I guess we lost the old thread. Just started Before They Are Hanged. I read The Blade Itself about 6 months ago and liked it, but I never got around to getting book 2 until now. I'll post some thoughts as I finish books two and three.
I just realized I never posted some thoughts on Before They Are Hanged. It's no longer fresh on my mind, but here are some brief thoughts. Spoiler Okay, so I read The Blade Itself months back. Months as in it was probably March/April. So I spent a lot of time while reading this scouring the Internet just trying to refresh my memory of who was who and what was going on. Probably not the greatest idea to just jump straight back in to the series, but oh well. This book was mainly centered on Glokta holding back the Gurkish and Logen/Ferro/Bayaz and co. going on their little journey. The strongest part of the book, however, was West and the other Northerners fighting on the front lines and their interactions. This book spent more time on building the characters' network with each other than the first one. I liked Jezal's maturation and his injury really helped push that along, but I'm also curious to see if it's sustainable. I think the plot in this series kind of takes a back seat to the characters. Luckily for Abercrombie, he's gifted with writing some very good characters. But I still feel like the plot is a bit muddy and there's no true central conflict that's unveiled itself, at least to the point where all the characters are focused on it. I'm starting book 3 today, so I'll post some thoughts later.
I'm about 60% through The Last Argument of Kings. So far, I like it way more than book 2. And I liked book 2.
finished booked 2. putting my predictions here: Spoiler - Jezal becomes king - glokta and ardee become a thing, glokta dies a hero's death, doing the right thing...jezal wants to marry her, doesn't happen. - the seed is hidden inside the rock they threw down...betting that bitch cawnil knows about it. - really unsure on ferro and logen but i'm betting ferro dies to save logen...might be the other way around. not really sure what the other does - west kills the feared - dogman kills bethod - bayaz dies in his fight with kuhul, quai turns out to be some boss. take's bayaz seat on the council. - feel like glokta dies once there is a big reveal. honestly confused about who the eater is in adua...sult seems too obvious...feel like severand has some bigger role to play. - clueless on who is head of valient and balk. sidenote: the only thing I don't really like is the way glokta's chapters are written. It's pretty irrational, but I think it's the italics and his internal dialogue.
Looks like I never posted book 3 thoughts I liked the series. Not my favorite ever, but they have some good moments and the humor is good.
so torn on the series. it had me unable to put it down but that ending was so....meh. I mean, the author really believes in the "you have to be realistic" sentiment. also, did the series have a hero or just a bunch of anti-heros ?
The three stand alone novels set in the world of the First Law are good too...Best Served Cold, The Heroes, and Red Country. And yeah, lot of anti-heroes.
Haven't read the series yet, but did see that the 7th novel set in the world is scheduled to come out next month. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26030742-sharp-ends
I loved the trilogy-- thought he did a great job of telling a compelling low fantasy story with engaging characters and plot. Can't ask for much more.
any returning characters or mentions of first law characters? read the preview for best served cold and saw that it mentioned cosca...
Yeah quite a bit. Caul Shivers, Black Dow, Gorst, Duke Orso, The Dogman, Scale and Calder, etc. Big fan of Shivers and some of the new characters introduced, especially Whirrun of Bligh and Curnden Craw. Best Served Cold takes place in Styria, the other two are back in the North and Starikland.
Haven't heard much about the stand alones, but the good reads reviews are great. I just ordered the three. I'll read them intermittently between Malazan and book club choices over the coming months, since they're single stories.
Probably in the minority here, but I actually liked them more than the original trilogy. Best Served Cold and The Heroes especially I loved. Red Country not quite as much but... Spoiler we get the return of a certain character so that alone really led me to enjoy it [spoiler/]
Started Best Served Cold today. Been about a year since I read the original trilogy. But looking forward to getting back into this world
I'm about 20% through BSC. Not much to offer as far as plot goes (though I think it's interesting he chose to feature Shivers as a main character in this spinoff) but I do want to say I'm really enjoying getting back into Abercrombie's stories. Just love the way the guy writes and his sense of humor.
The Blackfish I saw you started reading Best Served Cold. Of the 5 I've read, I think that one's my favorite. Though there was a pretty big gap between when I read the trilogy and started with the stand alones.
