Excellent conclusion to the story arc. There were some unexpected twists that kept the story rapidly progressing and exciting. It was great to see some characters get the their just rewards, both good and bad. I'll definitely read more books by this author. ( )

I feel wrung out. What a tremendous series! Honorus Jorg Ancrath is such a complicated character and, to be honest, one of my new favorites in fantasy despite his villainous ways. Maybe even because of his villainous ways. In book three of the series, Jorg undergoes some maturation and some mellowing but he's still essentially the 'boy in the thorns' fighting against the world to right the wrongs done to him and his family.
I really enjoy the way Mr. Lawrence skips around in time. It's almost like a short story anthology around one central character. It reminds me of The Last Wish or Blood of the Elves by Andrzej Sapkowski, though The Broken Empire series is more cohesive, always looping back to the main story.
I admit I saw the true character behind the Dead King early, but I did not see that ending. I was getting nervous - only thirty pages to wrap this up and things did not look good. It's a very satisfying end to the series and fits Jorg's character. I also liked how the Builders were incorporated into this medieval setting; it gives a fresh outlook to what is much of current fantasy.
Mr. Lawrence is a terrific writer, able to weave many disparate threads into a rainbow coat of glittering words. He writes about a violent, gruesome world but also one compelling and so interesting. I'm glad to have found him and will continue to read his stories. ( )