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jb567's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child death, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Slavery, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Police brutality, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Cannibalism, Medical trauma, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, and Deportation
whichwitcher's review
- 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? Yes
4.0
We get top-tier character work again from Abercrombie. His writing is punchy and humorous, and, at times, it can be profound.
We got a little in the way of plot in book two, but I'd have preferred more. It felt like if The Blade Itself introduced us to individual characters and storylines, then Before They Are Hanged introduced us to how they interact as part of a group. I'm still itching to flesh out the central thread - and I'm dying to see how characters' storylines converge, if at all.
Please do be aware of the following trigger warnings prior to reading: Ableism, Alcoholism, Amputation, Animal murder, Assault, Attempted rape, Blood, Cannibalism, Death, Decapitation, Emesis (vomiting), Famine, Genocide, Gore, Misogyny, Murder, Racism, Sexually explicit scene, Skeletons, Slavery, Torture, War
Graphic: Ableism, Body horror, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Torture, Blood, Cannibalism, Murder, and War
Moderate: Animal death, Genocide, Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, and Slavery
Minor: Alcohol
btrz7's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Ableism, Body shaming, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, Murder, Colonisation, War, and Classism
kylieqrada'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: Death, Torture, and Violence
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual content
Minor: Animal death, Domestic abuse, and Slavery
jaskovivich's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
This is Another amazing installment in the first law it throws us right into the thick of things at the beginning, with war starting in the north, a conspiracy in the south, and a journey to the edge of the world. this book balances intrigue and warfare perfectly with all the character development that seems to be Joe Abercrombie’s trademark. all the plots are finally coming together and interweaving into a blanket of “Holy Fuck” continuing with the brutality displayed in The Blade Itself Joe Abercrombie Gives us another easy Must-Read for fans of Grimdark Fantasy with Before They Are Hanged.
Graphic: Body horror, Cursing, Gore, Mental illness, Sexual content, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Grief, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cannibalism
Minor: Drug use and Alcohol
cosmologicaldefect's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Torture and Violence
Moderate: Cursing and Gore
Minor: Slavery
podanotherjessi's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Characters: 9
Plot: 8
Setting: 8
General appeal: 8
Writing style: 9
Originality: 9
Ending: 9
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Gore, Sexism, Torture, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Rape, Slavery, Vomit, and Murder
taglharp's review against another edition
- 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
From a structural point of view, middle books in trilogies are always hard to judge for me. Not much experience analyzing them as I do with beginnings. The better they are in the elements I favor, the harder I know how to review them. This one is no different.
But. Say one thing for Abercrombie, say that he does not let you down when it comes to characters. Bastards they might be, bastard roles they might play, and yet no matter how vile... they fucking grow on you. If you were ever attached to any characters you met in the first book, well. I have both good and bad news for you in this one.
(And though I do have some qualms about certain choices in the narrative, they're few compared to the good.)
NGEL, don't think I'll be able to keep myself from jumping on the Last Argument of Kings ASAP.
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Racism, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Sexual content, Slavery, Torture, and Cannibalism
Minor: Rape and Sexual assault
shadereads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Death, Racism, Torture, Violence, Murder, and War
Moderate: Sexual content and Slavery
Minor: Sexual assault