The Wheel of Osheim (The Red Queen's War)

I ran into Mark Lawrence's books by accident, and actually purchased this book first, and then had to wait while I worked through the first two. It was worth the wait. His writing is nuanced and insightful, and yet manages to be lighthearted and dark at the same time. The story line is one that most fantasy readers have seen before -- the ne'er do well youngest son, and thus last in line to the throne, is underappreciated and underutilized. But, it is the way that Mr. Lawrence approaches this topic that makes all the difference. Yep, you are going to read an epic journey across multiple lands, but the journey shares equal time with the character development, something that many fantasy writers get wrong. I loved this book, and loved the series. I happily read all three in the series, and then headed backwards to read his prior 3 book series. I only wish he could write faster.

I enjoyed the book, sorry to see the series end. The only thing I did not like in the book was the endless fights with Zombies, I think the world has had enough of them from movies in the past years. Also the price of the book was higher than the previous ones.

Leave it to author Mark Lawrence to bring our heroes heartthrob down a few notches in a most hilarious way. This was a delightful series full of action, folklore and humor. In the Wheel of Osheim, our hero returns home only to discover trouble powered by magic will go through great lengths to find you. After a tedious battle with the Dead King that leaves his home in ruins, Prince Jalan rejoins Snorri and heads for the final showdown at Osheim. This book is a perfect summer read for teens, young adults and fantasy nuts. I found this read deserving of 5-stars. Can't wait for what the author comes up with in his next series.

It took me two weeks to read the final three chapters because I did not want the series to end. Astonishingly perfect. Rare that I have no criticism. Mark Lawrence is to novels what Elvis was to music. READ EVERYTHING THAT HAS HIS NAME ON IT!

What a great book to end a wonderful series. Can't get enough of this world, and I had thought it just couldn't be as fascinating without Jorg. I was wrong. ML is one of the few authors whose works keep me wondering and on edge until the very end. And love the whole atmosphere: never liked pure sci-fi, these books incorporate some in the way that the builders were more advanced than us before their end, and so while some 'artifacts' are known others are not. Can't recommend this enough...READ!

Mark Lawrence impresses again. I have read the entire Trilogy, and his conclusion of The Red Queen's War , was exceptional. The characters, are developed wonderfully, and despite their flaws are easy to like. Throughout the stories we see the characters struggle with various moral issues, and given how they have been developed it easy to understand each individual's choices. The action is crisp, the humor both wonderful and dry. On more than one occasion his style hints of Joe Abercrombie, but overall his style is unique. I certainly hope this is not the last visit we have to the Broken Empire, but whatever he writes, I will be following.

I don't write reviews. I have a Georgia public h.s. diploma so don't expect big words or rare insight. I found the broken empire when I was starting to read for fun. Yes this was it my 20s so what.

Thank you Mr. Lawrence yet again. I have yet to even put down a book . I once compared you to g.r.r.Martin. and I was wrong. Your captivating stories should all say buckle up. I found so many utterly true lines that I was emotionally moved and in shock often minutes apart.

I will diminish my review by saying if you haven't read Mr Lawrence, start as all things should at the beginning. (Prince of thorns). I honestly hope to see more from you. Great books all of them. A Must read story of life in a world our era destroyed.

Book three didn't miss a beat. It's as enjoyable as the previous two. It is humorous and frightening. One part was challenging towards the ending chapters. Understanding the way this world is framed and ultimately nearly desiccated by the Builders and their experimental reality bending wheel took a bit to grasp but Lawrence clarifies the information as the plot comes to the final arc. It pleasantly comes together.

The previous two books should be read before this one. I wouldn't qualify this novel as a stand alone. It would be a pity for one to start and end with book three. To get the full effect of the story, starting at the beginning is highly recommended. One could understand book three but it won't be as funny or touching until one is properly introduced to Prince Jalan and the kind and broken hearted Snorri Ver Snagason.

