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joelghill's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
The First Law is now my go to recommendation to anyone who might like fantasy. I think the sequel trilogy (Age of Madness) is superior, but The First Law has a charm and an emphasis on the supernatural that feels missing in later books.
I really, really, hope Abercrombie continues the story into the future with another generation of characters, but I know I’m going to be waiting a while for that.
I only have the three middle “one-off” books left and then what will I read?! Other authors??? 😭😭
I really, really, hope Abercrombie continues the story into the future with another generation of characters, but I know I’m going to be waiting a while for that.
I only have the three middle “one-off” books left and then what will I read?! Other authors??? 😭😭
bek67's review against another edition
4.0
Took awhile to get into the first in this trilogy (The First Law). Had to finish it as 2 people highly recommended it. About 120 pages into the first book I was all in. Love the character development. The opinion I had of some characters changed the more I read. I know some people do not like the style of Abercrombie's writing. I quite enjoyed it. It took awhile to get all 3 books from the library, or I would have finished all in a month.
eva_io's review against another edition
4.0
Overall a very interesting trilogy, a good introduction to Abercrombie’s world, stakes and dynamics. Compared to the first two books, which were indeed very exciting while not plot-driven, I felt the third one faltered due to a change in the successful recipe. There was significantly more action in the third book, and while that choice was "realistic" for the resolution of the two main plotlines, it took time away from what made the books special for me. Instead of focusing so much on self-reflection and inner monologue in response to interactions with other characters, most protagonists found themselves reacting to violence. As someone who does not really care for battle scenes in books, while these were definitely well written, after a while I couldn't really find myself caring about what body part one's sword slashed through (although I greatly appreciated the Bloody Nine fight scenes and especially the one against the Shanka in Aulcus).
For that same reason I felt like the characters took the back seat in the third installment (always compared to the first two tomes). Jezal, for example, whose headspace we occupied for so long and whose evolution I really cared about, found himself in a tricky situation in the third book - but his POV was not adequately explored. I struggled to “follow” him, it felt as if I hardly knew him at some points; one could argue that since he himself is lost it could not have been any other way, but I think the blame lies at least in part with the limited time he is given throughout this transition. Another example is that of Ferro, who was treated rather badly by the author in the last volume. Much like Bayaz, who turns out to care solely for the role the characters play in his master plan (rather than for the characters themselves), Abercrombie does not really pay attention to Ferro in the final novel. She seems to hang around only to be a conduit for the power of the Seed and then she disappears.
That being said, I really liked what Abercrombie tried to do with the series - and even though I found the fates of some characters extremely sad and unfulfilling, I wholeheartedly understood why these choices were made given the overall tone of the story. I just wish they were equally fleshed-out in all three novels.
Character-wise, we find some of the most multilayered, despicable and at the same time exciting individuals that come to mind.
While I didn’t really care about the Bayaz/ Khalul feud (it was more of a vehicle to expose the magus’s true nature - but I reserve judgment for further novels), it was really interesting to see the shift in perspective when it came to Bayaz’s motivations. It is very refreshing having a wizard who is not all-powerful, but rather cunning, resourceful, strategic and authoritarian.
People like to watch the pretty puppets, Superior. Even a glimpse of the puppeteer can be most upsetting for them. Why, they might even suddenly notice the strings around their own wrists
Power makes all things right. That is my first law, and my last. That is the only law that I acknowledge.
I also appreciated the thread that linked most of the principal POVs of the story. Can people change? What drives that change? How easy is it to fall back on one’s old habits?
Jezal (arguably my favorite character in the series) is a prime example of that theme. While annoying and arrogant, I found him to be sympathetic from the get-go. He starts off as a product of his upbringing; haughty, thinking he is better than the commoners and expecting to have an exceptional life as if by divine right. At the same time, though, I saw a person trapped in his preconceived notions of what his life should be, someone who made decisions for all the wrong reasons: he wanted to secure a high-responsibility post without being interested in what such a reality will entail, his decision to actually put in his best efforts for the contest stemmed from his desire to impress a girl, and he did not commit to the one person he cared about due to her inferior status. All and all, he reminded me of a child who hasn’t grown up, and who has yet to see the world through his own eyes - whether that will eventually mean disappointing others or even himself. His adventures throughout book 2 spark his change: his incompetence puts things in perspective, and he finally sees himself through a more realistic lense. He reassesses his priorities. Granted, he does not transform into an angel, or a brave warrior, yet the change is significant. Upon returning to Adua he partly slips back into his old ways - accepting promotions without earning them etc. - but even so he is a different man who finally shows some potential for who he can be. After his coronation, however, his potential was squandered and I really ached for him - his evolution did not matter in the end, he would forever be a pawn in Bayaz’s master plan. He seems to bargain for what little he can do his own way, but I doubt his determination will remain unwavering in such a stifling environment. What a waste.
