their journey together, Jal and Snorri leave a trail of blood behind. Mostly done by the huge viking and his axe, but Jal can use his sword too. And he has to, because they are hunted by the dead and their master. Monsters on their heels, the two companions are whipped by magic to reach their far destination. Fate took the two men in its bony claws and as much as they wriggle and kick, they cannot escape.

A major change between the books is the focus on Jal's companion, Snorri. An often voiced concern about the Thorns series was that every character except Jorg felt bland. That observation did not strike me personally as odd, since Jorg is the narrator of his own story and emphasises his own life over those of others. That he didn't tell the reader much about the secondary characters was more a trait of the length to which Mark Lawrence went to build a realistic character.
In the Fools series we have basically two protagonists, with the viking being the driving force behind the long journey, his heart beating only for revenge. He tells his story to Jal over time and we are told what a masterful speaker he is, pulling the listener into a trance where his words are clad into pictures. It's a statement for Mark's mastery of the prose that he can suck the reader as deep into the tales of Snorri. The story the viking tells Jal is as vivid to the reader as it is to the young prince.

To linger a bit longer with the prose, I can say that I truly enjoyed it. Writing a first person narrative is always a challenge and Mark proves again that he swims in this form as if he was born in it. Jal describes the world in such an interesting and unique way to us that his voice is clearly heard through the pages. As with the Broken Empire series, the book is full of parts I highlighted because they make such great quotes. There's the occasional 'hint' that can go overboard, but most of the time the jokes and lighter parts in the book are genuinely funny.

While Jal might not be the easiest-to-like protagonist, I grew to love him more than Jorg. While Jorg is clearly the more compelling and gripping character, Jal has a way with people and that includes us readers. There are many things about their journey and the destination that make this book an enjoyable read. I won't say more about it, since I want you to discover it yourself; all the good parts, and the not just as good parts. There were some minor things I wasn't fully happy about, but I don't judge them important enough to bother you with. They don't change the verdict that this is an incredible book that makes my mouth water with the thoughts of the next installment. The ending promises to much. I can't really wait to read on anymore.

I love Mark Lawrence's books. Prince of Fools got a 4 Star only because it wasn't quite up the magnificent standard of Emperor of Thorns.

Prince of Fools is a delightful book. As usual, I listened to it while I fell asleep so it has a bit of a hallucinatory feel to it but I had sufficient insomnia to make sense of it all. The first thing you notice is that the lead character is about as different from Prince Jorg (?) in the Thorns Trilogy as anyone could be. This guy is a fop, a coward, and quite a bit of a fool. Just the ability to change voices like this is the mark of a damn good writer.

The plot is one of those long journeys where the lead character has a chance to grow up (a chance that the Prince refuses) and a multiplicity of adventures are found. Well, at least it rains most of the time.

There are zombies, wizards, witches with one eye and, what's best, in the end everything not only ties together within the confines of this single book but reaches back and ties to the previous Trilogy. The plot is deep and varied, the characters realistic. and the dialog never rings false. It's about as good as modern fantasy gets. I wholeheartedly recommend to all of the 3 people who take my reviews seriously.

The hell with it. I'm giving it a 5. - See more at: http://tiredoftalkingaboutmyself.blogspot.com/p/review-of-mark-lawrences-prince-of-fools.html#sthash.Nwm3l16T.dpuf

Wow! Awesome! Well done Mark Lawrence! You did it again!

Jalan. Jorg. Both stand firm in their own characters. One a coward the other callous. Both heroes? Or something else.

Prince Jalan and the viking Snorri, unlikely companions, become entangled through sorcery. In their quest to rid themselves of one another, a remarkable thing happens. A friendship blossoms. Oh, and there's also a great fantasy plot to boot.

Not quite as "grim-dark" as "Prince of Thorns", "Prince of Fools" was still edgy and perhaps more humorous than its predecessor - at least that was my take. Both series are redirecting the genre into less explored regions. To say they are "refreshing" is an understatement.