I've mentioned my adoration for Prince Jalan since he is the only character prince to make me laugh. His humor is expressed brilliantly by narrator/actor Tim Gerard Reynolds. Reynolds talent for narration brings life to Prince Jalan's wit and comedic banter. His vocal range is impressive so each character is their own person. They're all so lively and respectable.

What's interesting is despite the comedic nature of the main character, the novel's plot isn't per se funny. The storyline is mature and at times mournful like with the deaths of the young whose souls are imprisoned. It's quite scary and heart wrenching. Yet reading parts that shock the mind only to move on to laugh later on at a proceeding scene lightens the subject matter, making the book less heavy, thereby mixing serious with fun.

It's this story telling magic, if you will, that grants the book five stars. It touches different emotions so one doesn't get stuck on one sentiment. The diversity and fluidity of the author's writing makes this series one that I'll speak highly of and recommend to others. I look forward to Lawrence's future works.

The first two installments of this series are great. Unfortunately, this book is all over the place. There are some compelling concepts explored in there, but it often feels like a sideshow of clever ideas. Some sections work really well as contained stories. Yet the moment Jalan shifts to another new journey, the feeling of cohesion slips. There's also a predictable, saccharine ending—not quite what I expected from this series.

This is far better than most of the contemporary fantasy drivel you'll find out there, so read it. Lawrence is a great writer. I look forward to his future work.

The Broken Empire universe is by far one of my favorite. I didn't like this trilogy as much as the first, but I still enjoyed the hell out of this one. The final installment of this trilogy was a much faster read than the second. There were enough slow and confusing parts in the second that it took me a few months to finish it. This one went by in about a week. Jalan is a great character in his own right, and I could read his or Jorg's adventures over and over again. This one makes me want some prequels featuring the Red Queen and the Silent Sister!

"The Red Queen's War" provides a perfect foil to the first "Broken Empire" trilogy. "Wheel of Osheim" filled in so many of the knowledge gaps in the series, it really feels like the journey of discovery is over. A fun trip, lots of action and laughs, and great characters made this a very satisfying end to the series. I look forwards to Mark Lawrence's next adventures!

Mark Lawrence is, without a doubt, one of the best writers we've ever had working in the fiction genre. The third, and sadly last, book in the Red Queen's War is as amazing as expected, weaving together all the threads so carefully laid out by Mr. Lawrence in the last two books into an ending that is as satisfying as the journey to reach it was. The dialogue is sharper than ever, Jalan's sarcastic wit comes through often as bittersweet as it is cutting, Snorri finds the answers he's been seeking and, although he has less to say this time around, his wisdom has become even more profound. He is the heart that drives the duo in their quest even through Jalan's expected reticence to continue being the hero everyone else sees in him.
I predict this trilogy will become one of the timeless classics that will stand the test of time, one which future generations will seek out and read time and again. Although it was The Broken Empire that brought Mark Lawrence to the attention of so many fans, it's the Red Queen's War that will solidify his place in the ranks of great writers.
Cannot recommend this book enough. I really hope that someday we'll be treated to another book set in this universe. Hopefully Jalan and Jorg will have another conversation someday...

I loved theBroken Empire trilogy so decided to read this one also. It was never as profound or thought-provoking as the earlier trilogy. The siege of the city went on and on. The ending was a little too pat for my tastes. Best thing is, I no longer feel compelled to read about Jalan's womanizing - YEAH!!! Maybe a guy can relate to this frat boy protagonist better than me...

I love Mark Lawrence's writing style and cleverness he puts in his characters.

And I was very excited when the Wheel of Osheim was released in June having read and listened to the other two books in the trilogy several times. I immediately started reading the newly released kindle book plus the new Audiobook (Tim Gerad-Reynolds is excellent). However, after reading the Wheel of Osheim, I was very disappointed in the lack of depth to the characters, former cleverness and humor, and I found it hard to follow. I truly missed the relationship Jalan had with Snorri, Hennen and Cara. It seems weak in comparison to the other two books in this series. The ending was very unsatisfying with the characters just floating away without much detail.

