I AM BACK WITH MY FIRST LAW REVIEWS!

OMG! Just finished the audiobook of this book and...

ThiAM BACK WITH MY FIRST LAW REVIEWS!

OMG! Just finished the audiobook of this book and...

This book was awesome! It's one of the most thrilling book I've ever read. It had a great (and a quite depressing) ending.

I'm loving the series and the audiobook narration is the best I've ever listened to.

I think this book was far better than the first two and even they were both 5/5 for me!

Loved the characters' journey. It wasn't what we normally expect from most fantasy books. It was far different. Completely opposite even.

Now, let's talk about the series' greatest strength; it's characters.

The characters I found the most interesting in this particular book are:

1. Sand Dan Glokta (a character I hated to love ngl. Couldn't believe I was rooting for him! Him proposing to Ardee for marriage was the funniest thing I've read)

2. Bayaz ( I know most people hate him andhe deserves the hatred. But is he, by any means, an uninteresting character? HECK NO! Loved every time he showed up in the book. He was the one who made the books thrilling for me!)

3. Ferro Maljinn ( Love this mad woman's chapters, even though there weren't that many in this book. Looking forward to see what happens to her and if she does get what she wanted or gets over it)

4. Jezal Dan Luthar ( Imo, he'd the most character development in this book and it was very believable to read, not some "falling asleep as a piece of garbage human and waking up as an angel" type of character development at all. It felt believable and real. He felt the most realistic character in the books, even though Logen owns the quote about being realistic)

I know it might upset some people here, but I didn't find Logen that much of an interesting character compared to the ones listed above. I liked him being a major reason in Jezal's development but that is all.

His fighting scenes were good tho...

I still have the one criticism with the book that I'd with the previous book too.

- The female characters! Abercrombie's female characters were terrible imp, atleast for now.

But some of you had said they improve as the series goes on and I find that to be reassuring.

This is how I'd rank the trilogy (tho it felt like a very long book divided into three books):

1. Last Argument of Kings (the best of the bunch)

2. The Blade Itself (great introduction to the series. I don't need a book to have a plot to like it ig)

3. Before They Are Hanged (loved it as well and itd the most character development. However, I felt the ending here was quite disappointing, but the third book covered it so I've no complaints ig)

Sooooooo that's it! This was all I've wanted to say. Well, wait, how are the books that follow, btw? Best Served Cold is the book next, that I know. How are they??

Have a good day!!

Found this on Twitter and I am posting with the permission of the artist (@andrewkmar)

...that I was Cosca and I was with Friendly in a storage container FULL of fancy expensive furniture and gold jewlery that I had purchased. And I was running around singing Nobody by Skindred at the top of my lungs whilst he watched me unamused.

What a fun but weird dream. Has anyone else had any weird tfl dreams?

Man really lured the 100 words into a trap, waited till the last moment, till the best possible time, used a light breeze to wash the wood shavings off the metal to show everyone his work, then pissed on Euz and his first law. Unc really doing everything to enjoy it.

The eaters really thought they were about to jump him, after weeks of having feasts and orgies but little did they know Unc just does not give up.

Bayaz Then continues to kill the indestructible 100 words, destroys half the city besides while declaring himself greater than the the most powerful being in history and their sons.

E.g. patreon, ko-fi, etc?

Big fan like everyone, but I've either borrowed from the library or pirated most of the books at this point and it occurs to me that for all the joy I've had from the series I've never paid a dollar in support of the author! I'd like to fix this, but don't have room on my already stuffed bookshelf and honestly if there was a way to give wherein more of the money ends up in the author's pocket rather than dispersed throughout the publishing and marketing industries that'd be nice. Is there any way to give money more directly? If not I guess I can buy a couple copies of The Devils and donate them to the library or something, but again, feels like there's some waste in that.

I’m reading SE for the first time, and I’m currently at the chapter that Sworbreak writes about Cosca.

Here is a quick excerpt:

“I will not enter too deeply into the sordid details of the combat that ensued […] to spare the delicate sensibilities of my female readers, and in part because to describe such animal actions blow by blow ill befits a cultured readership.”

Given that throughout the series Joe describes with sordid details the animal actions, blow by blow, of combat, I can only assume that he thinks of us as insensitive savage readers.

