Rating: 
Summary: Excellent book
Review: If you liked the Shannara series, this book is right along those lines. The book is well planned out and doesn't meander like some books do where you can tell the author didn't plan out the book in advance. The big difference between this and Shannara is that Keyes doesn't mind getting into the love/sex angle which Brooks likes to avoid.
Rating:
Summary: A dark rose among thorns
Review: The Briar King is the first novel in the (planned) fantasy quartet, "Kingdoms of Thorn & Bone." The gist of my review is this: TBK is perhaps the first wonderful fantasy book of the 21st century and worthy of a place beside A Game of Thrones (George Martin) and Assassin's Apprentice (Robin Hobb) on your shelf reserved for engaging, well-written, mature, contemporary fantasy. It is, in a word, a keeper.TBK opens with one of (if not the) best preludes in fantasy, which raises the overshadowing concept for the saga: a warrior-queen leads an army of enslaved humans in the storming of their demonic masters' citadel, only to learn that the means of their victory may have set in motion the doom of the world. In the story itself, set over 2,000 years later, the first signs of this doom begin to appear in the kingdom of Crotheny. The mythical Briar King, doom's harbinger, is said to be waking from his ancient slumber, even as the wars and intrigues of the human nations carry on, seemingly unaware ... I've been deliberately vague about the actual story and principal characters so as to let the book speak for itself. I read a good deal of fantasy fiction (and write it as well), and I'm pleased to say that this is one of the best I've read in recent memory. Keyes writes in clear, often artful prose and has a true gift not only for world-building (and the research that surely underlies it) but also for showing the world and its wonders and horrors vividly without over-description or telling. (Or at least, when he must tell, he does it in a plausible, often inconspicuous manner.) The dialogue is crisp and spiced with wit and various languages; the characters are, for the most part, realistic and distinct. The plot is well-balanced and builds to a page-turning crescendo. If I have a quibble, it's that not enough of ancient history and mysteries are revealed to make the climax wholly comprehensible. That is, the hook for the next book is a bit heavily baited, but it's bait that I'll bite on nonetheless. With the medieval/"British" nature of Crotheny and the chapter-by-chapter shifts in character viewpoint, TBK will indeed draw comparisons to A Game of Thrones. However, they should mainly be favorable comparisons; moreover, TBK develops a different "feel" or texture as it progresses--the lands of Westeros didn't spring to mind as I read on. The bottom line: I read this book free of charge from the public library; I've since ordered it because I'd like a copy for my fantasy shelf and, more importantly, because Keyes deserves our support and encouragement. This book helped me remember what this genre can be.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent!!
Review: Gregory Keyes has created a series that will be on the tongues of many fantasy readers for years to come. Buy this now and say you were there at the beginning...
Rating:
Summary: Great!
Review: This book, part one of Kingdoms of Bone and Thorn, is one of the better fantasy novels written these days, and is well worth a read. Keyes juggles several point-of-views, and does so wonderfully, truly connecting the reader to the story and its amiable characters. While not quite so compelling as George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series, the Briar King certainly is a solid debut for this tetrology, and is a splendid addition to epic fantasy.
Rating:
Summary: 2 thumbs way up
Review: The other reviews do an excellent job of describing why this is such a great book. I keep less than 3% of the books I read for my permanent collection. This book is a keeper.
Rating:
Summary: If You Like Martin and de Lint . . .
Review: The Story: In the ancient kingdom of Crotheny, the ruling family are humans with the last name of Dare, descended from Virginia Dare, a sorceress-queen. There is also another civilized race, called the Sefry. Both were once enslaved by the conquering invaders Skasloi, whom Virginia Dare defeated with magic and military might. Now, centuries after Virginia Dare, there is heresy, dark magic, and strange happenings afoot in Crotheny and in its neighbors. While the emperor is preoccupied with avoiding and/or winning a war, some of his family and household are getting caught up in something much bigger: the ancient Briar King, a being of legend and old, dark magic, has awakened, and that could mean the end of the humans and the Sefry. Commentary: First of all, Keyes writes beautifully. Some of this prose verges on the poetic. The story is not quite as convoluted as Martin's Song of Ice and Fire, but it comes close. Also like Martin, many of the apparent main characters are dead by the end of this first-of-three books. But, there is a real fusion of genres here and, while this book is definitely classic fantasy, a la Martin, and has elements of science fiction involving human colonization, like Silverberg's "The Longest Way Home", there is also a strong element of ancient folk legend, akin to Charles de Lint's urban folklore and merging of ancient myth with contemporary life. The result is something a little different and very, very good. Two cautions: While not as dark and gruesome as Martin's Song of Ice and Fire, there are still many murders and some gore in this story. Also, this is not for the impatient reader: not only is this the first book of a trilogy, with the other two not out yet, but this is also a complex story that does not lend itself to a quick pace.