Mr. Lawrence is a wonderful and talented writer, but this book seems rushed. I enjoyed many parts of the book but not to the point of many rereads like the others.

That was some tasty reading! A very rich world of the Broken Empire was made even richer with Jalan Kendeth's journey to far north, far south and far beyond.

The folklore, the characters and the story are complex and colourful. But as usual what makes the ending to the Red Queen's War trilogy shine above most of the fantasy is the writing. It cannot be stressed enough how skilled Mark Lawrence is with words.

"Everyone's lost. Any direction will take you where you're going. You just have to hope that's where you want to be."

Full review, and reviews of previous Mark Lawrence's book can be found on my Goodreads profile:[...]

Another rollercoaster ride with Mr. Lawrence. His books read quickly and efficiently which is a quality that can be hard to find in this genre. I have read many of the negative reviews on his perceptions of women and as a man my opinion is skewed but personally I see those perceptions through the eyes of his characters. Characters that spend the arc of their journey overcoming their many flaws. The fact that it brings forth such a visceral reaction with some of his readers is simply evidence of his ability to draw the reader in and convey a strong message.

And so the adventures of Prince Jalan come to an end. The Red Queen's War had a big set of shoes to fill following the events of The Broken Empire Trilogy. The trilogy of Prince Jorg Ancreth's road to becoming Emperor of the Hundred Kingdoms was a dark, gritty, twisty, and thoroughly engaging set of stories which culminated in a apocalyptic finale. By contrast, The Red Queen's War was a somewhat less grandiose and more character-focused work that followed a Harry Flashman-like arrogant fop and his nobler-than-thou Viking companion.

The Wheel of Osheim opens with Prince Jalan getting dumped in the middle of the Sahara Desert, having escaped hell with demons hot on his heels. It's a great opening and makes ample use of flashbacks to explain how our heroes got from Point A to Point Z. The world is ending because of there being too much magic in the world and it falls to our (anti)hero to use Loki's key in order to figure out a way to delay it. After all, the world is where he keeps all of his stuff.

So, is it any good?

Yes, but I have criticisms. It is a funny, entertaining, and, at times, moving work but it has the same flaws I saw in The Liar's Key. Too little Snorri and too little Mark Lawrence twistedness. There's also the fact the ending felt a bit too happy (?), I suppose for a series which was founded on subverting expectations. Heck, one of the heroes even gets the girl he pines for despite one of the best elements of the previous book being how he utterly failed to do it due to circumstance.

In a very real sense, the characters become somewhat stuck in their character arcs. Prince Jalan stubbornly clings to being the same selfish **** he's always been despite how much events have changed him, Snorri remains devoted to his insane quest to resurrect his family, and Kara never quite chooses between good or evil. In real-life, plenty of people never change and just fall back into old habits but it's a trifle disappointing here. Despite this, I have to state that I devoured this book in the span of two days and enjoyed every minute of it. If the book felt a little too safe for the sequel to a series which opens up with Jorg sacking an innocent village, then it was safe in an entertaining manner throughout. For all my statements about Jalan never learning anything, that's half of the character's appeal.

Jalan really is a selfish **** and to become fully reformed would be the antithesis of what makes him enjoyable. Even so, there's a few genuinely impressive moments this time around like how Jalan confronts the fact he's a prince running away from a crime lord and the worst decision he has to make as the dragooned marshal of his kingdom. I also enjoyed his "heroic" solution to dealing with an ex-girlfriend getting enslaved.

Much of this book deals with the fascinating science-fiction mythology which underlies both of his series. It's a post-apocalypse world where humans created something akin to magic with quantum mechanics and generating reality from thought. Having the protagonists deal with such heavy concepts they don't understand occupies a good third of the book and I have to say, it was very interesting. It reminds me somewhat of Neil Gaiman's Sandman mythology and that's high praise for any author.

