Mark  Lawrence

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Mark Lawrence’s Followers (56,146)

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Keye
458 books | 74 friends

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Mark Lawrence

Goodreads Author


Born
in The United States
Website

Twitter

Genre

Member Since
November 2010

URL


My books vary a LOT - so here's a handy guide.

[My new book The Book That Broke The World is out now!]

Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/marklawrencea...

Blog here: http://mark---lawrence.blogspot.co.uk/

I'm on Youtube now! *excitement!*
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIrB...

Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/MarkLawrence...

Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/mark___lawr...

Threads
https://www.threads.net/@mark___lawrence

Blue Sky
https://bsky.app/profile/marklawrence...

Three-emails-a-year newsletter here:
http://eepurl.com/cimnK1 #Prizes #FreeContent

I'm even on Tumblr!
https://www.tumblr.com/blog/marklawre...

Pintrest!
https://uk.pinterest.com/princeofthor...

Plus I have free stuff on Wattpad!
https://www.wattpad.com/user/MarkLawr...

Mark L
...more

To ask Mark Lawrence questions, please sign up.

Popular Answered Questions

Mark Lawrence I'm not sure 'anti-hero' is the right word for Jorg:

http://mark---lawrence.blogspot.co.uk...

Jorg's character was inspired by Alex from Anthony Burgess…more
I'm not sure 'anti-hero' is the right word for Jorg:

http://mark---lawrence.blogspot.co.uk...

Jorg's character was inspired by Alex from Anthony Burgess' 1962 classic, A Clockwork Orange, who does those things. So that's one answer.

The other answer is 'why not'. It's not necessary (for most people) to like a characters in order that they be interested in what happens to them. Additionally is it interesting that we can like a character even when we don't like what that character does.(less)
Mark Lawrence I pronounce it like it's spelled. Like Bjorn Borg, or The Borg, but with a J. J, for jug, org as in the .org domain.

It was originally Jorge (like Geor…more
I pronounce it like it's spelled. Like Bjorn Borg, or The Borg, but with a J. J, for jug, org as in the .org domain.

It was originally Jorge (like George) but Americans pronounce that as Hoor-Hey, so I lost the 'e'.

In the US audio book they say Jorg as I would (because they asked me).
In the UK audio book they say Yorg (they didn't ask me).

If I had wanted people to say a Y at the front ... I would have put a Y at the front :D(less)
Average rating: 4.08 · 614,587 ratings · 51,863 reviews · 99 distinct worksSimilar authors
Prince of Thorns (Broken Em...

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King of Thorns (Broken Empi...

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Red Sister (Book of the Anc...

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Emperor of Thorns (Broken E...

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Grey Sister (Book of the An...

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The Book That Wouldn’t Burn...

3.97 avg rating — 41,183 ratings — published 2023 — 23 editions
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Prince of Fools (The Red Qu...

4.05 avg rating — 35,298 ratings — published 2014 — 43 editions
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Holy Sister (Book of the An...

4.30 avg rating — 31,549 ratings — published 2019 — 33 editions
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The Liar's Key (The Red Que...

4.23 avg rating — 21,788 ratings — published 2015
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One Word Kill (Impossible T...

3.75 avg rating — 21,247 ratings — published 2019 — 12 editions
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More books by Mark Lawrence…

Enter SPFBO 11

https://mark---lawrence.blogspot.com/...

It's free, it's easy, and if you do well, it's a ton of publicity for your book!

Open for the next 20 hours or so.



Read more of this blog post »
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Published on January 03, 2026 07:44
Prince of Thorns King of Thorns Emperor of Thorns
(3 books)
by
4.02 avg rating — 260,718 ratings

Red Sister Grey Sister Holy Sister
(3 books)
by
4.25 avg rating — 138,802 ratings

Prince of Fools The Liar's Key The Wheel of Osheim
(3 books)
by
4.17 avg rating — 76,855 ratings

The Book That Wouldn’t Burn The Book That Broke the World The Book That Held Her Heart
(3 books)
by
3.96 avg rating — 66,032 ratings

One Word Kill Limited Wish Dispel Illusion
(3 books)
by
3.90 avg rating — 35,667 ratings

More series by Mark Lawrence…

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The Damned King
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by Justin Lee Anderson (Goodreads Author)
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Mark Lawrence Mark Lawrence said: " OUT TODAY!

Got book 3 in #SPFBO champion Justin Lee Anderson's fine series!

image:


Join my Patreon
Join my 3-emails-a-year newsletter #prizes
...more "

 
Daughter of Crows
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by Mark Lawrence (Goodreads Author)
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Mark Lawrence Mark Lawrence said: " I've written a DARK book here!