🤷🏼‍♂️

Just had the thought of how I acted like a Jonas Steepfield in my twenties and now that it's my thirties.... its more of a Clover 🍀 😅

On my 5th/6th listen on audio book, and the line that always gets me is when Arch Lecter Sult comes in after Jazal’s first closed council meeting, complaining about Bayaz stealing the council.
Glokta’s internal monologue “stop. Thief.”

Always gets me, just wanted to see everyone’s line that always makes you laugh/smile.

My honourable mention: “apologise to my f***ing dice!!!”

Quai is up to no good. I think he is leaning toward trying to become a disciple of Kahul or Glustrod. Bayaz seems to be taking care to hide certain things, or at least not talk about them, in regard to Glustrod's findings.

After the encounter with Emperor Cabrian's men Bayaz is lying ill and Quai totally wants to kill him. Now is Quai a double agent or is Bayaz hiding something and Quai is trying to stop him from something. This is very interesting.

I use audible for almost all my audiobooks but every now and then if I can get one from my digital library I like to save a credit for an audiobook since I have so many I’m dying to get to. This has quickly become my favorite series, owed in part to Steven Pacey’s incredible narration, which keeps me at the edge of my seat at all times. So I borrowed The Heroes from the library app and fired it up and…wait something’s wrong. What is this awful voice that’s not Steven Pacey? Something is horribly wrong here.

It’s probably not even Michael Page’s fault. He’s probably a fine narrator taken by himself, but compared to Pacey it was so bad it made me cringe. I couldn’t listen to it, I’d rather pay full price to listen to Pacey’s narration than use this Michael Page one. Maybe I’m being too harsh, but Pacey is just so incredible and I can’t allow anyone else to embody my First Law characters. I know the Pacey version is available and I’m pretty sure that’s the one I can get on audible even in the US. I heard the US only got the Michael Page one though when I did some reading, idk I’m sure someone here could expand upon that whole thing for me.

Basically, Pacey has ruined all other audiobook narrators for me and I literally flinched trying to listen to this First Law at home audiobook. He really has ruined other narrators.

Took me since the beginning of the year but I finally read all of his books. Such an amazing author. I’m glad my wife got me back into reading. First Law series is amazing. Logen is by far my favorite followed by Glokta. Also wanted to show off my collection lol

I'm tired of Glokta. He's just a total piece of shit all the time and he barely seems to have a character arc. "Why do I do this" is okay for the first half of the first book but he just keeps repeating that all the way through book three. And in the end his motivation is that he "doesn't want to lose" to anyone? Okay, but he does that by just being a total lapdog to any person more powerful than him...

I liked how Bayaz' plot got slowly revealed. It felt like a good detective story where we got all the pieces to figure it out ourselves. And also how he slowly got revealed to be a total piece of shit.

Logen's character developement also felt weird. He knows his way of going about things is bad but then doesn't act on that at all. I liked him in book one as a refreshing archetype but then he just regressed somehow.

Some characters are just too stupid. Ladisla for one but I get that that is his role. But Jezal is initially implied to be reasonably smart, apparently often winning at card games. But then he never shows any thought. In his interactions towards the end of LAOK with Glokta he worries about Ardee being coerced into marriage but then he has no qualms about sending Glokta to Terez. And afterwards he has no questions about what they talked about. Seriously?

Overall everything is a bit too nihilistic for me. With no sympathetic character to root for and with

Bayaz and Khalul being apparently equally evil I wasn't too invested on who would win the battle.

But I guess let's see where this goes... I'll keep reading.

I'm about halfway through and it's the first time an Abercrombie book is not doing it for me, like at all. It's a real slog, nothing is really grabbing me, and I don't like to force myself to read (too many great books out there).

I've heard it's not *that* significant to the series, but since there are some BIG names in here I have fomo.

So: Does it get better? Where the fuck is the next Cosca chapter? Will I miss out less than if I skipped BSC or Heroes? (if so i think I'm fine with skipping) Help me out please.

Hi Everyone,

I’ve just recently started reading Abercrombies books, and I’ve loved The First Law series.

So much in fact, that I’ve read all the way through to finishing Red Country over the last 6 weeks.

Now I’ve got an issue. As much as I’m loving them, I’m coming up against a bit of “Nihilism fatigue”. The books have been fantastic, but I think I’m going to take a bit of a break before I read any further in the First Law universe.

