The Blade Itself (The First Law: Book One) Reviews

• Unfocused, hard-boiled, sword-and-sorcery debut

  
  By A2I5O8AEFU1SOK on 2007-12-28
  Logen Ninefingers is a homeless, battle-scarred barbarian, hoping to live one more day. Jezal dan Luthar is a conceited rake with the vague ambition of winning an annual fencing contest. Sand dan Glotka, who won such a contest years ago, is a torture-crippled torturer in the Union's Inquisition, rooting out whatever truths or half-truths will please his superiors (if not the Union's senile king). Ferro Maljinn is an escaped slave, lean and feral, seeking vengeance against the empire that destroyed her people.
  
  Against the backdrop of the mysterious agenda of the wizard Bayaz and an invasion by a new barbarian king, first-time author Joe Abercrombie slowly weaves together the violent lives of these four to open his First Law trilogy. It's difficult to elaborate further without providing spoilers, but suffice it to say that so much of the story remains in the shadows that readers seeking closure may wish to wait until the trilogy is completed.
  
  The Blade Itself--its title taken from a quotation attributed to Homer--is reminiscent of two other recent debuts by young authors: The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss and The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch. All three are lengthy, unfinished tales with competent writing and world-building, as well as displays of intelligence by the authors in striving to avoid, or at least execute freshly, fantasy cliches. That said, even taking into account Mr. Abercrombie's hard-boiling of his prose to evoke the grit of his characters and their surroundings, TBI is distinctly the least well-written and -imagined of the three. (With regard to world-building, a map would have helped.) Mr. Abercrombie shows a knack for portraying hard-edged, brutally realistic characters scarred by their pasts--Logen, Glotka, Ferro--but his portrayal of the naive Jezal pales by comparison. On the other hand, a few displays of humanity throughout the tale are surprising and well-executed, as are some instances of dialogue and the repetition of certain phrases. As a final note, this reader found the liberal use of real-world profanities and grammatical errors distracting.
  
  If it were a restaurant, TBI would never be mistaken for a fine-dining establishment, but it stands up well as a bar and grill welcoming to guys and gals with the time to overlook slow service and who enjoy peanut shells on the worn, wooden floor and plenty of red meat. Recommended as a library loan for everyone else. 3-1/2 blood-and-mud-crusted stars.
  
  

• A series and author worth reading

  
  By AP5NXS66INNOB on 2007-09-25
  Long on intrigue, stark and direct, from a quality standpoint Abercrombie's debut fits well within the upper reaches of the fantasy genre and produces a number of decent mysteries for books two and three of the trilogy. Abercrombie has put a new spin on the typical medieval fantasy fare.
  
  First, his main characters are both archetypal, and not. There are six primary ones: Collem West, the low-born, capable, hardworking warrior who has accomplished a great deal in the caste-bound military system of the main setting for the novel, the empire known as the Union; Ferro Maljinn, a warrior woman from the south who has seen war, death, and an existential threat to all mankind but knows only hate; Jezal Luthar the gifted swordsman who typifies the courtier-set until his mindset is changed by a no-nonsense love interest; the Dogman, a Norse-type warrior from the North who fights with a perpetually feuding band of brothers that wishes to save the world from two horrible dangers; Logen Ninefingers, a barbarian warrior who has far more human frailties than Conan; and Sand dan Glokta, the Inquisitor.
  
  Glokta is Abercrombie's best character -- a hero of the Union, champion swordsman, he was captured during a previous war and physically shattered such that as a 35-year old man, his appearance and motor skills are closer to someone three times his age. But his mind works well -- he is sharp, biting, cruel, courteous, and bitter by turns.
  
  This volume has some action (fights, duels, small battles, some magic), and hints at the overall plot (the plot points are really a bunch of dots on paper, without a lot of connecting lines yes), but primarily sustains its momentum with intrigue and detail to set up the remaining books. Abercrombie's writing is direct, coarse (lots of epithets), frequently funny, and often dark.
  
  All told, a fine beginning.
  
  

• Absorbing

  
  By A2PTWKZ2VKD2D0 on 2006-07-05
  I wasn't sure what to expect from this book. I read the blurb from the back and nearly turned away after reading only half of the summary. But something made me open it up and try the first few pages--and I was hooked. It starts with an action scene--like most fantasy novels--and it is described so well. It is realistic without splattering gore in your face. I can't think of any other author who treads that line so well as Joe Abercrombie does in The Blade Itself.
  
  I didn't find this a funny book, overall. It's not a comedy at all. But there are several moments where I did laugh out loud as I read some clever description or a reaction of one of the characters. In fact I think I found more to smile at in this book than most other novels that are specifically tagged as being funny or humourous. The humour here isn't forced. I didn't feel like the author was trying to be funny. It was more like the humour you might find in casual conversation with a friend.
  