I like the character of Lisa DeVeers which has a bigger role in this book than in previous stories. While she doesn't play a very big role, she is hilarious in her short appearances and an excellent foil for our protagonist. I'm not sure what her relationship to Jalan is at the end of the book but it does lead to a great joke. While I wish we'd gotten more Kara, the fact she doesn't become the love interest of either Jalan or Snorri is almost unprecedented in fantasy fiction so I give kudos to Mark Lawrence for that as well.

The battle scenes throughout the book are amazing and Mark Lawrence is never at a loss for describing new and exciting locations. His twisted Fallout-meets-the Dark Ages setting is one that is a source of endless fascination to me and I can't wait for his third trilogy in the world. He also has a mastery of dialogue and short-but-memorable scenes that make him someone I wish Hollywood would produce the works of (or, at least, HBO).

Overall, this is a great book and if I had some problems with it then it was still something I am glad to have picked up. I actually regret there will be no more stories about Prince Jalan's travels and that's perhaps the best sign Mark Lawrence didn't wear out the character's welcome.

9/10

Thank you so much for another great book. I was so torn, I wanted to keep reading, but didn't want it to end. I'll just have to start the whole series again! The characters were great and the humor was till there. So good...

The final book in the Red Queen’s War series and I find myself torn. The series takes us deep into the roots of the chaos caused by the Builders so many generations ago. It finally tells us why Jalan’s (and Jorg’s) world is so effed up now and how it will only get worse. And it’s not a straightforward and/or simple sentence answer either. Do I overlook all the quantum confusion that I would usually skim over in other books but did not in The Wheel of Osheim, or do I just go with my usual “Got confused, loved it anyway” shelf?

I think we all know the answer.

Mark Lawrence is one of the best fantasy writers running around the quantum universe. His characters are unforgettable. His creatures are tequila-born nightmares, for sure. And while his stories contain incredibly dark threads and stark moments of horror he still maintains that wicked sense of humor that allows us a moment of diversion. We laugh illogically as a creature composed of countless corpses, both human and horse, chases our hero because Jal makes some absurd, but true, observation to never look back because look what happened to Lot’s wife.

It took me days to finish the book and it was not for lack of interest, not at all. I wanted to enjoy each beautifully sculpted sentence, each cleverly written scene, every perfectly flawed character. To speed through it would be a great injustice to the writer’s masterpiece.

Many readers have bitc—complained they didn’t like Jalan’s character as much as Jorg from The Broken Empire series. Well, I agree. Jorg was inhumanly twisted. Jalan is humanly warped and he reminds us of our own frailties. We all have moments of cowardice, like Jalan, when we think it’s a better plan to run away from the creature with the pointy teeth while leaving our friends behind. Jorg would have tossed his friends at the creature and stayed behind to watch. Jalan recognizes that other than whoring, gambling and drinking on a daily basis, he has no initiative. Jorg does all three and then takes over an empire. What makes better press?

Snorri will always be my favorite, though. The big Viking shows no fear, he goes into Hel to save his family, and he is unbreakable. Literally, figuratively and physically. We don’t see much of the man as he is in Hel for much of the book, and when he does return to earth, there are flashbacks to what happened after Jalan left. He is a straight shooter when dealing with Jalan and I can just imagine the enormous axe-bearing blood-covered fighter staring him down as if observing a bug crawl across his path.

Yes, I loved watching Jalan go from a total yellow-belly in the first book to a semi-yellow-belly that steps us to the plate when needed. His internal dialogue was hysterical as he reminded himself the coward’s way was the safer way. As he said in Book 1: “I am a liar and a cheat and a coward, but I will never, ever, let a friend down. Unless of course not letting them down requires honesty, fair play or bravery.” But, this book shows a man who would “never, ever, rarely let a friend down.” I noticed he did not include the second sentence. That’s shows growth, or alcohol-infused short term memory loss, your choice.

Best scene: Jalan and Jorg getting drunk together and comparing scars.
Best quote (of millions): “I’ve never had much use for religion, except when it comes to swearing or begging for mercy.
Best observation (of millions): The Red Queen wondering if “this time we really will select a new emperor and mend this broken empire of ours,” and her sister, who can see into the future, snickering.
Best beginning: classic Jalan entrance.
Best end scene: please read it out loud and try not to laugh.

