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benstanley's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
tense
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
4.5
redbusya's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
slow-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
1.75
roydavis's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
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
5.0
rodneywilliam's review against another edition
2.0
I say this as someone who's love for Abercrombie's writing is young and very much blooming, someone who picked up A little hatred and genuinely could not put it down, this is an unpleasant book to read.
Cynical to the point of pretention with its attempt at apeing an Orwellian dystopia, Yes Joe some are more equal that others I fucking get it, I don't need 50 chapters of this shit dear God! Can we just get back to the military fantasy... pleeeease. Fuck! The pacing is frustrating, the tone consistently drawl, the beats repetitive... I'm bored, I'm just bored...and I'm only half way through. Fuck!
I give up. DNF
Cynical to the point of pretention with its attempt at apeing an Orwellian dystopia, Yes Joe some are more equal that others I fucking get it, I don't need 50 chapters of this shit dear God! Can we just get back to the military fantasy... pleeeease. Fuck! The pacing is frustrating, the tone consistently drawl, the beats repetitive... I'm bored, I'm just bored...and I'm only half way through. Fuck!
I give up. DNF
eagledawg's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
andreaw's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
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? Yes
4.0
milesmark's review against another edition
5.0
The First Law - The Next Generation! This is in my top ten favorite books that I have read in my life.
This concludes a nine book series that has been broken into two trilogies with three stand alones in the middle. There has also been two short story collections. All are 5/5 reads. I cannot recommend them more! This was my second time to read all of these books. I love them all.
Why do I love Joe Abercrombie so much? It is firstly about the characters. The are all morally gray. However, the are quite lovable and realistically brought to life by this pure genius of a writer. The second thing I love is the humor. How can you laugh when terrible things are happening all around? Abercrombie has a gift for this. The third thing I love is the pacing and battles. You actually feel nervous for every person involved. He can write detailed battles that make you feel like you are in the middle of the action. I also love it when he plays tag across a battle field. You follow one character until they are killed and then continue with the person that killed them. It is a brilliant device that makes the battles even more personal.
The twists at the end of this one should have been obvious. However, they are not. Details are hidden in plain sight that make you think you should have known the whole time. It is genius storytelling.
It looks like Joe is taking a break from First Law to hit us with something different next year. I'm all in.
This concludes a nine book series that has been broken into two trilogies with three stand alones in the middle. There has also been two short story collections. All are 5/5 reads. I cannot recommend them more! This was my second time to read all of these books. I love them all.
Why do I love Joe Abercrombie so much? It is firstly about the characters. The are all morally gray. However, the are quite lovable and realistically brought to life by this pure genius of a writer. The second thing I love is the humor. How can you laugh when terrible things are happening all around? Abercrombie has a gift for this. The third thing I love is the pacing and battles. You actually feel nervous for every person involved. He can write detailed battles that make you feel like you are in the middle of the action. I also love it when he plays tag across a battle field. You follow one character until they are killed and then continue with the person that killed them. It is a brilliant device that makes the battles even more personal.
The twists at the end of this one should have been obvious. However, they are not. Details are hidden in plain sight that make you think you should have known the whole time. It is genius storytelling.
It looks like Joe is taking a break from First Law to hit us with something different next year. I'm all in.
papernapkin's review against another edition
5.0
This is a superb trilogy, go read it. That's the extent of my comments to those who haven't read this book.
For those who have read it, I have to say, I loved this book, but I was also a little disappointed with the conclusion of this trilogy. Toward the end what Leo did seemed out of character. He never struck me as power hungry, and was happiest when he was on the battle field, so I just don't see it. Savine, sure, but to be more power hungry than Savine? There's just no way. Feel free to argue with me.
I also had a problem with the reveal of Glokta's machinations at the end. I'm re-reading the First Law books to confirm this, but having re-read the first two this week, I just don't see any indication of a decades-long master plan. My memory isn't great, and I haven't read the First Law in about 4 years, so I may be overlooking something huge. Let me know if you feel differently. I seem to be the only one who had any problem with this book, so it's probably just me.
For those who have read it, I have to say, I loved this book, but I was also a little disappointed with the conclusion of this trilogy. Toward the end what Leo did seemed out of character. He never struck me as power hungry, and was happiest when he was on the battle field, so I just don't see it. Savine, sure, but to be more power hungry than Savine? There's just no way. Feel free to argue with me.
I also had a problem with the reveal of Glokta's machinations at the end. I'm re-reading the First Law books to confirm this, but having re-read the first two this week, I just don't see any indication of a decades-long master plan. My memory isn't great, and I haven't read the First Law in about 4 years, so I may be overlooking something huge. Let me know if you feel differently. I seem to be the only one who had any problem with this book, so it's probably just me.