  This book moves along at a good pace. It is one of those books where you want to keep reading to find out what happens, but, unlike many other page-turners, things actually happen in this one! I hate books that promise action or resolution just over the next page, just another page, one more page, and before you know it you've read half the book and still nothing's happened. This is definitely not a one-trick pony of a book. Each character is well developed and the plots intertwine naturally.
  
  What this book doesn't contain are tired old writing techniques. Well, it's not perfect, but it's as close as I've come across in 15 years. Anyway, there are no stereotypical cliched fantasy characters. The author doesn't end each chapter on a contrived cliff-hanger and then talk about another character's life for ten chapters before returning to the cliff-hanger. He doesn't especially dwell on the gruesome details of battle, but he writes it as realistically as you'd want. Perhaps not super-realistic--this is a fantasy, after all--but it's not nearly as predictable as many.
  
  Something else I noticed about the writing style is that Joe will change his writing a little to suit each character. So each time he changes the perspective to a new character, the way he describes the scenes changes, too. It's like he's letting us look through each of their eyes, rather than just giving us a homogenous narration throughout. They're not jarring transitions by any means, though. For me they really added to the story and made it all the more absorbing.
  
  This is by far the most absorbing novel I have read for many years. And this is the most glowing review I have given any book on Amazon!
  
  

• Fantasy Noir and cutting edge Sword-and-Sorcery too!

  
  By A32EULVVPEZZHV on 2007-09-24
  I haven't been this excited about a book since I read George R.R. Martin's A Game of Thrones! Speaking of which, be careful stacking Joe Abercrombie too close to GRRM or Steven Erikson, because even though it's less-then-half their size, The Blade Itself may knock them right off the bookshelf!
  
  Finally, a talented writer has combined the straight-forward, character driven; adventure tales of old school sword-and-sorcery, with the depth and multi-person-point-view of the modern epic fantasies.
  
  This world is ruled by a centuries-old empire that's oblivious to its rotting core and too arrogant to realize how easily its barbaric enemies may be more then it can handle. Also it seems a dark force may be raising that is the bigger threat. All this is just the back-drop for a truly character driven tale.
  
  I haven't liked a barbarian as much as Logen Nine-fingers and the Named Men since REH's Conan. Inquisitor Glotka; despite his crippling and the disfiguring POW injuries, may be the most dangerous ally or enemy. Those are a couple players in a story that has some of the most interesting and charismatic characters in the genre. Despite that this is a multi-person-point-view tale; the characters are refreshingly kept to a manageable number.
  
  Be prepared to hit-the-ground running from the first page and be pulled along till the last. And this bone-jarring pace is not all due to the two-fisted action. Mr. Abercrombie has a knack for dialog that's unprecedented in the genre. You'll find yourself snickering or blown-away by the witty banter and one-liners as much as you'll be grabbing the edge-of-your-seat during a running fight.
  
  
  

• Excellent Noir Fantasy

  
  By ADMNKXTZWSRRQ on 2007-09-01
  Described by many as "noir fantasy," I was at a loss as to what The Blade Itself could be - but my curiosity was piqued. Although, the answer couldn't be more simple - it's a fantasy novel with strong noir elements, in a combination as refreshing as it is entertaining.
  
  Admittedly, it's not for everyone: there are no damsels in distress or knights in shining armor. Yet that's what grants Abercrombie's story its appeal - the characters are painstakingly real, even if they're not "heroes" by strict definition.
  
  The very fact that one of the main characters is crippled demonstrates something that much fantasy seems to lack: this is a world with consequences - a wave of a magic wand won't heal every body and soul. The characters aren't questing to save the world or defeat evil; they're struggling to live their own lives amidst fascinating plot and conflict.
  
  Above all, though, Abercrombie's characterization is his strength. The reader feels the pain and sees the world through the jaded eyes of Glokta, or is right alongside Ninefingers in his struggle for survival. While the characters may have unlikable moments, the reader can always sympathize and can identify with them as real people.
  
  I, for one, can't wait to get ahold of the next installment.
  
  
• 5 stars? You might be disappointed
  By A2ND0SFIQQWE43 on 2007-10-30
  I see a lot of 5 star reviews and while The Blade Itself is an adequate opener to Abercrombie's writing career, I'd encourage a little tempering of the excitement.
  
  The book suffers from overdrawn plotlines, Jezel in particular. Here we have an unlikable and uninteresting character who plods through inaction for page after page. I found myself completely unconcerned about about him and his love interest. The whole contest story fell flat as well and was typical of other fantasy, eg. Feist's Talon of the Silver Hawk (skip it), and others. I'd say Steven Erikson does it better in the Malazan Book of the Fallen.
  