Has sections of the narrative brilliance that defined the other five books (and I found those books hypnotically brilliant, though if truth be told, the Jorg sequence somewhat more compelling than the Red Queen sequence), but In this final installment - when narrative discipline is most important (given the complexity) of the concepts and relationships - Lawrence lamentably (and bafflingly) often loses the necessary clarity that the story and its concepts needs to be brought to coherent, satisfying conclusion.

I find myself genuinely confused by this lapse in discipline, as they previous books had it in such clever and rigorous abundance. I can't tell if he rushed the effort, was let down by his editor, tried to get too clever,more simply lost his way.

It's worth reading. In fact, it needs to be read in order to achieve a sense of completion (and the other books were SO good!)... But alas, it ends with a frustrating, if completed, whimper, I'm afraid. Worth the effort if you've come this far, but prepare for disappointment.

Lawrence is a terrific and talented writer, so I'm certain there is more joy to be had from him in h future. I just wish he hadn't stumbled in this particular moment.

What can I say about Mark Lawrence? His writing is gripping, grisly, and hilarious all at the same time. Yes, you heard me correctly I did say both hilarious and grisly to describe Mark Lawrence’s writing. How can one write both in a comical as well as grisly way in the same book, might you ask? Well, I don’t know how he does it but Lawrence perfectly balances the charm/ cowardice of Jalan with the turbulent times of war with the dead. To more fully compliment Jalan and fully bring out his hilarity (while acting as the straight man) is the brave and stalwart viking Snorri. These two played off of each perfectly, making every scene they were in together an absolute delight. Honestly I don’t care what form Lawrence brings these two back in, whether it be a prequel, short story, or even a brief soliloquy, whatever it is, if it has Snorri and Jalan together again I’d love to read it.

As for the book itself, The Wheel of Osheim, like the other books in Lawrence’s Red Queen’s War series tells the tale of Snorri and Jalan as they set off across the world, evading (when they can) the dead, weaving magic, and discovering the mysteries of the past. Snorri is forever in search of saving his family in Hell, while Jalan just wants to survive and go back to a comfortable bed, with possibly a beautiful woman, and maybe some money and whatnot… but mostly just safety. In case you couldn’t guess, these two go on great adventure (much to the chagrin of Jalan) and end up in a situation to potentially save the world (or at least delay its destruction).

If you haven’t read Lawrence’s previous series, The Broken Empire, then many of the clues and connections will be somewhat meaningless to you, but if you have (and if you have, then you clearly have good taste in books, as it’s a great series) then you’ll get a real kick out of the number of interactions and interweaving storylines and answers that are answered in each series through the events of the other. For example, readers of The Wheel of Osheim are given a much more descriptive and definitive answer to what the Wheel of Osheim is and who and what the builders are, as compared to the answers given in The Broken Empire series.

Speaking of the previous books in The Red Queen’s War, once of the most impressive transformations in terms of writing is Jalan’s transformation in character over the series. What I mean by this is that Jalan is a coward and a sniveling worm at the beginning of the series. In fact, he has more problems with his personality including being lazy, weasel-like, backstabbing, and insert negative trait of your choice, that he is almost hard to root for (his one saving grace is he is funny to read about in his complaint filled narration style). However, by the end of the series he has utterly transformed, and while he still would prefer to save his own skin and live in luxury, he also has character and a sense of strength. He has stood by his friends, stood tall in battle, and even sharpened his wit immensely. This change to a strong character is remarkable, not because is occurred, but in how it occurred. Lawrence subtly crafted the sequence of events, conversations and motivations for these changes, while at the same time not changing the core of what is Jalan. And readers are able to see this throughout the series, this isn’t a transformation such as turning water into wine, leaving reader’s wondering where the characterizes came from, Lawrence slowly builds them up and allows these building blocks of events to carry the majority of the weight of the transformation in character.

