The Broken Eye

Last Updated on December 22, 2022 by ThoughtsStained

On August 6th, 2016, I wrote the following review, attempting to detail exactly how I felt about The Broken Eye by Brent Weeks. It was the book that got me into book reviewing and literally changed my life. It’s a book that I distinctly remember becoming completely floored and absolutely stunned into stillness in the last five pages–and that was after reading the last 200 like making progress to the next page was as important to my life as breathing.

I just reread it for the first time.

And fuck me, I forgot so much, appreciate this book so much more and honestly believe this is one of the best written books I’ve ever read, up there with Tolkien and Kings of the Wyld. I am floored. I am speechless.

A few things I wish I could say to the characters, if I could:

Gavin, I am so, so sorry.
And Kip, I am so, so fucking proud of you.
Andross, you disgust me. But you also floor me.
Karris, I love you.
Teia, I am so unbelievably awed by you.
Ironfist. Fucking IRONFIST?! I honest-to-God forgot about this and I am just!!

Also, I never knew a single sound–Tsss–could be so haunting to me.

And the ending. That was one of the most masterful things I’ve ever read. I was stunned again, even though I knew what was going to happen. My heart is literally pounding from the pure adrenaline of reading this book.

“We’re at war. We’re going to start acting like it.”

FUCKING GAH.

Table of Contents

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Book Info

Publication Info

Content Warnings

As the old gods awaken, the Chromeria is in a race to find its lost Prism, the only man who may be able to stop catastrophe, Gavin Guile. But Gavin’s enslaved on a galley, and when he finally escapes, he finds himself in less than friendly hands. Without the ability to draft which has defined him . . .

Meanwhile, the Color Prince’s army continues its inexorable advance, having swallowed two of the seven satrapies, they now invade the Blood Forest. Andross Guile, thinking his son Gavin lost, tasks his two grandsons with stopping the advance. Kip and his psychopathic half-brother Zymun will compete for the ultimate prize: who will become the next Prism.

On the Page

Referenced

Minor

Content warnings are written up by me, unless specified. Subject to being an incomplete list, though guided by referencing this list and trying to highlight as many as I can identify.

Book Depository

IndieBound

Raven Bookstore

Review

Likes

Unable to stop reading: Roughly 300 pages left in that beast and I was reading every spare moment I could. Until eventually, it was 3am, I was about to pass out and I only had 25 pages left. So, naturally, I forced myself to read them and was so shocked, I couldn’t sleep for another hour while I debated whether or not to start The Broken Eye and not sleep altogether.
The Last 20 Pages: These pages were so, so intense, I actually froze, mid-rock in the rocking chair, until I reached the end, the entire time thinking, “Noshitnoshitnoshitnoshit.”
Just…everything? The intricate twists, turns and planning that had to have been involved to make the interwoven plots and character arcs work is so intense, so brilliant, so wrenching that it makes me as an aspiring author wallow because I don’t believe I could ever write something so damn good. Not to mention the way it is written, with the quick pace, beautiful detail and powerful range of voices. Plus the multiple point of views–and tenses–that offers such a 360 view of the story. Not least of all is how there is so much action throughout each book, yet without fail, the last 25-50 pages will leave you breathless and uncharacteristically vulgar. Add in the politics, the religion, the magic, the romance…And I’m just covering the surface here. I could go on and on and on and on…

Dislikes

Are we surprised I found nothing? No, we are not.

Rating

I fucking loved The Broken Eye. It’s one of my favorite books I’ve ever read. Period.

A custom artowrk signature that reads, "Onward to Adventure, Nicole" with a feathered quill and inkpot bordering it.