The Briar King
by Greg Keyes
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Read in June, 2007
recommended to Tracy by:
no onerecommends it for: teen and adult fantasy readers
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Read in September, 2007
The one where people are about to pay the price for some sort of unclean power used by their ancestors, as the Briar King, a figure out of myth, rises to destroy the world.
Or, in other words, six hundred pages of prologue. By the time we're done, we have the enemy (dimly known and poorly understood through mythology) and the cast of characters: a gruff woodsman and his plucky girlfriend, a monk who's the classic scholar-turned-fighter in the Blair Sandburg mode, a swordsman who's so very Ita...more
Or, in other words, six hundred pages of prologue. By the time we're done, we have the enemy (dimly known and poorly understood through mythology) and the cast of characters: a gruff woodsman and his plucky girlfriend, a monk who's the classic scholar-turned-fighter in the Blair Sandburg mode, a swordsman who's so very Ita...more
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Read in May, 2008
I had this book sitting on my to read pile for a rather long time (about 3 years) never getting around to reading it as I thoght it was just a standard fantasy, sword and sorcery, you know the kind of thing I am talking about.
Well I was right it is a traditional fantasy with a slight twist, well not really twist just an upgrade in certain areas. This book captured that traditional fantasy feel but got rid of many of fantasy's more annoying elements and replaced them with lyrical prose and v...more
Well I was right it is a traditional fantasy with a slight twist, well not really twist just an upgrade in certain areas. This book captured that traditional fantasy feel but got rid of many of fantasy's more annoying elements and replaced them with lyrical prose and v...more
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Read in May, 2008
recommends it for:
All fans of solid, compelling fantasy fiction
I am not a fantasy fiction aficionado. Compared to a lot of people, I'm not even particularly well read in the genre. (Notably, I have yet to pick up George Martin, Terry Brooks, or Terry Goodkind). But I am someone who used to read fantasy regularly and eventually gave up on all but a few authors due to an ever decreasing ability to buy (figuratively or literally) what they were writing.
Greg Keyes is one of the few I kept reading. Now that I've finished book four of this series, I am reliev...more
Greg Keyes is one of the few I kept reading. Now that I've finished book four of this series, I am reliev...more
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Read in July, 2008
I didnt' like this book much when I started it, it reminded me too much of George RR Martin's current series, which coincidentally someone actually wrote a review of on the book (I think it was Terry Brooks) saying that it was unfortunate that it would be compared to his books and Greg Keyes books could stand on their own.
Well, it's true that they do remind me of Martin's books, but after getting more into them, I did find myself liking the story and the characters. I don't think they are as g...more
Well, it's true that they do remind me of Martin's books, but after getting more into them, I did find myself liking the story and the characters. I don't think they are as g...more
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Read in June, 2008
recommends it for:
anyone who enjoys the fantasy genre
Story follows a few different character threads which slowly begin to intertwine themselves as the book closes. The author did a good job of balancing the storylines so that each is compelling, and the pacing is good throughout. There is a strange mix of the typical character roles and some darker themes, and there's something of a balance struck between them. I think the book probably would have benefited from a bit more weighting toward the latter, but it is a good read as is.
As long ...more
As long ...more
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Read in March, 2008
For the most part, this is cookie-cutter fantasy. There is nothing at all original about the story, which irks me enough, but not as much as the stereotypical characters. Why a writer would want to take the time to write a book and not somehow make aspects of it unique, separate it from the pack, is beyond me.
The writing itself is pedestrian at best, except when it comes to descriptive elements. Mr. Keyes knows how to turn a phrase so it makes something vivid in the mind's eye, and he see...more
The writing itself is pedestrian at best, except when it comes to descriptive elements. Mr. Keyes knows how to turn a phrase so it makes something vivid in the mind's eye, and he see...more
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Read in July, 2008
I have the rare opportunity of reviewing the first book in a series after having read them all. Occasionally after having read an entire series I find that the first book was the best and the only one I would recommend reading. While I did enjoy this book as a whole more than the others, the entire story is a good one and I do recommend seeing it through to the end. As I read this series I was reminded in many ways of the "Song of Ice and Fire" series. Had Martin kept the Game of t...more
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Read in May, 2008
This was my second time through this book -- I'm re-reading it because the series is now complete and I found I didn't recall the initial books as well as I should. It's been five years after all.
Really good high fantasy. I've also read Greg Keyes' Calculus of Angels series and found it to be a mixed bag. But this Kingdom of Thorn and Bone series is really excellent. Good characters, great intrigue, excellent story telling.
If you're a fa...more
Really good high fantasy. I've also read Greg Keyes' Calculus of Angels series and found it to be a mixed bag. But this Kingdom of Thorn and Bone series is really excellent. Good characters, great intrigue, excellent story telling.
