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4.3 AVERAGE
4.3 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Two books in, and I still feel like I’ve only read the first act of a novel.
adventurous
dark
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
It's funny. I read the first book in this trilogy (now a bit of a long running series actually) *[b:The Blade Itself|944073|The Blade Itself (The First Law, #1)|Joe Abercrombie|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1284167912l/944073._SX50_SY75_.jpg|929009]*, back in 2015. I really enjoyed it and promised I would read the next one, this one, soon.
But that didn't happen. Hey, I am a guy with nearly 2,000 books on my Want to Read list, so it isn't surprising. But earlier this year, I read *[b:A Little Hatred|35606041|A Little Hatred (The Age of Madness, #1)|Joe Abercrombie|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1558367199l/35606041._SY75_.jpg|57338685]* and really enjoyed it, not even realizing it is connected to *The First Law* trilogy! It is the next generation of these characters. So I decided I should head back and finish reading the original trilogy.
And wow, am I glad I did! It is another grim, dark, brutal fantasy, with limbs flying and a dark cold death around the corner for everyone. To be honest, I don't remember much of the first book at this point, so I'm not really sure how the story carries along. But I quickly became friends (again?) with the main characters. In this book, there are 3 groups:
+ The Magician Bayaz and his group head off on a quest for a "thing" to help win the war.
+ Colonel West tries to help the stupid prince not die in a battle, then gets dragged along by another group to fight a big battle against Bethod.
+ Superior Glokta tries to save an outpost against the Ghurkas
Told in usually alternating chapters, the story moves along quickly and the characters in each group reflect off each other, have adventurers, kill, die and make love in equal doses.
The book suffers a bit in being the middle book of the trilogy. It starts off in the middle of stuff and the endings are not much. The futile end of the quest and the start of another, a murder and a huge battle that ends when things fade away in the mist, literally. But other than that, I was pretty riveted for the entire book. Loved (and hated) the characters, enjoyed their growth and their humor and can't wait to read the third book.
However, a couple things bring this down. First one is, of course, the big quest. If you have read any of my reviews, I am not a big fan of quests, ie, just one damn thing after another. This one wasn't quite as bad as others I have read and at least I liked the characters. But it was still A Quest.
But the biggest drawback to the book is the use of torture. I know Superior Glokta is an Inquisitor, who, almost by definition, uses torture like others use a credit card, but it still gets tiring. Ever since watching *The Report*, an expose on the torture of Iraqis by American soldiers, I have become a warrior against torture. I won't watch shows that glorify torture (I'm looking at you *Watchmen*) or movies either.
And this book uses it as a sort of *deus ex machina* to give Abercrombie an easy way out. Want to solve a murder? Torture some one and he spills be the beans. Not only does he tell the truth, but you don't doubt it in the slightest and without even a shred of supporting evidence, you convict the other two. Even just the threat of torture works every time. It's just wrong, it's just ugly and it's just lazy.
But besides that, I love this series and love this world. I need to read the next book ASAP!
But that didn't happen. Hey, I am a guy with nearly 2,000 books on my Want to Read list, so it isn't surprising. But earlier this year, I read *[b:A Little Hatred|35606041|A Little Hatred (The Age of Madness, #1)|Joe Abercrombie|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1558367199l/35606041._SY75_.jpg|57338685]* and really enjoyed it, not even realizing it is connected to *The First Law* trilogy! It is the next generation of these characters. So I decided I should head back and finish reading the original trilogy.
And wow, am I glad I did! It is another grim, dark, brutal fantasy, with limbs flying and a dark cold death around the corner for everyone. To be honest, I don't remember much of the first book at this point, so I'm not really sure how the story carries along. But I quickly became friends (again?) with the main characters. In this book, there are 3 groups:
+ The Magician Bayaz and his group head off on a quest for a "thing" to help win the war.
+ Colonel West tries to help the stupid prince not die in a battle, then gets dragged along by another group to fight a big battle against Bethod.
+ Superior Glokta tries to save an outpost against the Ghurkas
Told in usually alternating chapters, the story moves along quickly and the characters in each group reflect off each other, have adventurers, kill, die and make love in equal doses.
The book suffers a bit in being the middle book of the trilogy. It starts off in the middle of stuff and the endings are not much. The futile end of the quest and the start of another, a murder and a huge battle that ends when things fade away in the mist, literally. But other than that, I was pretty riveted for the entire book. Loved (and hated) the characters, enjoyed their growth and their humor and can't wait to read the third book.
However, a couple things bring this down. First one is, of course, the big quest. If you have read any of my reviews, I am not a big fan of quests, ie, just one damn thing after another. This one wasn't quite as bad as others I have read and at least I liked the characters. But it was still A Quest.
