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gus717's review
- 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
Graphic: Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Child death, Blood, Death, Kidnapping, Violence, and War
Minor: Sexual content and Rape
da3m0nic's review
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Violence, Blood, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Murder, War, Gore, Death, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, and Sexual content
Minor: Alcohol, Abandonment, Medical trauma, Classism, and Outing
janbabs's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Gore, Body horror, War, Death, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Cursing
Minor: Rape
surdiablo's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Gore, Death, Violence, and War
10stormlight's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Death, Blood, Gore, Cursing, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, and War
Moderate: Sexual content, Vomit, and Excrement
josiah17's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
What I did like though was of course Abercrombie's humor. He made the dull moments tolerable with some laughs. The last 35% or so has some pretty good stuff. The character arcs for the book wrap up well and I look forward to hopefully encountering some of these characters again in future books.
Overall, it's a decent read. But I did struggle in the beginning. Still very excited to continue with First Law.
Edit 1/20/24: I think after sitting on this for a while, I'm bumping up to 3.5 stars.
Graphic: War, Death, Violence, and Blood
adammtucker's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Graphic: War, Death, and Violence
Minor: Animal death and Sexism
Abercrombie is the master of making me care about minor characters includingbookishwondergoth's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Death, Gore, Cursing, Blood, War, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Kidnapping, Animal death, Sexism, Vomit, and Sexual content
Minor: Sexual assault, Medical content, and Excrement
onthesamepage's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I think the pacing was a bit too slow for me, and the book could've been 200 pages shorter and still achieve the same thing. I do really love several of the characters we are (re-)introduced to. We get a new, really interesting female character in the form of Finree, the daughter of Marshal Kroy, who is ambitious enough for her and her husband. Then there are a few familiar names: Black Dow, Shiver and Calder all make an appearance, and Calder's character arc was my favourite.
The descriptions of war and battle are top-notch, but I'd expect nothing less from Abercrombie at this point. There were a couple of chapters where he alternated points of view between characters in a way that seamlessly connected all of them together, and I kept being impressed by how clever the writing is. And throughout all the grim and dark events, we get moments filled with humor. I also appreciate the commentary on war, and how it only serves to make powerful men even more powerful.
Speaking of powerful men, Bayaz is really being built up in my head as a massive villain. I hate him more with every book, and I am waiting for the moment of his fall.
Graphic: Violence, Death, and War
xphilphil's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Violence, Death, and Gore