Currently there's a US giveaway going on: https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/sh...




And you can pre-order signed copies from Waterstones (UK) now! https://www.waterstones.com/book/daug...
note, these are limited in number
...more "

 
Missing Pages
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Mark Lawrence Mark Lawrence said: " Missing Pages is finally ready 😮 Don't forget the short stories!



All the Library short stories, plus a new one (Tabula Rasa) in one ebook, paperback, or hardcover.

Go get it!



Cover art by Tom Brown - check him out:
https://mothfestival.wordpress.com/co.
...more "

 

Mark’s Recent Updates

Mark Lawrence is on page 201 of 492 of The Damned King: Very good - opens with a 100 page battle in a monster-overrun town, which has lots of variety and character stuff to leven it.

More of the book 2 allied character conflict - which feels totally real, groups argue, a lot. And in this book there's more resolution with a bunch of insightful/touching moments.

Could be my favourite of the trilogy, and the first two were fine books.
The Damned King by Justin Lee Anderson
The Damned King (Eidyn, #3)
by Justin Lee Anderson (Goodreads Author)
progress: 
 
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Mark Lawrence started reading
The Damned King by Justin Lee Anderson
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The Visitor by Mark  Lawrence
"Another beautiful short story by Mark Lawrence to add to the pile. If you have read the first Visitor story then I can highly recommened this second one."
Daughter of Crows by Mark  Lawrence
"Great. His best novel yet See! Thanks for the ARC, Mark. See my review on my YouTube channel BrianLeeDurfeeReviews https://youtu.be/fwU29ULTuL4?si=c1gJ9..." Read more of this review »
Mark Lawrence is currently reading
Daughter of Crows by Mark  Lawrence
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I've written a DARK book here!

Currently there's a US giveaway going on: https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/sh...

[image]


And you can pre-order signed copies from Waterstones (UK) now! https://www.waterstones.com/book/daug...
note, these are limited in
...more
Mark Lawrence and 8 other people liked Patrycja's status update
Patrycja
Patrycja is 21% done with Daughter of Crows: Okay… I did not expect this one, nicely done Mark!
Mark Lawrence rated a book really liked it
Starhammer by Christopher Rowley
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Solid sci-fi grimdark!

Humanity as a brutalized slave race to alien overlords. An action-packed race/chase/bash as one man fights the system.

It's actually the 2nd book in this trilogy that stuck in my mind for decades and made me seek out the 1st book
...more
Emperor of Thorns by Mark  Lawrence
" always nice when someone follows up one of my trilogies with a very different one, and likes both :) "
Mark Lawrence rated a book it was amazing
The Cider House Rules by John Irving
The Cider House Rules
by John Irving (Goodreads Author)
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I read this book a long time ago (more than 20 years), but today seems like a good day to review it. It was published in 1985 and starts in the 1940s.

It's a long, complicated, literary novel that tackles the issue of abortion and also racism.

"Good ni
...more
Mark Lawrence is currently reading
Daughter of Crows by Mark  Lawrence
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I've written a DARK book here!

Currently there's a US giveaway going on: https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/sh...

[image]


And you can pre-order signed copies from Waterstones (UK) now! https://www.waterstones.com/book/daug...
note, these are limited in
...more
More of Mark's books…
Quotes by Mark Lawrence  (?)
Quotes are added by the Goodreads community and are not verified by Goodreads. (Learn more)

“Memories are dangerous things. You turn them over and over, until you know every touch and corner, but still you'll find an edge to cut you.”
Mark Lawrence, Prince of Thorns

“Tell me, tutor,' I said. 'Is revenge a science, or an art?”
Mark Lawrence, Prince of Thorns

“We die a little every day and by degrees we’re reborn into different men, older men in the same clothes, with the same scars.”
Mark Lawrence, King of Thorns

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Topics Mentioning This Author

topics posts views last activity  
Beyond Reality: Forthcoming books for August 2011 34 101 Aug 01, 2011 07:22PM  
Fantasy Book Club: This topic has been closed to new comments. It's time to nominate our October book 104 451 Sep 30, 2011 05:31AM  
SciFi and Fantasy...: This topic has been closed to new comments. Dark Fantasy Nominations for February 77 148 Jan 11, 2012 07:55PM  
SciFi and Fantasy...: February Fantasy Theme: Anti-Hero 23 227 Feb 01, 2012 06:22AM  
The Sword and Laser: B&N Best Fantasy Books of 2011 10 193 Feb 03, 2012 07:47AM  
Fantasy Book Club...: Best of 2011 Lists 13 129 Feb 04, 2012 05:47AM  
Fantasy Aficionados: B&N Best Fantasy Books of 2011 3 102 Mar 09, 2012 03:00PM  
“Love is the extremely difficult realization that something other than oneself is real.”
Iris Murdoch, Existentialists and Mystics: Writings on Philosophy and Literature

“A city's only ever three hot meals away from anarchy.”
Alastair Reynolds, Terminal World

“I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.”
Frank Herbert, Dune

“I don't know half of you half as well as I should like; and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve.”
J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring

“All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost.

