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gus717's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Child death, Blood, Death, Kidnapping, Violence, and War
Minor: Sexual content and Rape
downtowndaly's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book has me conflicted. JA gets you so connected to the characters and so entrenched in the battle that when the plot seems to kind of sputter to an end you feel left wanting more. Maybe it's just the futility of war, but the story of this one was my least favourite of his so far. Still a 4 mostly for JA's typically wonderful character work. You do have to be realistic about this sort of thing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Violence, and War
Minor: Sexual assault and Rape
da3m0nic's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Murder, War, Gore, Death, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, and Sexual content
Minor: Alcohol, Abandonment, Medical trauma, Classism, and Outing
janbabs's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I don't know quite what to make of this one. It's a First Law novel, so of course it was highly enjoyable and often very funny. However, with it only taking place over 3 days, and following the course of one battle, it lacked the usual plot-heavy momentum of the previous books. It was like a slice-of-life/vignette of a larger story and felt like a place-holder for what's to come. The characters were brilliant as always. Shivers' descent into cold-hearted existentialism develops further, and I particularly enjoyed Bremer dan Gorst's arc. This has left me wanting more, which I suspect was exactly the point!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Body horror, War, Death, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Cursing
Minor: Rape
jombo65's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, War, Gore, and Blood
ripxw's review against another edition
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and War
surdiablo's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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
Engrossing, exhilarating, and absolutely tragic. Abercrombie excels as usual at characterization, taking many side characters from the original trilogy, giving them distinct, compelling voices, and also adding new people to the cast who are just as interesting ( maybe not up to the level of BSC though ) within limited pages. I enjoyed Gorst and Craw POVs the most, the former being someone who I loathed and rooted for at the same time since he's just so well-written as this delusional self-pitying, incel who also happens to be a courageous, invincible bulwark of the Union. This book encapsulates everything about war, the best and worst of it, even the boredom aspect while managing to remain dark, reflective, and humorous. It hooked me from the very beginning regardless of the slow build-up, and most of the character POVs were intriguing enough. Even those I was not too fond of were fun to follow, and the POV switches were seamless. I don't have any serious complaints at all so if I had to nitpick, I would say we could have used more of Dogman maybe. The chapter called Casualities was a fantastic highlight, perhaps one of the best fantasy chapters I have ever read. The action sequences were gripping with palpable tension ( Day 3 duel had me on edge..) , all the character arcs had fitting conclusions, and Joe's traditional anticlimactic moments weren't a bother for me at all. It can feel slow at times since the book consists of either talking or fighting in its entirety, so you may not like it as much as I did if you aren't a fan of either of those. I'm just glad to be back in this world again after a long hiatus, great to start 2024 with a 5-star read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Death, Violence, and War
mylkyjo's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
As with all Abercrombie books, they're a mixed experience while reading.
At times, the darkness of Abercrombie's characters can be hard to get on board with. However, in The Heroes, we have the pleasure of reading some of the best and most memorable characters so far. Gorst, for example, may be one of the most unexpectedly wild POV characters I've ever experienced.
The Heroes is a poignant examination of war and soldiering and if you've enjoyed Abercrombie's writing before, you are in for a treat.
At times, the darkness of Abercrombie's characters can be hard to get on board with. However, in The Heroes, we have the pleasure of reading some of the best and most memorable characters so far. Gorst, for example, may be one of the most unexpectedly wild POV characters I've ever experienced.
The Heroes is a poignant examination of war and soldiering and if you've enjoyed Abercrombie's writing before, you are in for a treat.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, War, and Violence
Moderate: Rape, Slavery, and Torture
10stormlight's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, Gore, Cursing, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, and War
Moderate: Sexual content, Vomit, and Excrement
narsere's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, War, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Animal death
Minor: Alcoholism and Rape