Scan barcode
pepper_d's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
tense
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
4.75
pnathan28's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
As a stand alone, it is weaker than the First Law trilogy but the world building was good and it works as a decent if not predictable revenge story.
fantasticalotter's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
sad
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
4.0
rharriskay's review against another edition
medium-paced
4.0
The first standalone novel in Joe Abrocrombie’s First Law world, Best Served Cold is an enjoyable novel, but one that is basically summarized by its title. If you know how revenge stories go, you won’t be too surprised by the twists this takes.
Not that this isn’t an enjoyable read. Abrocrombie has a knack for pacing and writing witty and darkly funny characters and scenes that makes this book fly by. Particularly impressive is how each section of the book should feel repetitive by its structure (go to a new place, locate the target, kill the target, repeat) but every section has a new complication that keeps it fresh.
All the same, I can’t say I enjoyed this as much as any of the First Law books. That trilogy was one that the author had sat on for years, and to a degree I think that can be seen in how it’s written.
I also was a bit disappointed in how much this novel leans on the previous one for motivations and backstory. To be clear, this book can be read standalone, but you’d be doing a disservice to any future read of the First Law trilogy. I can’t help but wish the standalone was more stand alone.
This is an easy recommend though for anyone who read the First Law and wants more. You’ll generally know what to expect but it’s a fun ride.
Not that this isn’t an enjoyable read. Abrocrombie has a knack for pacing and writing witty and darkly funny characters and scenes that makes this book fly by. Particularly impressive is how each section of the book should feel repetitive by its structure (go to a new place, locate the target, kill the target, repeat) but every section has a new complication that keeps it fresh.
All the same, I can’t say I enjoyed this as much as any of the First Law books. That trilogy was one that the author had sat on for years, and to a degree I think that can be seen in how it’s written.
I also was a bit disappointed in how much this novel leans on the previous one for motivations and backstory. To be clear, this book can be read standalone, but you’d be doing a disservice to any future read of the First Law trilogy. I can’t help but wish the standalone was more stand alone.
This is an easy recommend though for anyone who read the First Law and wants more. You’ll generally know what to expect but it’s a fun ride.
shkaff's review against another edition
5.0
Не знаю вообще, кому нужна эта рецензия. Это 4 книга в серии! Типа кто-то прочитал первые 3 и решил: “ну, хорошего помаленьку”? Не с Аберкромби, не верю, что такое может быть. Но если вы еще сомневаетесь, читать или не читать - ответ тут очевиден.
В общем, эта книга еще круче, чем первые три. Да, так может быть. История тут простая: у девушки убили брата и она теперь должна отомстить 7 людям, которые в этом участвовали. Она собирает команду из странных людей (в том числе наших знакомых из прошлых серий) и отправляется на эпичный квест. По ходу дела оказывается, что мстит не она одна. Буквально каждый замешан в какой-то интриге и преследует свои цели (и свою жертву для мести). Это все заворачивается в кровавый ураган, который прокатывается по стране, оставляя за собой горы трупов. Шикарная концовка развязывает все нужные интриги, перед этим зарядив канонадой плот-твистов. Если честно, меня под конец немного укачало от экшона (или я слишком много пил в последние дни)
В отличие от первых трех книг, где герои были в общем-то не очень хорошими людьми, но ужасно симпатичными, тут они сложнее. Герои развиваются по мере повествования и показывают довольно неприятные стороны. В итоге, если в первых трех книгах я следил за персонажами из симпатии, тут меня они отталкивали. Но при этом они оставались очень интересными, выпуклыми и сложно прописанными. В целом, как оно и должно быть в книге про личное - месть.
Общая канва большой политики и закулисных интриг отошла на второй план, но не пропала, и за этим тоже следить очень интересно. Мир наполнился новыми культурами и историей, стал более многогранным (если раньше мы много узнали про север, теперь фокус на Стирии).
В общем, абсолютный маст рид.