  Aside from the plodding action however, the excitement does pick up towards the end, which is why I'm guessing we see the abundance of 5 star reviews. The last 1/4 of the book was 4 or 4 1/2 star material. There are enjoyable characters in this book like Glotka, Logan, and the Arch Lector, but also dull ones like Jezel. There are also a few storylines that are too brief and disjointed to allow any depth.
  
  All in all this is pretty average fantasy. I will admit that the ending gets the blood flowing (literally for the characters and figuratively for the reader) and the last couple of chapters make the whole thing almost worthwhile. If I could give 3 1/2 stars I would. It doesn't follow the stereotypical Tolkien or Rowling formula (a plus in my book), but still doesn't excite throughout like Erikson or some others.
  
  
• Uninspired, Third-Rate Martin
  By A26GO6FE69YQOD on 2007-12-28
  The first book in Joe Abercrombie's "The First Law" series, entitled The Blade Itself, will feel very familiar to most veteran fantasy readers because it is essentially a duller version of George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire books. Without too much effort it is probably possible to match up each character in Abercrombie's book with one of Martin's characters (Abercrombie's tortured torturer Sand dan Glokta and Martin's beloved imp, Tyrion Lannister, are only the most obvious). The setting of a British isles inspired medieval land is also generally the same, as is the vague menace in the North and a variety of other plot parallels. Usually a comparison to Martin would be glowing praise, but in this case, Abercrombie does a C or C- job of mimicry at best. The dialogue fizzles, the plot is ponderous and without twists, the villains are not particularly compelling and neither are the heroes. In fact Abercrombie, despite packing his novel with torture, blood, romance, swordplay and magic, manages to turn out a boring and completely forgettable addition to the fantasy genre. The only high point in the whole book is Glotka's two dentists speech, but it is short and the meme of toothlessness is otherwise beaten to death. I have nothing against Abercrombie's use of the sincerest form of flattery itself, but the copy must still hold some weight on its own and not make the reader want to simply put it down half-way-through and pick up the original.
  
  
• Not Free SF Reader
  By A1X8VZWTOG8IS6 on 2007-10-25
  Barbarians, torture, bloodshed, treason and brawling.
  
  
  And that is just in the first bit of the book. Throw in mages, monks, cannibal monsters, wastrel swordsmen and more.
  
  Right from the start with the presumed protagonist of the piece nearly falling and doing himself in with his own weapon it seems that this book will be entertaining, and it doesn't disappoint.
  
  It would seem that on this end of the fantasy spectrum A comes between B and C, not before, as somewhere between Brust and Cook's Black Company is where you could say the tone of this book lies.
  
  It actually made me laugh more than once, which is always a good sign.
  
  No brainless bland farmboys or peasant girls who will be sorcerers to be found here.
  
  I suspect the author is greatly entertaining himself with jokes and character references, and if he is, I am sure there are plenty I will not get, having not read tons of this stuff.
  
  However, he has a 'Barbarian from the North' as a major character, which Conan is, of course. This guy is named Logen, and is the 'best he is at what he does' to quote the First of the Magi in the novel, more of less. This, of course, is Wolverine's signature line (real name Logan) and he is also from the cold North and goes berserk much as the 'Bloody-Nine' does, and also cannot have too many knives, being built in.
  
  There are several major characters followed here, or threads of the novel. One of the others is Glokta, an Inquisitor, or torturer, who has an apprentice torturer named Severard. Not that this is a name that is remotely differenced from Gene Wolfe's Severian. There is a Lector, not a Lictor.
  
  Old wizards with Jedi mind tricks, annoying monks with lots of tricks a la Feist, and others, if this is deliberate. Lots of fun, anyway.
  
  The basic situation is that a strong leader and ex-employer of Logen's has united the Northern barbarian type tribes and fancies a spot of invasion. The target of said invasion is mostly too busy with decadent plotting, and also has other enemies sensing weakness.
  
  It does seem that the First of the Magi has some sort of vague plan, at least, and he gathers a few people, including Logen and Jezal Luthar the wastrel but now fine swordsman (who wouldn't be the first to go the Earl of Bronze type route, either) together by the end to try and do something about it, as the Union shores up defenses elsewhere.
  
  Written in a pleasing, no nonsense style with people that basically talk like real people as opposed to rejects from a bad Shakespeare play this is a very refreshing book, indeed.
  
  No generic heroes to be found, but picking this up you will find one hell of an excellent fantasy novel.
  
  Oh, and the cover is cool, so if you need a pirate treasure map/ancient tome for a Halloween or other costume prop, it will stand in nicely in that role, too.
  
  The other sign that this is excellent? It makes me want to read the next one right now.
  
  Don't remember the last 550 page fantasy book of this sort that did that.
  
  The only real criticism I can think of is that it does take a little bit of time to pull together perhaps with all the disparate character groups. The various different parties were all interesting though.
  
