The Gormenghast Trilogy - Mervyn Peake

One Sentence Summary:

What happens in the kingdom of Gormenghast when the king goes mad? 

Review:

This is a brilliant work of Gothic fantasy from an incomparable author. Peake's voice is so unique I can't think of anyone to compare it to... He is as descriptive as Tolken, as witty as Pratchett and as good of a story teller as Rothfuss. This is not an easy read by any stretch of the imagination but is a really good one. Peake is a painter and that comes through in his descriptions, his painterly observant eye and imagination creates a world a pleasure to read about full of characters you have genuine feelings toward. The writing style tends to employ circular logic and fallible characters, it is great (if you enjoy British humour)! If you enjoy fantasy and haven't read this trilogy yet please add it to your to read list. If you do not like fantasy or are unsure of the genre do not start with this series as it may turn you off the genre. 

6/10

memorable quotes:
"Lingering is so very lonely when one lingers all alone." - book 1

"We are all imprisoned by the dictionary. We choose out of that vast, paper-walled prison our convicts, the little black printed words, when in truth we need fresh sounds to utter, new enfranchised noises which would produce a new effect." - book 1

"The sun sank with a sob and darkness waded in from all horizons so that the sky contracted and there was no more light left in the world, when, at this very moment of annihilation, the moon, as though she had been waiting for her cue, sailed up the night." - book 3

If you enjoyed this refer to this sentence and pick your poison:
as descriptive as Tolken, as witty as Pratchett and as good of a story teller as Rothfuss.

Side note:
check out his art and interviews at: http://www.mervynpeake.org/