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vereadsbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
The book is too slow and never seems to move forward in the story. It focuses heavily on the characters and their day-to-day adventures. Sometimes, it was tedious to read chapter after chapter that amounted to nothing. However, I found myself hooked and wanting to know more about them.
Joe Abercrombie's greatest strength is his characters. Each one has a distinct voice and perspective that sets them apart. The audiobook emphasizes these distinctions, highlighting the personality of each character.
The book introduces us to Logen, a northern man who falls off a cliff while fighting some half-man, half-animal creatures called Shanka, ultimately becoming separated from his group. Logen's reputation as bloodthirsty in battle precedes him, suggesting a dark past. However, we find a character who wants to leave that identity behind. By chance, he ends up with Bayaz, a bald man claiming to be the first of the Magi, and his apprentice on their journey to the Union.
In the Union, we meet Jezal, a young swordsman training for the Champion’s Tournament. Jezal is vain, selfish, and conceited. He believes himself superior to others because of his birthright. However, his beliefs conflict when he becomes involved with Ardee, someone from a lower caste who challenges him to see beyond his superficial ambitions.
We also have Inquisitor Glokta, a former swordsman captured and tortured during the war with the Gurkish. He's a bitter invalid who tortures anyone who might betray the crown. Glokta is cynical and self-pitying but very intelligent and witty, which makes him an enjoyable character to read.
Finally, we meet Ferro Maljinn, a former slave who hates those who enslaved her. Her thirst for revenge knows no limits, and she'll do anything to quench that thirst. Ferro is a skilled, fierce, and distrustful fighter. During the book, she has to trust in other characters. Her interactions with Logen are interesting, and they both share common traits.
The book introduces these characters, revealing almost nothing of the plot. I'm intrigued by what may come in the next installment.
Graphic: Ableism, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Murder, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
sophieamreacher's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Ableism, Alcoholism, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Hate crime, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Police brutality, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Cannibalism, Medical trauma, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
deyanira's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Ableism, Domestic abuse, Gore, and Classism
Moderate: Sexism and Xenophobia
Minor: Torture
chrisb913's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Gore, Misogyny, Torture, Violence, and Classism
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Fatphobia, Slavery, and War
Minor: Rape, Vomit, and Cannibalism
zoeoz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Death, Torture, and Violence
Moderate: War and Classism
Minor: Sexism, Slavery, and Cannibalism
wyabook234's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Gore, Torture, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Child death, Domestic abuse, Suicide, Trafficking, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Child abuse, Misogyny, and War
bluejayreads's review against another edition
3.75
Graphic: Ableism, Animal death, Death, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Sexism, Torture, Vomit, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Classism
Minor: Body horror, Rape, Slavery, Xenophobia, Excrement, Cannibalism, and Colonisation
Animal injury, physical abuse (one scene, plus mentions of it happening in the past), unrealityluis_vieira's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Torture, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Confinement, Racism, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Grief, Toxic friendship, Colonisation, and Classism
Minor: Rape, Sexual content, Vomit, Kidnapping, Cannibalism, Abandonment, Alcohol, Dysphoria, and War
alexkendall's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Ableism, Death, Gore, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Alcoholism, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Slavery, Kidnapping, and Classism
sydnieblair's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Gore, Torture, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexism, Slavery, Xenophobia, and Classism
Minor: Child death and Cannibalism