  If you roll your eyes at elves and dragons and princesses and would prefer to spend time with Skillgannon, Croaker, Vlad Taltos or even the Raven then give this book a shot, as quite likely to be more up your alley.
  
  
  4.5 out of 5
  
  
• A Solid Debut
  By A28CCN6VYHRUKS on 2008-01-10
  The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie is the first book in the First Law trilogy. The second book being Before They Are Hanged (The First Law: Book Two) which is scheduled for release in the United States in late March, 2008. This novel represents Mr. Abercrombie's first novel. I originally came across this book based on a recommendation from a fellow fan of the fantasy genre. I looked into it and it sounded some what interesting, so I made the decision to go ahead and try it.
  
  The plot of this book, at least in my experience with the novel, was hard to discern. I was literally halfway through the novel before the actual plot of the novel began to emerge. This is mainly due to the fact that Mr. Abercrombie tried so hard to introduce new characters and set the stage for future scenes. Once I completed reading the novel, I believe the plot of this volume is merely a set up for the second and third books in the trilogy. There is a large political underpinning as well as a few personality conflicts. One aspect of the plot I found distracting was the sub-plot of the `Contest'. It is mentioned several times early in the book and centers around one character in particular. However, when taken into context of the overall story and concept, it seems misplaced and unwarranted. It really serves no real purpose and it was an aspect I could have cared less about. This seems to be a book that is large on characters and character development and flat on the actual story.
  
  The characters in this novel are, for the most part, interesting and diverse. Characters such as Logen, Glokta, Bayaz, and Ferro are all complex and interesting. They all have their unique voices and act in decidedly different manners. They all have their individual flaws and strength which is nice to see. However, there are several characters, such as Jezal that come across, at least to me, as really forced and almost as an added afterthought. Which seems odd, because the grittiness and realism involved in the first list of characters is so well done. Additionally, while I have read The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch and have seen, and read, cursing and swearing in a novel it almost seemed like a distraction in this novel. The majority of the character dialogue is well constructed and thoughtfully done. Yet, much like the characters, some of it seems contrived and involves too much `showing' to the reader.
  
  I understand that this is Mr. Abercrombie's first novel and as such there is some inherent growing pains associated with that. Here are a couple criticisms I have about this novel.
  
  First is the lack of a solid, central, plot line. As a reader, I should not be expected to expend copious amounts of energy trying to determine just what the book is about. There seemed to be little initial structure in regards to the plot and I think that hurts the overall enjoyment of this novel.
  
  Secondly, inconsistent characters. Mr. Abercrombie is very good at writing the gritty, tough, characters. However, when the character shifts to a less sure, more naïve character it becomes quite clear this is an area for improvement.
  
  Lastly, there are times when it is quite easy to breeze through fifty plus pages. However, there are times when this book becomes severely bogged down and almost seems like a chore to read. I believe this is a combination of the lack of plot and inconsistent characters.
  
  There are some positives with this novel.
  
  Mr. Abercrombie does show a knack for writing a solid tale. I think once he hones his craft and is able to correct some of this deficiencies he will truly be a name to watch in the fantasy genre.
  
  He ahs created a very good world. It's interesting, has variety, and flows well. I would have liked a map to be included to give reference points, but that is a minor thing in comparison.
  
  The majority of Mr. Abercrombie's prose and pace is well done and held my interest. The few bumps that were present can easily be corrected with more practice.
  
  Overall, this is a decent debut novel. While I do not hold it in high of praise as some others, I still think it's a solid novel. While I would hesitate to recommend this book to the casual fantasy fan. I think seasoned veterans of the fantasy genre would find many things to enjoy within the pages of this one. This is a very hard book for me to rate overall. In the end I will give it a 3 out of 5, because I truly believe Mr. Abercrombie can do better and has a bright future. I will surely check out the second book when it is published.
  
  
  
• Gorgeous flaws
  By A189KQF1UYL3R6 on 2007-10-15
  I'm so sick of high fantasy. This is not that.
  
  It's character-driven, fast-paced, and full of black humor. "The Blade Itself" adds just the right amount of ugliness--both moral and physical--to make the story pleasurable. It has neither the silly unreality of high fantasy, nor the disgusting grit of a book that is trying too hard to feel "real." The characters' contradictory personality traits will tug you in two directions at once, and the pain of that split feels great, in fiction. See the contradictions:
  The decent-minded barbarian
  The suffering, likeable torturer
  The powerful wizard who isn't above little demonstrations
  The shallow youth falling deeply in love...
  
  A pane of cracked glass can be more beautiful than a flawless one. The characters' failings are the key.
  