Logen , in the beginning, seemed like the moral of the bunch - he had a wisdom and stoic take on everything. That continues to be the case as we move forward, but his image is tainted by the revelations of his past and particularly of the role he had to play in Bethod’s rise to power. He tries, however - even though his history and his circumstances do not allow for a new path after all.
The sad thing was that Logen had felt more warmth and more trust with Ferro and Jezal, Byaz and Quai, than he did with his own kind now. They’d been a difficult set of bastards, each in their own way. It wasn’t that he really understood them, or even liked them much, but Logen had liked himself when he was with them. Out there in the deserted west of the world, he’d been a man you could rely on. A man with no bloody history breathing on his shoulder, no name blacker than hell, no need to watch his back every moment. A man with hopes for something better.
Logen wanted to feel as they did. He wanted to weep for the death of a good man, for the fact that he might have been the one to cause it. But the tears wouldn't come. … he felt less than nothing. If you want to be a new man you have to stay in new places and do new things with people who never knew you before. If you go back to the same old ways, what else can you but the same old person... He played at being a different man but it had all been lies. The hardest kind to see through, the kind you tell yourself.
Blood gets you nothing but more blood. It follows me now, always, like my shadow, and like my shadow I can never be free of it. I should never be free of it. I’ve earned it. I’ve deserved it. I’ve sought it out. Such is my punishment.
Ferro I did not like initially. But she grew on me - her trauma, her single-mindedness, her stubborn desire for revenge that prevailed over all else. She changed as well - unwillingly, begrudgingly, but change she did. It saddened me to see her unable to move on to a more fulfilling life, and instead endlessly pursuing vengeance. But at least in the end (contrary to Jezal) she had agency, she made a choice to continue with her quest (although one could argue that her decision was the only possible one for her, and therefore no choice at all).
And is vengeance all you think of, every minute of every day, your only desire?’ ‘Yes.’ ‘Hurting them? Killing them? Ending them?’ ‘Yes!’ ‘You want nothing for yourself?’ She paused. ‘What?’ ‘For yourself. What do you want?’ She stared at the old man suspiciously, but no reply came to her. Yulwei shook his head sadly. ‘It seems to me, Ferro Maljinn, that you are as much a slave as you ever were. Or ever could be.
Glokta , to the contrary, has no arc. At least not one explored in real time during the course of the novels. His transformation has occurred prior to the events of the trilogy - it is successful and it is complete. This version of himself - bitter, self-loathing and constantly in pain - has been stripped of all delusions of grandeur. He does awful things, but not out of malice. Sure, he has no scruples, but neither does he revel in his depravity. He unflinchingly goes through with what needs to be done, but not sadistically - rather pragmatically : that else is there for a cripple to do? He often wonders why he does the things he does - but more as a musing on his degradation: it's not as if he goes out of his way to be redeemed. So he does what he knows best, and what he does so well. Always with a twisted sense of humor and with profound self-hatred. And in doing so he offers us unique insights to the inner workings of the corrupt government. Having lost everything, death, would be a relief for him. But Glokta is nothing if not a sore loser - so he plays the game to win, or rather not to lose. And he ends up better off than most characters. Perhaps that is the only way to exist in Abercrombie's world. Play your part, be conscious of your freedoms (or rather of the lack thereof), have no expectations and perceive anything even remotely enjoyable as a lucky bonus.
I really liked the structure of the novel - you follow the characters, but (while it all leads to something) you are not certain what “chapter” of each person’s life you will see next. Thus you get to know the characters separately, and then you witness how they change upon interacting with others.
Abercromie’s writing serves the story well. It took me a while getting used to a language that is not particularly “lyrical”, but the work put into it is evident in other ways. The descriptions are very cinematic - and i do not just refer to the descriptions of the surroundings - but mostly to the character’s inner thoughts. Each has a distinct “voice” - something which becomes blatantly apparent when their POVs converge during the visit to the House of the Maker. Each takes mental notes of different aspects of the environment, all in keeping with their character. Jezal, always used to feeling superior, remarks on the aspects of the environment that make him seem small and insignificant. Logen, always on the lookout for possible danger, notices the stale, stagnant air. Glokta, his physical suffering always in the background, is filled with questions - his inquisitive nature does not only serve for his profession.
