King of Thorns

This book has a recommendation from Conn Iggulden on its cover that says: “Excellent - on par with George R. R. Martin.”
NO, IT'S NOT!!! It has to be taken out of context or Iggulden is an idiot who never read any other fantasy. (Don't know the guy) This is relatively small story with one main character and while there are politics and violence, their presence is about the only thing the books have in common!

It's more like 3.5 but considering the improvement from the terrible Prince of Thorns it deserves 4 stars.

However, there were still things that irritated me. It feels like this whole trilogy should be just one 1000 pages long book and author or publisher decided that trilogy will make more money. For the vast majority of this book I wondered where will all of this lead.

There are two stories here. One on a wedding day 4 years after the events of Prince and one happening via flashbacks from those 4 years that fills the vast majority of the book. While reading the flashbacks I understood what was going on, but I didn't understand why should I care. It all comes together at the end but the ending is anticlimactic and I still don't see why I had to read 450 pages of almost pointless flashbacks when it could've been told on 100 pages.

I've got to say, though, that the writting really REAlly REALLY improved! Prince felt like a first draft of a young unskilled author but this time around everything was coherent and decently described.

At first the style of this book threw me off, but after a few chapters in I grasped the different timelines and started putting pieces together. I love Jorg's character and watching him transform into a different man. It was funny to read how underneath many of his choices were reasons that were good and he didn't want to admit growing soft. I wonder how much it is the box that changed Jorg or maturity. I enjoy reading about our technology slowly being incorporated into this medieval world, it brings a refreshing originality and it is almost comical to hear Jorg's thoughts on things we know so much about. I am eager to read the next book and see where Jorg's conquests take him.

Executive Summary: I thought this was another decent entry to this series where I care more about the world building than the main character and his story.Audiobook: James Clamp does a good job. He reads with good volume and pace. He also does some voices, that adds a little extra that makes audio a great options for this book.Full ReviewThis series has a very unlikeable protagonist. I don't dislike him as much as many do. Mostly I find myself a bit uninterested, which is probably worse. Love him or hate him, the author is doing his job and making you feel something. Don't really care? That's less good.There are times when it appears that Jorg is completely awful only that have it dragged back, or turns out to be his reputation preceding him. Don't get me wrong, he's an awful person. He's just not maybe always as awful as his reputation. Sometimes he's worse.I found it kind of amusing the presumed antagonist for this book is essentially your typical fantasy hero. He's got good intentions, everyone loves him, and he's destined to save the world. So of course Jorg has to oppose him.Much like the first book, I cared more about the world building than anything else. We get some detail on the “magic” but far too hand wavy for my tastes. I am fascinated to know what happened to the builders and I always get excited when there is some old tech found/used.Overall this book was fine, and I moved right onto the third and final one, but I still think his new series (starting with [b:Red Sister 25895524 Red Sister (Book of the Ancestor, #1) Mark Lawrence https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1481038440s/25895524.jpg 45777900]) absolutely blows this one out of the water and would recommend that instead.

This book has to be one of the most ambitious narratives I've ever read. It's plotted between the present (of the time of the book, of course) and four years prior. It moves seamlessly through these two times, weaving together a very complex tale and it does it successfully, as the past and the present blend without snare to present a very broad image.

The first book was something of an acquired taste. Jorg Ancrath was an arrow fired from a blindman's bow, hellbent on destruction, pain, and panic. This sequel finds a bit more of a likable Jorg. Maybe the first book blunted some of his edge. He's still a killer. He's still cleverer-than-you. But he's more reserved now. He's a man who sees the bigger picture in the game of life. He's a king of his own lands now, and there's a threat coming from a neighboring country. The Jorg from the first book might have realized the battle was unwinnable and retreated. This Jorg realizes that he has a people to protect and lands to unify under his banner.

Mark Lawrence is one of the best fantasy writers out there–emphasis on the word “writer.” Some fantasy writers are just storytellers, and there's nothing wrong with that. Lawrence understands the power of words and his prose is tight and focused. I enjoy that.

I will definitely be reading the third book.

“A time of terror comes. The dead king prepares to sail. But there are worse things than him. A dark time comes. My time!” And with those words and goosebumps we conclude the second book of the series. Mark Lawrence has a way with words I have not read in a long time. Reminds me of the King at his peak at times. The most amazing thing is that the second iteration continues to make you love a guy who is so completely evil. and just when you thin Jorg is mellowing Mark slams that door a resounding thump. If ever there was to be a breath of fresh air in the fantasy genre no need to look beyond this one!. Go Jorg go!

This book was so good, but hard to read. By hard to read I mean I had to stop in the middle of this book and read a historical romance or 2 to brighten my mood! There was a scene about 20% of the way in that was just cruel, it shows what kind of man Olidan is, and in my opinion why Jorg is the way he is.