  
  
  
  
• A solid start - Hugely promising for the next installment.
  By A26WGZUVCWYUEK on 2007-11-20
  In `The Blade Itself', Mr. Abercrombie has created elements of something potentially masterful.
  
  I need go no further for evidence than the character of Sand dan Glokta, who is probably the most intriguing character in the genre today, and easily in the top ten most intriguing characters in the genre, period.
  
  Characterization is Mr. Abercrombie's masterstroke in this work. There are no two-dimensional characters here. Not only are their respective backgrounds their own, because Mr. Abercrombie writes from multiple POVs, so too is each of their voices. Each has their own sense of humor - notably, they do not all have Mr. Abercrombie's sense of humor - their own levels of intelligence, and their own motivations.
  
  Logan Ninefingers is also an especially intriguing character. Not as complicated as Glokta, he is nevertheless immediately likeable. His, "You've got to be realistic" catchphrase should become a classic by the time the series is done. Ostensibly, he is a northern barbarian - but few authors write northern barbarian characters without beating you over the head with their barbarian-ness. There is beautiful humor when Logan goes south with Bayaz - into the city - and dresses up in a barbarian costume because that's the cliché look southerners expect to see in barbarian fashion.
  
  A character that Mr. Abercrombie must (hopefully) have much in store for is Jezal dan Luthar. We finally get to see the POV of one of those sniveling arrogant young nobles we hate in all the other fantasy novels. I say Mr. Abercrombie must have plans for this character because, so far, there's nothing enjoyable or redeeming about him at all. By witnessing the other characters, I know the author can make any character seem relatable - but for reasons of his own choosing, that doesn't happen to Jezal in this book. While there is (again) probably reason for this over the course of the trilogy, the chapters that focus on Jezal in this book were, for me, a slog to get through.
  
  The Bayaz character, finally, is also difficult to pin down. Unlike the others, which are humble in their uniqueness, I found Bayaz simply over-the-top. Where Jezal hints at something more enjoyable in later books, Bayaz just seems a bore. No, he's not a typical sage-advisor-wizard like Gandalf or Obi-Wan Kenobi, but he is a typical crotchety town drunk / sage-advisor. He is, in my opinion, the least successful of Mr. Abercrombie's many successful characters.
  
  Ultimately, the book's weakness is in its plot. A trade off typically acknowledged in books that have superb characterization is that the plot is supposed to suffer. I remember criticisms of the first X-man movie saying that focus couldn't be applied to plot because so many characters were being introduced. Maybe that's the case here, but I've also read Pride and Prejudice, The Count of Monte Christo, and other books that don't allow me to buy the argument that characterization comes only at the expense of plot. Of course, I'll give the author credit in that he's got a great many great characters to create...
  
  Still. The plot is slow. The `contest' storyline is not inspiring - especially once it's over. Kudos to Mr. Abercrombie's courage which is, by itself, entertaining - he practically dares the reader to resent being led down a goose chase of a tale. Well, this reader does. Sadly, I cannot credit to this review what Mr. Abercrombie may do with what happened in later books, but it robbed this book of consequence.
  
  At the end of the day, little actually happens. We're set up for what I expect will be an exhilarating trilogy - I've already finished the second book and have pre-ordered the UK release of the third - but if I must rate this one book on its own merits, I must give it three stars, if only to leave room to show improvement in the next two. I believe superb characterization is insufficient to carry the day for a standalone piece, and even one installment of a trilogy must contain within its own bindings a superb tale to rate higher.
  
  
  
• Compulsively Addictive
  By A2WVRIYYC7ZR25 on 2008-08-26
  I was a little worried about ordering and reading this book because I haven't read any fantasy for about twenty years. I had gotten more than a little tired of the formulaic plotting, one-dimensional characters, and the stereotypes that drive the genre. However, when Scott Lynch released "The Lies of Locke Lamora" a few years back, I succumbed to the hype, bought the book, and devoured it over a weekend. It was wonderful, and I found myself wanting more of the same recently. The Blade Itself looked like it might be similar in literary style, so I ordered it and away I went again.
  
  This was a wonderful book, with extremely well-drawn complex characters. You won't find any one-dimensional good guys or bad guys within this book. All the protagonists (you can't really call them good guys) have serious character flaws and have to struggle with a flawed, unforgiving world and some very difficult, real-world choices. Their white hats may be a little dirty, but this made them extremely interesting characters to read about it. I was rapt and knocked this book out in about a day...partially because the writing style was smooth and eminently readable, partly because I didn't put the book down at all. It was too compulsively enjoyable.
  