I sat in my car for about 10 extra minutes this morning to finish Last Argument before going in to work. Starting Best Served Cold on my trip home
What he does with the stand alones is pretty cool. Further develops a lot of the side characters that are in the trilogy.
My thoughts on the trilogy. Also, fair warning, I listened to the audiobooks so I will mis spell most everyone's names. Some I know the spelling of, most I don't. This will also be pretty rambling and messy Spoiler Really fucking bleak. I think the happiest person at the end of the novels (well, besides Bayaz) was Glokta. He married Ardi and was about to torture Sult. So besides the fact that he is in constant pain, wakes up in a stew of his own shit every morning, and is grotesque to look upon, he has it pretty good. Actually Glokta is my favorite character in these books and is one of the most original fantasy characters I've come across in a while. He was fucking Brad Pitt growing up, then was tortured for years and came back and became a crippled torturer with a personal vendetta against stairs and their creator. I loved his portions of the books and his internal commentary on life in general. I think LT8 hyped Logen up too much for me, I loved him as a character too, but he isn't making my list of favorite fantasy characters ever (that list is pretty much full anyway thanks to Steven Erikson and Malazan). You have to be realistic about these things. As someone mentioned earlier, there wasn't ever a really defined main conflict, which I was okay with. In the end, all of these little men in these little wars were nothing but pawns in the bigger picture and conflict between Bayaz and Kahluhl (I know I fucked that spelling up) I think that is what left me with such a bleak feeling at the end of it. Kings rise and fall (out a window into a river sometimes) and end the end, what is it all for? Bayaz follows whatever laws seem to suit him at the time and then breaks them when need be. Also what a self righteous and super hypocritical fucker. Cares for no one and nothing. He was willing to slaughter and betray whoever to achieve his ends. I wonder if we ever find out how old he is, how he lives for so long, why did he kill Ptolemy, did he kill Juvens? etc... Also who is the main antagonist in the story? Is it Bayaz? Is it Kahluhl? Definitely not Bethod. Good luck to Ferro on her revenge, I'm sure we'll see her again. Logen is back to the mud river. I'm sure we'll see him again. Does that mean that Black Dow is now King in the North!! King of the Northmen? Thats actually pretty great Poor Jezal, that gormless twit. Thats all for now, I'm sure I have more thoughts but I should probably pretend like I'm doing some work... since I'm at work
Agreed on the first sentence there. One of the main reasons it never pushed higher than high 4* status for me. Also, I think Abercrombie is excellent when it comes to characters but his plots aren't his strong suit.
Just started a re read today. My favorite fantasy series and The Heroes is my favorite fantasy book. Joe needs to drop that follow up trilogy
Just started The Blade Itself. I like the Conan the Barbarian in King Arthur’s Court element of Logan in Adua.
Soooo, a warrior who when pushed goes into a bezerker rage where he’ll kill anyone and everyone...and his name is Logen? Bit on the nose, don’t you think?
Just finished this. Anyone else read it? Abercrombie always writes kind of the same book, but I always really enjoy that book, and this one was no different. Strong start to a new series.
So should I start with The Blade Itself or The Heroes? I'm saving The Heroes for my next roadtrip, but kind of want to finish the trilogy prior -- assuming I like The Blade Itself. However, my gf will be introduced to the First Law World with The Heroes is that alright?
I’d start with the trilogy first then read the standalone novels after. I guess you could read The Heroes first but published order is my recommendation
Finishing up Last Argument now and I have to say I enjoyed Abercrombie’s Shattered Sea trilogy MUCH more. Felt much more focused and grounded (maybe due to the lack of high magic). Having so few even passably likeable characters in the FL trilogy certainly didn’t help things.
How critical are the prior books for the new trilogy? Haven't read the first law trilogy in about a decade, so I'm wondering if I need a reread before I start
Went to push the first book to my kindle and realized I bought it as an actual book like a goddamn caveman
Yeah for books I think I’ll want for the collection I buy in hard copy. Books I just want to read and don’t really care, Kindle. And when I have a commute, I use Audible for a lot of stuff and if I decide I want a copy after the fact I’ll just get that.