A review by in_love_with_bookish
The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie

dark slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

 This is definitely a unique experience for me as a fantasy reader and I really enjoyed it. I’ve been meaning to read this book for some time but I kept putting it off until now. I’m glad I finally decided to discover Joe Abercrombie's The First Law World as it was a very rewarding experience from start to finish.

Every man has his excuses, and the more vile the man becomes, the more touching the story has to be. What is my story now, I wonder?


This is not a plot-driven book, it focuses heavily on the characters and It works as a very long introduction to the fantastical world of the story and its multiple players. Right from the first chapter, the author brilliantly sets the tone of the rest of the book in a way that makes it clear what to expect going forward.

As I said, there isn’t a lot going on plot-wise. We get to know a lot of characters, some of their motivations, and learn about the history and the lore of the world and we don't have big events happening in the story. The book is slow-paced and It takes its sweet time setting everything and everyone for the next book but It did so well I didn’t mind at all.

Once you've got a task to do, it's better to do it than live with the fear of it


There is clearly a lot of scheming and plotting to happen with a lot of characters, It lends an air of mystery to the book but also a sense of dread. As we know the characters more and more, It’s clear they’re up to no good which makes the stakes higher with more tension and suspense.

I also loved the writing style so much, I was really engaged in the story and I kept flipping the pages because I just wanted to read more. Abercrombie’s writing just works for me so well and I was captivated by it from the get-go.

Of course, the most fascinating aspect of the book is the characters themselves. The character work that’s done in this book is extraordinary. I love that we don’t have a clear understanding of where the characters fit. It was challenging for me to figure out how I feel about them considering who they are and what they’ve done in the past and what they continue to do in the present but I also can’t help but be drawn to them because they are really well written. There is a charm to them that makes them really interesting. The more you know, the more appalled you become but also the more intrigued and invested.

The more you learn, the more you realize how little you know. Still, the struggle itself is worthwhile. Knowledge is the root of power, after all.


But As much as I love the way the characters are written and how deep we delve into their stories, I still feel we didn’t see a lot of development from them. They really don’t change that much. I also think the female characters are severely sidelined in the book, and even with the one female character that’s clearly important to the story, Sometimes she felt like an afterthought.

The Blade Itself is a promising first book set in a world on the brink of many bloody wars with characters that don’t mind getting their hands dripping with blood. I think we’re in for a very gruesome yet wonderful ride. I’ll definitely be picking up the second book as soon as possible.

Everything frightens me, and it's well that it does. Fear is a good friend to the hunted, it's kept me alive this long. The dead are fearless, and I don't care to join them

Expand filter menu Content Warnings