  While I loved the excellent character development, from Logen, the barbarian who has grown wise enough that he seeks to avoid fighting (unsuccessfully), to Sand van Glokta, the former dashing and heroic cavalry officer who was tortured for years, and now, as a cripple, serves his king as a torturer himself, to Bayaz, the ancient wizard who is rude, condescending and just generally pissy, there is so much more to appreciate about this book as well. It realistically creates a nasty gritty world; bureacracy, self-aggrandizement, cupidity and stupidity are the order of the day within the Union, the monarchial state these characters cluster around. In fact it is reminiscent of 19th century Russia in many ways, which was a pretty grim place. However, the Union is a shining beacon of tolerance and hope compared to the rest of the world which is ravaged by slave states, cannibals, vast incessant wars, and the Shanka, an orc-like species.
  
  The plotting is excellent.....there is, of course, a quest centered around a mythic object, but Abercrombie destroys the stereotypical quest conventions fairly well too. You're not even really sure what the quest is because Bayaz doesn't like to explain himself and Logen isn't really interested in knowing. That sounds like there isn't a plot, but there is indeed, and Abercrombie spins it out slowly and surely which was so much more intersting that just jamming the quest down your throat. His plotting approach is both literary and interesting, and turns ordinary conventions on their heads.
  
  I liked this book so much, I immediately went to the bookstore and bought the second installment and finished that in less the 24 hours. Now I'm just waiting for the final installment to be delivered to me. I whole-heartedly recommend this book. I still would be reluctant to read fantasy in general, but anything by Scott Lynch or Joe Abercrombie I am going to scoop up immediately.
  
  
• grit and humor
  By A6X8T8MR4YEG1 on 2007-09-26
  I love fantasy. But I'm heartily sick of dragons, elves, dwarves,etc. And if I even see the words "dark lord" in a book summary, it's back on the shelf in a nanosecond.
  
  I found this book an immensely refreshing change from the generic Tolkien clones that flood the genre. It is gritty and yet filled with a wry humor, salted in the right places for a change of pace. The author also ties in the diverse characters skillfully and with excellent timing, leaving one half guessing and half anticipating outcomes.
  
  My favorite aspect of the book is the portrayal of the characters: they are human, with all of the both comical and distasteful flaws of humanity. For example, the warriors are warriors: they aren't handsome (go get a manicure, Legolas), they are covered in scars, missing teeth, foul tempered and ruthless...and yet they have a code of honor of sorts, and one finds oneself sympathizing with them.
  
  I recommend this read.
  
  
• A Little Bit Of Everything
  By AHRG3YO9G4JCH on 2007-10-13
  Action? Check. Violence? Check. Magic? Check. Politics? Check. Romance? Well you get the idea. The Blade Itself has everything I look for these days in a fantasy novel. Joe Abercrombie's debut , the first of a planned trilogy -2nd book is already out in the UK, packs a lot of action in a refreshingly (for fantasy readers) short space. Fight scenes occur often and are brilliantly written. I tend to skip over fight scenes in many fantasy novels as the writing is often boring. Not so here. The action sequences are both cinematic in scope and exciting to read.
  
  The heart of this story, however, is its characters. It's rare to find such a fast-paced novel that is so character driven. Unlike much fantasy writing, the characters act both intelligently and consistently, so we are able to witness believable growth over the course of the novel. Each character has very human, very real flaws that impact events in the story. Many (Logen Ninefingers, Bayaz, and Glokta all spring to mind) are stock fantasy characters turned on their head and given depth.
  
  The writing itself it superb. The dialog is witty and revealing of character. There is just enough description. And there is an energy and fun feeling of adventure that I can best compare to classic swashbuckling tales.
  
  My one complaint, and the reason this review is 4 stars instead of 5, is the plot. Though the story moves quickly from scene to scene and lots of "stuff" happens, I feel like I worked towards an ending that was a big set-up for the rest of the series. That being said, I had a lot of fun getting to that ending and eagerly await the future entires. In fact, I'm so excited a may just try to get a UK version of Book 2: Before They Are Hanged. Highly recommended for fans of smart fantasy.
  
  
  
• The Fantasy Novel of the Year
  By A15MHXG5FZYSD on 2008-04-16
  I was simply blown away by Joe Abercrombie's novel "The Blade Itself". Basically the story is a 500 plus page preamble to his next two books. This is not a criticism of this book; rather it is a must in this series, as Abercrombie needs this time to flesh out a diverse and vastly three-dimensional group of characters. Publishers Weekly points out that none of the characters are "likable", but I would contend that what makes them likable is Abercrombie's literary insistence that each character wear a secret face...or many secret faces, just like real people. Glokta a former soldier and world class fencer is a torturer hideously crippled by his own experience with torture. Logen Ninefingers (also known as the "bloody nine") is a battle scarred (both inside and out) warrior from the barbaric north. Jezal a snobbish young nobleman who wins the cities fencing title, Bayaz the first Magi and Ferro Maljinn a former slave turned savage by her experience. There are many more characters and all of them it seems hold secrets.
  
