Just finished “Prince of Thorns,” the first book in the Broken Empire Trilogy. Like quite a few fantasy books, it definitely has a ‘Game of Thrones’ vibe to it. Its a very dark and more grounded world, with a protagonist who is more villain than hero. My final verdict?
I’d recommend it to fantasy fans and those looking for something to hold them over until ‘The Winds of Winter’ finally comes out. The writing is sharp, the main character is very well fleshed out. This isn’t a kind or pretty world that he lives in. Its very cruel and unforgiving. Though, I am curious about the ‘Broken Empire’ and the Hundred War. We find out bits and pieces but not really enough. I’m guessing that will be more detailed in the sequels. My only really big complaint was the sub-par world building. References to real world history like Goliath, God (Judeo-Christian flavor), Socrates and such really took my out of the story and the realm of fantasy. The author would’ve been better served to create a world complete independent and removed from anything real. It worked for Tolkien and GRRM. Just saying.
Onto some writing stuff that I’ve been thinking about for a while. I was watching this one teen TV show I’ve recently took up near the end of last year. Its entertainment, don’t judge me. Anyway, I noticed a certain way this show pushes two characters together, even if the fan base hates it. They basically have the characters eye-fuck each other from across a room, or up close with some flirty banter until they eventually tear each other’s clothes off. Rinse, wash, repeat.
Its simplistic, and much less angsty than the Grey’s Anatomy formula where a couple isn’t truly in love until they’ve been through hell, Ragnarok, Armageddon and back.
What would be refreshing in media would be to see a relationship that was not so telegraphed. Hinted at, yes. Like in Arrow, Oliver and Felicity. No one saw that potential relationship coming. But there was an episode where the whole ‘Olicity’ situation was ramped up to the max. And only by the episodes end did I realize two things 1.) Laurel Lance, Oliver’s one true love, was not in the episode at all and wasn’t missed. 2.) I’d rather see Oliver and Felicity together than Oliver and Laurel. A huge testament to the acting of Stephen Amell (Oliver) and Emily Bett Rickards (Felicity) as well as the show’s writing.
Even more intriguing if it were two enemies that fell in love with each other. Then the whole love/hate thing could be played up significantly. Imagine say, the Batman and Talia al Ghul relationship played out on a TV show for all of us to witness and marvel at. Amazing right?
Or, how about an unheard of situation? What if two star-crossed lovers get together and just don’t work? Yes, we see the reasons why they work together. Yet, then we see the reasons why they ultimately don’t work together? And those bad reasons outweigh the good. Makes for compelling writing, no?
Short Story:
“The Clock Work Soldier,” another amazing short by author Ken Liu.
Short Film: The Awareness
The Awareness from Henry on Vimeo.
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