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bbeloff425's review against another edition
5.0
*2024 reread edit - I was wrong. 5 stars*
I will need to revisit this at some point. I listened to the audio book very infrequently and it took me several months to finish, which absolutely affected my enjoyment of it. I was very invested for the first half or so, but after that I really struggled to continue with it. That said I'd probably give it 3 1/2 stars but I gave it 4 because I can recognize that there is an amazing book in here. When I come back to it, I'll need to make sure I read it instead of listening to it.
The book is pure exposition. I felt like it was 95% character work and descriptions and 5% actual plot. Joe Abercrombie's writing is phenomenal and the characters were incredibly complex and fleshed out. Particularly Glokta, who was as far from an typical fantasy protagonist as you can get. His plot line was the only one I felt truly invested in. I thought Logen and Jezal's stories were both considerably less interesting and their stories felt very slow and meandering.
Ultimately this is clearly just the set up for the next two books. I hope to give it another go and get through the series at some point, I just have no idea when I'll have the drive to do that.
I will need to revisit this at some point. I listened to the audio book very infrequently and it took me several months to finish, which absolutely affected my enjoyment of it. I was very invested for the first half or so, but after that I really struggled to continue with it. That said I'd probably give it 3 1/2 stars but I gave it 4 because I can recognize that there is an amazing book in here. When I come back to it, I'll need to make sure I read it instead of listening to it.
The book is pure exposition. I felt like it was 95% character work and descriptions and 5% actual plot. Joe Abercrombie's writing is phenomenal and the characters were incredibly complex and fleshed out. Particularly Glokta, who was as far from an typical fantasy protagonist as you can get. His plot line was the only one I felt truly invested in. I thought Logen and Jezal's stories were both considerably less interesting and their stories felt very slow and meandering.
Ultimately this is clearly just the set up for the next two books. I hope to give it another go and get through the series at some point, I just have no idea when I'll have the drive to do that.
drdonovan's review against another edition
3.0
Bueno, si algo queda claro al terminar de leer este libro es que es el primero de una trilogía. Es básicamente una introducción de unas 500 páginas a lo que va a ser la historia. Te presentan a los personajes y te los ponen en unas cuantas situaciones para que veas cómo son, cómo interactuan entre ellos, que los conozcas de forma orgánica, mediante acciones no mediante palabras. Lo cual la verdad está muy bien... obviamente no crea un libro super-interesante porque imagino que la parte interesante está por llegar, pero sin duda te hace conocer, meterte en la carne de los protagonistas y engancharte a su historia.
Espero con muchas ganas que la historia esté a la altura de la anticipación que nos está creando con todo este libro de introducción, porque si no va a ser una decepción monumental. También estoy deseando ver como los personajes evolucionan, y ver como se crean amistades o rivalidades fuertes entre ellos. Imagino que ya os contaré.
Con respecto a la forma de escribir me gusta el hecho de que sea muy clara, sencilla, que no simple, incluso en el caso de las escenas de acción, se le da muy bien fabricarte una imagen en la cabeza sin necesidad de grandes palabras o descripciones de tres párrafos. Cuenta las cosas con imágenes y no con palabras, cosa que es bastante complicado de hacer y que yo siempre agradezco.
Asi que eso, seguiré leyendo. Es la primera vez que leo a Joe Abercrombie y por ahora confio en que me deleitará con una gran historia a la altura de los grandes personajes que me ha presentado.
Espero con muchas ganas que la historia esté a la altura de la anticipación que nos está creando con todo este libro de introducción, porque si no va a ser una decepción monumental. También estoy deseando ver como los personajes evolucionan, y ver como se crean amistades o rivalidades fuertes entre ellos. Imagino que ya os contaré.
Con respecto a la forma de escribir me gusta el hecho de que sea muy clara, sencilla, que no simple, incluso en el caso de las escenas de acción, se le da muy bien fabricarte una imagen en la cabeza sin necesidad de grandes palabras o descripciones de tres párrafos. Cuenta las cosas con imágenes y no con palabras, cosa que es bastante complicado de hacer y que yo siempre agradezco.
Asi que eso, seguiré leyendo. Es la primera vez que leo a Joe Abercrombie y por ahora confio en que me deleitará con una gran historia a la altura de los grandes personajes que me ha presentado.
joshbriggs's review against another edition
4.0
Super-fun swords & sorcery tale, with heaps of modern wit that makes for easy reading. This seems very much a trilogy in the way LOTR is, in that for all the “book” that exists here, vol 1 is just the beginning. I do find it odd that so many writers of fantasy insist on keeping earth’s frameworks of sexism/racism/classism in exactly the same order in their made up worlds, but I am still having fun reading this (i devoured it, by my standards), and looking forward to more from Ferro in particular. Generally, would love 30% more barbarians. We’ll see what happens!
linghorn86's review against another edition
adventurous
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
4.5
cfotovich's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
lighthearted
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
batrock's review against another edition
3.0
First book in a fantasy series holds attention but does little except set up for the rest of the series.
piratexalien's review against another edition
5.0
Absolutely amazing, well written characters. You'll fall in love with them, even the ones you may find annoying. You love them because they're so annoying or so morally gray, or an attack happy walking weapon. Story wise, not much happens. Little pieces of a puzzle are put together as we meet our characters, and they're basically just doing their own thing, being amazing, or amazingly bad, until the end when it comes together. Definitely more of a character study that sets up for more action to happen in the next one. It's Grimdark fantasy that'll have you laughing throughout.