From the ashes a fire shall be woken,
A light from the shadows shall spring;
Renewed shall be blade that was broken,
The crownless again shall be king.”
J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring

636120 The Cool Kids' Fantasy Club — 1787 members — last activity Jan 10, 2026 04:13AM
A group to chat about SFF books. Authors and readers welcome. I might post about my books and the Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off too. I plan on maki ...more
220 Goodreads Librarians Group — 310194 members — last activity 1 minute ago
Goodreads Librarians are volunteers who help ensure the accuracy of information about books and authors in the Goodreads' catalog. The Goodreads Libra ...more
10915 Fantasy Book Club — 2291 members — last activity Jan 22, 2026 12:39PM
For readers of Fantasy, monthly book discussions and other fun stuff! We hold nominations on the first Saturday of the month, the poll opens the fo ...more
106876 Dragons & Jetpacks — 2545 members — last activity 2 hours, 18 min ago
A book group for all those who love sci-fi and fantasy. We read three books per month, one from each genre, plus a carefully curated moderators specia ...more
1865 SciFi and Fantasy Book Club — 41927 members — last activity 55 minutes ago
Hi there! SFFBC is a welcoming place for readers to share their love of speculative fiction through group reads, buddy reads, challenges, ...more
107259 /r/Fantasy Discussion Group — 6564 members — last activity Jan 22, 2026 12:00PM
A place for readers/contributors of Reddit's /r/Fantasy subreddit to discuss books from the genre and see others' book lists and recommendations. ...more
17394 SFF Chronicles — 81 members — last activity Feb 09, 2015 12:04PM
A group for members of the SFF Chronicles forum
157418 Grimdark Fantasy — 2001 members — last activity Nov 25, 2025 02:41AM
This is for fans of what has been coined Grimdark Fantasy. This includes books by authors such as Joe Abercrombie, Mark Lawrence, George RR Martin, Sc ...more
58904 The Broken Empire Universe by Mark Lawrence — 90 members — last activity Apr 27, 2019 06:27PM
For anyone who has read books from The Broken Empire Universe and wants to discuss them. GRs: Mark Lawrence Author's site Unofficial website The Br ...more
55259 Knights of Draconic: A Fantasy Book Club — 115 members — last activity Dec 30, 2014 05:13AM
We are the Knights of Draconic! A bunch of people with a passion for fantasy books! We will do all things fantasy! Roleplaying for the younger members ...more
More of Mark’s groups…
Comments (showing 8-57)    post a comment »

message 57: by Richard

Richard Dominguez Thank you for the friend


message 56: by Levi

Levi Mercury Great writer, even greater man. All the best, Mr. Lawrence!


message 55: by Mark

Mark Lawrence Dan wrote: "Starting Red Sister, and with how I've been striking out lately I'm extra excited about it!

Anyway, I look inside and wa-la, I even get an prependix! Thank you for that. And Mark, thank you for 1..."


Let's hope so!


message 54: by Dan (last edited Jul 02, 2018 05:24PM)

Dan Starting Red Sister, and with how I've been striking out lately I'm extra excited about it!

Anyway, I look inside and wa-la, I even get an prependix! Thank you for that. And Mark, thank you for 10-page average chapters. So much easier to say "just one more"!

Sometimes you just know right away that a book is going to be good!


message 53: by Mark

Mark Lawrence Ellie wrote: "Thanks for accepting my request!
I am currently anticipating the receipt of Emperor of Thorns, I'm a little late to the party, I know.

The Turtle Moves."


Better late than never. Much better. I hope you enjoy the book!


message 52: by Ellie

Ellie Billings Thanks for accepting my request!
I am currently anticipating the receipt of Emperor of Thorns, I'm a little late to the party, I know.

The Turtle Moves.


