King of Thorns

Jorg Ancrath is eighteen and a king. Honorous Jorg Ancrath, a prince by birth, swore at nine to avenge his murdered mother and brother, and to punish his father for leaving them unavenged. At fifteen he began carrying out that oath, and he took his throne by torture and treachery.

Holding it is harder. Jorg is haunted by his past and by nightmares of the atrocities he has committed, and his appetite for revenge has not faded. Rage drives him more than any plan for peace.

Now an overwhelming enemy army is marching on his castle. Jorg knows he cannot beat it in an honest fight, and he does not intend to try.

He has found a hidden store of ancient artifacts, left there long ago. Some people would call them magic, though Jorg is unsure what they are. He does know their secrets can be turned to terrible use.

This is the second book of the Broken Empire trilogy, following a young, ruthless ruler whose grip on power depends on how much he will do to keep it.