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da3m0nic's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping, Murder, War, Cursing, Death, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Violence, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Grief, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Misogyny
Minor: Emotional abuse and Death of parent
adammtucker's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Abercombie's take on a western delivers in my favorite standalone yet, filled with tense scenes, great characters, and an enjoyable plot that sets the progressing world against a backdrop you're familiar with from other First Law books. Characters are predictably excellent, and the dialogue sparkles. Gritty, dirty, and fun from start to finish.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and War
Moderate: Alcoholism, Xenophobia, and Slavery
A work that makes exploring the standalones of the First Law worth it, my favorite yet - which is impressive given I thought The Heroes was also excellent.yknight's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Good to see some old characters returning for a (final?) hurrah. I really like Abercrombie's unique character quirks. I would love more set in the first law world.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, War, Sexual content, and Gore
Moderate: Vomit
bookishwondergoth's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Gosh, has it really been 11 years since I read this for the first time? Unreal. This was a reread via audiobook narrated by the excellent Stephen Pacey. It has been a joy to rediscover these books this way, and I will definitely be continuing.
Looking at the previous review I wrote for this book, I think I was way too harsh on it. It stands up incredibly well in the wider context of The First Law series, and to tell the truth, I don’t remember reading the latter half of the book beyond a couple of very key events, so it was nice to go back and refresh my memory and realise it wasn’t that pointless or awful after all!
It really is wonderful to be back with with these characters again, both as a veteran reader and also after having recently reread ‘Best Served Cold’ and ‘The Heroes’. Cosca, Shivers and “Lamb” all make a welcome reappearance, whilst new characters Temple and Shy are just as entertaining as they were the first time around. Temple especially is a delight. I see the blueprint of my all time favourite Orso (from The Age of Madness trilogy) in him; he's that rare breed of Abercrombie character who is genuinely good and just trying to do the right thing, even if he sometimes fails spectacularly.
I also really loved the ending to this one; bittersweet after so much misery in previous instalments—sometimes the light is necessary to make the darkness hit that much harder.
It remains Joe’s weakest book in The First Law series for sure, but that’s not really the biting of a criticism you think it is. I love this world, this story and these characters in all their messy glory with all my heart.
Looking at the previous review I wrote for this book, I think I was way too harsh on it. It stands up incredibly well in the wider context of The First Law series, and to tell the truth, I don’t remember reading the latter half of the book beyond a couple of very key events, so it was nice to go back and refresh my memory and realise it wasn’t that pointless or awful after all!
It really is wonderful to be back with with these characters again, both as a veteran reader and also after having recently reread ‘Best Served Cold’ and ‘The Heroes’. Cosca, Shivers and “Lamb” all make a welcome reappearance, whilst new characters Temple and Shy are just as entertaining as they were the first time around. Temple especially is a delight. I see the blueprint of my all time favourite Orso (from The Age of Madness trilogy) in him; he's that rare breed of Abercrombie character who is genuinely good and just trying to do the right thing, even if he sometimes fails spectacularly.
I also really loved the ending to this one; bittersweet after so much misery in previous instalments—sometimes the light is necessary to make the darkness hit that much harder.
It remains Joe’s weakest book in The First Law series for sure, but that’s not really the biting of a criticism you think it is. I love this world, this story and these characters in all their messy glory with all my heart.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Alcohol, Vomit, Cursing, Death, Kidnapping, Murder, Sexual content, and Violence
Moderate: Alcoholism, Trafficking, and War
Minor: Excrement, Sexual assault, and Torture
The story concerns the abuduction of children and their retrieval by the main character. The children are being trafficked to a buyer for a specfic plot reason, however they are not physically harmed or abused. Two of the characters are canonically alcoholics, one of whom is a lost cause and other who is trying to get better. There is also a backdrop subplot concerning rebellion (and consequently war) , and suppression of said rebellion by the inquisition. Contains the usual Joe Abercrombie grossness concerning bodily fluids, sex and swearing.
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