Mark Lawrence

Emperor of Thorns (The Broken Empire)

Desiring to be emperor of the Broken Empire, young King Jorg Ancrath of the seven nations must face an adversary standing in his way, a necromancer unlike any he has ever challenged -- a figure hated and feared even more than himself: the Dead King.

Emperor of thorns

Prashanth Srivatsa

Spectacular! What a way to end the series. Another world goes by, another host of characters climbs over the heap that's always piling higher, but Jorg Ancrath will remain in memory. There's a tad bit of predictability in Lawrence's ideas, almost as if you're used to his thinking, but there's no taking away his poetic mastery of fantasy, a raw outburst of words that make you read every line with wonder.

Savindi Jinasena

** spoiler alert **
           Cover Gushing Worthiness:I absolutely adore this cover! I’m a big fan of Jason Chan’s artwork for The Broken Empire trilogy and I think he captures Jorg as a person and the story so well in his illustrations and I just love them. When I did my review for King of Thorns I think I said that I preferred the UK covers for the series more than the US covers. Now that I think about it I like the US covers a lot more, one reason being the font. I really like the font that was used for all three covers because it it’s very thorn-esque. I feel like the UK covers use Times New Roman as their cover font and I feel like it’s a bit too formal,especially when Jorg Ancrath is anything but formal. I do hope that Jason Chan designs the covers for Mark Lawrence’ new trilogy Prince of Fools.Overall, it’s an amazing cover for an amazing series.

Review:

  
    Dark times call for dark choices. Choose me.
  


I have to say that I can’t believe the trilogy is over. After I read Emperor of Thorns my first response was “Wow” and it made sad that I won’t read another story about Jorg Ancrath, a character that I’ve come to love over the last year of reading The Broken Empire trilogy. All I can say is that I’m really glad Mark Lawrence will be writing another story that takes place in the Broken Empire.

Taking place two years after events that unfolded in King of Thorns, Jorg Ancrath is now twenty years old and still married to Miana with a child on the way. So little Jorg is all grown up and ready to be a daddy!. This year it’s Congression time when all the hundred of the Broken Empire meet in the city of Vyne to vote for a new Emperor. Jorg is going with his advisors to the Congression and he’ll encounter a new nemesis; the Dead King who is very interested in Jorg. Just like in King of Thorns there are flashbacks which focus on events that took place five years earlier, present day events and Chella’s story (the necromancer from POT and KOT).

I enjoyed the plot of Emperor of Thorns a great deal. I’m still undecided if this is my favourite book out of the trilogy, I can say though that it is a brilliant piece of writing. The story flowed so well and the pacing was spot on. I don’t think I ever found the story to be dragging. I think Lawrence did a smart thing with introducing Katherine’s point of view in KOT so the readers could get used to seeing Jorg from the perspective of someone else. I enjoyed all three perspectives in this book. Not that I didn't enjoy Katherine’s story in the previous book, I really did, but with this one I enjoyed learning about Jorg’s past and the horrors that he endured apart from watching his mother and brother die. One of the strongest aspects of this book other than the characterization is the world building. The world building in Emperor of Thorns is incredible. I loved how Lawrence incorporated formerly great cities like Cordoba and Cadiz into the Broken Empire. I found it interesting that even the Abrahamic religions had survived in Jorg’s world. The Mathmagicians were also a nice touch to the world. Another aspect was the intertwined relationships between the characters. I thought that was very interesting and surprising at the same time. I think what will make or break this book for fans of The Broken Empire trilogyis the ending. When I first read the ending, I couldn't bring myself to accept it. As I went back to re-read the ending I think it’s the only way it could have ended. There is no other alternate ending to Jorg’s story. At the end of the book in “An Afterthought” Lawrence says he didn't want this to be a series that dragged on and I agree with him. I mean how far can you take Jorg? Emperor has to be it or what else would he be? The Broken Empire trilogy ends how Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows ended. Everything was tied up and Lawrence leaves no loose endings. All the questions readers had about Jorg are answered perfectly and I think no room is left for complaints.

Before I get to the characters there are a few things that I’d like to say about the book. Out of all three books, Emperor of Thorns is definitely the most violent one. I found myself putting the book down and just thinking to myself “oh my god” and I wasn't even that bothered by the violence in POT. Sure there was one part in POT that grossed me out, but that was it. Other than that I would say to readers of EOT to go back to KOT and read the parts with Jorg and Fexler. Look at some of the things Fexler says to Jorg if you don’t remember because everything starts to make sense after you reacquaint yourself with those interactions.