Buy these books! Even if they aren't your cup of tea, they will leave a lasting impression.

Prince Jalan has always had good luck with the ladies. The fact that he has relations with almost all the beautiful women in the Red Queen's kingdom has left him constantly on the run from the women's angry family members. As if that weren't enough to run from, Jalan is also in heavy debt from gambling so thugs are out for him as well. Nothing like running from a beating to keep you on your toes Jalan gets summoned by his Grandmother the Red Queen herself to attended a family and council meeting. During that meeting which consisted of things that didn't really interest Jalan at the time a person catches his eye. His name is Snorri ver Snagason and he is a Viking from the North and with him he brings news of necromancers and undead soldiers. All of the talk goes in one of Jal's ears and out the other because he is to busy starring at the creepy Silent sister behind the throne who no one else but his Grandmother seems to be able to see. The Silent sister has always creeped out Jalan ever since he first saw her when he was younger and she is even more creepy now because Jalan keeps catching her putting spell writing on homes and buildings causing them to burn down with everyone still in them. Jalan starts to become consumed by visions of the Silent sister scrolling enchanted writing on the sides of builds which would cause death to any who is inside. Snorri walks into the room and his mass of a body catches Jalan attention pulling him out of his own head. Snorri would be an amazing fighter in the fighting ring that takes place. With such a large guy like Snorri taking out people left and right Jalan hopes to make back all the money that he owes in bets.

After tricking Snorri into thinking that he was being kept a prisoner Jalan has him taken to the ring were he will fight to the death with others for money. A couple of rounds in the ring go great until Snorri escapes and runs off into the darkness of the night. Jalan counts his losses and just continues on with his normal activities. His attendance at an opera is asked for so even though Jalan hates opera he goes and everything is going fine until he runs into an angry family members of a women he had relations with. A chase ensues causing Jalan to run into a room that only has a window that he can escape from. In Jalan attempt to escape from the beating that is chasing him he notices the Silent sister writing in her spell across the walls of the Opera house. Knowing the death that the spell causes Jalan breaks free from the building and falls from the window down into the streets below. In breaking free form the building Jalan tears an opening in the spell that the Silent sister has woven around the opera house. It isn't until Jalan is down in the streets below that he realizes that part of the spell has attached it's self to him. Jalan tries to shake off the spell but when the flames of death start on the opera house a glowing crack shoots down into the street straight towards Jalan.
Jalan begins to run from the glowing crack and notices as the crack hits people in town they explode on contact with the spell. Running as fast as he can while consumed with fear of the crack catching up to him Jalan doesn't notice Snorri until he runs head first right into him! The sudden pause of the impact is the little time the spell needed to catch up to Jalan and it runs through his body and Snorri's.
The spell attaches it's self to them and forms a bond, light (Jalan) and dark (Snorri). The bond also makes it difficult for the two to be apart and it also makes their skin zing with static like feelings whenever they touch. With the light and dark of the spell being split comes abilities, Jalan can heal and Snorri is turns into even more of a killing machine but they can't be apart so Snorri forces Jalan to come with him on his journey to find his wife and son that were kidnapped by undead soldiers. Enemies must learn to trust one another because their survival depends upon it. They never expected to become friends along the way....and they never expected the dead king, the necromancer, or the giant unborn demons that are out to get them.

My Thoughts: Even though I liked this book a lot I found the main character a bit annoying for most of the book. Jalan is very cowardly and runs from most of his problems instead of doing anything about the situation. He is a HUGE change from Jorg who is the main character from the Broken Empire series. I thought I would hate this book since for a while it was difficult to like Jalan at times but Snorri made up for that with his funny Viking humor. I will continue with this series because I like Mark Lawrence's writing and his world building is Awesome! the main characters in The Red Queen's War series and the Broken Empire series are like the spell in this book as far as how different they are....One light The Red Queen's War and one dark the Broken Empire. Each worth a read.

