Twisted Kingdom

This is the first book in The Great Book of Amber.

Amber, the one real world, wherein all others, including our own Earth, are but Shadows. Amber burns in Corwin's blood. Exiled on Shadow Earth for centuries, the prince is about to return to Amber to make a mad and desperate rush upon the throne. From Arden to the blood-slippery Stairway into the Sea, the air is electrified with the powers of Eric, Random, Bleys, Caine, and all the princes of Amber whom Corwin must overcome. Yet, his savage path is blocked and guarded by eerie structures beyond imaging—impossible realities forged by demonic assassins and staggering horrors to challenge the might of Corwin's superhuman fury.

I was so lucky to have won this book because, so far, I am really enjoying the series. This is the first book, and it was a good introduction. To be honest, so far I believe that the collected works is the best way to release this series because the books flow into one another in such a way that they can all be the same book. Corwin, a Prince of Amber, is the main character. He has been exiled on Earth, and has no memory of who he is and where he came from. The nine brothers are fighting for the throne of Amber, and it is these brothers that Corwin has to beat in order to become king. He just does not necessarily know this yet.

In this book, we really get our first glimpse of Corwin, and through him get a rundown of the family tree, and what a large family tree it is. Nine is just the brothers, there are several sisters, too. The family is all rather old, but for them Amber is the real world and the place that we call earth is just a shadow to them. The whole family is against one another, with brief alliances happening from time to time to gain power. Power is the name of the game for this family, that is for sure. Female characters are rather lacking in this power struggle, though. They make their appearances, but just as quickly they vanish so that their brothers can battle things out.

Overall, though, a very good first book to this series. I have also read book two, which I will review soon, and I plan to read more of the series soon. What does everyone think of the 1977 cover?