Moving onto characters. Everybody knows of my undying love for Jorg and you shouldn't expect a different opinion from me this time around either ;.) However I think I felt for Jorg more in this one in comparison to the previous two books. Towards the end of the book, I really felt for him because as a reader you come to see Jorg as a tremendously complex and tormented character. You can’t help but feel for him because he’s been through so much and for someone to question the pain he’s been through is just ridiculous. Don’t worry though, he’s still as violent as he used to be. He hasn't lost his charm at all. Apart from the violence it was nice to see Jorg as a man who questions the choices he has made and it was touching to see a tender side of Jorg, especially in regards to his Mother’s family. I think what has been most admirable in Jorg through the series is his honesty. He makes no excuses for who he is as a person. This quote in particular stuck with me.


  
    If there were any justice, lady, God himself would reach down and strike me dead, for I am guilty as you say. But until he does, I will just have to keep moving on and doing what I can in the world.
  


The Dead King was a great villain in EOT. I didn't expect it to be who it was. I had a vague suspicion about who it was, but then Chella mentions recognizing the Dead King. Then I was bracing myself for denial and thinking “oh my god! NO WAY! This cannot be happening”! For those who have read Lies of Locke Lamora you maybe thinking of the Gray King from that book as well, but I swear the Dead King was much more interesting and much more cruel and calculating. I think King Olidan can be included in the villain category of this story. I hated Jorg’s father. I can’t even express my hatred for him in a coherent manner. I personally didn't know what Jorg had done to deserve such a father. Olidan was a monster in every sense of the word. It’s a miracle Jorg turned out the way he did- to be somewhat of a better man. I use the term somewhat very loosely.

Some reviewers have mentioned how they liked Jorg’s interactions with Miana, but I didn't find her to be a well-developed character. I’m not complaining about it since this is predominantly Jorg’s story and most secondary characters matter very little. I thought Miana was bold and showed more guts in KOT. I thought her interactions with Jorg were fine, but they weren't mind-blowing or anything like that. Chella’s story too was interesting. You came to know how she became who she is, but at the same time she brought it upon herself. So I felt pity for her, but in a very detached manner. Makin’s story made me sad. His story is sad like Jorg’s but the way he handles that grief differs from Jorg’s approach greatly.

The prose in this book was haunting and poetic at the same time. Without a doubt Lawrence is a master when it comes to prose.


  
    A man can reach into anything and turn it to his cause. It’s not want, or desire, just certainly. Only be assured that whatever you reach into will reach into you in turn.
  


Finally I really enjoyed Emperor of Thorns. I can’t believe that Jorg’s story has come to an end, but make no mistake I will read whatever Mark Lawrence writes in the future. Mark Lawrence take a bow. Thank You for writing an amazing and thrilling trilogy that has been a joy for me to read over the past year.

My Rating: 5/5

Would I Recommend It? A thousand times yes!

Savannah Winchell

Emperor of Thorns by Mark Lawrence
5⭐️
- MY BOI 
- MY PRECIOUS SON
- SEND HELP I WAS NOT READY
- 😭😭😭😭😭

Nat Welch

Weird book. The whole series is enjoyable, but a few of the twists seem annoying, and others don't make any sense.

In the final novel in the Broken Empire Trilogy, the boy who would rule all may have finally met his match... King Jorg Ancrath is twenty now—and king of seven nations. His goal—revenge against his father—has not yet been realized, and the demons that haunt him have only grown stronger. Yet no matter how tortured his path, he intends to take the next step in his upward climb. Jorg would be emperor. It is a position not to be gained by the sword but rather by vote. And never in living memory has anyone secured a majority of the vote, leaving the Broken Empire long without a leader. Jorg plans to change that. He’s uncovered the lost technology of the land, and he won’t hesitate to use it. But he soon finds an adversary standing in his way, a necromancer unlike any he has ever faced—a figure hated and feared even more than himself: the Dead King.

Emperor of Thorns

Tom Turner

And so, the saga of Jorg Ancrath comes to an end. It's been quite a journey, and not a particularly easy one in more ways than one.

Mark Lawrence is not an author to make things easy for you. Reading his books feel more like running a marathon, despite then not being overly lengthy. But as with a marathon, if you see it through you are greatly rewarded. I almost gave up on this series a number of times. But I am so glad I persevered. 

