Prince of Thorns

By: Mark Lawrence

Narrated by: James Clamp

Length: 9 hrs and 19 mins

Publisher's summary

Author Mark Lawrence has won over audiences everywhere with Prince of Thorns, his exciting debut novel.

Nine-year-old Prince Jorg is forced to watch as his mother and brother are slaughtered. Fleeing the palace, Jorg joins a bloodthirsty band of thugs. But he’s determined to take back what’s rightfully his, so he returns to the castle a few years later - unaware of the dark and powerful magic that awaits.

©2011 Bobalinga, Ltd. (P)2012 Recorded Books

Critic reviews

“Vivid … full of wonder. This book is brilliant.” ( Galaxy Book Reviews)

Plot Moves but Characters Don't

Would you consider the audio edition of Prince of Thorns to be better than the print version?

No. Where the narrator could really pull life into a book, the performance hurts some possibly powerful moments.

What didn’t you like about James Clamp’s performance?

James Clamp has a great voice but takes too many awkward pauses for "effect" His dialogue is void of individuality and life for majority of characters that could make or break a story. What bothers me most about the narrator is he takes no risks in delivery. When the character yells, he should yell the words, but instead he does a slightly elevated voice that really ruins the delivery. As I said, James Clamp has a good voice. His diction and enunciation was well done and pleasant to hear. But for such a dark world and dark character that was meant to be threatening and dangerous, his voice hurts the overall effect.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The father killing the son was about the only moving part because the main character finally got his "just desserts" and was pretty speechless.

Any additional comments?

The book is pretty shallow when it comes to detail of characters. Main character is a loss of potential for a grand anti-hero with an awesome backstory. Unfortunately, the author seems to want Jorg simply summed up for killing. Killing is okay for a character basis but more substance was needed to justify his world view. Another problem for me was the drawing of other characters. I didn't see any organic reason for people like Catherine or whoever to be interested in him save for the power of the authors writing. One moment they were disgusted by him, next they're wanting his backstory or decide to stick with him. These are just my opinions, was really excited to try a new series and this seemed interesting based on other feedback. Maybe I expected too much, but nevertheless I was kind of disappointed.

Sword is deep story is shallow

I wish the main character was a tad older and a tad bit more believable. I did laugh out loud and cringe at his antics. It wasn't a terrible book, just not to my liking.

Meh.

*Vague Spoiler Warning*

I was so bored by the end the huge cliffhanger/climactic twist was little more than a 'oh... So that just happened'.

Nearly fell asleep for the 'cave' parts.

Felt like the story took itself more seriously than it really was.

I'm glad it was less than 19 hours.

Narrator makes this just ok story drag!

James Clamp (narrator) has no sense for timing and pacing, and at times seems to read in his own ill-timed and incorrect punctuation. I only finished this story out of boredom and the fact that I paid for it. The story itself is "just ok". Often awkward, it seems a pantomime of the grimdark ethos rather than a coherent articulation of it.

Great Audiobook

You must have a high tolerance for violence, but I think this is a great audiobook. The narrator is fantastic for Prince Jorg. The main character is far from a good guy, but he has enough qualities for you to root for him anyway, kind of like Tony Soprano or Walt from Breaking Bad. I'm on the third book now and I highly recommend the whole series for fans of dark fantasy.

Entertainingly different.

Recommended if you are looking for a bit of a journey into the dark side of fantasy. It is not an epically detailed story but quite a bit of fun.

Not for the weak minded.

Great book! Though it was brutal is was equally good. Can't wait to listen to the second one. Not a book for you if you can not stomach the darker aspects of reality.

Well written. Well told

Some reviewers focus way too much on the anti hero grim dark elements and not enough on how well written this is. It deftly fuses medieval fantasy with a dash of post apocalyptic dystopia. It will not sit well with those who like the traditional tropes of epic fantasy, but it's has depth and an underlying mystery of some unstated bio/technological based disaster a millennium earlier coupled with what seems to be dark magic in the story's present. All in all I found it fascinating. The first person account of a damaged sociopath ruthlessly pursuing power and revenge provides a horror and pathos. This is a
brilliant beginning to the trilogy. I think more elaboration on the hinted apocalypse would add to the story filling out more of the sci-fi element to this epic fantasy.

Compelling anti-hero Jorg Ancrath

I was completely absorbed in this book, and listened straight through in almost one weekend. It is an excellent start to the trilogy and confirmed my admiration for Mark Lawrence as a great fantasy writer. The plot is summarised above so will just note that it is fast moving, exciting and contains some unexpected strategies to solve problems. It is written in part with flashback chapters, but not so often as to disrupt the flow.

My greatest pleasure in this book came from the superbly created main character, Prince Honorous Jorg Ancrath, and written from his first person point of view throughout. He wasn't a born psychopath, but could be mistaken for one. Circumstances have taught him survival is all, decisive fast action is paramount, whatever it takes to succeed. Compromise is never a consideration.

Without the hatred and single minded pursuit of revenge against the whole world, there would be no substance to Jorg. His childhood experience directs every aspect of his life, future plans and outlook. We are reminded of this occasionally with metaphorical reference to hooks or thorns .

Compelling reading as long as you can accept the cruel violence as part of Jorg and his place within the Broken Empire. Jorg's road brothers, very well written and individualised by the narrator, so each was easily visualised. Other unusual creatures, maybe semi human, were introduced providing speculation on their origin and how they may affect the future.

Some gloriously unbelievable deus ex machina moments - a fortuitous kick from a horse ? Please. But entirely acceptable because this is exactly that kind of book and we enjoy them with quiet smile as they leave our anti-hero, more or less in one piece, to carry on.

The audible narrator, James Clamp, was excellent. He found the perfect voice for Jorg and differentiated all the other characters well. Very happy he narrates the next book in the series King of Thorns and I plan to begin listening straight away.

Overall, quite enthralling

The story was good, what it entails is up to you to discover. I will say that the pauses in the narrator’s work were a little distracting, they pulled you out of the narrative at times. All aside though I’d recommend both the written book and the audiobook.