Book Review: The Black Prism by Brent Weeks
Unlike a good portion of the country, it’s nothing but blue skies and sunshine here in Oregon. A grand day for sitting out on the porch (in shorts, no less!) and reading. Not that there is ever any time that is NOT good for reading, in my world. I just finished The Black Prism by Brent Weeks and I thought I’d share my thoughts, while they’re fresh in my mind.
First, I must preface this by saying that I love love love Brent Weeks’ Night Angel Trilogy. It was the first thing I purchased to read on my iPad, and what a treat it was! I was so looking forward to this book, after having read the others. Boyhowdy, I wish I could report that this was as good as NAT, but I would be remiss in my geeky book reviewing duties to say so. I wanted to love it. With all of my wee little heart, I did. I did not actively dislike it, which is something, I suppose. It left me with something that wasn’t quite love, though.
Meet Gavin Guile, the Prism. He is the head of a college of magicians, ultimately being the most powerful man in the seven Satrapies. His time as Prism is limited, as is his magic. He’s a charismatic, charming fellow with a supposedly evil twin and a host of secrets that may threaten his reign. The characters in this book use color and light to make their magic, which is both the best and the worst part of this book. Whyfor, you ask? Carry on!
The book begins by following a bumbling boy who is collecting something called “luxin”. I figured that would be among the first thing that Mr. Weeks would describe, only to find that the magic system is not explained until well into the book. Now I’ve said before that I don’t need a book to describe the death out of everything (hello, J.R.R. Tolkein!), but if you’re introducing me to something that is vastly new and different, please give me a little something to go on. It’s fascinating, the magic use, once you get it figured out, and I really enjoyed the idea of it even when I was still in the midst of being baffled by it. If I had known what luxin was and even what color wights were from the outset, I would have enjoyed the story all the more.
Now what I did love about the story is that Mr. Weeks is really good at creating flaws in his characters. In being near to the leader of all things, Gavin has some delightful flaws and interesting secrets following him around. The characters are gritty, true to themselves, and interesting in their own rights. Except maybe for Kip, who is the bastard son of the Prism. He is a bumbling, simple-minded kid that kind of grated on my nerves for most of the book. Just a personal thing, I think.
All in all the scope of the book was great, barring the initially-confusing magics. I reread this book because I was so dissatisfied with it upon the first reading, which I’m glad I did. I found more strength in the relationships and was able to better gauge the happenings with the magics in the beginning that I did not quite understand in the first reading. Give it a chance, I told myself, it’s Brent Weeks! We love him! Yes, brain, ok, I hear you already.
I really enjoyed the story itself. The twists in the plot reveal the secrets and weaknesses of the characters you’re following with an exquisite aplomb. The dialogue has its moments of not-greatness (mainly when Kip is thinking to himself, actually) but I think that’s based on my dislike of Kip more than anything.
I would recommend that you pick up The Black Prism and read it. . .twice. I really did enjoy the ideas that Mr. Weeks has started out with, and once I figured it out, the magics have an elegance and beauty far above those of any I have read in a long time. I just wish that they’d have been better explained from the outset. You’ll like the story and the witty banter that occasionally peppers the dialogue, or at least I did.
Not the strongest book I’ve read in ages, but definitely not terrible. Mr. Weeks has a gift for fast-paced, interesting reads and this was no exception, once you get the magic system figured out.
So, lil’ robots, have you read The Black Prism? If so, what did you think? Am I unique in my confusion or did the magics work for you from the beginning? Drop me a line and let me know!
