Reviews

Not exactly a perfect book - there are significant pacing issues in the middle - but the events leading up to and the ending itself were thrilling. An almost perfect self-contained story about revenge and its effects on all involved. The twists at the end were absolutely unexpected but felt right as they were revealed.

lunna_p's review against another edition

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adventurous dark funny tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

jaskovivich's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

sp00324's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Abercrombie has once again demonstrated his mastery of the fantasy genre. This standalone novel is a dark and gritty revenge tale that will have you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. The characters are brilliant, and their 'development' throughout the story is absolutely captivating.

Monza Murcatto is one badass protagonist! Her journey of vengeance is filled with ruthless determination, and I couldn't help but root for her, even with her lack of heroic qualities. The supporting cast is equally impressive, each with their unique quirks and motives that add layers of intrigue. I especially enjoyed Shivers perspective. Also I wasn't that intrigued by Cosca in the original first law series but I really enjoyed seeing more of him in this story.

The only reason I'm not giving this a full 5 stars is that, at times, the pacing felt a bit sluggish, and some sections were a tad long-winded. But, honestly, this is a minor gripe in an otherwise fantastic book. I also was going to give this a 5 star review but then I read The Heroes which I thought was even better and therefore could not justify giving this 5 stars anymore.

Highly recommend!

Content Warnings

projectmemo's review against another edition

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5.0

Such an enjoyable read with awful characters that you can't help but fall in love with. This standalone might actually be better than the entire First Law trilogy. I hope this is a sign that every subsequent First Law world would gets better and better.

jimr83's review against another edition

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adventurous dark tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

saemiligr's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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