Finally, my sincere congratulations to Steven Pacey , who really did elevate the story with his narration.
For that same reason I felt like the characters took the back seat in the third installment (always compared to the first two tomes). Jezal, for example, whose headspace we occupied for so long and whose evolution I really cared about, found himself in a tricky situation in the third book - but his POV was not adequately explored. I struggled to “follow” him, it felt as if I hardly knew him at some points; one could argue that since he himself is lost it could not have been any other way, but I think the blame lies at least in part with the limited time he is given throughout this transition. Another example is that of Ferro, who was treated rather badly by the author in the last volume. Much like Bayaz, who turns out to care solely for the role the characters play in his master plan (rather than for the characters themselves), Abercrombie does not really pay attention to Ferro in the final novel. She seems to hang around only to be a conduit for the power of the Seed and then she disappears.
That being said, I really liked what Abercrombie tried to do with the series - and even though I found the fates of some characters extremely sad and unfulfilling, I wholeheartedly understood why these choices were made given the overall tone of the story. I just wish they were equally fleshed-out in all three novels.
Character-wise, we find some of the most multilayered, despicable and at the same time exciting individuals that come to mind.
While I didn’t really care about the Bayaz/ Khalul feud (it was more of a vehicle to expose the magus’s true nature - but I reserve judgment for further novels), it was really interesting to see the shift in perspective when it came to Bayaz’s motivations. It is very refreshing having a wizard who is not all-powerful, but rather cunning, resourceful, strategic and authoritarian.
People like to watch the pretty puppets, Superior. Even a glimpse of the puppeteer can be most upsetting for them. Why, they might even suddenly notice the strings around their own wrists
Power makes all things right. That is my first law, and my last. That is the only law that I acknowledge.
I also appreciated the thread that linked most of the principal POVs of the story. Can people change? What drives that change? How easy is it to fall back on one’s old habits?
Jezal (arguably my favorite character in the series) is a prime example of that theme. While annoying and arrogant, I found him to be sympathetic from the get-go. He starts off as a product of his upbringing; haughty, thinking he is better than the commoners and expecting to have an exceptional life as if by divine right. At the same time, though, I saw a person trapped in his preconceived notions of what his life should be, someone who made decisions for all the wrong reasons: he wanted to secure a high-responsibility post without being interested in what such a reality will entail, his decision to actually put in his best efforts for the contest stemmed from his desire to impress a girl, and he did not commit to the one person he cared about due to her inferior status. All and all, he reminded me of a child who hasn’t grown up, and who has yet to see the world through his own eyes - whether that will eventually mean disappointing others or even himself. His adventures throughout book 2 spark his change: his incompetence puts things in perspective, and he finally sees himself through a more realistic lense. He reassesses his priorities. Granted, he does not transform into an angel, or a brave warrior, yet the change is significant. Upon returning to Adua he partly slips back into his old ways - accepting promotions without earning them etc. - but even so he is a different man who finally shows some potential for who he can be. After his coronation, however, his potential was squandered and I really ached for him - his evolution did not matter in the end, he would forever be a pawn in Bayaz’s master plan. He seems to bargain for what little he can do his own way, but I doubt his determination will remain unwavering in such a stifling environment. What a waste.
Logen , in the beginning, seemed like the moral of the bunch - he had a wisdom and stoic take on everything. That continues to be the case as we move forward, but his image is tainted by the revelations of his past and particularly of the role he had to play in Bethod’s rise to power. He tries, however - even though his history and his circumstances do not allow for a new path after all.
The sad thing was that Logen had felt more warmth and more trust with Ferro and Jezal, Byaz and Quai, than he did with his own kind now. They’d been a difficult set of bastards, each in their own way. It wasn’t that he really understood them, or even liked them much, but Logen had liked himself when he was with them. Out there in the deserted west of the world, he’d been a man you could rely on. A man with no bloody history breathing on his shoulder, no name blacker than hell, no need to watch his back every moment. A man with hopes for something better.
