nobhendu 's review for:

King of Thorns by Mark Lawrence
4.0
dark medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated

This was a good continuation of the series. The book was much longer than the first, and I think the writing has improved.
The story was majorly non-linear, and kept jumping between the present day and four years earlier. These jumps, however, were not too frequent or jarring to break focus and interest in the story. The author connected the two timeframes well, and the story flowed well overall.
I liked Jorg's journey throughout the book; he felt more sketched out and mature than the one-dimensional sociopath he was in the first book. His humility and respect for his opponents greatly complemented his confidence in his skills and wit.
The setting as a
post-apocalyptic imagination of Europe
was hinted further here, through
modern buildings and weapons, as well as futuristic "AI" to store our consciousness, etc
, which was interesting.
There were a few instances where the story felt dragged, and I felt myself losing interest in the story. Even the writing style eventually became a bit monotonous, so I had to take a break in the middle before continuing.
Nevertheless, the story and conclusion were done well, and I am excited for the final instalment of the series.