The Black Prism (Lightbringer #1) by Brent Weeks

Gavin 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.  But Prisms never last, and Guile knows exactly how long he has left to live: Five years to achieve five impossible goals.
But 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. (from Goodreads)

I absolutely love the world Weeks has created in Black Prism.  This book is pure fantasy and the saga (part of a trilogy) looks to be exquisite.  The magic used in this realm is based on light and color. It is quite unique and different.  I was a little confused at first, but quickly figured out how this power was used.  I like the way Weeks was a little vague leaving plenty of room for surprises and tweaks.  The plot is brilliant and the battles are epic.  The book is over 600 pages long, but don’t let that scare you.  It is seamlessly written and captivating; a gripping story that will leave you begging for more.

Weeks characters were complex and I felt engaged and connected with them.  Our young protagonist Kip is fifteen and the bastard child of Gavin Guile, the Prism.  He is a chubby, quick to temper, loyal, winey, courageous and loveable hero.  I was entranced by so many of the characters in this book especially, Gavin, Dazen, Liv, Kallis, Corvan, Ironfist and the White.

 The political games and the way Weeks describes this world and its history brought the pages to life.  Just when I thought I knew the direction the story was going and who was who, Weeks turned everything inside out.  It made me crazy, it made me mad and I want more.  There were a few sub-plots which made the story more fascinating.  While this is the first in a trilogy, I wasn’t able to find even the hint of a release date.  Mr. Weeks…I do not like waiting!

I give this book 5 coffee cups out of 5.

Purchase:B&N

Author website:Brent Weeks