The Briar King (The Kingdoms of Thorn and Bone, Book 1)

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It's a hit!

I enjoy epic fantasy, but I get frustrated with some authors' tendencies to follow tangents that don't matter to me or to tell the story of so many... (show more)

I enjoy epic fantasy, but I get frustrated with some authors' tendencies to follow tangents that don't matter to me or to tell the story of so many characters at once, I don't remember them all. There are enough characters to make a satisfactory picture of what is happening across the realm, but the writing is done well enough that jumping from one character to another enhances the story rather than disjointing it. The Briar King is the first of a four-book series, so its ending is not very satisfying, as the plots aren't resolved, and the characters find themselves sinking deeper and deeper into the craziness of reawakening power that has taken hold of their world. With that said, I really enjoyed the ride, and I've already bought the second and third books for my Kindle. I'm enjoying the story immensely, and can't wait to read through to the conclusion. (show less)

 

 

by Veronica Hoversten

No, it's a flop!

This book was just okay. I would give it a lower score, but I got a copy for free. The story was interesting enough, but every sentence had at le... (show more)

This book was just okay. I would give it a lower score, but I got a copy for free. The story was interesting enough, but every sentence had at least one made-up word. I had learned the author's new language by the end of the book, and then was disappointed with the end itself. It's not that the story ended, it just stopped. I enjoyed my time with this story, and am glad I didn't have to pay for it. (show less)

 

 

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  This book heralds the beginning of what promises to be an epic saga, ones that spans across centuries. Keyes invites the reader to an alien world where man is not the ruler of all he surveys. An alien land, an old magic, knights, princesses, a foreboding curse, and monsters of myth and legend are brought to life as Keyes takes you on a journey through a mystical land. Each of his several main characters plays a pivotal role in what would be the end of days for the alternate "earth".... (show more)

  This book heralds the beginning of what promises to be an epic saga, ones that spans across centuries. Keyes invites the reader to an alien world where man is not the ruler of all he surveys. An alien land, an old magic, knights, princesses, a foreboding curse, and monsters of myth and legend are brought to life as Keyes takes you on a journey through a mystical land. Each of his several main characters plays a pivotal role in what would be the end of days for the alternate "earth". His weaving of the intricate conspiracies ties in with long forgotten legends of this land simply leave you mesmerized and rushing to turn yet another page. The pace is fast and the action leaves you breathless as you find yourself going from one impossible battle to another. In one instance you a up against a cult hell-bent on reviving an ancient evil, then you’re being wooed by a charming pauper prince. You find alien races, and scheming royalty, all seeking to rule. Aspar, Anne, Neil, Stephen, Austra, and the Queen Mother battle what seems to be insurmountable odds, and Keyes style of writing brings out their tenacity to live as they crawl through, battered, bleeding, ... but alive. At the end of book 1 the main characters appear to be more resolved but there are some many questions that Keyes has left unanswered, what about the old races, the sefry, the appearance of the griffon, Stephens ability, Anne's ability, and even Aspar’s recovery. Where to next!??? A very enjoyable read, and one leaving me wanting for more! (show less)

   

   

  by Joseph Taylor on Oct 04, 2009 at 11:20AM

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  Greg Keyes knows how to wite a fantasy novel. His 'The Briar King' starts of with a bang and keeps the reader engaged after he slows the pace down for most of the book. Keyes does good work to avoid a few of fantasy's biggest cliche's (no elves on display here; no sorcerers either and the 'big bad' seems more nuanced than usual). Another high point is that his characters are never safe from death, lending the action scenes a sense of vulnerability. Keyes manages the atmosphere of impending do... (show more)

  Greg Keyes knows how to wite a fantasy novel. His 'The Briar King' starts of with a bang and keeps the reader engaged after he slows the pace down for most of the book. Keyes does good work to avoid a few of fantasy's biggest cliche's (no elves on display here; no sorcerers either and the 'big bad' seems more nuanced than usual). Another high point is that his characters are never safe from death, lending the action scenes a sense of vulnerability. Keyes manages the atmosphere of impending doom quite well, making most of the book a subdued, occassionaly scary, read.

  Still, not everything on offer here is great. If you're truly tired of fantasy's cliche's, this might seems like a good book at first, but a deeper glance will show many things every reader of fantasy has seen before. Also, Keyes is attempting a truly epic story (and managing), which results in such a big cast of characters, that most remain underdeveloped - even after nearly 600 pages. Still: in the end 'The Briar King' is a competent, engaging fantasy story, worth reading if you're in the mood for some large-scale storytelling. I'll be sure to check out the next three novels in this story. (show less)

   

   

  by George van Hal on Sep 23, 2009 at 12:20PM

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