If you're a fa...more
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Read in September, 2006
I picked up The Briar King from a bargain bin, and was pleasantly surprised to find a genuinely good fantasy book. Having existed in tamed and relative peace for centuries, the land starts to awaken, and grim and perilous creatures begin to roam the the land. Assassination plagues the royal family of Dare, and a priest, a green country knight and a woodsman are all somehow tied to mankind's fate. A genuinely good tale of dark fantasy, for likers of Robert Jordan, for example.
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At first, I was relatively underwhelmed by the book. I was itching for something really good to tide me over while I wait for the next installment of George R.R. Martin's Fire and Ice saga. In due time, this title grew on me. Sure, it's not entirely fair to compare it to other author's works. On it's own, it's an above average (not WAY above average, but certainly a cut above) fantasy pulp novel. Good enough to make me want to read the next in the series.
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Read in April, 2008
recommends it for:
anyone that enjoys a good story
Very awesome and a real pager turner even if Keyes's writing is sometimes jarring. He loves to cut off in the middle of a very climactic event and switch to another character. He also leaves out important details, or rather he doesn't give backstory when a scene begs for a flashback to complete the section. However, the very awesome story makes up for it.
edit: 3/25 - rereading the first three in the series to prepare for the fourth book.
edit: 3/25 - rereading the first three in the series to prepare for the fourth book.
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Read in January, 2006
recommends it for:
anyone who enjoys long sagas and stories like LOTR
This is the first book in a series (not yet compleat) it does start off a little slow and is written in a slightly confusing manner, chopping from one story to another and having them run linear to one another rather then entangling themselves. It is a great book and while it was reviewd as equal to that of LOTR and i took that statement with a grain of salt.... it really is equal to (and to some people probably better)that of tolkiens work
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Read in June, 2008
recommends it for:
anyone who loves fantasy
Wow! I loved this book. It is fantastic. The storyline is great and the characters are very interesting. I wasn't crazy about the beginning but as it turns out, that is very key to the story and the books that follow. I have read the two books that follow this (The Charnel Prince and The Blood Knight) and so far, The Briar King is still my favorite (there's another book to read that I haven't gotten my hands on yet, The Born Queen).
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Read in July, 2008
recommended to Alan by:
Brian
Just finished this book last night. Keyes has a great story to tell with many elements similar to George RR Martin's Song of Ice and Fire series. His writing however feels more clumsy. If I haven't read the later and I was 10 years younger, I would've loved this book and gave it 5 stars. Now it's just a fun read and a holdover until Martin's latest book comes out. Thanks Brian for lending it to me.
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Read in January, 2005
Every once in a while a book just grabs me...everything about it is good. Great plot, solid characterizations, a world within the book that makes sense and holds together. Scary (but plausible) bad guys, strong (but reasonably so) protagonists with human imperfections and a what-will-happen-next urgency to the story. This is one of those books. Greg Keyes is a kick-ass storyteller.
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Read in January, 2008
Fucking badass. Those of us who read a lot of fantasy books are always looking for something new ... a new world, new magic, a new villain, etc. This book has it.
Greg Keyes has a seriously fucked up mind and I am unbelievably appreciative for it. He's created a dark, hard, violent world and it's AWESOME to read.
Do it. Read it. Rock on.
Greg Keyes has a seriously fucked up mind and I am unbelievably appreciative for it. He's created a dark, hard, violent world and it's AWESOME to read.
Do it. Read it. Rock on.
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Read in January, 2006
Actually the third book in the series caught my eye (Blood Knight)and I noticed it had 2 books preceeding it so I started there. This is actually the first fantasy series I have read, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It held my interest from book 1 through book 3 and I'm chomping at the bit to get the forth one. It is due out this year (2008).
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Read in December, 2004
recommends it for:
Fantasy readers who appreciate details, adventure, and magic.
This book, and it's author, are the shit. He's so attentive to the little things, while making the big things equally epic. His use of languages is woven deeply within the pages. Although I must admit...I hate the Prologue. Can't stand it. However, once I got past that, I loved every single chapter thereafter.
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Read in May, 2008
recommended to Ryon by:
Feliciarecommends it for: prissy men
A moody, dark world with a foreboding feeling is completely ruined by flowery, prissy writing. I can imagine the author dipping is pale, spindly fingers into bowls of rosewater after a writing session. I also bet he wears frilly cuffs.
Come on man, write like you got a set, and you have a winner on your hands.
Come on man, write like you got a set, and you have a winner on your hands.
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book data (includes all editions)
avg rating (all editions): 3.93 (282 ratings) avg rating (this edition): 3.90 (180 ratings) number of reviews: 41popular shelves
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quote
"Memory flashed, of a blue dress and a face glancing up at him, and eagerness and trepidation exchanged blows on the battlefield of his heart"
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