Reviews tagging 'Sexism'

The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie

23 reviews

loganjana's review

adventurous dark slow-paced

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

4.0

As a standalone, this book is nothing but a character study, and the characters don't have much growth considering it's five hundred pages long. Five hundred pages of exposition for a story I am frankly not overly interested in continuing. Logen is this book's saving grace, as is the juxtaposition between him and Glokta. I am perhaps giving it the benefit of the doubt with rating, assuming it's all worth it down the line. Given all that, is a fascinating exercise in character- and (arguably) world-building. Unfortunately, I could write an essay on the seeming afterthought of the relatively flat female character(s). Again, I've been told this gets better. We'll see.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Misogyny, Torture, Classism, Violence, Ableism, Gore, and Sexism

Minor: Slavery and Physical abuse

unluckycat13's review

Badguys doing bad things, with a heavy dose of sexism. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture and Sexism

netflixismyroommate's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

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

3.75

This book does what it sets out to do: tell a medieval fantasy war story. It’s just not attempting anything particularly original. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fatphobia, Blood, Sexism, Classism, Torture, Gore, Ableism, War, Misogyny, Violence, and Xenophobia

Moderate: Slavery, Genocide, Mental illness, Colonisation, and Cannibalism

Minor: Kidnapping, Terminal illness, Racial slurs, and Religious bigotry

mattitanskane's review

While masterfully written the paint by numbers political fantasy story wasn't able to hold my attention enough to get me invested in a new trilogy. Skimmed through the remaining pages and read a synopsis of the rest of the trilogy online.

I found Logen's character arc compelling and would have enjoyed reading more of it but sadly the story kept introducing more and more characters with increasingly mundane storylines.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Torture and War

Minor: Sexism, Cursing, Slavery, Cannibalism, and Alcohol

marthadude's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.25

I feel like I can't really review the book on its own merits since it's part of a trilogy, but it's an excellent start to a larger story. It's more character heavy than plot heavy, but the characters are really fascinating. I'm very eager to start on book two and to see where things go.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, War, Violence, Torture, Slavery, Sexism, Racism, Murder, Misogyny, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Death, Blood, Cursing, and Xenophobia

Moderate: Ableism, Vomit, Physical abuse, Excrement, Fatphobia, Animal death, Cannibalism, and Domestic abuse

Minor: Sexual content

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

dagoth_ur's review

adventurous dark funny slow-paced

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

4.5

This was a REALLY fun book, however, it is not as half as dark as some people make it out to be. I love Abercrombie's writing style, I think the book would have come out as edgelord-ish without the humor. my only complaint is how big the book is, like physically it is really hard to read in bed.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Gore, Violence, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Vomit, Sexism, and War

Minor: Rape

kottman's review

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

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

4.25

I love this author's characterization and the way they show different perspectives through small choices. I have never enjoyed a character's perspective quite like Glokta's. My only criticism of this book is that the plot was very slow. The ending was also not satisfactory but it does appear that it's purpose is just to set up the next book and not be a satisfying stand-alone conclusion so I don't mind it as much here.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Torture, Murder, and Sexism

Minor: Domestic abuse

thebookishdesigner's review

adventurous dark funny tense fast-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

“History is littered with dead good men.”

The Blade Itself was my first taste of Lord Grimdark. Having seen The First Law cited as the series you need to read if you loved Game of Thrones I thought it was going to be one for me, and although in some ways it wasn’t what I was expecting I still really enjoyed it. 

The plot of the book is full of intrigue and conspiracy. It’s defiantly a page turner. The only thing that I wanted more of from this book was the violence. There was some grim fighting, but most of the sword play was fencing so there was little risk involved in these scenes. I was really in the mood for something with a lot of fighting, a lot war, and a lot of blood. Whilst I think it will be delivered in the next books it was missing here. Chapter 42 - The Bloody Nine, was an absolute standout in this book and was exactly what I was hoping for in this regard. 

As good as the plot was it’s characters that make this book. Even the characters who you’re meant to dislike, you can’t help loving because of how well written every single one of them is. Logen and Glokta in particular are some of the best characters I’ve been introduced to in a very long time. 

It it worth nothing that while I read this I also listened to the audiobook narrated by Steven Pacey. What a fantastic job he did! Pacey really brought the characters to life, I don’t think they could have picked a more perfect narrator for this series. As I continue on I will defiantly be listening to the audio as I read the physical edition too. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Torture, Violence, and Blood

Moderate: Sexism, Physical abuse, Misogyny, and Classism

Minor: Slavery and War

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