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Summary
Summary
International bestselling author Mark Lawrence continues the bold new world of dark fantasy he created in the Broken Empire trilogy with the first book of the Red Queen's War...
For all her reign the Red Queen has fought the long war, contested in secret, against the powers that stand behind nations, for higher stakes than land or gold. Her greatest weapon is The Silent Sister--unseen by most and unspoken of by all.
The Red Queen's grandson, Prince Jalan Kendeth--drinker, gambler, seducer of women--is one who can see The Silent Sister. Content with his role as a minor royal, Jal pretends that the hideous crone is not there. But war with the undead is coming, and the Red Queen has called on her family to defend the realm. Jal thinks that nothing that will affect him. He's wrong...
After escaping a death trap set by the Silent Sister, Jal finds his fate magically intertwined with a fierce Norse warrior. As the two undertake a journey to undo the spell, encountering grave dangers, willing women, and an upstart prince named Jorg Ancrath along the way, Jalan gradually catches a glimmer of the truth: he and the Norseman are but pieces in a game--and the Red Queen controls the board.
Author Notes
Mark Lawrence is a research scientist working on artificial intelligence. He is a dual national with both British and American citizenship, and has held secret-level clearance with both governments. At one point, he was qualified to say, "This isn't rocket science--oh wait, it actually is." He is the author of the Broken Empire trilogy ( Prince of Thorns , King of Thorns , and Emperor of Thorns ), the Red Queen's War trilogy ( Prince of Fools , The Liar's Key , and The Wheel of Osheim ) and the Book of the Ancestor series ( Red Sister ).
Reviews (3)
Publisher's Weekly Review
A not-so-heroic prince is trapped in a deadly mission that could decide the fate of the kingdom in this trilogy opener set in Lawrence's alt-European Broken Empire world. Prince Jalan Kendeth, 10th in line for the throne and a self-described coward, has few life ambitions beyond drinking, gambling, and wenching. But the Dead King is raising a vast army that threatens Jalan's home of Red March. Jalan's grandmother, the Red Queen, has a secret weapon: a mysterious sorceress called the Silent Sister. Jalan knows the Silent Sister is capable of horrors, but that knowledge doesn't protect him when he and enslaved Norse warrior Snorri ver Snagson are caught in one of her spells. Bound by magic, the two men become unlikely traveling companions. Shrewd Jalan and honorable Snorri make a marvelous team, lightening a very dark story with wry humor. The brisk adventure and black magic will leave readers eager for the next chapter in the series. (June) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Booklist Review
Set in the world of Lawrence's Broken Empire trilogy but rather lighter in tone, this is the story of Prince Jalan Kendeth, grandson of the Red Queen, self-confessed coward, dedicated ladies' man, and devout shirker of anything remotely resembling responsibility. After a plot to kill him goes awry, Jalan winds up on the run, paired up with a Norseman whose warrior skills are matched by his keen intelligence, to discover the truth about an army of the undead that threatens to destroy the realm. This is the first installment of a projected trilogy, set more or less concurrently with the Broken Empire trilogy; it's not quite an outright comedy, but it comes very close. Jalan is a great character he's a Falstaffian ne'er-do-well, and he's content to remain that way and the story is as richly told as the earlier trilogy: the author makes this place, a post-cataclysm earth of the far future, feel as real as any place you've ever visited. For fans of the Broken Empire series and readers who enjoy a good, epic-sized fantasy story (readers of, say, George R. R. Martin), this is a must-read.--Pitt, David Copyright 2014 Booklist
Library Journal Review
Being tenth in line for the throne of the Red March is a pretty good gig for Prince Jalan. He has his pick of pretty girls, the wine is always flowing, and he can usually charm his way out of trouble. But he will need more than charm and quick wits to face the hardship coming. There are rumors that the dead are rising, and Jal seems to be one of the few who can see the Silent Sister who hovers over his grandmother, the Red Queen. Caught in a curse from the mysterious crone, Jal finds that his fate is linked to that of an escaped slave from the Norse lands, and the two must travel to the far north to undo the spell. VERDICT Jal is a perfect cad of a hero. Although he cheats and lies and seems as shallow as can be, when push comes to shove he is not a bad man to have at your back (as long as it's in his best interests). Set in another part of the world Lawrence explored in his "Broken Empire" series (Prince of Thorns), the book's exciting action and quick-witted dialog make it a fantastic summer page-turner for epic fantasy fans. (c) Copyright 2014. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