But the biggest drawback to the book is the use of torture. I know Superior Glokta is an Inquisitor, who, almost by definition, uses torture like others use a credit card, but it still gets tiring. Ever since watching *The Report*, an expose on the torture of Iraqis by American soldiers, I have become a warrior against torture. I won't watch shows that glorify torture (I'm looking at you *Watchmen*) or movies either.
And this book uses it as a sort of *deus ex machina* to give Abercrombie an easy way out. Want to solve a murder? Torture some one and he spills be the beans. Not only does he tell the truth, but you don't doubt it in the slightest and without even a shred of supporting evidence, you convict the other two. Even just the threat of torture works every time. It's just wrong, it's just ugly and it's just lazy.
But besides that, I love this series and love this world. I need to read the next book ASAP!
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
Really enjoyable. Some great character development, but still needs more gals.
I enjoyed the first book, and initially felt I liked this book. However, the longer I thought about it, the angrier I got.
This whole book might as well have not happened. Had it not occurred, very, very little would have been impacted in the larger storyline. A total waste of time.
This whole book might as well have not happened. Had it not occurred, very, very little would have been impacted in the larger storyline. A total waste of time.
It still feels like a very long intro, but it was much better than the first one.
4.5 With Characters Like These Who Worries About the Plot Stars
Buddy read with Athena, Alexa, Ashley, Eon, Anasylvia and Michelle
The Blade Itself was a complete character study without a lot of plot, Before They Are Hanged has a little more plotting involved but for me it was still all about the characters. I travelled with them, I worried for them, I hoped for the best even in the midst of the worst and at the end I’m left wondering how they will ever get out of the complete mess they are all in.
Glotka
Strange how, with time, even the most terrible suffering of others can become . . . tedious
Glotcka has proved again what a complex character he is. Is he the misunderstood hero or is he the villain? I’m never quite sure myself. He can torture better than anyone but still it seems that he has a conscience and I love the inner dialogue he has. I look forward to his chapters because even though in so many ways he is awful he is also extremely clever and knows the true score. He might be dead as soon as the other players in this dangerous game he is playing. If he can’t keep on the right side of the people in power he will be the body floating in the docks. So he plays his part of the game better than anyone else and proves that just because you are horribly crippled the mind is a dangerous thing and being smart will save your ass more than a solid sword arm.
Logen and Ferro + the rest of the travelers (Bayaz, Jazel, Quai and Longfoot)
I ship Logen and Ferro so hard. Both are fierce warriors with horrible pasts. Again we get to see Logen and the burden he has carried by having Ninefingers as a traveler in his head. Logen is calm, smart and collected. He hands out great advice and seems like the true leader of the pack. But when 'The Bloody Nine' comes out to play no one is safe, even his allies.
Ferro, I just want to hug you, but you’d probably slit my throat if I tried. Learning about her past made me feel so much for her character. She is a feral beast to be sure but I loved the time she and Logen spent together and how close they became.
Jazel surprisingly has grown on me, all it took was a near brush with death and some real pain to make the boy grow up a bit. He might be a decent person after all and it just make me wonder what is Bayaz grooming the boy for.
‘Easy, now, and listen to me. It hurts, yes. Seems like more than you can take, but it isn’t. You think you’re going to die, but you won’t. Listen to me, because I’ve been there, and I know. Each minute. Each hour. Each day, it gets better.’
Bayaz is still a huge mystery to me and everyone else he is traveling with so I guess it is only fair I’m in the dark about his character as well. It seems that Quai has started to question his master a little more and the First Magi must tell stories of his past in order to convince the group that he is prepared and will not make the same mistakes again.
“All the great heroes of old, you know - the great kings, the great generals - they all faced adversity from time to time.” Jezal looked up. He had almost forgotten that Bayaz was there. “Suffering is what gives a man strength, my boy, just as the steel most hammered turns out the hardest.”
Wow what a journey these characters had and I will say at the end of it I was beyond surprised with how it all turned out. With all they went through to get where they were going I didn’t expect the outcome and can’t wait to see what the band of brothers + Ferro will do now.
The Northmen and West
The Named men from the north have found a common ally against Bethod, but the crafty king has a lot of tricks up his sleeve and things might just get a little bloody.
”It was a bad day for men, all in all, and a good one for the ground. Always the way, after a battle. Only the ground wins.”
I was so upset with West at the end of The Blade Itself but seeing him in his new position and having to deal with the Prince and a few other circumstances I really began to like him again. He has practically redeemed himself to me and I honestly felt extremely bad for him at one point
She winced and stared down at the ground beside his feet. ‘I didn’t mean to . . . well. I owe you a lot, I know. It’s just that . . . you’re too angry for me. That’s all.’
West stared at her as she trudged off up the hill after the Northmen, hardly able to believe his ears. She was happy to bed that stinking savage, but he was too angry? It was so unfair he almost choked on his rage.
