Review of The Last Argument of Kings by Joe Abercrombie

BOOK DESCRIPTION FROM GOODREADS

The end is coming.

Logen Ninefingers might only have one more fight in him – but it’s going to be a big one. Battle rages across the North, the King of the Northmen still stands firm, and there’s only one man who can stop him. His oldest friend, and his oldest enemy: it’s time for the Bloody-Nine to come home.

With too many masters and too little time, Superior Glokta is fighting a different kind of war. A secret struggle in which no-one is safe, and no-one can be trusted. As his days with a sword are far behind him, it’s fortunate that he’s deadly with his remaining weapons: blackmail, threats, and torture.

Jezal dan Luthar has decided that winning glory is too painful an undertaking, and turned his back on soldering for a simple life with the woman he loves. But love can be painful too – and glory has a nasty habit of creeping up on a man when he least expects it.

The King of the Union lies on his deathbed, the peasants revolt, and the nobles scramble to steal his crown. No-one believes that the shadow of war is about to fall across the heart of the Union. Only the First of the Magi can save the world – but there are risks. There is no risk more terrible, than to break the First Law.

The First Law Trilogy is equal parts gruel, war, mayhem and a little bit of magic too but, not to much to take it over the top. Joe Abercrombie writes with a sort of unknown, unspoken knowledge of fighting, battle and the loss and victory that can come with it. What made this story so great (even on the second time through) is how familiar the characters were to me and how I can relate to them in the situations that they went through. Even the unforgiving, warped brilliant mind of Sand Dan Golkta intrigued me as though it would just be common place to act out the story as he did because of the hand he was dealt. Although, the hopeless romantic (blah, blah, blah)in me was anticipating Ferro walking back into Logen's life clear up till the end of the book, it fit well that she did not. Because this is how life is in all its cold unfairness. As Logen would say, "You have to be realistic about these things.". The Dogman was not at all the most wrote over character in the book but I think that he would be my favorite. He held the clearest head of them all, I think and his mutterings were pretty hilarious at times. In fact, I thought all the Northman for being the tough, rugged bunch that they were, were the most humorous. And on the other side of it, the seven Day battle at the fort on the top of the mountain was freakin' paramount! I could cram all those chapters together and read them over and over and over. With all that said, there are still plenty more characters in this story to love and hate. I know that I will pick these books up again as they are on my shelf of some of the best fantasy out there.

Review of The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie

BOOK DESCRIPTION FROM GOODREADS

Logen Ninefingers, infamous barbarian, has finally run out of luck. Caught in one feud too many, he's on the verge of becoming a dead barbarian - leaving nothing behind him but bad songs, dead friends, and a lot of happy enemies.

Nobleman, dashing officer, and paragon of selfishness, Captain Jezal dan Luthar has nothing more dangerous in mind than fleecing his friends at cards and dreaming of glory in the fencing circle. But war is brewing, and on the battlefields of the frozen North they fight by altogether bloodier rules.

Inquisitor Glokta, cripple turned torturer, would like nothing better than to see Jezal come home in a box. But then Glokta hates everyone: cutting treason out of the Union one confession at a time leaves little room for friendship. His latest trail of corpses may lead him right to the rotten heart of government, if he can stay alive long enough to follow it.

Enter the wizard, Bayaz. A bald old man with a terrible temper and a pathetic assistant, he could be the First of the Magi, he could be a spectacular fraud, but whatever he is, he's about to make the lives of Logen, Jezal, and Glotka a whole lot more difficult.

Murderous conspiracies rise to the surface, old scores are ready to be settled, and the line between hero and villain is sharp enough to draw blood. Unpredictable, compelling, wickedly funny, and packed with unforgettable characters, The Blade Itself is noir fantasy with a real cutting edge.

This is some of the best blood and battle type fantasy out there. But yet under the surface of the grusome stuff Abercrombie really brings out the heart of the characters. Makes them believable in their mannerisms and thought patterns. This is my second time through this series and that in itself should say something for the Trilogy. I rarely pick up series twice.

Review of Before They Are Hanged by Joe Abercrombie

BOOK DESCRIPTION FROM GOODREADS

Superior Glokta has a problem. How do you defend a city surrounded by enemies and riddled with traitors, when your allies can by no means be trusted, and your predecessor vanished without a trace? It’s enough to make a torturer want to run – if he could even walk without a stick.

Northmen have spilled over the border of Angland and are spreading fire and death across the frozen country. Crown Prince Ladisla is poised to drive them back and win undying glory. There is only one problem – he commands the worst-armed, worst-trained, worst-led army in the world.

And Bayaz, the First of the Magi, is leading a party of bold adventurers on a perilous mission through the ruins of the past. The most hated woman in the South, the most feared man in the North, and the most selfish boy in the Union make a strange alliance, but a deadly one. They might even stand a chance of saving mankind from the Eaters. If they didn’t hate each other quite so much.

Ancient secrets will be uncovered. Bloody battles will be won and lost. Bitter enemies will be forgiven – but not before they are hanged.

This is my second read through of the First Law Trilogy. The second book definitely does not disappoint as other tween-er books I have read in past. The plot is well laid out for the third and final installment. Ever since I have read through this series the first time, I have thought about the characters and scenarios often. A true testament for how character driven the novels are. After re-reading the Last Argument of Kings I will post a more in depth review of the overall series. In the meant...moreThis is my second read through of the First Law Trilogy. The second book definitely does not disappoint as other tween-er books I have read in past. The plot is well laid out for the third and final installment. Ever since I have read through this series the first time, I have thought about the characters and scenarios often. A true testament for how character driven the novels are. After re-reading the Last Argument of Kings I will post a more in depth review of the overall series. In the meantime, this is a great series with some of the best writing you will find. If you have not read the it, pick up The Blade Itself immediately and "Get on with the bloody work".