A review by madswritess
The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie

dark funny medium-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

3.75

A great introduction to a gritty, gruesome world. Abercrombie's character work is definitely to be applauded. I was a little weary at the start, especially due to the lack of female characters, though I was still hugely interested in the rest of the cast. I really loved the moral ambiguity, and the character interactions were really great. When the separate plot lines converged, I was having so much fun. While this book did feel like a set up, it makes me super excited for the rest of the series. Never been so stoked to see character arcs developed even more. 

And the narrator, Steven Pacey, was amazing!