Rating:
Summary: Page-Turning Fantasy
Review: Gregory Keyes does a remarkable job of taking tried-and-tested ideas from the genre of fantasy, and putting a unique spin on it. From start to finish, The Briar King never lets up, and you'll find yourself awake late at night flipping pages. The strength of this book lies in the characters, which is surprising, since each one seems to have been crafted from various templates that previous authors have already used. This does not, however, diminish their poignancy. Each character has their own personality, and they feel very human. Not quite as realistically human as George R. R. Martin's brash characters, or as monotone as Robert Jordan's predictable characters, but you will sympathize with them, nonetheless, and enjoy their interactions with one another. One thing I especially liked about this book is the structure it takes. The chapters are not overly long, but they're extremely focused, and Keyes does not waste time with useless details. Likewise, since there's not a huge cast, the gaps between a specific characters chapter are not too long. In other words, once you finish a certain chapter, you won't have to wait another 200 pages until you visit with them again. And enough attention is devoted to each character so that you won't feel like any are being ignored or may be unimportant in the long run. One thing I did not like, however, is that the book as a whole seemed a bit predictable. Perhaps this is a flaw in how Keyes isn't exactly venturing into unexplored territory, or it could just be the fact that this is the first book in a series. Regardless, it was fairly easy to tell what was going to happen, who was most likely going to die, and so forth. However, a couple of the deaths caught me entirely off-guard, and one of them even had me squirming in my seat. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of fantasy. Particular, if you appreciate George R. R. Martin's work, you will most likely enjoy The Briar King.
Rating:
Summary: one of the best fantasy novels i've ever read
Review: I had never heard of The Briar King or Greg Keyes until I saw Terry Brooks plugging the book on his web site. I decided to check it out. It has always been difficult for me to get excited about a new fantasy series, it feels like a major investment of time and I don't want it to be a waste. But, with the Terry Brooks recommendation and blurbs on the back cover from Melanie Rawn and Katherine Kurtz, I was willing to give the book a chance. I'm glad that I did. The Briar King will suffer from inevitable comparisons to Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time and to George Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire . While such comparisons are only natural, they are unfair. A fantasy series needs time to develop over several books to be fairly compared to another major series. Also, while there are a couple of stylistic similarities, The Briar King is wholly distinct. It also stands up quite well on its own. The novel begins thousands of years before the main story, as we see the origins of the land and the prophecy that will begin to shape the events of the book. The novel follows several characters: the headstrong daughter of a king, a woodsman, and a bookish scholar. While some of these paths to intertwine at points, there is quite a bit going on to build the world as a real place as well as creating a detailed story that will be a joy to follow over 4 books. The series will be called The Kingdoms of Thorn and Bone and will be four books. This is an exciting new fantasy series, and any fan of Robert Jordan or George Martin owes it to him or herself to check this one out.
Rating: 
Summary: Creative
Review: Mr.Keys has written a very creative book, with interesting characters.
It was easy able to over look the flaws (in my opinion), and to enjoy reading the Briar King.
It will take a great effort to make book 2 as good as book 1, and i hope he succeeds. (I am looking forward to the next one.)
It is always great when a new author arrives in the fantasy world. good book.
Rating:
Summary: The Briar King Rules!
Review: 2003 is getting to a good start if this novel is example of what's coming out this year! Keyes has launched himself into the big leagues of epic fantasy authors with this book! He takes us to the kingdom of Crotheny where evil forces both natural and supernatural will threaten this empire and royal family. The events are seen through the eyes of some unforgettable characters: Aspar White-the King's holter who investigates some brutal murders and who uncovers a terrifying threat, the awakening of ancient beast called greffyn who leaves a trail of death and destruction. Stephen Darrige, a young monk who finds a sinister plot against the crown festering in his monastery. Neil MeqVren-a young knight who protects the queen against a assasination plot! and last but not least is Anne Dare-the young headstrong princess who will find out that she might be savior of her world! Keyes's world-building skills are incredible as he takes us step by step into the land of Crotheny that will be threatened by war from it's neighbors and lethal intrigue at home!Keyes's atmospheric prose will remind you of Martin's saga as he describes the menaces of Briar King, who's arrival signifies evil forces are afoot on the land and utterly terrifying greffyn and Keyes also is no slouth in action catergory as this novel has plenty of swordfights, daring escapes and and brutal battle scenes.This novel bodes well for future installments of this epic series!
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