The Black Prism
| Company type | Novel |
|---|---|
| Industry | Fantasy literature |
| Founded | August 2010 |
| Founder | Brent Weeks |
| Products | Fantasy novel |
The Black Prism is a fantasy work authored by American writer Brent Weeks, marking the inaugural installment of the five-part Lightbringer Series. The narrative centers on Gavin Guile, recognized as the 'Prism' and regarded as the world's most formidable individual, as he faces a rebellion led by a self-declared monarch.
Weeks characterizes the novel as "a tale of ordinary siblings placed in extraordinary situations," delving into themes such as rivalry, bitterness, and affection. Published in August 2010, it garnered predominantly favorable critiques.
Background
Set within a pre-industrial fantasy realm featuring gunpowder weaponry and rudimentary machinery, The Black Prism unfolds across The Seven Satrapies—seven semi-independent nations encircling a vast sea, each governed by a 'satrap'. These satrapies exist under the loose oversight of the Chromeria, a federal central authority that supervises and regulates color-based magic, a fundamental aspect of the storyline.
The Chromeria's governing body comprises seven "Colors," each representing a satrapy, alongside The White and the Prism. The plot revolves around chromaturgy—the manipulation of light to generate 'Luxin.' Unique among magic users, the Prism can draft from every color and "split light," allowing for more potent magical performance than standard drafters. However, drafters risk insanity when Luxin accumulates in their eyes—a condition termed 'breaking the halo'—transforming them into perilous wights. The Chromeria, frequently with assistance from the Prism, eliminates these wights without hesitation.
The Prism serves as an embodiment of the deity Orholam, believed to bestow magical abilities. While endowed with considerable ceremonial influence and protection, the Prism holds limited formal political authority during peaceful times; this responsibility falls to the non-drafting White. Typically, Prisms serve terms of seven, fourteen, or twenty-one years before losing their powers or dying.
Generally, only one individual per generation possesses full-spectrum light-splitting abilities; however, both Guile brothers—Gavin and Dazen—share this rare gift. Their father Andross Guile, a senior Chromeria official representing one spectrum color, groomed Gavin for the Prism role.
Tensions ignite when Dazen sets fire to the White Oak family residence, causing multiple female and child casualties. The Chromeria pursues him as he garners support among its adversaries, triggering a brief yet brutal conflict. The decisive clash at Sundered Rock in Tyrea concludes with Gavin overcoming Dazen. Subsequently, Dazen’s commander Corvan Danavis capitulates, leaving Tyrea devastated—with its male population largely wiped out and its agricultural lands ruined.
Plot
Sixteen years post-conflict, the Prism receives correspondence from a woman identifying herself as "Lina," disclosing that he has a 15-year-old son in Tyrea—conceived while Gavin was betrothed to Karris White Oak, a Blackguard member. The White, a Chromeria leader, dispatches Karris to Garriston—the capital of Tyrea—to monitor its Satrap’s military forces and provides her with a note revealing Gavin’s infidelity to be read after her departure.
To separate Gavin and Karris, Gavin is assigned another mission but opts to escort Karris to Garriston himself by employing magic-assisted flight across the ocean, reducing travel time from weeks to mere hours.
Upon nearing Tyrea, they discover Rekton has been razed by Tyrean forces. They rescue an adolescent facing execution by killing several of the Satrap's guards. The Satrap—now King Garadul—declares sovereignty and admits orchestrating Rekton’s destruction due to tax defiance. Tyreans suffer disrespect beyond their borders and lack representation within the color spectrum hierarchy. Garadul intends to capture Garriston and challenge Chromeria’s dominance.
The boy is unveiled as Kip, Gavin’s son. Following intense confrontations and magical exchanges, Kip departs with the Prism; however, Garadul confiscates a box belonging to Kip containing a white dagger given by his dying mother with instructions to kill her tormentor.
Karris reads The White’s letter and feels betrayed by Gavin’s deception. She declines his assistance for traveling to Garriston and explores Rekton instead where she encounters Corvan Danavis—Kip’s tutor and former general. Later captured by Garadul, Karris leaves Corvan to proceed toward Garriston.
Kip enters Chromeria under surveillance by Blackguard commander Ironfist. Gavin assists Corvan’s daughter Liv in tutoring Kip—they are among the few Tyreans present there. Gavin then visits a concealed prison housing his brother under strict confinement. It is revealed that the current Prism is actually Dazen who assumed Gavin’s identity after the war—terminating Gavin’s engagement and denying any affairs.
Dazen interrogates Gavin about Kip and the dagger—ominously termed "your death coming." Upon meeting their father Andross Guile, Dazen learns about white luxin held by Garadul. Andross commands Dazen to defeat Garadul and recover the dagger at all costs.
Kip, the Prism, Ironfist, and Liv journey to Tyrea to defend Garriston—sinking pirate ships along their route. Corvan arrives at Garriston to lead its defense. Despite genuine friendship with the Prism, they feign animosity and suspicion. Liv suspects coercion but vows vengeance.
Liv and Kip escape captivity to rescue Karris; Ironfist ensures their survival. Liv successfully infiltrates; Kip is captured after drafting sub-red luxin for the first time. Karris meets Lord Omnichrome—her brother Koios thought dead before the war—who commands Garadul's drafters.
Ironfist aids Karris and Kip’s escape; they pursue Garadul. Kip observes Omnichrome giving Zymun—a red drafter connected to Rekton—the rosewood case from his mother but chooses loyalty to Karris. Exploiting Liv's resentment toward Chromeria, Omnichrome recruits her by promising aid for Kip and Karris. Omnichrome plans Garadul’s assassination; Corvan and Dazen fail to prevent it. In fury, Kip kills Garadul.
Kip, Karris, Corvan, and the Prism retreat; Kip rescues Ironfist before chasing after a departing ship. Running atop water, he witnesses an assassin stab the Prism with the dagger and tackles him overboard. Kip retrieves the dagger, leaves the assassin for sharks, then escapes aboard the ship.
The Prism entrusts Kip with the case believing the dagger lost; inside lies a note from Kip’s mother instructing him to kill "the man who raped me, Gavin Guile," while expressing her love. A gem on the dagger shifts color from diamond-clear to sapphire-hued.
Meanwhile, the true Gavin escapes his blue luxin prison only to become trapped within an identical green luxin cell. The novel concludes with Dazen (posing as Gavin) discovering he has lost his ability to draft blue luxin.
Pre-publication
On April 30, 2010, Orbit Books made the initial three chapters of the novel available as a preview on their website.
Critical reception
The novel entered the market at number 23 on The New York Times Best Seller list.
Positive feedback was received from websites such as Grasping For The Wind, Fantasy Faction, and King of the Nerds. According to Publishers Weekly, The Black Prism is a "complex fantasy" that "ventures into well-trodden territory."
In 2011, The Black Prism earned a nomination as a finalist for the David Gemmell Legend Award in the Best Fantasy Novel category.
Later, in 2013, The Blinding Knife secured the David Gemmell Legend Award for Best Fantasy Novel.