Prince of Thorns (2011) by Mark Lawrence is the first book in the Broken Empire trilogy, a dark and visceral fantasy that follows Jorg Ancrath, a brutally charismatic antihero who wields violence like a poet wields words. At just nine years old, Jorg watches bandits murder his mother and brother; by thirteen, he leads a gang of outlaws, driven by a singular desire for revenge against the nobles who betrayed his family.
The novel’s grim world—a post-apocalyptic Europe where medieval kingdoms rise from the ashes of a forgotten technological age—serves as the stage for Jorg’s ruthless ascent. Armed with a sharp intellect, a lack of empathy, and a penchant for philosophical musings, he cuts a bloody swath toward the throne, confronting sorcerers, undead horrors, and his own fractured morality along the way.
Lawrence’s prose is razor-sharp, blending brutal action with unsettling introspection. Jorg’s voice—equal parts charming and monstrous—challenges readers to grapple with the allure of power and the cost of redemption.
For fans of: The Blade Itself (Abercrombie) or The Poppy War (Kuang), and those unafraid of a protagonist who dances on the edge of evil.