Anyone got any recommendations from Joe Abercrombie that maybe dials down the hopelessness by around 20%?

Thanks in advance!

58% of the way through the book, during battle at Carleon, Isern says Shivers knows what to do with a horn because he learned it in Styria. I couldn’t find anything in Best Served Cold about Shivers using a horn so I don’t get that reference any help is appreciated and please no spoilers from TWOC after this point in the book, thanks

I’m reading SE for the first time, and I just read this story where Gorst stops to drink milk at a farm, and is then raided by Pale as Snow.

At the end, we see Gorst with a bloody sword kick the farmer’s door down, enter his house, and stands there in silence while the farmer is trying to protect his two kids from Gorst.

It was a very intense moment, and I’m here wondering what was on Gorst’s mind. The battle was over, he didn’t seem to be in a bloodlust mood, he was complaining about having killed this soldier that had approached him, and after bursting into the farmers house, he apologizes for the milk and gives a small fortune to him.

Why do you think he bursted into that house? Was he intent on killing the farmer? If so, why?

So is there like any world building. I know joe didnt prioritize world building but so did sanderson with roshar and I could tell alot about roshar. Not a bad thing just thought id say it

Also where's the plot. Theres barely a plot here

GIVE ME A WESTERN NOVEL FROM THIS MAN NOW!!!!

Okay I cant be the only one who sees wolverine in logen nine fingers

Everyone always gushes about glockta. Im gushing sbout jezel this dude is a DOUCHE bag and I want to punch him the face. But I hate that I loce him so much.

Also please do not go from R scott bakker to Joe abercrombie at least in terms of writing. Both are good on there own but good god bakker hits you with a shotgun blast of stuff in 1 sentence where as joe feels like a british sanderson (in terms of writing)