My Favorite Quote from the Book:

" By the time a man reaches the bitter ice he will have seen nothing but a world in shades of white for a day upon day. He will have walked upon ice sheets and seen no tree or blade of grass, no rock or stone, heard no sound but that of his own loneliness and the mocker of the wind. He will believe there is in all the world no place more cruel, no place less suited to the business of living, and then he will see the bitter ice."

I've never laughed more while reading a book than I did with Prince of Fools. I devoured this entertaining, popcorn-like treat, and choked with laughter on so, so many kernels of pure hilarity. Mark Lawrence spins a superb fantasy adventure with an amazingly believable anti-hero. It was pure joy to read! I would perhaps take away one tenth of a star because the ending seemed too overtly set up for a series (if the first book were successful) but, hey, an author's got to make a living. So, so entertaining!

I loved this book could not stop reading it. It's pov character might finally portray an actual person as a hero rather then some iconic hero no one can ever hope to match. Oh wait but that's his traveling companion.

It's a bit of a bromance between a prince and a Viking with some really interesting elements. It's humorous, heroic gritty and real. If your a fantasy reader it's a absolute must read!!

I'll start out by saying I didn't finish this book. I got about 1/3 through and had to put it down. That being said, the plot was extremely interesting, the characters enjoyable, and this book seems very well written.
Honestly, I would love to finish this book; my problem is that since having my daughter, I'm extremely squeamish about any atrocities happening with children. And reading the account of a father searching for his family after an undead attack, only to find his young daughter partially devoured, but still alive. . . Yeah, I had to put it down after that.
If I ever get my steel stomach for horror back, I'm definitely going to pick this book up again and finish the series. I'll finish The Walking Dead, too. But for now, it's a little too much for me.

-Anne

First off I have to say this is my favorite of the books I've read this year! I love the way that Mark Lawrence writes. There are so many genuine emotions in this book. I laughed so many times at the back and forth between Jal and Snorri and at Jal's inner monologue. Truly great characters! There were also many moments when I had tears well up. Jal talks about the words pulling him into Snorri's story, as a reader you feel the tragedy and heartbreak.

I like the fast paced nature of this book too. There aren't any unecessary scenes or events. All the details fit together. I thought the tie-ins with The Broken Empire series were a nice touch. You get to experience certain characters from that series with a different perspective.

I love how promising this series suggests it is going to be and I'm excited to see more of Lawrence's futuristic post-apocalyptic world! This a series that I will be impatiently waiting for Lawrence to finish :)

This was an amazing book that I just loved instantly. Though I didn't buy it on the store it was on my list and I just have to review it. Prince of Fools is a rather dark and suspenseful tale but it is told in a light hearted manor in the perspective of a goof off of a Prince, Jal. I was laughing at some points just because of his perspective on it. It is an amazing tale that takes you across the land with the two most unlikely of partners, one a hero and one a coward. I would recommend this book to anyone I meet and I can't wait to start reading the sequel.

I enjoyed the Prince of thorns series by Mark Lawrence so I read this book and felt like a Prince of fools for purchasing this book where the hero is a coward who goes into a berserk rage on the battlefield and doesn't remember, so I do recommend the Prince of thorns series by Mark Lawrence, but pass on this title

Well I read the Broken Empire books and loved them. I was not sure about starting this new book, how could it stack up to Jorg? It Stacks up very well! Seemed very different to me but I loved it still. Snorri steals the show for me, Don't get me wrong Jal is awesome but he is no viking! Very well done, Again Mr. Lawrence! I am very excited for book 2 The Liar's Key!

For me, this story has just begun. It's a great introduction into the hearts and minds of our two protagonists, but now I'm ready for more.

The thing that stands out most for me is how Lawrence is still being a philosopher, but without as many direct quotes a with his Broken Empire Series. Here the philosophical theme is the old proverb that bravery isn't being unafraid, but being afraid yet still choosing to fight. Both Prince Jalan and Snorri faced their biggest fears and fought to the last second.

I can't wait to see where they go and what they face next... and how Loki's key will play a part. I also can't wait to see Prince Jalan and Jorg' s path cross again.

Great read. Am even more a Lawrence fan.

