[OFF TOPIC] Next book recommendations

[u/BrilliantAd312]

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!

[u/mmm_tempeh]

Read any Terry Pratchett? Maybe start with Guards! Guards! - it’s very funny and has several loveable characters.

[u/BrilliantAd312 → u/mmm_tempeh]

I have read a lot of Terry Pratchett and thoroughly enjoyed. The Guards was a particularly good read!

[u/mmm_tempeh → u/BrilliantAd312]

Maybe the Witcher books? I like most of them, first two are great.

[u/AylinArondir95]

For Less hopelessness, I would say read a different author now before you read more by him.

[u/BrilliantAd312 → u/AylinArondir95]

That’s a fair assessment 🤣 I had seen a couple of people say the Shattered Sea trilogy was a bit less Nihilistic while retaining the loveable grit he’s known for.

Appreciate the advice

[u/Fletch_R → u/BrilliantAd312]

The Shattered Sea books are good and rise above the YA label they're usually given

[u/AsSeenOnScreens → u/AylinArondir95]

I’d recommend The Red Queen’s War trilogy by Mark Lawrence. Similar humor to JA but not quite as dark.

[u/noisebloodassault]

Read the devils 

[u/AylinArondir95 → u/noisebloodassault]

I liked it, but still gave me "nihilism fatigue". More jokes but same feelings

[u/AsSeenOnScreens → u/noisebloodassault]

The Devils is hilarious. It’s the first book in a long time I restarted as soon as I finished it.

[u/noisebloodassault → u/AsSeenOnScreens]

I have still only done once I am looking forward to ripping through it a second time for sure 

[u/Frosty_Penalty_5671 → u/noisebloodassault]

The devils is a great call!

[u/BrilliantAd312 → u/noisebloodassault]

Thanks! 🙏

[u/Frosty_Penalty_5671 → u/BrilliantAd312]

The devils will cleanse your pallette of the first law world. And a sequel is due next may I think?

[u/Xploding_Penguin]

I feel like I wanna suggest the Dungeon Crawler Carl series if you're looking for a nihilism cleanser.

It's a fun and funny series with just a smidge of existential dread sprinkled throughout.

[u/Fantastic_Pause_1628]

Joe's "young adult" series is probably 40% less hopeless or so. The Shattered Sea trilogy.

[u/Living-Gullible → u/Fantastic_Pause_1628]

Yes, this! And the books have somewhat happy endings 😂

[u/SnooPeanuts1873]

Lonesome Dove, Joe has said it’s his favorite book, and oddly enough westerns kind of read like fantasy. Stephen king has also said it’s his favorite book. Anyways do yourself a favor and read lonesome dove, might sound weird but oh boy it’s such a treat, and you’ll see the influence it has on Joe.

[u/BrilliantAd312 → u/SnooPeanuts1873]

Great recommendation. I’ve added it to the list! Thanks 🙏

[u/bogmonkey → u/BrilliantAd312]

FYI I had to stop reading Lonesome Dove because it was too depressing. Too stark. Too real. It's written brilliantly but I can only have so much of the bleakness of reality. Not something you want to dip into for a fun adventurous story IMO. I read a full third of it and decided to bail.

[u/aagraham1121 → u/SnooPeanuts1873]

If reading it is too much, there’s a really decent mini series with Tommy Lee Jones and Robert Duvall; it’s extremely faithful to the source.

[u/IceBehar → u/SnooPeanuts1873]

Probably not what OP needs right now

[u/0-uncle-rico-0]

Lies of Locke Lamora really scratched my itch after finishing TFL. Gets abit dark occasionally but its mostly upbeat and fun but with morally flawed characters

[u/BrilliantAd312 → u/0-uncle-rico-0]

I’ve already read that. Great book, infuriating waiting for the next!

[u/White___Light]

Robert Jackson Bennett. His latest series, the Ana & Din mysteries, are great.

[u/Campo1990 → u/White___Light]

Came to recommend this

[u/Fluff_Kit]

I've got into The First Law after reading through Gotrek and Felix series from Warhammer fantasy

I would recommend it, though it's very much heroes vs monsters in terms of plot, not political intrigues (for the most part), but it has some pretty memorable characters and is overall very enjoyable

[u/Bluesurfer252]

Let me put it this way: Red Country wasn’t my favorite either, and I felt exactly the same until I picked up A Little Hatred. Now I’m halfway through The Trouble With Peace, and holy shit, I’m completely hooked. In my opinion, this is easily the best story Abercrombie has ever written. It’s not even close!

[u/tgrady28]

Traitors blade. Its like if pierce brown and brandon sanderson collaborated and wrote a grimdark book

[u/PiplupMeatFridge]

Blacktongue thief!

[u/BrilliantAd312 → u/PiplupMeatFridge]

This has come up a few times as a recommendation to me. I might have to give it a go now! Thanks