[KVP]∎ Download The Briar King Kingdoms of Thorn Bone Greg Keyes 9780330419451 Books

The Briar King Kingdoms of Thorn Bone Greg Keyes 9780330419451 Books

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The Briar King Kingdoms of Thorn Bone Greg Keyes 9780330419451 Books

This is one of the more vexing reviews I've had to write, because although there was much to like about The Briar King, there was also a good deal that annoyed me.

What's to like: Gregory Keyes is a solid writer, something I'd known from his Babylon 5 books. In fact, that's the reason I gave Kingdoms of Thorn and Bone a shot. His characters in general react plausibly, and the world he creates feels real.

What's annoying: The women in this book get short shrift. Seriously. There is only one "point of view" female character, and her main motivation for most of the book is which man she will moon over. The other woman are largely side characters, and they do little except to cleave to men and get rescued. In fact, every single named female character in this book at some points becomes a damsel in distress, which a feat I don't think I've seen previously accomplished in a fantasy book. (Once will do.) Also, I've had enough of woman-takes-up-with-man-twice-her-age.

The Briar King also takes a really, really long time to get moving. I don't necessarily mind the slow boil--and it's far better than a tale that's constantly turned up to volume 10--but it might reasonably discourage some readers.

I'll very likely move on to the next book in the series, which I guess means that The Briar King did the job. I just wish I could feel more certain about what it delivered.


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The Briar King Kingdoms of Thorn Bone Greg Keyes 9780330419451 Books Reviews

How did I not know about Greg Keyes til now? I consider myself an aficionado of Fantasy literature and I have completely fluffed by missing this series until now. The Kingdoms of Thorn and Bone looks to be a rich, wonderful, well-developed world with strong characters who inspire emotion both good and bad. In my opinion this series will compare well with Martin's Game of Thrones. I am impressed with the depth of history that is hinted at, the attention to detail in the language and character of each person. Yes, the are archetypes, yes most characters so far play to type, but that in no way diminishes the strength of the story. In fact, after nearly 600 pages, I feel as though I have barely scratched the surface of what this world has to offer. I won't post any spoilers, but there were certain not some OH MAN did that just happen moments! Interspersed with some OH NO YOU DIDN'T! The fighting is intense and the author builds tension and fear in a natural way. I really can't wait to read the next three books. This is fine Epic Fantasy and should not be missed!
I classify this book and series as "Game of Thrones Light". It's not up to par with one of the groundbreaking series in the genre by any means, but Keyes is a gifted writer and this is a solid fantasy that will scratch the RR Martin itch until the next installment arrives (whenever that will be). I definitely recommend giving this book a shot, it's your typical high fantasy with plenty of twists, turns, and intrigue to keep you turning the pages. Mixed in is a little Celtic folklore, which only serves to make the story that much better. Recommended!
At first, I thought this was schlock; the literary equivalent of a Hollywood movie that relies on special effects, horrible villains, and extreme violence to compensate for formulaic, predictable story and flat, boring characters evil that's so evil it's just silly, and heroes that are basically untouchable in their fights, and laughable in their confidence. I almost quit about a quarter of the way through, but I kept reading, because I was laid up sick, and ended up devouring the whole series in short order. Keyes does end up developing some fun characters, presents some interesting twists and, through his story, posits some philosophical notions that I appreciated and that I think are highly relevant today. I grew up reading Lewis and Tolkien as a youngster, so those were formative works in the development of my tastes and standards. Keyes does read more like the fantasies of a modern day teenager geeking out on his own smarts - but a highly intelligent and creative teenager who deserves to have fun geeking out on his own smarts, and you probably will, too. I ended up thoroughly enjoying the whole series, as an adventurous romp, and would recommend it.
Beautifully rendered English. The setting imagery is powerful and poetic. Instead of skipping the details of the landscape, I found myself savoring the author's descriptions and rereading them to more fully appreciate his talent.

The characters come to life with energy and draw the reader in to their stories. The diverse cast is clearly distinguished so there is minimal confusion; each character has his/her own energy and "flavor." I feel like I have just gained a new set of friends while journeying into the Kingdoms of Thorn and Bone. I know who I want at my side and watching my back!

The plot builds with tension so the pages turn faster and faster. There is clever humor, believable romance, vivid and exciting fighting, mystery, dramatic irony that makes the reader want to scream to warn the heroes away from disaster, and cliff hangers at the end of most chapters, which makes turning out the light to go to sleep nearly impossible.

While there is much to savor about this book, what impressed me more than anything was the smooth inclusion of such realistic details about the characters' back-stories, their thought processes, their habits, their motivations, their personal artifacts, their fund of knowledge, etc., that I felt as though I were completely immersed in their world.

I highly recommend to readers who enjoy battles of wits, sword-fighting, magic, good vs. evil, monsters, twists and turns, death-defying escapes, murder mysteries, damsels in distress, feisty heroines, manly men, and geeks whose brain power can win the day. However, this book does have a handful of dark moments with blood and guts gore. Even so, it's a worthwhile investment of money, time, emotion, and imagination. I'm definitely buying the next book in the series.
This is one of the more vexing reviews I've had to write, because although there was much to like about The Briar King, there was also a good deal that annoyed me.

What's to like Gregory Keyes is a solid writer, something I'd known from his Babylon 5 books. In fact, that's the reason I gave Kingdoms of Thorn and Bone a shot. His characters in general react plausibly, and the world he creates feels real.

What's annoying The women in this book get short shrift. Seriously. There is only one "point of view" female character, and her main motivation for most of the book is which man she will moon over. The other woman are largely side characters, and they do little except to cleave to men and get rescued. In fact, every single named female character in this book at some points becomes a damsel in distress, which a feat I don't think I've seen previously accomplished in a fantasy book. (Once will do.) Also, I've had enough of woman-takes-up-with-man-twice-her-age.

The Briar King also takes a really, really long time to get moving. I don't necessarily mind the slow boil--and it's far better than a tale that's constantly turned up to volume 10--but it might reasonably discourage some readers.

I'll very likely move on to the next book in the series, which I guess means that The Briar King did the job. I just wish I could feel more certain about what it delivered.