So far, so good. I want more authors like Mark Lawrence.
Although this book is not about the previous characters we readers all came to love/hate (but had to read about) it works fantastically. There are crossover bits for those that just need to know what Jorg is up to. But if you have not read the Broken Empire series, this can be read without it - but why would you miss out on the other books.
I can't wait to read more about Jalan and Snorri and the adventures they have. So far they have traveled north and I await the return journey back south when the weather warms and they can then travel again.
Mark I really really really need The Liar's Key.

Writing 5/5
Imagination 4/5
Plot 4/5
Setting 4/5
Characters 5/5
Grimdark 3.5/5

My Overall Enjoyment 5/5

Bonus
Humor 5/5

After two months of looking at Prince of Fools (Mark Lawrence’s follow up to Emperor of Thorns and the final book in my favorite series of all time) in my ereader queue, it is finally gone. PoF was my number one anticipated novel of the year so I did not want to read it to soon and I like to savor my favorite authors books. Expectations are high; Mark Lawrence has many fanatical fans, myself included. Before PoF came out, I already thought him to be the best current writer in fantasy, or in any genre, and an amazing and provocative storyteller. Does PoF live up to his reputation and fans expectations? An emphatic and resounding YES! By all accounts PoF is an amazing, wonderful book. And there is a dog in the beginning named Pluto, my dogs name, and a great name for a dog!

First, who does not love vikings? I have been on a major viking reading theme and have probably read 30 or more books about them this year as well as following the excellent show, Vikings. In PoF, Jalen, also known as the Red Prince, ends up with a traveling companion who is a monster of a Viking named Snorri. Snorri is a total badass out for revenge for reasons revealed in the story. Jalan is of royalty and far down in the line of succession, and is very different than any main character I have come across, mainly he is a coward and a liar. The main characters, as well as the other minor characters, are brought brilliantly to life. Jalan could not be more different than Jorg (the "hero" of The Broken Empire series). As in the best books, the characters are believable and you want to see what happens to them. Often, I get halfway through a book and realize I just don’t care what happens to the characters or how the story ends up. This is definitely not a problem here. After each event or conversation, I anxiously want to see what happens next, not only in the story but to the characters. Neither Snorri or Jalan are particularly pleasant persons, yet there is a strong affinity with them. Having been so emotionally invested in the Broken Empire series, when Jalan and Snorri cross paths with some of the Brothers, as well as a certain young prince, I was astounded at what occurred. I set the book down for several hours after that because it was so epic!

The Broken Empire was dark; very dark (some disagree). This is dark as well, but it is insanely humorous and definitely has a lighter feel. Jalan and Snorri’s witticisms and banter are hysterical. It had me laughing out loud multiple times and smiling untold times. Instead of the brutality featured in the Broken Empire, this book has humor. There is action, killing, and violence, done expertly and cleverly, but the humor is what jumps out for me.

The writing is expert. No other writer is as clever as Mark Lawrence. The dialogue and narration are both concise and succinct. There are aphorisms galore. I bookmarked more pages than I can count to go back and read (my free ereader doesn't allow highlighting so this is one book I need to get up a physical copy). I had the idea to insert them in this review but much of the pleasure of reading Mark Lawrence is coming across them in context so I will leave them for the reader to discover.

The plot is thoughtful and suspenseful and at times full of horror. There is magic of a mysterious type and it is very important to this story but not overpowering. We learn a lot about numerous new cities and towns as well as some lore and history of this post-apocalyptic world as Jalan and Snorri travel. We also meet very interesting people throughout the journey and it is always fun to see what Mark dreams up next and what obstacles the characters will face.

With this book, Mark Lawrence shows he is one of the premier fantasy writers of this generation and of all time. I love the Broken Empire world and do not believe I would ever tire of it. No matter what Mark writes, I will be the first in line. But I do hope he continues in the Broken Empire with another series after this one. For now, I can not wait for book two. I recommend this without hesitation or qualification to everyone.