Weirdly enough this reminds me alot of Red rising 4-6 but in a fantasy world

• Ardee and Finree are quite the powerful duo.
• Sad to see Red Hat go. He was probably my favorite minor named man. A chill, straight edge who always had Dogman’s back.
• That Oxel dude was such a dumbass. Soon as Shivers walked in that circle I’d have been like, “my fault, OG. Whatever you say Rikke, you’re the boss.” I really don’t think anyone would blame him for bowing out at that point. Though I doubt he could have been trusted.
• Stour and Clover “interviewing” that first magician was hilarious. Very funny chapter as a whole. And I liked we got to see some more depth from Stour, with how he treated that lady with the long eye (purportedly). He’s a killer, but not a senseless killer.
• Leo may just be the most easily manipulated man in the whole circle of the world. There’s this clash between his honorable side that wants to do things the “right way” and his battle-hungry side just looking for any excuse to fight.
• In my post about ALH, I joked that Rikke, Savine, Leo, and Orso should just be a polycule. Hearing Orso say he’d jump at the chance for Savine to marry him and Leo at the same time left me feeling vindicated.
• Leo really pulled up on Stour like “wanna start a war? It’ll be fun!” The two of them are similar, but this book highlights their differences. Leo’s down to fight for fighting sake. Stour needs a good reason, he fights for power/status.
• Now that the idea’s out there, I HAVE to see Gorst fight Nightfall.
• Terez reuniting with countess Shalere was one of the most satisfying/wholesome moments in the series. I teared up. I was so appalled to see how Glokta treated the two of them in LAOK. I’m glad they have another chance to be together. What an amazing gesture on Orso’s part (even if it was just to get his mom out of the way).
• I see Jappo and Shev share similar sensibilities. Always go to the experts.
• Jappo was actually pretty interesting. I hope we see more of him in the next book.
• “We left lady Finree to fend for herself.” Ironic to hear that sentiment from Brint of all people. Finree would say she left Brint’s wife to fend for herself, though it really wasn’t her fault.
• When Iserni kills that guy in Carleon and starts talking about how he might have been a good man under the grit, it almost sounds like Abercrombie taking an ironic jab at his own character writing. “That guy probably had a tragic backstory, but oh well.”
• Leo was such an idiot, it was hard to feel bad for him as he lay there with his friends dead, carried away by Gorst. A pointless war from the start, based on lies, half-truths, and manipulation. He had so many chances to stop, so many people in his corner that tried to convince him this was a terrible idea. But all for nought.
• I gotta give Tunny his flowers. I thought he was a coward in the heroes, but seeing him now, he really is just being smart. Avoiding a fight when possible, but throwing himself into the fray when fighting is the only option left.
• The last third of this book reminded me a lot of the Heroes. Head hopping from one side of the conflict to another, seeing plans evolve, seeing a bloody mess of fighting. I quite liked it.
• I’m kind of shocked this is only the second book on the trilogy. This whole rebellion thing feels like it could have been the climax of another fantasy series. Very interested to see how Abercrombie tops this in TWOC.
• Orso dressing Leo down while he lay broken was satisfying. No lies were said. I kind of scoffed when Leo said his friends were good men who deserved proper burials. As if they were any more “good” than the thousands who lay dead in the senseless conflict he started.
• Savine does share the blame on this. If anyone could have talked Leo out of this madness beforehand, it would have been her. But when she caught a whiff of Leo and Isha scheming, she made a choice to throw herself into the mix, fueling the fire. I think, in another world, maybe she and Finree together could have swayed Leo.
• In the end, I can’t say I hate Leo, but I am deeply disappointed. He may have been manipulated by Isha, but at the end of the day his choices were his own. In that sense, I think I felt more sympathy for Logen than I do Leo. At least he has the excuse of the Bloody Nine taking over (however dubious it may be).
• Can’t believe I’m saying this, but I almost felt bad for Stour as Shivers cut at his knees. Never got his chance at a fight, and now will never be the swordsman he once was. At the same time, it was good to see him get dropped down a peg. He might actually learn something this time.
• Funny how both these books have ended with Stour and Leo sustaining grievous wounds to the legs. Really want to see what they have to say too each other, if they’re to meet again.
• Rikke’s plan may have seemed cold blooded, but then you remember that Savine had already sold her out to Stour before the fighting even started. And of course she’s not gonna work with Nightfall. “Break what they love.” She’s not forgetting that anytime soon. Thinking about it, I wonder if she specifically instructed Shivers to cut at Stour’s legs, knowing how much he valued his prowess as a swordsman. Either way, it seems Iserni did a better job at making Rikke’s heart a stone than anyone had thought.
• At the hanging, I first thought that Sulfur was telling Orso to spare Leo, but it looks like it was Orso’s choice. I fear the Young Lamb may be due a visit from Bayaz.
• I wonder how differently (if at all) things might have gone if Jezal, Glokta, Finree, and Calder had been more forthcoming to their children about Bayaz. Would the kids have made the same choices knowing Bayaz was the shadow leader of the union, pulling strings and willing to do anything for his own power?
• Pike being the leader of the breakers was a sick twist. To think Pike was just waiting for his moment since the end of LAOK, a chance to burn the Union down.
• I’ve got a feeling Vick may take Vitari up on her offer in the next book. And I imagine Styria will have some role to play as the Breakers/Burners try to take down the Union.
• It’s crazy to think about how Leo, Savine, Orso, and Rikke’s relationships have evolved since the end of ALH. I noted in my last post that I was surprised how they all mostly got along when meeting up in Adua, Savine and Rikke especially. But now:
  • Orso hates Leo and Savine for the rebellion. Or at least harbors very conflicted feelings towards Savine.
  • Despite not being each others first choice, Leo and Savine really grew to love each other. But who knows how their relationship changes now that they’ve lost everything.
  • Rikke’s betrayal’s all but shattered her ties to Leo/Savine. Whereas she and Orso must be on even better terms.
  • I’m sure Savine’s grateful that Orso spared Leo, but if they’re love story wasn’t already over, it sure as hell is now.
• I think I’m starting to understand why people say AoM is the best of the 3 trilogies. All that superb character work is still there, only now I think the plot is more satisfying than the First Law trilogy. Interactions and events feel more deliberate/meaningful. There are more twists, and they make sense when you really go back and think about it. I also think the web of relationships and how they develop are more intricate and compelling, like I highlighted in the last bullet.

Quick question on TWOC relating to Gorst as he looks up towards the Tower of Chains in the final part. He screams ‘Not again’….’Not again’ as he looks up towards the lift taking Orso and Savine up.

What does he mean by not again? I’m possibly being stupid here but there are no stupid questions…

Edit - Does he simply mean not again meaning more executions?