В общем, эта книга еще круче, чем первые три. Да, так может быть. История тут простая: у девушки убили брата и она теперь должна отомстить 7 людям, которые в этом участвовали. Она собирает команду из странных людей (в том числе наших знакомых из прошлых серий) и отправляется на эпичный квест. По ходу дела оказывается, что мстит не она одна. Буквально каждый замешан в какой-то интриге и преследует свои цели (и свою жертву для мести). Это все заворачивается в кровавый ураган, который прокатывается по стране, оставляя за собой горы трупов. Шикарная концовка развязывает все нужные интриги, перед этим зарядив канонадой плот-твистов. Если честно, меня под конец немного укачало от экшона (или я слишком много пил в последние дни)
В отличие от первых трех книг, где герои были в общем-то не очень хорошими людьми, но ужасно симпатичными, тут они сложнее. Герои развиваются по мере повествования и показывают довольно неприятные стороны. В итоге, если в первых трех книгах я следил за персонажами из симпатии, тут меня они отталкивали. Но при этом они оставались очень интересными, выпуклыми и сложно прописанными. В целом, как оно и должно быть в книге про личное - месть.
Общая канва большой политики и закулисных интриг отошла на второй план, но не пропала, и за этим тоже следить очень интересно. Мир наполнился новыми культурами и историей, стал более многогранным (если раньше мы много узнали про север, теперь фокус на Стирии).
В общем, абсолютный маст рид.
thug's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Revenge story. It was an enjoyable read, much like the first law trilogy the characters are horrible people. That being said I didn't like Monza at all whereas I liked shivers and cosca.
zach1100's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
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
4.5
It drags a little long in the final third, but man is it a roaring, bloody good time with exceptional characters. I enjoyed the First Law trilogy but wasn’t really sold Joe Abercrombie until now.
“Dice just thrown can be anything until they stop rolling. He watched them turning, chances, odds, his life and the life of the Northman. All the lives in the great city of Talins turning with them. … What was coming? Always full of possibilities. What was past? Done, and hardened, like dough turned to bread. There was no going back.”
“The dead are past helping. Vengeance is for you."
“”It's always the poor who are crushed under rich men's ambitions. And yet they rarely complain, because.. well..." "They dream of having towers o' their own?" Cosca chuckled. "Why, yes, I suppose they do. They don't see that the higher you climb, the further you have to fall."”
“It weren't much of a joyous occasion for anyone, even on the winning side. There's vengeance for you.”
“Hate only keeps you standing so long.”
“'Things aren't what they used to be' is the rallying cry of small minds. When men say things used to be better, they invariably mean they were better for them, because they were young, and had all their hopes intact. The world is bound to look a darker place as you slide into the grave."
“It's a special kind o fool takes the hard path just 'cause it’s the right one."
“These are ruthless times we live in, and in ruthless times, mercy and cowardice are entire opposites. We all turn to shit when we die, Monza, but not all of us are shit while we're alive. Most of us are." His eyes rolled to heaven. "God knows I am. But you never were."
“When you build your life around only one thing, love only one person, dream only one dream, you risk losing everything at a stroke.”
“Dice just thrown can be anything until they stop rolling. He watched them turning, chances, odds, his life and the life of the Northman. All the lives in the great city of Talins turning with them. … What was coming? Always full of possibilities. What was past? Done, and hardened, like dough turned to bread. There was no going back.”
“The dead are past helping. Vengeance is for you."
“”It's always the poor who are crushed under rich men's ambitions. And yet they rarely complain, because.. well..." "They dream of having towers o' their own?" Cosca chuckled. "Why, yes, I suppose they do. They don't see that the higher you climb, the further you have to fall."”
“It weren't much of a joyous occasion for anyone, even on the winning side. There's vengeance for you.”
“Hate only keeps you standing so long.”
“'Things aren't what they used to be' is the rallying cry of small minds. When men say things used to be better, they invariably mean they were better for them, because they were young, and had all their hopes intact. The world is bound to look a darker place as you slide into the grave."
“It's a special kind o fool takes the hard path just 'cause it’s the right one."
“These are ruthless times we live in, and in ruthless times, mercy and cowardice are entire opposites. We all turn to shit when we die, Monza, but not all of us are shit while we're alive. Most of us are." His eyes rolled to heaven. "God knows I am. But you never were."
“When you build your life around only one thing, love only one person, dream only one dream, you risk losing everything at a stroke.”
mumay's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
tense
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
4.5
emacap_137's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
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