I completed one very thick book this week. It was Mark Lawrence’s The Wheel of Osheim (#03 in his The Red Queen’s War trilogy). What a book! Please check out last week’s Reading Roundup post for more details of the previous two books in the series.

The Wheel of Osheim by Mark Lawrence

Before I write any more, here is the blurb:

All the horrors of Hell stand between Snorri Ver Snagason and the rescue of his family, if indeed the dead can be rescued. For Jalan Kendeth, getting back out alive and with Loki’s key is all that matters. Loki’s creation can open any lock, any door, and it may also be the key to Jalan’s fortune back in the living world.

Jalan plans to return to the three w’s that have been the core of his idle and debauched life: wine, women, and wagering. Fate however has other plans, larger plans. The Wheel of Osheim is turning ever faster, and it will crack the world unless it’s stopped. When the end of all things looms, and there’s nowhere to run, even the worst coward must find new answers. Jalan and Snorri face many dangers, from the corpse hordes of the Dead King to the many mirrors of the Lady Blue, but in the end, fast or slow, the Wheel of Osheim always pulls you back. In the end it’s win or die.

This last book in the trilogy appears to bring the story arcs of Lawrence’s first series – The Broken Empire – and his second series – The Red Queen’s War – together in a final conclusion. Of course, the author could decide to revisit this world and his wonderful characters – I certainly wouldn’t complain!

Anyway, I simply had to give the book the full five stars and here is my review – it was very difficult to write as my head is still spinning!

It’s official: Mark Lawrence has now joined my very select list of favourite authors. Make way whilst I read everything he has ever written! Then I will wait with bated breath for him to write even more amazing books!

OK, so it’s now obvious that I loved this final episode of his The Red Queen’s War series. I loved the excitement, the sheer adventure, the surprises, the interesting way this book was crafted, the brilliant characters and, probably most of all, the laugh-out-loud black but joyous humour. Because I really did laugh aloud…

”Come!”…
”Come? You just took my bloody sword. What am I supposed to use? Bad language?”

The character development is great and the weaving together of fantasy and science fiction gives us a cracking plot. I really can’t write any more without giving something away. So, please read Mark Lawrence…

…but just let me get in front of you in the queue…

A Book of Bones by John Connolly

I have one more book by Lawrence left to read, but my next book will be A Book of Bones by my absolute favourite author, John Connolly. I cannot wait to get started so will tell you about it in next week’s Reading Roundup.

Happy Reading to you all!

Best wishes,

📖📚📖📚📖