Perhaps the rest of the series make up in some ways for what I saw as shortcomings in this book, but it would take some convincing to make me read them.

Starting out I found the writing to be quite awkward in numerous places with sentences and paragraphs that were just sloppily crafted. Also, I found that I didn't care about or connect with any of the characters but I kept going with the assumption that by the end of the book one or more of them would evolve compellingly.

By the end of the book I had given up on liking any of the characters. I had also noticed too many occasions in which the author would present something, a character or situation for instance, and spend multiple pages on it only to have that character or situation not matter at all; the story is not moved along, the reader does not learn anything new about any of the characters and there is no lasting effect on the plot. At other times things of seemingly great importance were presented in an offhand matter, as if the reader already knew about them or they simply didn't matter very much.

All in all, I found myself more annoyed than intrigued.

Let me start by saying I loved the author's other Thorns series. This one by contrast seems to go nowhere fast. Maybe the action picks up in the subsequent books but frankly I ran out of patience about two-thirds of the way into the first book.

This was an enjoyable book to read. A slow buildup with until the end. I liked the way the book was written. It's like you're there too, and you're listening to the main character talking to you and telling you his story. I'm interested in seeing what the next two book holds.

Excelllent writing and very entertaining dialogue (which unfortunately seems to be rare now). The author does a fantastic job handling the two main characters, offering some laugh out loud moments with the exchanges. A very competent and thrilling part 1 of the trilogy. I immediately bought the 2nd book.

I very much enjoy the author and the way he tells the story from the first person pov without leaving you wondering too much about what's going on around the main character.
This character is far more fun than the last, and I found myself very engaged in the story.

It was a good book, an interesting read and the adventure was great. It did get a bit drawn-out and Jal got a bit annoying at times, but the humour made up for it.

Full review on my blog:

https://redletalis.wordpress.com/2014/10/14/prince-of-fools-m-lawrence/

The main character is a bit of a scoundrel and I suppose that’s why I didn’t like the book at first. But when his co-protagonist and foil came into the picture the experience shifted for me and I began to enjoy it. By midway I couldn’t put the book down and in the end I thoroughly enjoyed it.

With this book, Mark Lawrence solidifies his place as one of my favorite contemporary fantasy authors.

Lawrence's first trilogy, The Broken Empire, has often been called "grimdark," drawing comparisons to George R.R. Martin and Joe Abercrombie. In one of his blogs, Lawrence expressed some concern about the grimdark label and whether it is properly applied to his work. Whatever the definition of grimdark may be, there is no doubt that the Broken Empire's protagonist, Jorg Ancrath, has a violent disposition and intentionally sets out upon a bloody path with the purpose of conquering an empire. By contrast, the protagonist of Prince of Fools, Jalan Kendeth, or "Jal," is a self-professed coward who would prefer to run away as fast as possible from any sign of conflict.

Jal, although a self-professed coward, is not an unsympathetic character. To the contrary, he is quite likeable, and in many ways acts more the hero than Jorg ever did. Certainly, he shows more empathy. He might need a push (sometimes quite literally) before springing into combat, but proves himself to be a fiercely loyal companion. The story begins with Jal's conniving ways placing him in debt with some unsavory characters. In an attempt to pay off that debt, he condemns a recently captured viking, Snorri, to the fighting pits, wagering on him to win the money back. Snorri escapes instead, and through a seemingly freak magical occurrence, the two find themselves bound to one another, forced to set out upon a journey to the frozen north in an attempt to rid themselves of the curse. But they form a genuine bond that transcends their magical shackles, and that ties into Snorri's attempts to reunite himself with his family. At the beginning of the story, it's clear that Jal is forced into this scenario against his will. By the end of the story, it's equally clear that he has adopted this fight as his own.

Mark Lawrence, unlike the protagonist of this current novel, has shown tremendous courage. First, by setting forth in the afterword to Emperor of Thorns that he wanted to definitely end Jorg's tale and not milk the character for all he was worth. Many other fantasy authors fall prey to this because it's easy, and frankly their work often suffers for it. Prince of Fools takes place contemporaneously with Broken Empire, and so Jorg's presence is felt in the book and he even makes a cameo. But it is not his tale, and you do not need to have read Broken Empire to pick up this book, though doing so will familiarize you with the world.

