The Black Prism (Lightbringer #1) – Brent Weeks

Genre: Fantasy
Publisher: Orbit Books
Pages: 661
Release Date: August 25, 2010

Guile is the Prism, the most powerful man in the world. He is high priest and emperor, a man whose power, wit, and charm are all that preserves a tenuous peace. Yet Prisms never last, and Guile knows exactly how long he has left to live.

When Guile discovers he has a son, born in a far kingdom after the war that put him in power, he must decide how much he’s willing to pay to protect a secret that could tear his world apart.

I decided to pick up The Black Prism almost on a whim. I’ve seen multiple positive reviews praising everything about the novel, so when I found a used copy at a book sale I jumped at the opportunity. I can’t believe it’s taken me this long to read it because it is absolutely amazing!

The magic system in The Black Prism is innovative and balanced. I would even go so far as to say it’s Brandon Sanderson caliber. I’ve never read a book that uses the color spectrum and light as an energy source, so it feels new. Weeks balances his magic system by giving it limits and consequences that are both terrifying and believable.

Throughout The Black Prism readers follows a few characters, Gavin, Kip, Liv, and Karris. All of these characters are intertwined in some way, expected and unexpected. Gavin is the high priest and emperor, which means his power is almost limitless. He’s charming, witty, and just plain fun to read as he discovers his long lost son who threatens to unravel all he’s sacrificed to keep hidden. The Black Prism revolves around Gavin as the story unfolds and secrets are revealed and war threatens to uproot their way of life. Each of the characters are compelling and had me desperate for more. There wasn’t a perspective I disliked reading.

The Black Prism is full of twists and turns you won’t see coming. At certain points I couldn’t believe what I was reading because it had me staring at the pages speechless. Weeks grabs readers from the first page and does not let them go until the very last.

Overall, The Black Prism is a phenomenal novel that I would recommend to anyone. It’s full of great characters, an exciting plot that will keep you on the edge of your seat, and a magic system that will dazzle your imagination.

Have you read The Black Prism? What did you think?