Reviews tagging 'Death'

The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie

48 reviews

vaxis's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

Few writing choices annoy me more than onomatopoeia as dialogue that is then tagged as what the onomatopoeia was. Lots of "'Ugh,' he  groaned" and "'Ssss,' she hissed."

Very slow paced book. 

Overall pretty good especially for a debut. I like it, I had fun with it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Police brutality, Racism, Blood, Violence, Death, Gore, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Slavery

Minor: Homophobia

triforception's review

dark slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

The slowest of slow burns, this book feels like an extended intro to the sequel, which I must admit I’m very much looking forward to. If you come in expecting a fast-pace, Salvatore-esque fantasy, you’ll likely be disappointed - The Blade Itself is about introducing its characters, and in that regard it serves its purpose admirably.
Logen begins the story quite boring and stock, but as we learn more about him and see him interact with the wider world and other characters, he gains a lot more of his own shape. Luthar never really won me over, but I began to accept him quite a lot more when it became clear that the author wasn’t necessarily on his side either. Glotka is flat out amazing, an extremely well-realized character, the best of the bunch. A faster pace would certainly have been nice, as well as an earlier introduction to some of the later narrators

Ferro and the Dogman, especially

as they add some variety and diversity to the cast.

If you’re willing to read this book for what it is, an extended introduction and establishment of characters for the main story, I think you can have a wonderful time with The Blade Itself. There’s a lot beneath the surface of an otherwise normal low-fantasy story that hints at complex characters ripe for the developing, a truly dark and somewhat horrific mythology and magic system, and some very fulfilling intrigue in the next books.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Torture, Death, Child death, Ableism, Domestic abuse, Sexism, and Slavery

Moderate: Sexual content and Sexual assault

mydiverse_bookshelf's review

adventurous emotional funny tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Every thing felt good, everything clicked into its place,
Every character author created over so many pages seemed to now move me.. Intrigue me and keep me engaged throughout.
Worth reading! 😌

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Vomit, Blood, Death, and Gore

atalea's review against another edition

adventurous slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Blood, Violence, and Murder

Moderate: Child death, Animal death, Physical abuse, Alcoholism, and Body horror

Minor: Slavery

apiecalypsejen's review

adventurous dark funny medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

The First Law trilogy is my favourite of the two trilogies that take place in this world. The characters are definitely flawed, each of them in their own way with not one of them being clear or free of some kind of barrier or encumbrance to you calling them your "favourite" without some reluctance or guilt (aside from

possibly Brother Longfoot

). This story sets up the next two books, which means it is a lot of establishing of relationships, characters, and the basis for the

journey/war

that comprises the second book. It's a great story about men in their 20s, and how they can be hardheaded and too arrogant, and where that can take them, as well as has two excellent and deep woman character in Ferro and Ardee. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Trafficking, Misogyny, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Animal death, Alcohol, Addiction, Racism, Murder, Mental illness, Medical trauma, Medical content, Drug abuse, Cursing, Confinement, War, Violence, Kidnapping, Gore, Genocide, Alcoholism, Torture, Slavery, Sexual content, Self harm, Physical abuse, Excrement, Drug use, Death, Sexual violence, Vomit, Body horror, and Abandonment

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Toxic friendship, Colonisation, Xenophobia, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Bullying

Minor: Rape

btrz7's review

adventurous dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Murder, Blood, Body horror, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Alcohol, Slavery, Torture, and War

nbeckham's review against another edition

adventurous dark slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.5

Just ok. The lack of female characters was really jarring. Like, it’s a fantasy world and the author chose to make it such a crappy patriarchy? Why?? Still, I liked the characters and they were a mix of interesting and troubling. Probably won’t keep going in the series though. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death

Moderate: Torture

coulro's review

adventurous dark mysterious sad tense medium-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Blood, Violence, Gore, Cannibalism, Animal cruelty, Domestic abuse, Murder, Torture, War, Body horror, and Animal death

its_kievan's review

dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

This book is on every single list of “Best Dark/Low/Grim Fantasy” books ever, and it deserves it. Like if George R. R. Martin was less of a nerd and had actually met a woman before.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Death, and Torture

Moderate: Physical abuse and Racism

Minor: Rape

13octopus's review against another edition

adventurous funny tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Child death, Death, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and War

Moderate: Ableism, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Animal death, Child abuse, Colonisation, Domestic abuse, Fatphobia, Grief, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Slavery, Sexual violence, Sexism, Torture, and Xenophobia

Minor: Cannibalism, Death of parent, Excrement, Infidelity, Rape, and Trafficking