Last Updated on December 22, 2022 by ThoughtsStained
Well fuck me, I forgot how amazingly talented Brent Weeks is as a writer. This is my second time reading The Black Prism, as I wanted to do a reread of the series before I finally get to experience The Burning White for the first time. It’s a slow going process as I get used to my new job and other routine issues, but my slow reading of both The Black Prism and currently The Blinding Light says nothing about the quality of those reads.
Book Info

Publisher: Orbit Books | Release Date: August 2010 | Pages: 629
Age Range: Adult | Genre: Fantasy | Format: Hardcover | Source: Bought
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.
On the Page
- Abusive parent
- Blood/gore
- Bullying
- Fat shaming
- Death
- Depression
- Loss of a loved one
- Child taken away after birth
- Prostitution
- Slavery
- Violence
- War
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.

Review
Likes
- The balancing of so many POVs and the revealing of information at just the right time! The amazing breadth and depth of the characters that we are presented with! How much I adore Kip and how he feels like so much like the young boy he is! How amazingly impressed I am by the mind of Gavin Guile! How much is revealed within this first book (seriously, my memory is shit and there are some reveals that happened in this book that I could have SWORN happened later in the series)! How much more I understand with this reread!
- onestly, I just think this book was brilliantly, brilliantly done. I missed this world, I missed this story and I love being enveloped back within this world. I can’t express how much I adore Kip and how much I admire him. How awed I am by Gavin Guile. The crush I have on Ironfist. How much I am inspired by and admire Karris (I have named every single video game character I’ve ever created after her, after all). How much I hate Andross Guile. How badly I want to be friends with Teia. How much I wish I could join the Blackguards
Dislikes
Rating

Sometimes, I feel like I can’t review books, when I’m just left as a jumble of awe. The Black Prism absolutely left me in that state, which the shortness of this review reflects. Yet it isn’t mean to say the book itself isn’t incredible. In fact, it’s the start of a whirlwind of a series, one of the best I’ve ever read. I highly recommend it.

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Oh I love this book too!! Book 2 only gets better!
I have only 100 pages left and I LOVE IT.
I have never heard of this series, but after your enthusiastic review, this is definitely going into my TBR. Thanks for the recommendation. π
Ohmygosh, YAY. That always makes me feel so good inside, to know my review helped lead someone to a book! I hope you enjoy it, when you read it! Let me know when you do! <3
I’ve been wanting to read this one for so long! I really need to pick it up this year!
Great review!
(www.evelynreads.com)
Oh, Evelyn, I think you’ll love it! I hope you enjoy it, when you get to read it!
Well I have a quote for when I repost on Twitter π. Great review as always Nicole!!
You’re the best. <3 <3 <3
I bought a copy of this book and I really hope that it’s as good as you say! I have high hopes
Ahhhh, it is, it is!!! EEP, I can’t wait to see what you think!!
Omg I hope so bc it sounds so cool. The magic system is supposed to be really unique
It is unlike anything else I’ve ever read!!
Ahhh yayyy so hype