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A review by frasersimons
Before They Are Hanged by Joe Abercrombie
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
slow-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
3.5
This did improve. Character arcs continue, Ferro is still an absolute unit and a boss. Much more happens with the whole escorting magi stuff than expected. Even Jez whatever becomes more interesting, switching places with the torturer guy, who has the boring end of the stick, this time.
You can hardly call it a plotty novel. But it does strike a much better balance between character growth, action, and plot beats. The characters make sense. There’s only one exceptionally trite thing that occurs near the end. Because it’s dark fantasy it’s even more dumb, and weirdly, doesn’t really impact anything much, so I don’t really get why it’s there. I’ve already started the third and it may as well have never occurred.
Other than that, though, hopefully the third navigates to an interesting ending, considering it delights in denying catharsis in the manner of all dark fantasy. Oh magical macguffin eh, think again! Like this character do you, well, I must plot their death! It’s all well and fine, but it’s no where near blowing me away. One thing that is unique, is the ability to insert good humour into the genre. I’ve not yet come across that, and somehow it works really well here.
You can hardly call it a plotty novel. But it does strike a much better balance between character growth, action, and plot beats. The characters make sense. There’s only one exceptionally trite thing that occurs near the end. Because it’s dark fantasy it’s even more dumb, and weirdly, doesn’t really impact anything much, so I don’t really get why it’s there. I’ve already started the third and it may as well have never occurred.
Other than that, though, hopefully the third navigates to an interesting ending, considering it delights in denying catharsis in the manner of all dark fantasy. Oh magical macguffin eh, think again! Like this character do you, well, I must plot their death! It’s all well and fine, but it’s no where near blowing me away. One thing that is unique, is the ability to insert good humour into the genre. I’ve not yet come across that, and somehow it works really well here.