It's come to my attention that I have many books published!
Increasingly I get asked by potential Lawrence-readers where they should start. The answer is: "With any book 1 of any trilogy." And: "It depends on what you're looking for."
It should be noted that my trilogies all vary considerably in character and tone - so you may love one and find another not to your taste. It's allowed! And it means that if, for example, you found Prince of Thorns too bleak and violent you might enjoy the hell out of Red Sister or One Word Kill.
(helpfully I include a grimdark rating!)
You can start with any of my trilogies - my other books are not required reading.
The Broken Empire
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This trilogy follows Jorg: a violent, amoral young man. It's dark, it's grim, it maybe grimdark. Not for the weak-stomached or those seeking a main character they can cheer without reservation.
Grimdark rating = 4.42 / 5
The Red Queen's War
The main character, Jalan, is an idle, womanising, coward supported by a big-hearted Viking. Still dark and violent but with added humour.
Grimdark rating = 3.27 / 5
Book of the Ancestor
(available in paperback and hardcover)
We follow Nona as she's trained by what have been inaccurately described as "gay murder nuns". A much nicer person than Jorg or Jalan but still with a darkish violent streak.
Grimdark rating = 3.08 / 5
Impossible Times
Set in the real world in the 1980s - we follow math genius, Nick, as he navigates life in London, D&D games, that girl, and ... a science-fiction mystery. My least violent books!
Grimdark rating = 1.50 / 5
Book of the Ice
Yaz is the closest I've come to an actual hero who looks beyond her own circle and needs. She's not a warrior but she'll fight for those that need her.
Grimdark rating = 2.87 / 5
The Library Trilogy
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Grimdark rating 1.57 / 5
All books, no matter their binding, will fall to dust. The stories they carry may last longer. They might outlive the paper, the library, even the language in which they were first written.
But the greatest story can reach the stars . . .
Evar has lived his whole life trapped within a vast library, older than empires and larger than cities.
Livira has spent hers in a tiny settlement out on the Dust where no one goes and nightmares stalk.
The world has never noticed them. That's about to change.
You can read more about this one here.
Note:
The Broken Empire & The Red Queen's War are set in the same world. You can read them in either order.
The Book of the Ancestor & The Book of the Ice are set in the same world. You can read them in either order.
If you have any one-line descriptions in terms of tone, content, character etc add them in the comments - I may bring them into the post!
I also have 3 finished books (Gunlaw, Blood of the Red, & Darker Tide), some partial books, and some short stories on Wattpad - completely free!
Finally, don't forget my Grim Oak Press anniversary editions! You've missed out on The Broken Empire & The Red Queen's War omnibuses (which now sells on ebay at crazy prices) & the 10th anniversary Prince of Thorns, but you can still snag the deluxe signed, illustrate, leatherbound, and numbered 10th anniversary King of Thorns edition / Emperor of Thorns edition!
The Book of The Ancestor & Library Trilogy both have optional short stories that are listed with the series on Goodreads and can be bought on Amazon.
Finally, don't forget my Grim Oak Press anniversary editions! You've missed out on The Broken Empire & The Red Queen's War omnibuses (which now sells on ebay at crazy prices) & the 10th anniversary Prince of Thorns, but you can still snag the deluxe signed, illustrate, leatherbound, and numbered 10th anniversary King of Thorns edition / Emperor of Thorns edition!
I would say more Hogwarts for holy assassins than gay murder nuns.
ReplyDeleteYess!
DeleteWith some elements of Kill Bill
DeleteMight Yaz ever bump into Nona?
ReplyDeleteStories are about 100 years apart so… Maybe?
DeleteI have read broken empire n red queens war absolutely brilliant cant wait ti read th rest thank you very much mark
ReplyDeleteI'd love to see more stories set in Abeth. Maybe from earlier in history, something like the fall of the Missing. The crisis that lead to the creation of the moon etc.
ReplyDeleteSame, I loved the Abeth setting. Also i will read any and every story you might write in the future about Nona, Ara, Kettle and the rest at Sweet Mercy!