I will admit I didn't like The Broken Empire as much as I enjoyed The Book Of The Ancestors, but I believe that is more down to the latter having a more tangible plot. (And assassin nuns, don't forget assissin nuns!) but I am still extremely glad to have read them. I'm sure Jorg Ancrath will haunt my dreams and nightmares for years to come!

Kareema A Godhrawala

It’s odd. Even now I sometimes stop to think of Jorg or Makin or some of the other characters, sometimes I even think of what they would do if they were in my place. What would Jorg do if he was unable to do his math homework and his math teacher was annoying him? 

When I got to the end I knew that Jorg got what he deserved and I wasn’t sad, not entirely, but I felt oddly heavy and compounded with experiences of a great man. Not a good one, not even a respectable one but a great one nonetheless. I daresay if I was a character I would have done whatever was in my power to assassinate him. 

I love this book and the thoughts and ideas woven into this book is so enticing, so thought-provoking. These books are damn powerful.

Daniela V.

"(...)Does true love survive where flesh corrupts? What was she to you? A pretty face, a quick panting release? There’s no romance in death [...] and death’s the flip side of our coin.’ [...] ‘We’re just meat on bones, waiting to rot..." 


I really need to start this review stating that this is the best book of the trilogy. I can't believe how much the story progressed since Prince of Thorns! Everything gets subtler and more complex.

In Emperor of Thorns, Jorg (now (view spoiler)[king of seven kingdoms (hide spoiler)]) makes his way to the holy city of Vyene for Congression, with the representatives of the Hundred. Meanwhile, the Dead King starts to gather more forces and makes his move in this intricate game.

What I liked the most about this third installment was that there were chapters from Chella's point of view intercalated with Jorg's present and past chapters. I guessed that I needed more information about her side, the darkest side. So... adding points of view made the story more complex and meaningful.

"(...)Fear seeps into a man. In a cold dark place, alone with nothing but imagination for company, terror would gather him in. But she didn’t have two days, or even one.
‘Death is broken, [...] All you need to decide is whether to feed the fire or be the fuel.’..." 

Jorg continues to grow, as do the secondary characters. Miana, Katherine, Chella... this novel is full of amazing women. Maybe at the very start of the story it wasn't noticiable, but in this installment that fact becomes clear as water.

Jorg's persona changes during his journey to Viene... he is more protective of those he loves and (view spoiler)[even more when he becomes a father (hide spoiler)]. Of course, there is always that duality that makes us think if all he did is just because of power or if he really felt something for another human being.

"(...)Time heals all wounds, but often it’s only by the application of the grave, and while we live some hurts live with us, burning, making us twist and turn to escape them. And as we twist, we turn into other men..." 

"(...)‘A man who can’t make sacrifices has lost before he starts, Provost. There was a time when I could spend the lives of those around me without care. Now, sometimes, I care. Sometimes it hurts [...] But that doesn’t mean that I can’t and won’t sacrifice absolutely anything rather than allow it to be used to rule me, rather than have it be made into a way to lose.’..." 

I loved that more elements from the past were introduced in the story (to remind all of you, The Broken Empire is a fantasy trilogy set on a future, post-apocalyptic Earth) A few examples are (view spoiler)[the gun (of which we already knew at the end of King of Thorns) and an electric chair (that now works as a throne) (hide spoiler)]. I think those additions make this trilogy unique.

The plot twist at the end of the book as rather obvious because Mark Lawrence left tiny proofs for it throughout the novel but it was not dissapointing, meaning that I enjoyed it.

So now, lets talk about what I didn't like. I think some of the events in the book are very unrealistic. I know this is fiction... but some situations were really over the top. For example (view spoiler)[Jorg killing the Pope and some noblemen before a lot of guards from Vyene and they doing nothing to stop him. The same goes to the road scene on Congression... (hide spoiler)]

Leaving that little matter aside, I would have liked one more chapter at the end of the story. I felt that only one chapter to describe the aftermath was rushing things out.

Having said that... this one goes to my list of favourites. It was an amazing journey through The Broken Empire and Mark's prose made it even more astonishing. I really need to read more of this man's work. 
  Prince of Fools
, here we go!

"(...)We all carry the seeds of our own destruction with us, we all drag our history behind us like rusted chain..."

Emperor of Thorns (The Broken Empire)

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