Second, Mark has shown courage by creating a protagonist who is in many ways the anti-Jorg. Jalan is whimsical and carefree. He hates conflict but is mischievous and often finds himself in trouble. Broken Empire was not without humor, but it was more morose. Likewise, while Prince of Fools is not without its violence, the main character brings an upbeat tone to the narrative. Lawrence has returned to his Broken Empire setting, but while utilizing a new perspective, which allows the reader to experience the world through a new set of eyes without completely eliminating the familiarity. This book is more Scott Lynch than George R.R. Martin, and Lawrence shows he is no one-trick pony but a fantasy author with remarkable range.

At turns funny and heart-wrenching, a lighter tone than Broken Empire but with the stakes set just as high, Prince of Fools is a great book. I've been looking for books similar to those of Scott Lynch's Gentleman Bastard series, but would not have expected Mark to be the source of that based on his prior writings. In doing so, he has proven himself to be a versatile author of the fantasy genre. I look forward to reading the sequel to Prince of Fools, and await with equal anticipation Mark's future projects to see what other literary tricks he has up his sleeves.

Of course I was hoping for another Jorg adventure. But after reading Mark Lawrence's newest I realized what I really wanted was to be back in this author's world, no matter who the protagonist. After all, the heart of these books is the first-rate storytelling, the wry monologue, and the quests for meaning by flawed characters. And of course, there's lots of blood, sex, jokes, male bonding (yeah, it's pretty male driven so far - women are minor characters), magic, monsters, and everything else I liked in the Jorg trilogy.

I was also pleasantly surprised to find that this is a "buddy" adventure. Oh, and there's a good twist at the end. A great setup for more adventures, I can't wait for the next one!

I had high hopes after The Broken Empire trilogy, and this did not disappoint. Luckily, I read other reviews and knew what to expect. It's the same wonderful writing style, but if you expect the same character then you're really reading the wrong book. Even though he crosses paths with him (which is really cool, to me), he has nothing else to do with Jorg and isn't like him in the least bit. This was a great book and the first time that I pre-ordered a book in a long time. I very much look forward to more in this series.

Let me start with the minor passage from the book that nicely illustrates what is going on:

>> "So I'm not offering you victory, or a return to your old lives, or the promise that we will build again. Just pain, and blood, and red axes, and the chance to make war upon our enemies together, this last time. What do you say?" And of course, the maniacs roared their approval, and I banged my fist halfheartedly against the table and wondered how I could get the hell out of this mess. <<

It is a rare privilege to enjoy the authentic artistic integrity in modern fantasy genre. True to his previous work, Mark Lawrence's storytelling is free of any compromises towards the established commercialism doctrines: no multiple POV's, no filler in the form of "world building", no one-dimensional lukewarm characterization, no cliffhangers and unfinished tales, no infinite repetition of silly catchphrases. As it was the case with the all three installments of the Broken Empire trilogy, Prince of Fools offers a self contained story.

And boy, the choice of the main character - just brilliant.

Prince of Fools is a very good fantasy book. The characters were well defined and will really draw you in to a story like this. I really knew that I would be hooked on Snori from his first fight scene. Not wanting to give anything away, all I can say is that it was greatly done and that one scene alone would have gotten me to buy the book if it was a teaser at the end of another book. Every time that I thought I knew where to story was headed there was an unexpected twist that made sense, and yet caught me offguard. In addition to the great writing, the reader was excellent as well.

Loved the Thorns series, so I was looking forward to this one. What a disappointment! Prince Jalan is one the most annoying characters I have ever read. At page 300 he is still constantly telling us how he is a despicable coward, complete with mind numbing advice on how to be great at it. Well you convinced me, 300 agonizing pages is enough!