Jenny Baker Thank you Mark for accepting my friend request!


message 50: by Shashi

Shashi I voted for Red Sister! Good Luck!


message 49: by Angela

Angela Theel Admittedly I chose Prince of Thorns for the cover. I often choose my books in this manner. I am SO grateful for it. Fantastic read. Jorg is a very captivating character. I finished it today and immediately bought King of Thorns. I look forward to finishing the series. Thank you for your works. They are becoming a wonderful addition to my collection.


message 48: by Donna

Donna Thank you Mark for accepting my friendship request on Good Reads.


Skirmish Thanks for accepting my friend request! Im looking forward to reading your books


Rebecca L Thank you Mark for accepting my FR:)
I loved Prince of Thorns!


message 45: by Mark

Mark Lawrence Clifton wrote: "Just started reading Prince of Thorns. Masterful!"

Great to hear, Clifton. If you've finished it then remember that all authors are grateful for readers who take a moment to hit that star rating button!


message 44: by Mark

Mark Lawrence Angela wrote: "I am so excited, I finally got to buy Prince of Thorns. It's been on my list for a while. I look forward to reading it."

I hope you like it when you get around to it. A glance at your books indicates that it may be a bit of a culture shock!


message 43: by Angela

Angela Theel I am so excited, I finally got to buy Prince of Thorns. It's been on my list for a while. I look forward to reading it.


message 42: by Clifton

Clifton Hill Just started reading Prince of Thorns. Masterful!


message 41: by Molly

Molly Hi Mark, I found some of your books under https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...


message 40: by Yami

Yami hi Mark, I keep finding your reviews on the same books that catch my attention either I read or in my TBR pile, so I was wondering if you going to read the rest of the Gentleman bastard by Scott Lynch anytime soon, would like to see your reviews on it, it is getting better and more complicated btw, i am nearly half way through the 3rd one.


message 39: by Molly

Molly Happy New Year, Mark!


message 38: by Molly

Molly Thanks for accepting my friend request. Love your work.
I hope to see a Croatian edition of the Broken Empire and Prince of Fools soon, for those unfortunate souls that don't read english. Looking forward to The Liar's Key.


message 37: by Benji

Benji Glaab Hey Mark thanks for accepting the friend request looking forward to discussing some great sff.


message 36: by Brooke

Brooke Thank you so much for adding me! Your work is amazing!


message 35: by Jola

Jola I finally read Prince of Thorns - great opening to a series!


message 34: by Marc

Marc Jones Just started Prince of fools.
Once again you have hooked me with the opening line.


message 33: by Jerome

Jerome Lim Hello there! I am shamelessly posting my Facebook share here, I would be very grateful if you could follow the link to Mark Lawrence's Facebook page and like my doctored image for the Prince of Foolscompetition! Thanks in advance and don't forget to check out the other images that have been entered!

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fb...


message 32: by Marc

Marc Jones Mark wrote: "Marc wrote: "As much as I hate myself for pestering for spoilers but.....
Will we ever learn the final fate of Chella.....her chapters surprised me as being one of the best parts of Emperor of Thor..."



Thanks for the response Mark
The Chella Povs were one of the strongest parts of the book for me, you took a character who was pretty much alien and in possession of no redeeming quality's and turned it around....she was but no means like-able but she at-least appeared human and worthy of some empathy on my part.
If she managed to someone survive her last appearance shes gonna be a pretty broken woman in the new world Jorg wrought.


message 31: by Mark

Mark Lawrence Marc wrote: "As much as I hate myself for pestering for spoilers but.....
Will we ever learn the final fate of Chella.....her chapters surprised me as being one of the best parts of Emperor of Thorns."


I don't know. All I can say is that I don't know what happened/happens to any of the characters after I stop writing. Whether I'll ever write more about any of them ... who knows? Not me!

Glad you liked the Chella, chapters.


message 30: by Marc

Marc Jones As much as I hate myself for pestering for spoilers but.....
Will we ever learn the final fate of Chella.....her chapters surprised me as being one of the best parts of Emperor of Thorns.


message 29: by Krystal

Krystal Wolfe Hey, thanks very much for the add! I'm a huge fan (although you effectively crushed my heart at the end of Emperor of Thorns) but hey, you did warn us in the blurb. I wonder if that quote "..but do not follow me. Follow me, and I will break your heart" has a sneaky double meaning?


message 28: by Dorian

Dorian Hello. Thanks for adding me.


message 27: by Mark

Mark Lawrence Nevey Berry wrote: "Thanks for befriending me.

I love your book cover."