DeleteYes 100%x10000000
DeleteThis post is brilliant!
ReplyDeleteWhen to read sleeping beauty in the trilogy?
ReplyDeleteBest policy with all Broken Empire short stories is to leave it until you've finished. Even if they could be sited within the trilogy timeline, the books were not written with the stories in mind, and the stories were written with readers who had finished the books in mind.
DeleteThank you for this blog post! I just finished the book of the ancestor and absolutely adore the characters and the world! I very much wanted more set in the same world and I've found it.
ReplyDeleteYou're a beast sir, keep writing and I will keep reading!
Will "New World" (short Jalan preview) will ever gets a trilogy?
ReplyDeleteIt's possible, but unlikely.
DeleteSince the Jorg and Jalan moment at the "bar" I wonder how would be a bar meet between all your main characters... who would get along with whom? Wonder how an Evar and Jalan conversation might go...?
ReplyDeleteCould be interesting - but the results would all depend on the context.
DeleteI absolutely LOVE that you included a quote from a book titled “Fatherhood” by Jorg Ancrath before chapter 45 of “The Book That Wouldn’t Burn”! Freakin awesome! And many more hidden gems in that pre-chapter flavor text, haha. (Rose L. Axe, lmao). I’m going to have to go back and re-read just those when I’m done the book, see if I can catch any more. :) But (semi-spoiler alert!), question for Mark: will the presence of the Exchange allow for more cross-universe interaction between the different worlds of your books? (Apologies if this is made clear by the end of The Book That Wouldn’t Burn, as I am only on chapter 45 - I just had to find this and comment on the Jorg quote!)
ReplyDeleteGreat to hear you're enjoying it. I'll have to let the book speak for itself ... but a re-read is always a big compliment :)
DeleteMark, your books are worth multiple rereads, and I have dedicated docs where I take notes to cross-reference information in later books...
DeleteBecause you write brilliantly, and the layers just keep revealing more information.
I saw the first Will Ancrath quote in THTWB, and had to check out the entire trilogy again, lol, so I can cross-reference while reading both. Does more lore just come to you?
Or is there a lot that simply doesn't make the published finale, and that lends itself to further world building? I guess I'm wondering if one day there will be a release of volumes of notes....
I invent in the moment. There will be no "Silmarillion" :)
DeleteI've had to explain this to everyone I've recommended you to. This will be a great help. /i deliberately makes a bookmark that'll they'll never be able to find /
ReplyDeleteJust started The Book That Wouldn't Burn and I can't put it down (Though my job gets in the way and I must). I am thrilled to see that you have so many books out there for me to enjoy in the future. I have been slogging through a ton of book samples lately that just couldn't catch my attention enough for me to continue reading them, and then I found TBTWB deep down in my Kindle samples and the title caught my eye. 4 hours later at 1am, I am fighting sleep and the need to put it down as I had work the next morning. I am hooked. Keep up the good work and keep cranking out the hits!
ReplyDeleteI just finished reading The Book of the Ancestor trilogy and I have to say how impressed I am by the writing. So original and thoughtfully and skillfully written, I couldn’t put them down. I’m a new fan and I’m looking forward to delving into more Mark Lawrence books!
ReplyDeleteI have stayed away from reading your books as I am not into gritty protagonists or grimdark fantasy. After reading this post, I thought that the Library Trilogy sounded up my alley, and after a few days I finished it and have been blown away! I will start to make my way through your books starting with the less grimdark rated books first. The Library Trilogy is incredible so far. Keep up the good work!
ReplyDeleteGood to hear. Sadly, many readers are unable to cope with the idea that an author's books are not all the same :D I'm glad you were in the more open-minded group!
DeleteI feel attacked 🫣 I dip into your reddit and blog every couple of years to see if you've decided to write more in the broken empire world. It's such a great concept and so well delivered. I realise I'm coming off a little "Annie Wilkes" here 😂 "YOU DIRTY BIRD"
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