Prince of Fools

The Red Queen's War, Book 1

By: Mark Lawrence

Narrated by: Tim Gerard Reynolds

Length: 14 hrs and 38 mins

Publisher's summary

Hailed as "epic fantasy on a George R. R. Martin scale, but on speed" (Fixed on Fantasy), the Broken Empire trilogy introduced a bold new world of dark fantasy with the story of Jorg Ancrath' s devastating rise to power. Now, Mark Lawrence returns to the Broken Empire with the tale of a less ambitious prince.

The Red Queen is old but the kings of the Broken Empire dread her like no other. For all her reign, she 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. Tenth in line for the throne and content with his role as a minor royal, he pretends that the hideous crone is not there. But war is coming. Witnesses claim an undead army is on the march, and the Red Queen has called on her family to defend the realm. Jal thinks it' s all a rumor - nothing that will affect him - but he is 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 across the Empire 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, part of a series of moves in the long war - and the Red Queen controls the board.

©2014 Bobalinga, Ltd. (P)2014 Recorded Books

M. Lawrence does it again, but differently.

Any additional comments?

In the Prince of Thorn's (POT) series, readers (whether you liked the book or not) were fascinated by a protagonist that most people did not really feel ok about liking. The character drove that book and the same happens in this book, but with an exception. The characteristics of this protagonist drives this book, but the writer did not try to make him another POT, but rather created a totally different personality that made me laugh many times throughout the book. I actually liked this book better than the POT.

Warning! Warning! There is only ONE Jorg Ancraft.

So now that we have established that Jorg Ancraft is gone for good... except for a very funny scene where we glimpse him and his BROTHERS briefly (Red Kent appearance is especially funny).

Prince of Fools is as far removed (excepting for the World) from Thorns as day is from night. And that is a good thing. Trying to redo Jorg in a new character (one of my all time favorites) would be like Tolkien trying to redo Frodo.

Jalan is everything Jorg is not. Jalan is a coward, and a self aware coward. He is a play boy and admittedly loves it. He is maneuvered (I assume it was on purpose but who knows the ways of the Blind Sister) into a quest with his counterpart Snorri- a giant of a Viking who is everything Jalon is not. The book is riveting but in differing ways than the Thorns Series was. The real question is "how in the hell will a wimp like Jalon survive the quest" and a related "How can a coward like Jalon not be offed by a man like Snori?"

Everything else, in my view, serves these two questions. And the answers That Lawrence gives are funny, interesting and wild. When I say funny, the author has accomplished something that no one else has done. Making me LAUGH ALOUD whilst listening. Imagine being on an elliptical workout machine next to guy working out and sweating, listening to his iPhone (thanks audible!) and then having that guy burst out into laughter. That would be me laughing at Jalon saying to the dwarf in the circus who says to Jalon (referring to Snori) "No need to apply we already have a strong man. And Jalon quips "There you go hurting Sally's feelings- she is a bearded man- got one of those/"

THis happened at least three times whilst listening- about the same number of laughs per book in the Thorns series.

Bravo Mark. Well done.

Narration is especially good. Plotting outstanding- alas it has to stand in contrast to Thorns (poor Mark for having his first series do DAMNED GOOD) so it suffers only in comparison to Thorns. Which is like saying Lincoln suffers in comparison to Washington to my Yank friends!

Seriously funny and entertaining!

Have you listened to any of Tim Gerard Reynolds’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Yes, I LOVED the Riyria Chronicles and Revelations and he did an amazing job on those as well as this book.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I laughed out loud through the whole book. The writing is very clever and wonderfully written, full of wit.

Any additional comments?

This book is action packed and even though the main character is basically a D-bag (albeit a very funny one)... you end up rooting for him to pull through. And he usually does.

Spoiled Rich Kid has problems

Unlike the Thorns series, I never once had any empathy towards Jalan. Jorg was a horrible person, but you often found yourself pulling for the guy. I couldn't ever quite get myself to that point with Jalan.

Great story and superb writing

great storyteller. incredible writer. highly recommend any of his books. performer better than the prior trilogy

Not my usual fair but this book is a hoot!

Where does Prince of Fools rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

In the top 20. I read a lot.

Any additional comments?

I have to say that the narrator (Tim G.Renolds) did such a smashing job that I wonder if I would appreciate reading the book as much. His timing is impeccable. I think I love him. Smiles..... all that being said I would have enjoyed one or two more graphic sex scenes to bring the book to perfection. I am a girl after all.

love it. I suspect, better, after prince of Thorns

some people seem to think the narrative style gives away too much, knowing it's all be told in past tense. I don't mind. it's not about what happens in the end. it's about the discovery of how.

Good - not great - but good.

It’s pretty good. The story line is well thought out. Character and world building is handled well. Now for a little criticism: it tries a little too hard to be witty and funny - occasionally it succeeds. Also I found that the blasphemy and sex was gratuitous.

So the story was good but could have been better if the author had left some distractions out.

another good book

the author kills it with the stories hes created in this world hes thought up. loved the anti hero or the prince/king/emperor of thorns. the anti hero of this book is completely different than jorg but done very well with few redeming qualities. love it

amazing

Mark Lawrence doas another amazing job with this series. wonderful anti hero, that's afraid, but shows they are truly brave, even though in their mind they think themselves cowardly and self serving.