The Briar King (The Kingdoms of Thorn and Bone, Book 1)

Maybe fantasy authors are finally starting to understand it. Interesting, real characters are just as important to a fantasy story as swords and magic. Akin to George R.R. Martin's magnificent A Song of Ice and Fire series, Keyes has created excellent characters that are likeable and real and has created a story full of political intrigue and a looming supernatural threat (the ent-like Briar King) that most seem oblivious toKeyes also does a wonderful job of creating the kingdoms and lands of his world, imbuing it with a fascinating history full of events only hinted at (I can't wait to learn more about the reign of the Black Jester), and well-crafted languages to top it all off. Keyes magic is also well-done. Not over-the-top but still apparent through the magical sedos and the evil Greffyn. I can't wait to read the next installment in The Kingdoms of Thorne and Bone, The Charnal Prince. I hope it doesn't suffer the "second-volume syndrome" that is so common in fantasy these days.

The Briar King is the first novel in the (planned) fantasy quartet, "Kingdoms of Thorn & Bone." The gist of my review is this: TBK is perhaps the first wonderful fantasy book of the 21st century and worthy of a place beside A Game of Thrones (George Martin) and Assassin's Apprentice (Robin Hobb) on your shelf reserved for engaging, well-written, mature, contemporary fantasy. It is, in a word, a keeper.TBK opens with one of (if not the) best preludes in fantasy, which raises the overshadowing concept for the saga: a warrior-queen leads an army of enslaved humans in the storming of their demonic masters' citadel, only to learn that the means of their victory may have set in motion the doom of the world. In the story itself, set over 2,000 years later, the first signs of this doom begin to appear in the kingdom of Crotheny. The mythical Briar King, doom's harbinger, is said to be waking from his ancient slumber, even as the wars and intrigues of the human nations carry on, seemingly unaware ...I've been deliberately vague about the actual story and principal characters so as to let the book speak for itself. I read a good deal of fantasy fiction (and write it as well), and I'm pleased to say that this is one of the best I've read in recent memory. Keyes writes in clear, often artful prose and has a true gift not only for world-building (and the research that surely underlies it) but also for showing the world and its wonders and horrors vividly without over-description or telling. (Or at least, when he must tell, he does it in a plausible, often inconspicuous manner.) The dialogue is crisp and spiced with wit and various languages; the characters are, for the most part, realistic and distinct. The plot is well-balanced and builds to a page-turning crescendo. If I have a quibble, it's that not enough of ancient history and mysteries are revealed to make the climax wholly comprehensible. That is, the hook for the next book is a bit heavily baited, but it's bait that I'll bite on nonetheless. With the medieval/"British" nature of Crotheny and the chapter-by-chapter shifts in character viewpoint, TBK will indeed draw comparisons to A Game of Thrones. However, they should mainly be favorable comparisons; moreover, TBK develops a different "feel" or texture as it progresses--the lands of Westeros didn't spring to mind as I read on. The bottom line: I read this book free of charge from the public library; I've since ordered it because I'd like a copy for my fantasy shelf and, more importantly, because Keyes deserves our support and encouragement. This book helped me remember what this genre can be.

The Briar King (2003) is the first novel in the Kingdoms of Thorn and Bone series. In the olden times, humans were transported from their own world to be enslaved by the Skasloi. When the humans rose up and destroyed their masters using the sedos magic, their leader, Genia Dare, proclaimed the new age of Eberon Vhasris Slanon. But their Skasloi captive, Qexqaneh, told them that the use of the sedos would cause this new age to be cursed and destroyed. Two millennia later, something deadly is stirring in the King's Forest. Aspar White, the King's Holter, finds a greffyn poisoning the woods and killing people with its very breath. Steven Darige, a novice traveling to the monastery at d'Ef, is rescued by Aspar from bandits and escorted to the monastery, where he discovers something is awry. William, the Emperor of Crotheny, is told of more warlike maneuvering by the Hansa empire and appoints his brother, Robert, as prime minister to uncover the Hansa plans. Neil MeqVren of Liery travels to Eslen to be presented to the Emperor, saves Queen Muriele from an assassin, is knighted by the Emperor, and is named the Captain of the Lier Guard, the Queen's Own. The Emperor's youngest daughter, Anne, has a vision of a masked lady voicing portents and advice. This story shows that Keyes is strongly influenced by Tolkien's methodology, carefully building a consistent world rich in mythos and language. Where Tolkien used British mythology, however, with German and French influences, Keyes bases his world and characters on an extended mythology that also incorporates Celtic and Slavic influences. This novel resembles Martin's Game of Thrones, in ambiance and treatment. Both books set the groundwork for a period of bloody war and intrigue. As such, both books are rather depressing; the bad guys get away with too much. The next volume in this series is entitled The Charnel King and is followed by two others; it may be a long wait before the final victory for our heroes and heroines. Recommended for Keyes fans and anyone who enjoyed Martin's The Song of Ice and Fire series.

The new Robert Jordan was such a disappointment that I was tempted to throw in the towel on fantasy for good, but a friend gave me this book last night and told me to read it and damn if this book doesn't kick butt!I've never read Greg Keyes before but I'll soon be rectifying that. The Briar King is just awesome! Unfortunately, it is not a stand alone (come one, publishing world, can't you find one author who can pull a complete idea together in the space of one volume?) but the book is so well-written that I will forgive him. I am rambling...Anyway, this book really rocks. It has those three elements that are so elusive in so many fantasy novels: Originality, Good Writing and Characters That Seem Like Real People. I highly recommend The Briar King!

In my estimation this exceeds the quality and readability of Robert Jordan, and nips at the heels of Tolkien and my favorite, George R R Martin. The characters, writing, language/history/culture/magic concepts, and clever (and at times brutal) plot twists are the best features. In some way it lacks the full feel of the "sweep" of other epic fantasies, but the work Keyes does with characters, along with the writing itself, distinguish it as absolutely first-rate.