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lvl52_grant's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
A bloody story of war, Joe Abercrombie continues his grimdark tale in the World of the First Law. The North hasn't been peaceful yet in these books, but now the war is front and center. Focused on characters on both sides of the Battle of Osrung, it's hard to know who to root for, which is the point. Everyone is vile and wonderful, you love to hate and hate to love them. Ultimately, there are no heroes, and yet I'd hold a shield in the circle for any one of them.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, Colonisation, and War
Moderate: Sexual content
ilereads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Grimdark allo stato puro: 3 giorni, una sola battaglia, nessun eroe. I personaggi sono costruiti benissimo come sempre, in particolare Brivido e Curden hanno il mio cuore. Odio Bayaz con tutta me stessa. 3.5 stelline solo perchè 700 pagine di continui combattimenti un pò si sono fatte sentire.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
mikeypwest's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
This book was amazing and a great entry in the First Law series. Definitely one of my favorites so far.
Pros:
+ As usual, the characters shine in this. I don't think I found any character boring (unlike the previous installment).
+ The pacing and plotting was perfect. 5/5 there.
+ Dark humor is great, as usual.
+ The philosophy/theming was great. So many things to ponder about war, conflict, life, and peace.
Cons:
- I felt the word/term 'hero' was thrown around a little too much. It felt really heavy-handed and annoying by the end.
- I was a little let down by one POV character's involvement in the plot (Tunny )
Pros:
+ As usual, the characters shine in this. I don't think I found any character boring (unlike the previous installment).
+ The pacing and plotting was perfect. 5/5 there.
+ Dark humor is great, as usual.
+ The philosophy/theming was great. So many things to ponder about war, conflict, life, and peace.
Cons:
- I felt the word/term 'hero' was thrown around a little too much. It felt really heavy-handed and annoying by the end.
- I was a little let down by one POV character's involvement in the plot (
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Minor: Rape
onthesamepage's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
slow-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
The author sets out to do something very specific here: write an entire book about one multi-day battle. This is something that is either going to work for you or it won't, but regardless you are guaranteed some fantastic writing and characters as usual.
I think the pacing was a bit too slow for me, and the book could've been 200 pages shorter and still achieve the same thing. I do really love several of the characters we are (re-)introduced to. We get a new, really interesting female character in the form of Finree, the daughter of Marshal Kroy, who is ambitious enough for her and her husband. Then there are a few familiar names: Black Dow, Shiver and Calder all make an appearance, and Calder's character arc was my favourite.
The descriptions of war and battle are top-notch, but I'd expect nothing less from Abercrombie at this point. There were a couple of chapters where he alternated points of view between characters in a way that seamlessly connected all of them together, and I kept being impressed by how clever the writing is. And throughout all the grim and dark events, we get moments filled with humor. I also appreciate the commentary on war, and how it only serves to make powerful men even more powerful.
Speaking of powerful men, Bayaz is really being built up in my head as a massive villain. I hate him more with every book, and I am waiting for the moment of his fall.
I think the pacing was a bit too slow for me, and the book could've been 200 pages shorter and still achieve the same thing. I do really love several of the characters we are (re-)introduced to. We get a new, really interesting female character in the form of Finree, the daughter of Marshal Kroy, who is ambitious enough for her and her husband. Then there are a few familiar names: Black Dow, Shiver and Calder all make an appearance, and Calder's character arc was my favourite.
The descriptions of war and battle are top-notch, but I'd expect nothing less from Abercrombie at this point. There were a couple of chapters where he alternated points of view between characters in a way that seamlessly connected all of them together, and I kept being impressed by how clever the writing is. And throughout all the grim and dark events, we get moments filled with humor. I also appreciate the commentary on war, and how it only serves to make powerful men even more powerful.
Speaking of powerful men, Bayaz is really being built up in my head as a massive villain. I hate him more with every book, and I am waiting for the moment of his fall.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, and War
henry_eyrich's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
How much can change in three days of battle?! This book was an adventure that covered the North vs Union in an epic battle for three days. One thing that i didn't like so much was i thought that there was too many POV character. I felt that if Abercrombine just focused on the main characters of Dow, Craw, Calder, Gorst, and Fin this book would have been better off. I felt that this pacing was well done there wasn't any part of the book that felt that too slow or rushed! This book did have some great battle scenes but i feel like the majority of book was focused on the parts between the battles, the waiting, the planning, the burials, the conflicts between the leaders which i really liked. It showed that there is more to battle than just fighting. Additionally Beck or Red Beck chapters were a good addition to the book because it showed that not everyone is cut out for the Named Man Lifestyle. I do think that this is my least favorite book in the series not because it was bad but because it was very focused on just one topic the battle of Osrung. and nothing else happened. I am still enjoying the series very much!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and War
xphilphil's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, and Violence