The world has been recovering from a terrible war; a war that took many lives and destroyed countless villages. But with the tyranny of one man halted, the leader is showing the people a path to peace, allowing the land to prosper yet again. Built on the backs of drafters – humans with the ability to manipulate the color spectrum and bend it into physical objects – the economies are recovering.
But the magic comes at a cost; every time it is used, it brings the user closer to their end. Only the leader of the freeworld can use this without paying the ultimate price, and that man is Gavin Guile, the Prism. Seen as a god-like being, Gavin oversees the workings of the villages and cities, using his power to bring balance. But every powerful man has his secrets, and Gavin’s are about to come into light very soon.
Brent Weeks has created a fantasy world unlike any other in his novel, The Black Prism. Detailing each scene and character with his robust vocabulary, Weeks is able to easily captivate readers with this realm where magic flows freely. Readers are taken on a trip through poor villages, port towns, and cities built out of pure magic.
The story hooks readers by the first chapter. The magic and concept of drafters alone are enough to warrant a read, but Weeks pulls in readers with the mysterious Prism, his dark secrets, his bastard Kip, and idea of inevitable battle. Conspiracy builds quickly and tensions rise, giving this book intrigue and style. Secrets unfold, lives are twisted, and the Prism is at the core of it all.
What truly shines in this book is the character work. Weeks has an amazing ability to describe each character without giving away everything about them. He is able to explain how they feel and how they act, what they are thinking about, what they want, and still leave the reader in the dark about specific traits, adding a mysterious ambiance around these magic wielders. Instead of putting the reader to sleep with technical explanations about magic or backstory, Weeks allows the story to unfold through the character interactions. Detail is only given when pertinent to the narrative.
The Black Prism is only the first entry of the Lightbringer Series. The sequel, The Blinding Knife, will be hitting shelves at bookstores later this fall. Author Brent Weeks has crafted a masterful story, and the future of the series looks very promising. Readers would do well to pick up this book. It will immerse your mind with its magic.
