Prince of Thorns is the first book in the Broken Empire trilogy of fantasy novels by American-British author Mark Lawrence. It was published in 2011, followed by King of Thorns (2012) and Emperor of Thorns (2013).

Plot Summary

Prince of Thorns is a bloody story of betrayal and revenge set on a postapocalyptic Earth where feudalism has returned and the boundaries between the worlds of the living and the dead are weak. The book’s protagonist, Prince Honorous Jorg Ancrath, is left for dead at the age of 10 by assassins who murder his mother and younger brother in front of him. Stricken by madness brought on by fever, Jorg exhibits a change in personality, erupting into murderous fits of rage, and becomes obsessed with getting revenge on Count Renar, who orchestrated the assassination.

On a trip to the dungeons, Jorg releases a band of brigands and joins them. Accompanied by one of the bandits known as the Nuban, Jorg sets out to kill Count Renar. At Renar’s capital he is swiftly captured by Corion, a powerful sorcerer, who places Jorg under enchantment. For the next four years, Jorg is on the road with his “brothers,” as they loot, rape, and murder their way through several realms. His fearlessness and penchant for murder lead him to kill several rivals in the group, and he quickly assumes leadership.

Within a day of his 14th birthday, Jorg and his brothers, including the captain Makin, rout a much larger company of Renar’s men. Jorg then turns the group towards the Tall Castle, his father’s capital. Upon arriving, Jorg is summoned to an audience with his father, King Olidan, whom he learns has remarried and is expecting another son. A strange sorcerer named Sageous is advising Jorg’s father. Olidan sends Jorg to attack the Castle Red, which Jorg soon learns is considered impregnable. By consulting with an ancient book held in his family, Jorg deduces that the Castle Red sits atop a store of ancient doomsday weapons.

Jorg goes to speak with the Leucrota, who live in the caves at the foot of the mountain. The Leucrota agree to lead him through the heart of the mountain to the castle’s depths. Along the way, the group encounters the necromancer Chella. after Jorg dispatches Chella, the group encounters another necromancer. Jorg promptly kills this one and takes a bite of its heart. The party then climbs into the bottom of the Castle Red, finds the store of ancient weapons, and enters the armory.

The group exits the mountain in time to see the Castle Red blown to pieces. Tasting the necromancer’s heart has given Jorg the ability to see the spirit world, and he witnesses Sageous, Chella, and a Leucrota, Jane, discussing “the game” and its “players.” Jane is being crushed beneath the mountain and asks Jorg to take Gorgoth and Gog, the last of the Leucrota, with him and protect them.

Back at the Tall Castle, Jorg attempts to claim his patrimony, but Olidan stabs him in the chest and has Makin arrested. Jorg awakens to find himself laid besides his mother’s stone coffin. Katherine, his new stepmother’s sister, and Hanna, her servant, are discussing whether they should finish Jorg off. Katherine decides not to, but Hanna later comes back to kill him. Katherine, thinking that Jorg has attacked Hanna, pulls out a knife. Jorg distracts her and knocks her unconscious. On his escape, Jorg finds Makin in the cells.

Jorg and Makin ride towards Renar’s capital, The Haunt, and Jorg explains what he has learned about “the game,” including the fact that Corion has been guiding his actions for the past four years. Renar is holding a tourney, so Jorg disguises himself as a participant. Before the tourney starts, they learn that Olidan is mustering his forces and that his army, the Forest Watch, is hidden nearby. Jorg convinces Coddin, the Watch Master, the brothers, and the Leucrota to aid him in capturing The Haunt, promising to reward them all with feudal honors and privileges.

At the tourney, Jorg emerges the victor. As the competition ends, the brothers begin to cause havoc in the crowd. Jorg mounts a horse and tries to ride down Renar. Renar flees, and Corion puts Jorg under his power. A stroke of luck causes an accident that leaves Corion dead. Jorg dashes off and attacks Count Renar, whom he names as his uncle for the first time.

Several months later, Jorg is secure in his position as the new Count of the Renar Highlands, while Renar is locked away in the dungeons below. He reflects on the past several years. He has thought about Corion’s influence on him and whether it caused him to do “evil.” He decides that it was mostly his own volition but that he has changed since.