All this means is that if you’re looking for a fun series, that is action packed, funny and filled with well crafted characters then The Red Queen’s War and it’s concluding novel The Wheel of Osheim are the books for you.

Yeah you have to read this if you have read the other two for completion sake...but this book is not like the other two. Jal's inner dialogue is very repetitive and gets old pretty quickly. He does all the things a regular hero would...go on the adventure, defend the city, fight the necromancer and supports his friend...but he just internally complains about it a lot. Not fruitfully either.

I found myself skimming quite a bit to get to dialogue. This book probably could have been half the length. Most of the passages did not add to the story and could have been cut. I was pretty bored for most of it.

With that said, there are several times, like the defense of the wall or the ending, where you can tell the author took more time and care. Outside of those times, just skim. Spoiler: He should have turned the key the other way.

I read all three books in this series after rereading the Prince of Thorns series. The final book of Thorns and all three in this series suffered from a huge problem--Lawrence does not know how to structure a novel, plain and simple. He keeps relying on back stories and flash backs which is the pit so many fall into. They seem to forget that back story and flash backs do not carry the plot forward as readers already know the outcome. Secondly, he falls into another trap which a lot of fantasy writers step into because they do not know how to limit a story arc. In this case, Lawrence never did have a strong enough conflict or theme to carry the number of pages he wrote. And, his main character is of little real interest. The end of the final book was moronic and just plain stupid because he wrote all these pages about a guy who never changed. Why bother.

This series was excellent. I can't quite give it 5 stars because there were parts that lagged and I wasn't entirely happy with the ending (not enough closure for me.) Other than that, I was loved these books. It was hard for me to let go of the main characters. I loved them both. I laughed along with -and sometimes at- Jalan and cried with Snorri. It was refreshing to see a character who was flawed, aware of those flaws, and used them to his advantage whenever he could get away with it. It was fun to see Snorri's influence grow on him throughout the series. Heck, he made me want to be a better, stronger person, too! Snorri was my favorite, even though he ripped my soul apart sometimes. It's a rare thing to be drawn in to a character's story so much that you feel their pain, their joy. I enjoyed the humor that helped balance out the tragedy and darkness. I hope that someday we might get to find out how Jalan and Snorri ended up. Definitely will be checking out more of Mark Lawrence's work.

Like any great story, The Wheel of Osheim is a book of lies . . . a story of lies . . . a very mythology of lies. Names, people, places, memories, histories - all damned lies. I'm treading on the edge of spoiler territory here (I can see the gaping chasm to my left) but, as we come to discover late in the tale, the entire story of Jalan Kendeth actually hinges on a single lie that's too painful to even contemplate here.

In wrapping up his third and final chapter of The Red Queen's War, Mark Lawrence has truly outdone himself. I would actually go so far as to say that this is his best book, hands down, and that is no lie.

While he's used a number of different framing devices in spinning his tales of Jorg and Jalan, Lawrence's approach here is perfectly suited to the shaping of lies. The book opens with Jalan's comic escape from the bowels of Hell, seemingly robbing us of a resolution to the cliffhanger that ended The Liar's Key. It's several chapters later before we get the first fragment of Jalan's journey through (and escape from) Hell. As for Snorri's own journey, his is a tale that must wait until the closing chapters of the tale, a story to be shared as a distraction from the living lies that surround the Wheel of Osheim itself.

There's a lot of overlap here with The Broken Empire, with some of Jorg's darkest acts there having a major bearing here - not just on Jalan's journey, but on the world around him. Even more so than in the first two books, we really get to see Jorg's influence on the world from a different perspective, one that's shaped by the lies of those who would interpret his methods and motives for themselves. What we know to be entirely human acts of Builder brutality are reimagined here as divine acts of the gods, who are themselves an entirely different sort of lie . . . but I won't say any more on the score.

