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writermaguire's review
adventurous
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
readingandgaming's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
sad
medium-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? Yes
4.75
One of the better standalone fantasy books in recent memory. It certainly doesn't hurt to read other books around this or in this universe, but you can definitely just pick this one up and enjoy yourself. Abercrombie is a great writer.
saltyfingas's review against another edition
5.0
Well that was bloody and relentless as GRRM put it on the cover
bookswithclementine's review against another edition
5.0
Actual Rating: 5⭐️
⚠️Triggers: incest, sexual dubious consent, torture, war, violence
First off, while this book is a standalone, it does spoil the ending of the First Law trilogy, and it has a lot of side characters that we saw before in the trilogy reappear, so it’s best for me to read the trilogy first!
It’s not a surprise at this point that I loved this book, as I loved the whole First Law trilogy
⚠️Triggers: incest, sexual dubious consent, torture, war, violence
First off, while this book is a standalone, it does spoil the ending of the First Law trilogy, and it has a lot of side characters that we saw before in the trilogy reappear, so it’s best for me to read the trilogy first!
It’s not a surprise at this point that I loved this book, as I loved the whole First Law trilogy
whattamess's review against another edition
5.0
Still alive
I'll kill them all. I'll kill them all. I'll kill them all.
Abercrombie is my god. He excels in character creation. It's a blessing to be able to "see" a character grow and change. Shivers went through a remarkable change. I have a soft spot for Abercrombie's Northmen, and I hear the next book centers around the Northmen.
highlander1983's review against another edition
5.0
This may be an unpopular opinion, but I actually enjoyed this standalone better than the original trilogy (which I loved!). Just take the plunge and read it.
gordonwaddell's review against another edition
3.0
Ok. Somewhat nice fantasy-Italy setting. As warned very dark and bloody with many unpleasant characters.
The book didn't hold it together through the mammoth (almost 900 pages - 1348 in ePub) read though and became *work* by the end. I think it was because...
• unpleasant characters aside as the story goes on you end up disliking them all and there is no cohesion or protagonist you really care about
• there is a character or two who are aberrations to the "normal, fallable human" nature of the rest of the characters who distort and distract the story - especially Shenkt. I can only hope these are explained in the supposedly unrelated First Law trilogy and they are more fantastic etc. However if they are they break the seal in this being relatively standalone and if they aren't then I think they just seriously weaken the book.
• Abercrombie's style provides a rolling narrative pace that is initially engaging and sucks you in. But it just gets tiring and loses it's power chapter after chapter after chapter. Shorter books or more style needed.
In all, not a bad read and I would consider more Abercrombie in the future but it won't be top of my list.
The book didn't hold it together through the mammoth (almost 900 pages - 1348 in ePub) read though and became *work* by the end. I think it was because...
• unpleasant characters aside as the story goes on you end up disliking them all and there is no cohesion or protagonist you really care about
• there is a character or two who are aberrations to the "normal, fallable human" nature of the rest of the characters who distort and distract the story - especially Shenkt. I can only hope these are explained in the supposedly unrelated First Law trilogy and they are more fantastic etc. However if they are they break the seal in this being relatively standalone and if they aren't then I think they just seriously weaken the book.
• Abercrombie's style provides a rolling narrative pace that is initially engaging and sucks you in. But it just gets tiring and loses it's power chapter after chapter after chapter. Shorter books or more style needed.
In all, not a bad read and I would consider more Abercrombie in the future but it won't be top of my list.
joran88's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
babymac's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5