Prince of Fools - (Red Queen's War) by Mark Lawrence (Paperback)

About the Book

"The Red Queen's grandson Prince Jalan Kendeth ... is one who can see the Silent Sister. Tenth in line for the throne and content with his role as a minor royal, he pretends that the hideous crone is not there. But war is coming. Witnesses claim an undead army is on the march, and the Red Queen has called on her family to defend the realm. Jal thinks it's all a rumor -- nothing that will affect him. But he is wrong ..."--Page 4 of cover.

Book Synopsis

International bestselling author Mark Lawrence continues the bold new world of dark fantasy he created in the Broken Empire trilogy with the first book of the Red Queen's War...

For all her reign the Red Queen has fought the long war, contested in secret, against the powers that stand behind nations, for higher stakes than land or gold. Her greatest weapon is The Silent Sister--unseen by most and unspoken of by all.

The Red Queen's grandson, Prince Jalan Kendeth--drinker, gambler, seducer of women--is one who can see The Silent Sister. Content with his role as a minor royal, Jal pretends that the hideous crone is not there. But war with the undead is coming, and the Red Queen has called on her family to defend the realm. Jal thinks that nothing that will affect him. He's wrong...

After escaping a death trap set by the Silent Sister, Jal finds his fate magically intertwined with a fierce Norse warrior. As the two undertake a journey to undo the spell, encountering grave dangers, willing women, and an upstart prince named Jorg Ancrath along the way, Jalan gradually catches a glimmer of the truth: he and the Norseman are but pieces in a game--and the Red Queen controls the board.

Review Quotes

Praise for Mark Lawrence and The Red Queen's War

"Mark Lawrence is the best thing to happen to fantasy in recent years."--New York Times bestselling author Peter V. Brett

"Lawrence's epic fantasy is a great summer read, full of humor, revenge, and perils that this warrior-and-coward duo must evade in order [to] save their kingdoms and themselves."--The Washington Post

"Exciting action and quick-witted dialog make it a fantastic summer page-turner."--Library Journal (starred review)

"Jalan Kendeth is a fine addition to this Loki-like roster of tricksters, knaves, and cowards: heroes and antiheroes we love to hate and hate to love...Mark Lawrence's growing army of fans will relish this rollicking new adventure and look forward to the next one."--The Daily Mail

"As richly told as the earlier trilogy: The author makes this place, a post-cataclysm earth of the far future, feel as real as any place you've ever visited. For fans of the Broken Empire series and readers who enjoy a good, epic-sized fantasy story (readers of, say, George R. R. Martin), this is a must-read."--Booklist

"Shrewd Jalan and honorable Snorri make a marvelous team, lightening a very dark story with wry humor. The brisk adventure and black magic will leave readers eager for the next chapter in the series."--Publishers Weekly

About the Author

Mark Lawrence is a research scientist working on artificial intelligence. He is a dual national with both British and American citizenship, and has held secret-level clearance with both governments. At one point, he was qualified to say, "This isn't rocket science--oh wait, it actually is." He is the author of the Broken Empire trilogy (Prince of Thorns, King of Thorns, and Emperor of Thorns), the Red Queen's War trilogy (Prince of Fools, The Liar's Key, and The Wheel of Osheim) and the Book of the Ancestor series (Red Sister).