Reviews

The first half of the book was pretty good. It felt fresh. But after the same story repeating itself for 3 to 4 times, it gets old pretty quick. Each part of this book is split into the same sections: Arrive at place where target is, have sex, get betrayed, FIGHT/BATTLE SCENE, kill target, have sex again, leave place, repeat. All the characters involved are pretty much insufferable aswell (except

Vitari

). This book is the opposite of the first law trilogy: No characters but there is worldbuilding (not that great either, mind you). Anticlimactic ending as well. Very very obvious plot twists, that can be seen from a mile off. The positive I can give this book is that Abercrombie’s prose was still quite good throughout. Disappointing start to these stand alones.

Content Warnings

8a11istic's review against another edition

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adventurous dark reflective 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

4.25

shelovestoread81's review against another edition

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adventurous medium-paced

4.0

My husband had me read this book since he loves this author.

I am going to start with the stuff I liked. I loved the fighting and all the ways Monza worked on her revenge of her brother. Was it worth it in the end though? I felt bad for Shivers and wished he could have gotten a better end of the deal.

The thing I didn't like was that is was 3rd person POV and you would be able to figure out who was doing the "talking" but I am so used to first person POV with their names in the title of the chapter.

Overall, It was a good book and if you like fantasy with revenge plot this book is for you.

balefulknight's review against another edition

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4.0

This audiobook is so well narrated, but the book is so needlessly long and drawn out that I can't give it anything more than a 4. Easily the worst of the first law books, simply because it didn't need to be such a bore.

roslink's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional 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? It's complicated

4.75

Excellent standalone novel in the brilliant First Law series. Real effort is made to at once tie it into the general universe without relying at all on the past glory of the original trilogy. Dealing with similar dark themes and equally dark humour.

braindeath27's review against another edition

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5.0

Grim, cynical, funny and optimistic it's all a matter of which side of the river you're on.

4.5/5

-Enjoyed pacing and setting.
-Enjoyed Character developments and inner monologues. Lovely but of grey morality and avoiding/getting just deserts, despite some similarities to previous trilogy.
-Nice bits of comedy and irony thrown in.
-Fun repeating motifs and callbacks.
-Friendly and Cosca Bromance
-Some plot elements are slightly predictable but also not fully expected.

autipho's review against another edition

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5.0

What a ride!

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