A big part of what sets this book (and this series) apart for me is the character arc of Jalan. Here is a character who has grown, evolved, matured, and emerged from his own lies as the story has progressed. We still get the drunken, cowardly fool of the first two books, a young man who repeatedly resorts to liquor-fueled lies to hide from the cruelties of the world. He's just as amusing as he was before, but much less exasperating. At the same time, we also get the hero of Aral Pass, a soldier and a leader who overcomes the lies Jalan used to shield himself from responsibility. He's still largely a reluctant hero, but also a motivated one.

Once again, Builder technology plays a significant role in the story, but it's the lies told about it and the mythologies created to explain its magics that really drive things. Lawrence throws a lot of gadgets and set pieces at the reader, veering closer to the edges of science fiction than ever before, but it's the slow unveiling of the truth that makes this so exciting. It is story that's as clever as it is exciting, with the climax surrounding the Wheel of Osheim entirely worth the three books that it's taken to realize. There are so many little details in the last hundred or so pages, it's worth rereading to see how carefully Lawrence constructed the lies of Loki and his key.

While I won't say much about them (at risk of spoiling things), the Red Queen, the Silent Sister, and Lady Blue finally get their moments to shine here. They've been built up so much over the course of the books that I really wondered what Lawrence could possibly do with them, but it all pays off. As for Snorri, he doesn't get a lot of page time here, but the role he plays in Jalan's quest, and the way his own is finally resolved, will satisfy even the most jaded of readers. Lawrence isn't an author who indulges in needless sentimentality, but there is significant emotional impact to Snorri's last, lonely steps through Hell that will resonate with even the most jaded of readers.

The Wheel of Osheim is an epic book in every sense of the word. In terms of scope, imagination, and significance it actually feels bigger than the trilogy that came before it. It's a book that captures the spectacle that Lawrence does so well, but also the human aspect. Even as we face off against some of the biggest, darkest monsters we've seen yet, those lies are slowly unraveled, allowing us to see the true face of danger . . . and the man destined to end it.

This book saved the series for me. I think it was better than the other two. It made me cry and laugh at some point or another and that proves that it makes you care for the characters and that's the sign of a good book. I don't give it 5 stars because it is not on par with The Way of Kings or The Black Prism series for instance. I'm reading the Blood Mirror right now and its one of those book you savour every chapter and you try to slow down your reading to try to make the book last longer. That doesn't happen with Red Queens War Series but it's still good even if a little more inmature.

Fantastic conclusion to the Red Queen’s War Trilogy!

I’ve got to say that Jalan Kendeth has earned his place as one of my favorite flawed heroes of all time. He’s a coward, a liar, a drunk and a womanizer motivated by self-gratification and self-preservation, and he’s happy that way. But his pride and, increasingly, an annoying sense of loyalty to his friends, tend to land him in the middle of life-threatening situations, interfering with his pursuit of life’s pleasures and leading him kicking and screaming towards a destiny he’s doing his damnedest to avoid.

Despite Jalan’s best efforts to resist, it’s clear that his friendship with the relentlessly honorable Snorri has had a detrimental impact on his survival instincts, for as the series progresses we see Jalan begin to make some choices that might almost be considered brave and not entirely self-serving. Sure, he’ll still choose drinking or bedding a beautiful woman over just about any alternative, and certainly running is his preferred way of handling danger, but every now and then he finds himself fighting when he could have been running, or making a choice that doesn’t have anything to do with the prospect of getting drunk or ending up as “the filling in a four-girl sandwich.”

And just as Jalan has earned his place as one of my favorite flawed heroes, Mark Lawrence has earned his place on my short-list of favorite Fantasy writers of all time. Weaving together words that are at times horrifying, laugh-out-loud hilarious, or lump-in-your-throat sad, Lawrence draws you right into a world of his creation and doesn’t let you leave until the last sentence is staring you in the face. And even then it doesn’t quite let you go…

When i started reading the first book in this series, I was kind of let down as I really didn't like the main character. By the second chapter, I realized Jalan is actually a very complex character and Snorri was as well. I loved that book and this one is awesome, too. Mark Lawrence is one of my favorite curdent authors and both his series set in this world are mimd blowingly deep and exciting. Im not sure whether I like Jorgs books or Jalans, but i do like hlw both series happen concurrently with the happenings of Jorg popping up here and there. I cant wait for more!