Logen wanted to feel as they did. He wanted to weep for the death of a good man, for the fact that he might have been the one to cause it. But the tears wouldn't come. … he felt less than nothing. If you want to be a new man you have to stay in new places and do new things with people who never knew you before. If you go back to the same old ways, what else can you but the same old person... He played at being a different man but it had all been lies. The hardest kind to see through, the kind you tell yourself.
Blood gets you nothing but more blood. It follows me now, always, like my shadow, and like my shadow I can never be free of it. I should never be free of it. I’ve earned it. I’ve deserved it. I’ve sought it out. Such is my punishment.
Ferro I did not like initially. But she grew on me - her trauma, her single-mindedness, her stubborn desire for revenge that prevailed over all else. She changed as well - unwillingly, begrudgingly, but change she did. It saddened me to see her unable to move on to a more fulfilling life, and instead endlessly pursuing vengeance. But at least in the end (contrary to Jezal) she had agency, she made a choice to continue with her quest (although one could argue that her decision was the only possible one for her, and therefore no choice at all).
And is vengeance all you think of, every minute of every day, your only desire?’ ‘Yes.’ ‘Hurting them? Killing them? Ending them?’ ‘Yes!’ ‘You want nothing for yourself?’ She paused. ‘What?’ ‘For yourself. What do you want?’ She stared at the old man suspiciously, but no reply came to her. Yulwei shook his head sadly. ‘It seems to me, Ferro Maljinn, that you are as much a slave as you ever were. Or ever could be.
Glokta , to the contrary, has no arc. At least not one explored in real time during the course of the novels. His transformation has occurred prior to the events of the trilogy - it is successful and it is complete. This version of himself - bitter, self-loathing and constantly in pain - has been stripped of all delusions of grandeur. He does awful things, but not out of malice. Sure, he has no scruples, but neither does he revel in his depravity. He unflinchingly goes through with what needs to be done, but not sadistically - rather pragmatically : that else is there for a cripple to do? He often wonders why he does the things he does - but more as a musing on his degradation: it's not as if he goes out of his way to be redeemed. So he does what he knows best, and what he does so well. Always with a twisted sense of humor and with profound self-hatred. And in doing so he offers us unique insights to the inner workings of the corrupt government. Having lost everything, death, would be a relief for him. But Glokta is nothing if not a sore loser - so he plays the game to win, or rather not to lose. And he ends up better off than most characters. Perhaps that is the only way to exist in Abercrombie's world. Play your part, be conscious of your freedoms (or rather of the lack thereof), have no expectations and perceive anything even remotely enjoyable as a lucky bonus.
I really liked the structure of the novel - you follow the characters, but (while it all leads to something) you are not certain what “chapter” of each person’s life you will see next. Thus you get to know the characters separately, and then you witness how they change upon interacting with others.
Abercromie’s writing serves the story well. It took me a while getting used to a language that is not particularly “lyrical”, but the work put into it is evident in other ways. The descriptions are very cinematic - and i do not just refer to the descriptions of the surroundings - but mostly to the character’s inner thoughts. Each has a distinct “voice” - something which becomes blatantly apparent when their POVs converge during the visit to the House of the Maker. Each takes mental notes of different aspects of the environment, all in keeping with their character. Jezal, always used to feeling superior, remarks on the aspects of the environment that make him seem small and insignificant. Logen, always on the lookout for possible danger, notices the stale, stagnant air. Glokta, his physical suffering always in the background, is filled with questions - his inquisitive nature does not only serve for his profession.
Finally, my sincere congratulations to Steven Pacey , who really did elevate the story with his narration.
vaderbird's review against another edition
4.0
5 star - Perfect
4 star - i would recommend
3 star - good
2 star - struggled to complete
1 star - could not finish
4 star - i would recommend
3 star - good
2 star - struggled to complete
1 star - could not finish
talian1201's review against another edition
5.0
Great Trilogy. Love all three books. The third was my favorite of them all. Loved the Characters. Loved the World Building. Nine Fingers was my favorite character of them all.
ol44893's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Amazing fantasy series. Abercrombie's Multifaceted characters and development are masterful. Authentic, thought provoking, morally gray characters. Brilliant prose with delightful humor woven throughout. The upside-down tropes are sheer brilliance.
maddyjo's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
geenween's review against another edition
4.0
Si può immaginare la Compagnia dell'Anello guidata da Saruman al posto di Gandalf? Con un Azzurro come Re degli uomini, al posto del virtuoso e inflessibile Aragorn?