So no love for West yet.
But I like West and the Named men together and it seems they have a lot to teach each other.
The Rest of the Story
There was a lot going on in this and at the end of it and well to be honest, it seems hopeless for everyone. The deck is definitely stacked against them all and I’m not sure how they will win let alone survive the upcoming battles. There are so many players, old debts to be settled, new terrifying adversaries how many more will die???
That said I still can’t wait to see how everything plays out and I am crossing my fingers and hoping that at least of few of my favorite characters, if not all, will make it out alive.
Buddy Read of the next book cannot come soon enough.
Buddy read with Athena, Alexa, Ashley, Eon, Anasylvia and Michelle
The Blade Itself was a complete character study without a lot of plot, Before They Are Hanged has a little more plotting involved but for me it was still all about the characters. I travelled with them, I worried for them, I hoped for the best even in the midst of the worst and at the end I’m left wondering how they will ever get out of the complete mess they are all in.
Glotka
Strange how, with time, even the most terrible suffering of others can become . . . tedious
Glotcka has proved again what a complex character he is. Is he the misunderstood hero or is he the villain? I’m never quite sure myself. He can torture better than anyone but still it seems that he has a conscience and I love the inner dialogue he has. I look forward to his chapters because even though in so many ways he is awful he is also extremely clever and knows the true score. He might be dead as soon as the other players in this dangerous game he is playing. If he can’t keep on the right side of the people in power he will be the body floating in the docks. So he plays his part of the game better than anyone else and proves that just because you are horribly crippled the mind is a dangerous thing and being smart will save your ass more than a solid sword arm.
Logen and Ferro + the rest of the travelers (Bayaz, Jazel, Quai and Longfoot)
I ship Logen and Ferro so hard. Both are fierce warriors with horrible pasts. Again we get to see Logen and the burden he has carried by having Ninefingers as a traveler in his head. Logen is calm, smart and collected. He hands out great advice and seems like the true leader of the pack. But when 'The Bloody Nine' comes out to play no one is safe, even his allies.
Ferro, I just want to hug you, but you’d probably slit my throat if I tried. Learning about her past made me feel so much for her character. She is a feral beast to be sure but I loved the time she and Logen spent together and how close they became.
Jazel surprisingly has grown on me, all it took was a near brush with death and some real pain to make the boy grow up a bit. He might be a decent person after all and it just make me wonder what is Bayaz grooming the boy for.
‘Easy, now, and listen to me. It hurts, yes. Seems like more than you can take, but it isn’t. You think you’re going to die, but you won’t. Listen to me, because I’ve been there, and I know. Each minute. Each hour. Each day, it gets better.’
Bayaz is still a huge mystery to me and everyone else he is traveling with so I guess it is only fair I’m in the dark about his character as well. It seems that Quai has started to question his master a little more and the First Magi must tell stories of his past in order to convince the group that he is prepared and will not make the same mistakes again.
“All the great heroes of old, you know - the great kings, the great generals - they all faced adversity from time to time.” Jezal looked up. He had almost forgotten that Bayaz was there. “Suffering is what gives a man strength, my boy, just as the steel most hammered turns out the hardest.”
Wow what a journey these characters had and I will say at the end of it I was beyond surprised with how it all turned out. With all they went through to get where they were going I didn’t expect the outcome and can’t wait to see what the band of brothers + Ferro will do now.
The Northmen and West
The Named men from the north have found a common ally against Bethod, but the crafty king has a lot of tricks up his sleeve and things might just get a little bloody.
”It was a bad day for men, all in all, and a good one for the ground. Always the way, after a battle. Only the ground wins.”
I was so upset with West at the end of The Blade Itself but seeing him in his new position and having to deal with the Prince and a few other circumstances I really began to like him again. He has practically redeemed himself to me and I honestly felt extremely bad for him at one point
Spoiler
She winced and stared down at the ground beside his feet. ‘I didn’t mean to . . . well. I owe you a lot, I know. It’s just that . . . you’re too angry for me. That’s all.’
West stared at her as she trudged off up the hill after the Northmen, hardly able to believe his ears. She was happy to bed that stinking savage, but he was too angry? It was so unfair he almost choked on his rage.
So no love for West yet.
But I like West and the Named men together and it seems they have a lot to teach each other.
The Rest of the Story
There was a lot going on in this and at the end of it and well to be honest, it seems hopeless for everyone. The deck is definitely stacked against them all and I’m not sure how they will win let alone survive the upcoming battles. There are so many players, old debts to be settled, new terrifying adversaries how many more will die???
That said I still can’t wait to see how everything plays out and I am crossing my fingers and hoping that at least of few of my favorite characters, if not all, will make it out alive.
Buddy Read of the next book cannot come soon enough.
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes