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4.3 AVERAGE
4.3 AVERAGE
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
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A great continuation of the previous book and expands the world. You could tell that the author grew.
A continuation of the series. I still don't know what the plot is, though there are threads beginning to braid together. The characters are fantastic, so long as they are men.
This book, though entertaining, does not have a single well developed female character. In fact, there are only 3 to even speak of.
One is a clever beauty, who would not have to suffer quite so much if she could just keep her smart mouth closed; that includes the beating from her brother.
One has no personality, and is only there for two men to have a disagreement over then die.
The other is one of only 2 people of color, and she's half demon to boot. Guess what trope she fills?
I did enjoy the read, and I will be completing the series, if for no other reason than to figure out what the actual central plot is.
This book, though entertaining, does not have a single well developed female character. In fact, there are only 3 to even speak of.
One is a clever beauty, who would not have to suffer quite so much if she could just keep her smart mouth closed; that includes the beating from her brother.
One has no personality, and is only there for two men to have a disagreement over then die.
The other is one of only 2 people of color, and she's half demon to boot. Guess what trope she fills?
I did enjoy the read, and I will be completing the series, if for no other reason than to figure out what the actual central plot is.
adventurous
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Really enjoyed this book, was a great continuation of the first book, we got a great continuation of all the great characters in the first. There was a lot more of the background story, and Byaz's story revealed which i liked. There was a lot more war and battle scenes in this book which i personally find somewhat tedious, this is why i would say it wasnt quite as good as the first, but it certainly left me eager to finnish the trilogy.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
4.5 stars
This might be one of those series that gets better and better with each book. I didn't dislike [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], but it certainly took me two read-throughs to really understand that it's 100% about the characters. Whereas in the first book we are introduced to a collection of characters that are all pretty equally hate-able, it's in this sequel that we really begin to see them develop into more dimensional human beings. Very slowly, each of them start to adjust their choices with the changing times. Do they develop into good characters with strong moral compasses? Absolutely not. Nonetheless, I was pleasantly surprised with each of them by the end of this book. Ninefingers, Glokta, and Ferro are still the show-stealers for me, but I must admit I'm even developing a teeny tiny soft spot for Jezal.
Additionally, it felt like the pace of [b:Before They Are Hanged|902715|Before They Are Hanged (The First Law, #2)|Joe Abercrombie|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1179318094l/902715._SY75_.jpg|2116927] was slightly better. Maybe it's because several main characters spent the entire book together on a journey so we had plenty more character interactions. There was plenty of blood spilled both in skirmishes and full battles, which satiated my desire for more action. I'm not saying it should win any awards for pacing or plot development, but neither were those two elements so lacking as they were in [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].
I'm really beginning to find comfort in [a:Joe Abercrombie|276660|Joe Abercrombie|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1421267339p2/276660.jpg]'s writing style. He has a way of getting one over on the readers with these characters. At one moment you're convinced these are some of the worst characters ever to exist and the next you realize you feel for them without being able to exactly say why. It's not heroic. It's not preachy. It's very raw and human, so subtle you can hardly point to any one spot and say "this is where the character developed!" Abercrombie also just has a familiar sense of sadistic humor; I found myself laughing way more than I expected to in a grimdark series.
I'd also be remiss if I didn't rave about the audiobook narrator. If you haven't had a chance to listen to this series, Steven Pacey does a stellar job with the character voices and even shines a light on some of the subtle comedic timing of Abercrombie's writing that may be otherwise lost on the reader. It's most easily seen through Glokta's bits of internal consciousness, but even other scenes are always better when Pacey is able to speak them into existence. Personally, it's a series I will always prefer audiobook because I couldn't bring out half the brilliance these books have just through my mental narration.
This series is not for everyone. I can imagine many readers are either turned away from so little focus on plot or otherwise are turned off by the grim nature of these anti-heroes. But when you get it, you get it.
TL;DR
5.0 —One of the best I've ever read. Will be burned into my brain. Couldn't care less about weaknesses (if any). Would recommend to everyone and their mother.
▌4.5 —Loved this read. Will remember it fondly. Few weaknesses. Would recommend to anyone.
4.0 —Enjoyed this read. Will remember it fondly. Minor weaknesses. Would recommend to fans of the genre.
3.5 —Somewhat enjoyed this read. Might be memorable. Notable weaknesses. Would recommend to fans of the genre.
3.0 —Somewhat enjoyed this read. Not very memorable. Notable weaknesses. Would recommend to people who like similar books.
2.5 —Neutral or Underwhelming read. Not very memorable. Significant weaknesses. Would recommend to people who like similar books.
2.0 —Underwhelming or unenjoyable read. Not very memorable or memorable for the wrong reasons. Significant weaknesses. Might recommend to people who like similar books.
1.5 —Unenjoyable read. Not very memorable or memorable for bad reasons. Major weaknesses. Probably wouldn't recommend.
1.0 —I wish I never wasted minutes of my life on this trash. I would go out of my way to convince others not to read it.
This might be one of those series that gets better and better with each book. I didn't dislike [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], but it certainly took me two read-throughs to really understand that it's 100% about the characters. Whereas in the first book we are introduced to a collection of characters that are all pretty equally hate-able, it's in this sequel that we really begin to see them develop into more dimensional human beings. Very slowly, each of them start to adjust their choices with the changing times. Do they develop into good characters with strong moral compasses? Absolutely not. Nonetheless, I was pleasantly surprised with each of them by the end of this book. Ninefingers, Glokta, and Ferro are still the show-stealers for me, but I must admit I'm even developing a teeny tiny soft spot for Jezal.
Additionally, it felt like the pace of [b:Before They Are Hanged|902715|Before They Are Hanged (The First Law, #2)|Joe Abercrombie|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1179318094l/902715._SY75_.jpg|2116927] was slightly better. Maybe it's because several main characters spent the entire book together on a journey so we had plenty more character interactions. There was plenty of blood spilled both in skirmishes and full battles, which satiated my desire for more action. I'm not saying it should win any awards for pacing or plot development, but neither were those two elements so lacking as they were in [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].
I'm really beginning to find comfort in [a:Joe Abercrombie|276660|Joe Abercrombie|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1421267339p2/276660.jpg]'s writing style. He has a way of getting one over on the readers with these characters. At one moment you're convinced these are some of the worst characters ever to exist and the next you realize you feel for them without being able to exactly say why. It's not heroic. It's not preachy. It's very raw and human, so subtle you can hardly point to any one spot and say "this is where the character developed!" Abercrombie also just has a familiar sense of sadistic humor; I found myself laughing way more than I expected to in a grimdark series.
I'd also be remiss if I didn't rave about the audiobook narrator. If you haven't had a chance to listen to this series, Steven Pacey does a stellar job with the character voices and even shines a light on some of the subtle comedic timing of Abercrombie's writing that may be otherwise lost on the reader. It's most easily seen through Glokta's bits of internal consciousness, but even other scenes are always better when Pacey is able to speak them into existence. Personally, it's a series I will always prefer audiobook because I couldn't bring out half the brilliance these books have just through my mental narration.
This series is not for everyone. I can imagine many readers are either turned away from so little focus on plot or otherwise are turned off by the grim nature of these anti-heroes. But when you get it, you get it.
TL;DR
5.0 —One of the best I've ever read. Will be burned into my brain. Couldn't care less about weaknesses (if any). Would recommend to everyone and their mother.
▌4.5 —Loved this read. Will remember it fondly. Few weaknesses. Would recommend to anyone.
4.0 —Enjoyed this read. Will remember it fondly. Minor weaknesses. Would recommend to fans of the genre.
3.5 —Somewhat enjoyed this read. Might be memorable. Notable weaknesses. Would recommend to fans of the genre.
3.0 —Somewhat enjoyed this read. Not very memorable. Notable weaknesses. Would recommend to people who like similar books.
2.5 —Neutral or Underwhelming read. Not very memorable. Significant weaknesses. Would recommend to people who like similar books.
2.0 —Underwhelming or unenjoyable read. Not very memorable or memorable for the wrong reasons. Significant weaknesses. Might recommend to people who like similar books.
1.5 —Unenjoyable read. Not very memorable or memorable for bad reasons. Major weaknesses. Probably wouldn't recommend.
1.0 —I wish I never wasted minutes of my life on this trash. I would go out of my way to convince others not to read it.
Enjoyed this as an audio book, nice story, now even with some sex. Steven Pacey reads this perfectly again!