  The story takes place in a time when the south's power structures and political elite are threatened by a new regime from the North and an influx of vicious humanoid creatures nicknamed "Flatheads". Abercrombie pulls no punches with his descriptions of torture, warfare and hand-to-hand combat, nor does temper the language. This is not "The Hobbit" written by a grandfatherly old scribe, but a Matthew Stover-esque type of language that reflects the streets and the hard times that the characters find themselves in.
  
  "The Blade Itself" is a great read for anyone interested in realistic, gritty fantasy. I have just purchased the next two books in the series and look forward with great relish to tucking into them.
  
  
  
• Staggeringly Good
  By A3VL5I6BGGXEBH on 2007-10-21
  I picked up The Blade Itself with a pile of other fall evening reading.
  
  I began and by ten pages in found myself unwilling to spare the time to eat. Normally one or two characters capture my fancy and I accept the others as necessary to the unfolding of the tale. Here though I found them ... gripping, puzzles full of surprising twists and insights and turns of phrase.
  
  When it ended, I went to my computer and ordered the second volume from England. As soon as it arrived I stopped all else and began Before They Are Hanged. Now that too is done. I long for volume 3.
  
  I do not begrudge simple heroes their time. Those who wallow in self-induldgent angst hold no charm for me. The folk of these tales are are neither. I do not know if I like them but I do know I want more. As much as I can get.
  
  
• The Blade Itself...a great new fantasy writer has arrived
  By AUX9KZUUB3YCE on 2008-04-04
  A true breath of fresh air in the fantasy genre!
  
  This is one of those rare books that is truly hard to put down. As with most fantasy there are elements of magic, unique creatures, love, betrayal, some great battles and some unexpected happenings. It has multiple, intriguing story lines, and a number of interesting characters (both good and evil) that I found difficult not to develop some sense of attachment to. It is fast paced and most chapters leave you itching to read on to find out what is going to happen.
  
  The telling of the tale is from several 1st person perspectives, giving you several different view points; this technique works well with this novel as there are many different personality types. The novel is also sprinkled with a lot of witty cynicism (particularly from one character).
  
  The only minor negative is that there is no map. This would have been helpful because the story covers a fairly large geographic area.
  
  Conclusion:
  A terrific first book; containing all the ingredients of great fantasy. The story telling has all the quality and suspense of Steven Erikson's 'Malazan Book of The Fallen' series, but maybe without all the exquisite and elaborate details that is one of Erikson's strengths. However, easily worth a rating of 5 Stars.
  
  Addendum May, 09/08 *possible character spoiler*
  
  Having just finished this trilogy, I'll add this as a final thought...
  
  For all their accomplished skill, I don't think either GRRM (Ice and Fire series) or Erikson (Malazan Book of the Fallen series) have ever created an individual character like Sand dan Glokta. Glokta, with his villain-esque persona, is the unforgettable, physically grotesque 'cripple' in this tale; a character whose profession requires him to be the consummate liar (except, excruciatingly, to himself), who has instinctive, self-preserving insight into most 'situations' and provides us, the readers, with regular doses of witty cynicism. There were moments in these novels (involving Glokta) that were so sad and tender that they near moved me to tears (particularly this last book) and others that made me laugh out loud; of all the wonderful characters in this trilogy, it was Sand dan Glokta and his tale that I enjoyed the most.
  
  R.Nicholson
  
  
  
• Strong new entry
  By A2WWQM85OKRMLJ on 2007-10-31
  I'll be brief here, this is a book mainly about characters, characters with cracking wit, excellent dialogue. Setting is not yet very relevant here, you could place these characters in any other setting and they would still be enjoyable. There is not as much worldbuilding as in some other debuts we've seen this year ( Ruckley, Rothfuss etc). There is an interesting enemy though, and all in all it is a very engaging read. Book two is already out in the UK and for US readers who do want to wait for the US release, Amazon already has the pre-order up for " Before they are hanged".
  
  
  
  
• Great alternative to run of the mill fantasy
  By A1VZORXF077BQW on 2007-11-07
  I bought this after reading other reviews, and for once I am happy I did. So, I won't repeat the summaries given by other reviewers. No, it is not a pretty fantasy world, it's a world on the verge of total collapse. No black and white, no good and bad, no hero on a quest, no pathetic maiden. Several story lines are started, characters and motivations are well established and we are well set up for the next installment. What a relief that this author has not explained (using some tiresome cliched trick) the history, religion and economy of these warring nations. What a treat! We get to figure it out as we go along. Lots of killing, cheating, lying, swearing, fear, and despite this, all of these characters still get up everyday and try to survive. (without whining and sometimes without much hope) And did I say that some of it was very funny? It is part 1 of a trilogy, and does not stand alone (too many plot strands left floating in the breeze), but, for once, I didn't mind too much. I even pre-ordered part II.
  
