Fantasy Aficionados discussion

I'm not a real fan of gritty, dark fantasy... But I kept hearing about Prince of Thorns a lot so have started it, the praise is well deserved. A good author to watch.

and the sequel will be out sometime this year :)

My favorite book from last year. Hands down my new favorite author.

As I mentioned, I really enjoy the book if I had two minor criticisms they would be.

- A bit of trouble believing that a 14-year-old could "pull off" some of the things he did. That required me to suspend my belief a bit.

- I had trouble placing the world...seemed like standard medieval type fantasy but then had "real world" references to Plato and the like. So I guess it is some form of alternate history setting? Or is it a post-apocalypse earth? I guess it really doesn't matter that much but it "took me out" of the story to try and figure it out. Maybe it will let me know by the end of the book - but for now I'm having a bit of a problem "fitting a setting".

I took it as post apocalyptic, a world on reset essentially (I also think he was teasing us with those details and there will be more info in the next book).

I think he was 15 going on 16 but yeah he is pretty young to be this powerful. Granted you could use the excuse it is a medieval setting where things are a bit more advanced in his age than in ours as far as maturity and experience. I think it was also implicated part of his current persona is caused by his incident with the thorns which still influence him.

Amanda wrote: "I took it as post apocalyptic, a world on reset essentially (I also think he was teasing us with those details and there will be more info in the next book). "

Yeah that's the conclusion I eventually settled onto post apocalyptic. I'm not sure what it's like toward the end of the book.

As to age...you had me doubting myself so I looked it up. In an interview with Mark he states, "Given Jorg’s age (14 for much of the book, 10 for much of the flashback sections) a young actor is clearly required."

Initially I did have that concern Michael but with what happened with the spirits/ghosts/undead and what happened with the thorns, I figured there was some kind of magical component to Jorg so I simply went with it.

Started it tonight, and I'm not enjoying at all. Feel like I'm watching a pitbull fight.

Michael wrote: "As I mentioned, I really enjoy the book if I had two minor criticisms they would be.

- A bit of trouble believing that a 14-year-old could "pull off" some of the things he did. That required me ..."

When I'm 'bothered' by this, I like to remember Alexander the Great. Times past, 14 or 16 y/o's were adults with adult responsibilities and not considered children as society does today. I've wondered how much harm this biologic/sociologic dichotomy does to some individuals.

Kernos wrote: "When I'm 'bothered' by this, I like to remember Alexander the Great. Times past, 14 or 16 y/o's were adults with adult responsibilities and not considered children as society does today. I've wondered how much harm this biologic/sociologic dichotomy does to some individuals. ..."

That's a great point, Kernos.

I know my great grandmother had her first child at 12. She had been married for 2 years.

MrsJoseph wrote: "Kernos wrote: "When I'm 'bothered' by this, I like to remember Alexander the Great. Times past, 14 or 16 y/o's were adults with adult responsibilities and not considered children as society does to...

I know my great grandmother had her first child at 12. She had been married for 2 years. "

Very true. My grandfather left home when he was 11 years old to ride on trail herds being driven up into Montana and Wyoming. My grandmother was 16 when she married.

I've only just started Prince of Thorns but I'm liking it so far even though I know it's going to be a dark book. I have to say though that I've really enjoyed all of my interactions with Mark and the interviews I've read so I'm a bit of a fan even though I haven't read the book yet.

On the age front (acknowledging those interesting examples up-thread) what surprises me is the way objections are raised on the basis of what might be expected of an average/typical 14 y-o, as if Jorg had been picked at random & 'what are the odds that he...' etc. Of course I selected an extraordinary individual to write about! It's a bit like me writing about Usain Bolt and people complaining 'I know several men and none of them can run anything like that fast ... the whole book is ruined for me!"

Mark wrote: "On the age front (acknowledging those interesting examples up-thread) what surprises me is the way objections are raised on the basis of what might be expected of an average/typical 14 y-o, as if J..."

^ Not to mention, if anyone actually finished the book, the reason for his skills and power is all explained in the last quarter.

This book was really unique and I can't wait for King of Thorns in the next few months.

I totally understand Mark's point about Jorg not being your "average 14 year old." I'm not saying it ruined the book for me at all, and I don't begrudge his decisions to do so. I'm just stating a single person's opinion - doesn't make it right or wrong - just something that cam to mind when I was reading it. Of course writers are the most nit-picky about these kinds of things - so take that into consideration as well.