In addition to exploring new takes on the Arthurian legend, I’m continuing my foray into bestselling fantasy fiction as I contemplate what type of story to write after I complete my Dragon-Myth Cycle series. One book I recently finished and thoroughly enjoyed is Prince of Fools by Mark Lawrence. Here’s my review.
Prince of Fools, the initial installment in Lawrence’s The Red Queen’s War trilogy, introduces us to Prince Jalan Kendeth. A self-proclaimed coward and notorious scoundrel, Jalan is perhaps one of the most atypical heroes I’ve encountered in fantasy fiction. He is unapologetically selfish with scant redeeming qualities, which could make him a challenge to root for, particularly since he’s the sole narrator. However, his persistent wit, underscored by some laugh-out-loud wisecracks, makes him an enduring and amusing protagonist.
Jalan is one of many grandsons of the formidable Red Queen, the ruler of Red March (similar to Lombardy), who is keenly aware of an undead threat brewing in the north. The Red Queen is always accompanied by a ghostly apparition called the Silent Sister, whom only Jalan can see. She is a powerful sorceress who secretly does the Red Queen’s bidding, no matter what the cost. The story takes off when the Silent Sister unleashes a deadly curse that accidentally ensnares Jalen and binds him to a gigantic Norseman named Snorri.
Snorri’s heroism is a direct contrast to Jalen’s cowardice, creating an amusing duo that carries the novel the rest of the way. Snorri’s family was attacked by the undead, and his wife and daughter were captured. Snorri escaped, only to be enslaved and brought to Red March. After he escapes again and is bound to Jalen by the Sister’s curse, he insists on taking Jalen on a quest to the northlands to save his family.
The curse acts as a physical and spiritual anchor for both protagonists. It affects Snorri with a shadowy affliction and Jalan with a luminous one. This dichotomy further deepens as each character communes with their respective spiritual guide: the ethereal angel Baraquel for Jalan and the shadow sorceress Aslaug for Snorri. They epitomize the dueling nature of the two men, whose fates have become intertwined.
While Snorri is trying to save his family from the undead, led by shadowy necromancers and even more terrifying creatures called the “unborn,” Jalan wants nothing more than to break the curse and return to his lazy, hedonistic lifestyle. These competing purposes consistently clash throughout their quest as they navigate a world that appears to be some post-apocalyptic, resurrected Middle Ages, complete with familiar lands like Roma, the home of the pope, and plenty of Viking lore. Numerous references to Odin, Thor, Loki, Valkyries, and the impending doom of Ragnarok abound throughout the novel, making this as much a Viking tale as it is a fantasy adventure.
Overall, I found Prince of Fools to be a page-turning fantasy with enough mystery to propel the series forward. While most of these mysteries will be untangled in later books, the first novel provides plenty of clever humor and deeply human moments to make it an endearing tale. If you enjoy stories filled with anti-heroes, dark magic, and enough Viking lore to fill a longship, this book might be for you.