All threads come together in this last book. It is interesting though that it is the second trip our heroes make to the Wheel, a place that turns all spells outside down. You know what is coming and, yet, Mark Lawrence still manages to surprise: nothing is what it seems and all bets are off. Great end.

Wheel brings the Red Queen's War to a perfect ending. As always with Lawrence, the prose is gorgeous, alternating between slapstick and tragedy. We get more details on the Builder-made catastrophe and its consequences, one friendly drunken interaction between Jalan and Jorg, a trek through hell, one memorable siege, and Lisa DeVeer, who steals every scene she is in.

There is lots of blood and guts and horror here, but none of it is gratuitous. Lawrence is a compassionate writer, never cynical about what he puts his characters through. He is also asking questions about the nature of reality and leaving no option off the table. Given the subjective nature of our perception, can we ever know what reality really is? Does our perception determine reality even in a world that the Builders have not messed up? Is there an afterlife? Is there a point to the suffering, especially the suffering of children? I'm not a philosopher so I don't know if these are questions I was supposed to ask. I asked them anyway after both trilogies.

Most definitely recommended.

I have just finished devouring The Wheel of Osheim and as I suspected it did not disappoint! Jalan is as quick witted and infuriating as usual and a total coward while getting the job done. Snorri, dear Snorri you just feel for him all the way through. Again Mark gets it right in the last of the trilogy blending utter darkness with blasts of humour in a plot the rockets towards a very successful conclusion. Brilliant, utterly brilliant.

The fabulous world building and meticulous character development make this a very worthy read. My only complaint - the innumerable gore soaked battles with zombies, is far outweighed by the rich, layered storytelling. This is not a book for kids under 14 or for the queezy. Dialing back some of the gore would help this worthy author gain a wider audience.

Another great entry, Lawrence keeps you drawn into the mind of Jalan. The battle scenes are well done and vivid, along with the epic return of a character (also well characterized). The little revelations of the past immerse you into the world and are well paced. I don't know what else to say without spoiling it,just read it, or start at the beginning if your new to this series.

A very good finale to this trilogy.... and best of the three. Though set in the same world and time as "Lord of Thorns" this book's lead is quite different and took a bit to get used to in the first book of this series, but enjoyed all three books. Do recommend.

This was a satisfying to a series that's been very fun to read. The characters manage to be original and turn stereotypes on their heads without being obnoxious about it (i.e. they're complex and interesting, but without it being a sense of the author yelling 'LOOK AT ME, I AM BEING ORIGINAL' in your ear.) Lawrence's story-telling has tightened up considerably since his first book series, though that was enjoyable as well. He manages to have some satisfying narrative themes without sacrificing stage time or action in the plot, which isn't a small thing. If you want a good fantasy read, try this. If you have a more literary bent, you may be surprised to find you enjoy reading it as well.

There was no pace.
No action.
The story plodded on and the internal monologues were hyper-repetitive.
As a Mark Lawrence fan, I feel let down.
Stop after the Liar's Key.
There's no pay off.

I have to start with the fact that I have absolutely loved the other books in this world by Lawrence. However, I have to say this was the worst one of the bunch. I think my disappointment (and to be fair I still give it 4 stars) is because the Broken Empire series was just perfect. I fell in love with Lawrence's witty writing. There were dozens of quotes that I just found really entertaining etc. I just never quite got that same connection with Jalen that I did with Jorg. Snori was the saving grace for this series for me and I'm glad I read this as it was highly enjoyable. I guess everything a writer writes can't be my favorite. This did just enough to scratch the itch that Broken Empire created and for that I'm glad. I recommend reading this series but I REALLY suggest starting with The Broken Empire first.

It's a great book, sure, in a wonderful series. It's also a great book that has a Kindle price that's almost DOUBLE the cost of the new paperback. For a 500 page book, the Kindle price is ridiculous. The Kindle book was NOT worth the cost.