Im been a BIG fan of Mr. Lawrence's work since he published his first book ( Prince of thorns) and to be honest i fell in love with the story, the plot, the world, the characters but on in specific Jorg. I can't really more about without giving it away so YOU who might read this GO and check them out I'm for sure you will love them as much as i DO. Well lets talk about this new book Prince of Fools is really EPIC i Swear! like the title says "Fools" this book is funny in many... situations. I describe this book as a journey of a mans life, in the way a man can change to good or bad i learned from this book about life. By the way if you are a Thorns fan you should definitely check this out.

I give this book 10/10
So reader, follow Us in this new journey! things can happen but its fun

I'm one of those (apparently rare) readers who did not like the Prince of Thorns at all. It's the only book I've started reading and not finished, for one simple reason: I absolutely hated the protagonist.

Fortunately, that flaw is fixed in Prince of Fools. Jal is a loveable scoundrel, as opposed to a 12 year old mass murdering psychopath. The story and characters are excellent, and Jal is absolutely hilarious. So, even if you didn't like Prince of Thorns, you ought to give this one a chance.

"Horrible" as in "a bad place to live in", not "horrible" as in "bad".

Basically, if you enjoyed Lawrence's previous series, and can stand well-written but faintly unlikable main characters, you'll enjoy this one. Lots of action, solid dialogue, and an in-depth look at what was happening in the background of the Broken Empire trilogy.

If only the next book was out sooner.

Another fantastic journey through the Broken Empire. Another fascinatingly flawed protaganist. This one a little less dark than Prince Jorg but just as broken. The pace is fast and story excellently crafted. The action keeps you turning the pages. The inherent darkness of the world of the Broken Empire is once again brilliantly balanced by the sly wit of the author. I cant wait for the next installment

I was not disappointed!! After reading Mark Lawrence's Broken Empire Trilogy, I could not wait for this book to come out, and it was spectacular!! This book took me to new parts of the world I had grown to love in the other books, with complex new characters mingling with the ones I've already met! I would definitely recommend!!! ❤️❤️❤️

I was introduced to Mark Lawrence's writing through his short story Select Mode in the Unfettered anthology. I really loved the tone of the story so I sought out the Broken Empire trilogy and sped read through those.

Since then I have been hanging out for this new book set in the same world as the Broken Empire trilogy. I read Prince of fools in a couple of days and loved it, only putting it down when my daughter required food.

Prince of Fools has characters that I enjoy living in a world that I want to know more about. I love the tone of the book and the sense of humour that pervades the story. I also enjoyed the little easter eggs from the previous books sprinkled through the story.

Really looking forward to the next in the series.

While not as enjoyable as the truly excellent 'Thorns' it is one of the best examples of conflicted character building I've read. The plot rolls along nicely, the ante is upped dependably and I hope to read more of the adventures of Snorri and Prince Jalan.

If lawrences previous trilogy was a 5 star book, then this one is a 3. The writing is just as good and I would have managed to get through it on the dry wit alone. However from the point that Jal and Snorri leave Red March until they get to the the Black Fort I became disinterested and thought that the plot was pretty boring. It picks up again at the end but the middle 60% was lacking for me.

Harry Flashman meets Conan the barbarian! In what is surely to become one of the best books of the year, Mark lawrence presents a great tale about courage, vengeance, friendship and magic. The book is funny, acton packed and full of moments that will stay with you long after you have finished it. There's no need to have read the previous trilogy (The Broken Empire Trilogy) thought if you are a fan of Lawrence's work you'll definitely enjoy the cameos of returning characters. His last book won the David Gemmell legend award, but if found this one more enjoyable, its main two characters are more likable. The next book can't come soon enough!

The writing and story were compelling enough to pull me in, but overall I found that the story suffered from the author's choice to use the real world as a setting for a story so heavily weighted with magic and fantasy themes. Some authors can spin those elements into historical fiction successfully, but here it just feels like the Norse mythology, French language, European geography, and so on were used as a crutch - relying on readers knowledge to fill in the gaps instead of investing in world-building. Since we already know who Odin and Loki are, have some idea what France is like, and have likely seen a map of Europe, Lawrence didn't take the time he should have to describe as much as he should have, and I found it very distracting.