Abercrombie ci ha un po' provato, e in gran parte anche riuscito. I suoi protagonisti sono insopportabili quando va male, positivi ma avviati per una brutta brutta china quando va bene. Non mi hanno fatta sentire al codazzo di una compagnia di eroi, o di "simpatici fuorilegge dal cuore tenero", rilassata e convinta che avrebbero vinto alla fine. Nel senso che non ero proprio sicura di volere che vincessero...
Insomma, se volete un fantasy vecchio stile dovreste guardare altrove, perché questo per alcuni versi non lascia soddisfatti. Però ho cercato immediatamente se ci fossero dei seguiti ambientati nello stesso mondo, perché voglio sapere, perdinci, soprattutto per alcuni di loro, voglio sapere!
Il più grosso difetto che ascrivo al libro è la scrittura a volte ripetitiva, che, in un'edizione comprensiva dell'intera trilogia, con ben 1100 pagine da macinare, si è fatta sentire in diversi punti. Alcuni personaggi hanno dei siparietti fissi (Glotka e le sue "scale maledetteh!") che vengono riproposti pressoché uguali ogni volta, a volte ho distintamente percepito frasi che avrebbero potuto essere tagliate con grande tranquillità senza alterare minimamente l'andamento della storia, combattimenti troppo dettagliati senza essere davvero emozionanti (quante volte una spada può "mancarti di un soffio", o un alleato salvarti all'ultimo minuto dal nemico con la mannaia che già si abbassa su di te?).
Possibile che leggendo i libri separatamente i difetti si percepiscano di meno, ma in un'epoca un cui un fantasy non può non essere una trilogia-mattone, mi piacerebbe non avere l'impressione che l'autore venga pagato a parola come ai tempi di Dickens.
Il linguaggio scurrile è in alcuni punti un po' gratuito, con nobili che potrebbero far sfigurare gli scaricatori di porto, anche lì ho avuto l'impressione che fosse fatto apposta per "distinguersi da solito fantasy" e dimostrare che "siamo nel mondo di Mainaggioia, mica la Terra di Mezzo".
Ecco, lo consiglio, ma non mettetelo in mano ai più giovani, fatevelo dire da una che di traumi da letture precoci ne ha avuti tanti.
Letto per le sfide
1. Scaffali traboccanti 2021: (8/20)
2. Randomly 2021: (8/10)
3. Alphabet 2021 per Un libro il cui titolo inizi per P
4. Esimio sconosciuto 2021: (3/20)
5. Extra-Large 2021: modalità difficile (1/9) - #1152 pagine
Abercrombie ci ha un po' provato, e in gran parte anche riuscito. I suoi protagonisti sono insopportabili quando va male, positivi ma avviati per una brutta brutta china quando va bene. Non mi hanno fatta sentire al codazzo di una compagnia di eroi, o di "simpatici fuorilegge dal cuore tenero", rilassata e convinta che avrebbero vinto alla fine. Nel senso che non ero proprio sicura di volere che vincessero...
Insomma, se volete un fantasy vecchio stile dovreste guardare altrove, perché questo per alcuni versi non lascia soddisfatti. Però ho cercato immediatamente se ci fossero dei seguiti ambientati nello stesso mondo, perché voglio sapere, perdinci, soprattutto per alcuni di loro, voglio sapere!
Il più grosso difetto che ascrivo al libro è la scrittura a volte ripetitiva, che, in un'edizione comprensiva dell'intera trilogia, con ben 1100 pagine da macinare, si è fatta sentire in diversi punti. Alcuni personaggi hanno dei siparietti fissi (Glotka e le sue "scale maledetteh!") che vengono riproposti pressoché uguali ogni volta, a volte ho distintamente percepito frasi che avrebbero potuto essere tagliate con grande tranquillità senza alterare minimamente l'andamento della storia, combattimenti troppo dettagliati senza essere davvero emozionanti (quante volte una spada può "mancarti di un soffio", o un alleato salvarti all'ultimo minuto dal nemico con la mannaia che già si abbassa su di te?).
Possibile che leggendo i libri separatamente i difetti si percepiscano di meno, ma in un'epoca un cui un fantasy non può non essere una trilogia-mattone, mi piacerebbe non avere l'impressione che l'autore venga pagato a parola come ai tempi di Dickens.
Il linguaggio scurrile è in alcuni punti un po' gratuito, con nobili che potrebbero far sfigurare gli scaricatori di porto, anche lì ho avuto l'impressione che fosse fatto apposta per "distinguersi da solito fantasy" e dimostrare che "siamo nel mondo di Mainaggioia, mica la Terra di Mezzo".
