Mark Lawrence is a British American science-fiction and fantasy author, as well as a former research scientist. His debut novel, Prince of Thorns (2011), is the first novel in The Broken Empire trilogy and follows Jorg Ancrath, a young prince driven by vengeance on a post-apocalyptic earth in which technology and magic intertwine. The novel is followed by King of Thorns (2012) and Emperor of Thorns (2013), and the trilogy was awarded the David Gemmell Award for Fantasy. Now firmly established as one of the leading figures in the grimdark fantasy movement, Lawrence pens novels that are often compared to the works of Joe Abercrombie and George R. R. Martin.

After the success of The Broken Empire trilogy, Lawrence continued to explore the same universe with a new trilogy titled The Red Queen’s War, which consists of Prince of Fools (2014), The Liar’s Key (2015), and The Wheel of Osheim (2016). The story follows Jalan Kendeth, a cowardly prince who is drawn into dangerous adventures. While The Red Queen’s War maintains the dark themes and complex world-building of Lawrence’s previous novels, it also features a greater degree of humor. Lawrence then created the Book of the Ancestor trilogy, which is set in an entirely new world and follows Nona Grey, a troubled young girl who trains to become a warrior in a convent of magical nuns.