Four days ago I decided it was time. I said to myself "Let's start it today Peter, and read it in 15-20 days, to extend the pleasure."
It lasted 4 days.
Prince of Fools was simply marvelous. Mark Lawrence is perhaps the best in the art of marrying fantasy, historical fiction & dystopian elements, all together in such harmony. The pace is fast yet relaxing, a hard combination to find. The events of this trilogy are taking place in the same place (and time) as with The Broken Empire, so the world is already established, but Mark doesn't stop there. He keeps expanding and enriching it with new elements. The characters are exceptionally developed, as Mark succeeds best in the details and fully-flavored characterizations. The general plot arc is plain, yet interesting at the same time. What seemed as a perfectly orchestrated scheme in The Broken Empire trilogy, is further developed here. In a scenario or two I thought I could see the strings being pulled in an obvious cliche of the genre, but I was proved wrong. As for the protagonist, Jalan manages to be both an everyday man and yet also a singular & highly individual motherfucker.
“I’m a liar and a cheat and a coward, but I will never, ever, let a friend down. Unless of course not letting them down requires honesty, fair play, or bravery.”
All in all, if you loved Mark's previous trilogy, you should definitely elevate this one to the top of your TBR list.
The Liar's Key, here I come!