I'd like to see Lawrence take the time to create a world of his own to play out his stories instead of taking a path already so heavily trodden that is less suitable to the themes he wants to explore.

Mark Lawrence has become one of my favorite writers with this new one. Anyone complaining about this book not focusing on Jorg is out of their mind. I love the character of Jorg but Jalan and Snorri are even better. Can't wait for the next installment.

Well after reading the broken empire trilogy, I must say I was a bit reticent about this one. You know, another prince of...thing is this HAS nothing to do with the previous trilogy, they share the same land, but that's all. I won't spoil you the story but the main character Jalan deserves and have got a little place in my heart, what can I say about his companion.... Oh please I won't say anything else. Just, even there are places in story where it's hard to keep your tears falling, most of the time you'll find yourself smiling with Jalan's adventure. By the way Mark I'm Val using my sis account.

After becoming so emotionally invested in the Broken Empire books, I was concerned if a new series would be able to hold its own. I am now embarrassed that I ever had such doubts. Same great setting (I still can't get over how awesome the setting is and how exciting those "Aha!" moments are), completely different characters who are so well-written they feel real. I love visiting the Broken Empire and look forward to more. Thanks, Mr. Lawrence. You da man.

Lawrence doesn't fail to deliver on another novel set this time from the unlikely hero Jal - It's still got the masterful exposition and prose I've come to expect from the broken empire series, but with a refreshing change of tone and interjections of humor from Jal.

This trilogy is shaping up to be just as good as the last.

This is a fine book, well written and colorful with vivid imagery and very witty, humorous writing. The characters are engaging and it makes you want to know what happens next. UNTIL you realize just how concurrent the story is to the Prince of Thorns series. There is a section in the book that actually intersects with events from the first trilogy and it is that point that the whole story suddenly feels... cheapened.

I know the main point of that intersect is to create some nerd-squee from fans of the first trilogy but it is as if the author creates that crossover to emphasize just how his first trilogy is the main story of this universe and this new trilogy is merely a glorified side story. Everything the characters do from that point forward feels pointless. "Why am I continuing to read this when the real story is OVER THERE?"

My advice?
Read the first trilogy first. If you like it, then continue on to this as a fun little side story. If you don't, then don't bother with this one. The crossover point kills a lot of the sense of importance and drive in the story.

This is the first review I've written for a book I couldn't finish. (And I've read through the "Bhagavad Gita"!) The narrator was a layabout and a coward. He had no redeeming qualities. I'm all for anti-heroes, but even those have a redeeming skill or two mixed with a twisted, but appealing personality. Jalan had none of that. The court setting that I found so interesting was only briefly touched on and then the plot spiraled out of control. Maybe I'll try again, when there aren't so many better books and characters waiting.

This book is full of vulgarities and I never got past the first couple of chapters. I understand the need to make an evil person look total evil, but that can be done without having to resort to crude words and overly graphic escapades. I don't recommend this book at all.

Mark Lawrence has a new series set in his medieval world centuries after a Nuclear Apocalypse where magic has the ability to raise the dead. This trilogy is the tale of Jalan, Prince of Fools (hard from Ace. His grandmother, the Red Queen rules Red March (Norther Italy) and Jal is tenth in line. So he chases women, gambles, and lives off his reputation as a hero gotten from running from battle and ending up in the wrong place. Then he is magically attached to Snorri, a Norse warrior whose family had been murdered. Snorri, escaped from the fighting pits that Jal had somehow gotten him into, is heading North for vengeance and Jal is merely escaping a nasty creditor so he goes along. It doesn’t help that the magic gives him visions of a disapproving Angel. The only way to break the magic that binds them together is to find the “unborn’ being who is located at a fort edge of the Arctic where Snorri’s enemy resides. Lots of fun, though only the first of a trilogy.Review printed in the Philadelphia Weekly Press