Ecco, lo consiglio, ma non mettetelo in mano ai più giovani, fatevelo dire da una che di traumi da letture precoci ne ha avuti tanti.
Letto per le sfide
1. Scaffali traboccanti 2021: (8/20)
2. Randomly 2021: (8/10)
3. Alphabet 2021 per Un libro il cui titolo inizi per P
4. Esimio sconosciuto 2021: (3/20)
5. Extra-Large 2021: modalità difficile (1/9) - #1152 pagine
ilpic'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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Yes, I admit it. I am one of the many that started reading the first law trilogy trying to divert my mind from the eternal waiting for The Winds of Winter release. And got trapped into this amazing world. Amazing yes, but not in a fully positive way. Actually this world amazes you for its cruelty and darkness. And for its characters.
Why?
I will answer through a quote from the Dogman, one of the few characters in this series that I would venture as far as to define "good":
Why?
I will answer through a quote from the Dogman, one of the few characters in this series that I would venture as far as to define "good":
"He took a long breath of the cold, wet air, and frowned down at the earth over Grim's grave. He wondered if he'd know a good man from an evil, any more. He wondered what the difference was".
-The Dogman (Last Argument of Kings - Ch. Good Men, Evil Men)
And that's it. That's the main ingredient of the magic.
When you first begin to read The Blade Itself you are unintentionally marking every character: Luthar is an idiot, Bayaz is good and wise, Glokta is wicked, Khalul is evil... But then, slowly, as you read on, piece by piece all these certainties fade away.
And Luthar grows wiser, Bayaz looks like an old man craving for power and interested only in settling his own scores, we start to sympathize for Glokta as we begin to discover his thoughts, and after all we are not sure anymore that Khalul and his eaters stand on the wrong side. And after all, is there such a thing as the wrong side?
When you first begin to read The Blade Itself you are unintentionally marking every character: Luthar is an idiot, Bayaz is good and wise, Glokta is wicked, Khalul is evil... But then, slowly, as you read on, piece by piece all these certainties fade away.
And Luthar grows wiser, Bayaz looks like an old man craving for power and interested only in settling his own scores, we start to sympathize for Glokta as we begin to discover his thoughts, and after all we are not sure anymore that Khalul and his eaters stand on the wrong side. And after all, is there such a thing as the wrong side?
"It is hard sometimes, to know what is... the truth." The eater lifted up his bloody right hand and frowned at it. "It is fitting that a righteous man should have... doubts."
-An Eater (Last Argument of Kings - Ch. Reckonings)
In the first law there seems to be no such a thing as good or evil, there are only characters and the choices they are confronted with, and very often we see how deeds and personality of the characters clash together. To say it with Sand dan Glokta:
"Why do I do this? Why?"
-Sand dan Glokta (more or less always)
And after all isn't it so in real life? Is there really such a thing as "evil"? Or are there only people with their opinions and beliefs? Maybe there is such a thing as evil, but more often what we find is just a flow of events, and people trapped in them:
"He looked down at his hands, pink and clean on the stone. “There are few men with more blood on their hands than me. None, that I know of. The Bloody-Nine they call me, my enemies, and there’s a lot of ’em. Always more enemies, and fewer friends. Blood gets you nothing but more blood. It follows me now, always, like my shadow, and like my shadow I can never be free of it. I should never be free of it. I’ve earned it. I’ve deserved it. I’ve sought it out. Such is my punishment.” "
-Logen Ninefingers (The Blade Itself - Ch. The King of the Northmen)
Is it a five stars? In my opinion no. After all:
"You have to be realistic about these things"
-Logen Ninefingers (more or less always)
The female characters are a bit underdeveloped and shallow when compared to the male counterparts.
You enjoy the characters, for sure, but you spend literally the whole first book (which I did not like much) wondering what is actually the story about. The second book, while enormously enjoyable, contains many events that at the end of the day one finds out to be utterly useless for the story. Of course, these can be regarded as well as fresh and good plot choices, after all real stories happen in the middle of a lot of irrelevant events. But to me the plot feels here and there somewhat lacking.
For the new reader: you might be tempted to drop the reading after the first book, which, in my opinion, is the worst of the three: well written but on the whole it does not take the story many steps further. My advice? Keep on reading at least till half of the second book, that is where I really started getting into the story.