Hopefully by now you've loved what's underneath too :)


message 26: by Mark

Mark Lawrence Hudson wrote: "Hello Mark and thank you. I have just come back to fantasy after a very long absence and I am glad to be back. So far I have blazed through Martin, Sullivan and Hobb, Prince of Thorns is one of the..."

Welcome back! I took 10 years off myself - George Martin's books dragged me back & Robin Hobb kept me in after that.


message 25: by Hudson

Hudson Hello Mark and thank you. I have just come back to fantasy after a very long absence and I am glad to be back. So far I have blazed through Martin, Sullivan and Hobb, Prince of Thorns is one of the next on my list, can't wait!
Thanks also for your participation in the various groups and forums on Goodreads, as a fan I will tell you I really appreciate it!


message 24: by Daniel (last edited Aug 09, 2013 12:56AM)

Daniel I have to admit that if I had not have read your synopsis of prince of thorns I would not have guessed that the broken empire series was based in our own world in a different time period. I mean I was a bit weirded out over the way that 'spirit in the wall' was talking. But I still didn't realise. The fact actually makes me more excited to finally finish king of thorns and then start my copy of emperor.
I mean the philosopher references did make me suspicious but i thought you were just trying to provoke a sense of deja vu.


Julia Joanne Black Thank you for accepting my friend request, Mark. :)


message 22: by Greg

Greg Repice I entered a contest last Christmas for a Bad "Elf on the shelf" picture. I was winning until all of a sudden these 4 other contestants jumped up 100's of voted in the last hours. I researched it and found out about proxy servers.
Saw Elf
http://www.fanpop.com/clubs/saw/image...


message 21: by Greg

Greg Repice Mark. It is hard to win online voting contest. People cheat and use proxy servers to give themselves more votes. So you did not loose last time.
"The Game is Rigged Man" Bodie -The Wire

You can actually hire companies from Asian countries to boost your online votes. Not to say you would ever do something like that. I just wanted to let you know what you are up against.


message 20: by Ann

Ann Wang Just received Prince of Thorns in the mail! I'm looking forward to reading it.


Nikoleta Katsiouli Thanks for the accept!!
I m so happy!!Your book is gonna be published in Greece soon!!!

http://www.chryssalisbooks.gr/

https://www.facebook.com/pages/%CE%95...


message 18: by Kyle

Kyle Just pre-ordered Empire of Thorns! Now I feel like I should have a sticker, or stamp or something showing it off... like they give us at the voting booth on election day.


message 17: by Mark

Mark Lawrence Nick wrote: "Mark, thanks for adding me. Huge fan of your writing.

Do you have plans to write any other novels within the Broken Empire Universe (after Emperor)?

Nick"


Yup - Just written one. Out 2014 if all goes to plan! Not a 'Jorg' book though.


message 16: by Nick

Nick Mark, thanks for adding me. Huge fan of your writing.

Do you have plans to write any other novels within the Broken Empire Universe (after Emperor)?

Nick


message 15: by Mark

Mark Lawrence Tim wrote: "Sorry Celyn didn't make it into the finals."

robbed! I demand a recount!


message 14: by Mark

Mark Lawrence Todd wrote: "Hey Mark, I'm a teacher always trying to hunt down good books. Do you have any children books that you'd consider must reads?"

Sorry I missed this - I guess it all depends on the age. Many classics I loved seem too slow for modern kids (Stig of the Dump, Weirdstone of Brisengamen), Dahl still seems to work (Fantastic Mr Fox etc). My daughter _loves_ Lauren Child, especially the Claric Bean books. But there's no beating Wheel-Mouse vs All The Crazy Robots!


message 13: by Todd

Todd Hey Mark, I'm a teacher always trying to hunt down good books. Do you have any children books that you'd consider must reads?


message 12: by Mark

Mark Lawrence Nevey Berry wrote: "Hello Mark,
I wonder if you have a Twitter I would love to add you over there :) .

Nevey."


Sorry - missed this one! It's @mark__lawrence (2 underscores)


message 11: by Tim

Tim Marquitz Sorry Celyn didn't make it into the finals.


message 10: by L

L Dear Mark,
It is an honor and real privalidge to connect with you here on GoodReads. The Broken Empire trilogy is quite remarkable and just wonderful, and as a fan of the fantasy genre as well i would like to thank you for being my friend.
Kind Regards
Lucinda x


Neveen Hello Mark,
I wonder if you have a Twitter I would love to add you over there :) .

Nevey.


Devraj Thanks for the add! I'm from India and am a big fan of your work. The best moment for me in the book was the door with the artificial intelligence. I simply loved the whole concept. I can't wait for the second book! Kudos to you again, cheers!


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