The Court of Broken Knives

Now this is grimdark. This story is extremely bleak and extremely morally grey in many places. Just the sort of thing that I enjoy!

The first area to be praised here is the world building. Anna Smith Spark has built an incredible world full of myth and interesting political machinations. Some of these political themes lurk in the background whereas some (particularly in the city of Sorlost) are front and centre to the plot, but the net feel is of a real living breathing world.

The main protagonist is at times likable in his childlike joy and at times very unlikable when he goes off on one of his drug fueled binges. His strangely childlike glee at things is touching though. Anna Smith Spark takes the classic unsuspecting prince in disguise and turns it on its head with a morally bankrupt and exiled prince forming the centerpiece of the story.

The casual disregard for life and the high stakes politicking give a cynicism to the story that in someways grimly reflects real life. You can certainly imaging some of these plots coming to pass back in the past.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story. I look forward to continuing on with the next novel in the trilogy. Bring on the grimdark!