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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
jombo65's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Another cracker by Abercrombie, laden down by a bit of a slow start. Once things get going, however, they get bloody going.
A return of favorite characters and a sendoff to one in particular. Love it as much as I love the rest. Say one thing for Joe Abercrombie, say he can't write a bad novel.
A return of favorite characters and a sendoff to one in particular. Love it as much as I love the rest. Say one thing for Joe Abercrombie, say he can't write a bad novel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Death, Blood, and Murder
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.onthesamepage's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
In a pretty big departure from the rest of the First Law books, Abercrombie brings us a light fantasy Western. I think that's part of what didn't work me, since I don't tend to enjoy that genre for the most part. The pacing felt extremely slow, and not much happens until the last 25% of the book. I really liked the last part, but not enough to bring the rating up any further.
I enjoyed the POVs we got. Shy and Temple and their interactions were a highlight, and of course I can't forget about Lamb. There are sadly no chapters from his perspective, though. I'm curious to see how the Near/Far Country will fit in with the rest of the world, and what plans Abercrombie has for it.The dragon, specifically, really intrigued me, and I do hope we get to hear more about that at some point.
I enjoyed the POVs we got. Shy and Temple and their interactions were a highlight, and of course I can't forget about Lamb. There are sadly no chapters from his perspective, though. I'm curious to see how the Near/Far Country will fit in with the rest of the world, and what plans Abercrombie has for it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Murder
elliotvanz's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
I haven't read the other books in this series, and I can't help but wonder how I might have interacted with this book if I had. As is it works reasonably well as a standalone so long as you don't mind spending the whole time feeling like you're not in on a joke, and being aware that some of the people you meet are probably a bigger deal, or recognizable, to readers familiar with the world.
This book feels more like a western (or a series of connected western stories) than it does a fantasy. Thankfully for me, that's what I signed up for, but someone going in looking for a fantasy epic is in for a surprise. There's no magic (at least that I noticed) - this is a western with swords and bows instead of guns (mostly). It hits many of the western story tropes: stolen children, mysterious strangers, wagons west, perilous natives, a broken down mining town, "this town's not big enough for the two of us," a heist, the last stand, and even a massacre. Which is where I get to why this was the most divisive book my book club has ever read.
This book is violent and filled with horrible people. I would argue the book tells you what it is right up front, so if you carry on and despite that, well, the book did warn you. Both implicitly and explicitly. When you get a scene where a dog's head ends up on a stick fairly early on that's a signpost for things to come. (Did you just decide to skip this book after reading that?) The language surrounding the people who are obviously stand-ins for the native peoples in the Cowboys versus Indians tropes is...not great. And the absolute gleeful slaughter that occurs later is disturbing. But I don't think that's entirely unintentional.
Abercrombie writes dark violent books that examine the failings of humanity, and how the mundane can be the monstrous. This book felt like an exploration of what makes someone a white hat versus a black hat, and how that assessment shifts depending on where you're standing. It's a deconstruction of western stories and the assumptions about the "good guys" featured is such tales. I found that compelling. A lot of people will simply find it nauseating. I would posit there's no wrong answer here. If you want to read a book exploring the monstrous side of the western genre, peopled with characters who are morally grey at best, this book might interest you. If you don't like reading about bad people doing bad things you're going to want to give this one a pass. Enjoyment of this book is very much going to boil down to a matter of taste.
This book feels more like a western (or a series of connected western stories) than it does a fantasy. Thankfully for me, that's what I signed up for, but someone going in looking for a fantasy epic is in for a surprise. There's no magic (at least that I noticed) - this is a western with swords and bows instead of guns (mostly). It hits many of the western story tropes: stolen children, mysterious strangers, wagons west, perilous natives, a broken down mining town, "this town's not big enough for the two of us," a heist, the last stand, and even a massacre. Which is where I get to why this was the most divisive book my book club has ever read.
This book is violent and filled with horrible people. I would argue the book tells you what it is right up front, so if you carry on and despite that, well, the book did warn you. Both implicitly and explicitly. When you get a scene where a dog's head ends up on a stick fairly early on that's a signpost for things to come. (Did you just decide to skip this book after reading that?) The language surrounding the people who are obviously stand-ins for the native peoples in the Cowboys versus Indians tropes is...not great. And the absolute gleeful slaughter that occurs later is disturbing. But I don't think that's entirely unintentional.
Abercrombie writes dark violent books that examine the failings of humanity, and how the mundane can be the monstrous. This book felt like an exploration of what makes someone a white hat versus a black hat, and how that assessment shifts depending on where you're standing. It's a deconstruction of western stories and the assumptions about the "good guys" featured is such tales. I found that compelling. A lot of people will simply find it nauseating. I would posit there's no wrong answer here. If you want to read a book exploring the monstrous side of the western genre, peopled with characters who are morally grey at best, this book might interest you. If you don't like reading about bad people doing bad things you're going to want to give this one a pass. Enjoyment of this book is very much going to boil down to a matter of taste.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Blood, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Gore, Kidnapping, Murder, Physical abuse, and Violence
Moderate: Animal death, Cursing, Medical content, Misogyny, and Sexual content
Minor: Child abuse, Confinement, Excrement, Grief, Rape, Sexual violence, and Torture
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