  
• Like A Song You Can't Get Out Of Your Head...
  By AVBYKD2BL04LT on 2008-05-16
  I picked up the books THE BLADE ITSELF and BEFORE THEY ARE HANGED several months ago and I have to tell you, I miss the characters from these books more than I miss a lot of people I've known. I poured through the books in pretty short order. I found the pacing was fast, the story was highly entertaining, and the settings were vivid and believable. Then, like most books I've read, I set them aside and moved on to something else. But unlike most other books, these keep creeping back into my thoughts on almost a daily basis.
  
  Joe Abercrombie wrote these books from the perspective of several different and fascinating characters, each with their own set of issues and problems. All the characters in the book are fully realized, complex individuals that are an absolute pleasure to love or hate, as you see fit. Even the most minor of characters are uniquely written and entertaining; many of them will make you squirm in your seat and all will make you want to turn to the next page.
  
  There's Logan Ninefingers, the northern barbarian who is one of the most likable and grounded of people, except of course when turns into a berserker, known and feared far and wide as "The Bloody Nine."
  
  San Dan Glotka is a complex, cunning and dangerous ex-officer of the Army who was captured by the enemy, brutally tortured for years, and left a cripple. His total cynicism and contempt has him seeing conspiracies and assassins around every corner, and makes him the perfect inquisitor for the Union!
  
  And There's Bayaz; the impossibly old first mage with tremendous powers, who gathers a group of disparate individuals together to further his own private agenda. Not only is he the center one of the major story arcs, but he supplies this fascinating world with a rich and compelling back story that rivals Middle Earth in complexity and wonder.
  
  I could go on with many more biographies, but my point is made. The story is very good on all counts. Set against the backdrop of impending war on two fronts, the books wind through perilous journeys, doomed battles, ill-fated love affairs, political and economic intrigue, tournaments for glory, and thousand year old rivalries between the world's remaining mages. But in the end, it's the characters that you will remember. As I said in the beginning, hardly a day goes by that I don't ponder the fate of the Dogman, Ferro, Jezal, and Colonel West.
  
  I highly recommend both books and I cannot wait to get my hands on the third installment, LAST ARGUMENT OF KINGS. Joe Abercrombie is an author to watch.
  
  
  
• outstanding fantasy
  By AFVQZQ8PW0L on 2007-09-10
  While fleeing in the water to elude his deadly foes of man and beast, Logen Ninefingers the barbarian knows he will soon be dead. In the North the Shanka led by his former mentor has subjugated the other tribes through brutality and atrocities; he alone remains opposed, but flees towards the Midderland for safety.
  
  Meanwhile to the South, a Prophet has gathered the desert slavers to his side. The Empire prepares for war.
  
  In the city of Adua in the Midderland government corruption and affleunt indulgence is the norm. Thus the middle has lost control of the North and South to barbarians and mages. The wizards try to unite the people as the ancient enemy has returned, but people like Captain Jezal dan Luthar wants nothing to do with adventure and intrigue especially in the frozen north or the desert south; he is to busy drinking, cheating at cards, and chasing women to risk his life at what will prove to be a bloody war. The cripple Inquisitor Glokta notorious for torture, and his two associates, are killing the seditious government leaders, one at a time. He hopes to one day add Jezal to his résumé. However, it is the actions of Bavaz the wizard who claims to be the First of the Magi, who shakes up the realm; or at least Logen, Jezal, and Glokta with his demanding raging orders that they fear to follow as he seems more fraud than genuine yet fear not to as his bite may prove worst than his violent bark.
  
  Readers obtain an indirect taste of the Abercrombie world through the eyes of the major characters although never gain the full perspective beyond a frozen north, a desert south, and a major thriving city in the middle that is the link; but with the greedy and the powerful looking out for themselves, the realm is collapsing. The fascination with this Noir fantasy is the key cast members. The foursome is not epic heroes, but instead they are flawed to the point that the story line at times feels like an amusing satire of the Tolkien lite imitations. Not for everyone, THE BLADE ITSELF is carried by its deep characters, who tote more negatives than positives and may prove to cause the beginning of the end; these incredibly flawed souls make for a fresh and outstanding fantasy.
  
  Harriet Klausner
  
  
  
  
• A real page BURNER
  By AD81EXKBTFWZX on 2007-10-10
  For those of us frustrated with the complete lack of action in the last 4 installations in the Wheel of Fire series by the late Robert Jordan (with all due respect - I'm pissed off that I ever picked up The Eye of the World), The Blade Itself is loaded with it. Correction - it is practically bursting at the seams and ready to explode with it. Sure the writing isn't as eloquent as Kay or as bold and articulate as Martin. This guy is not in their class. But so what? He's a hell of a good story teller and gets your blood pounding and your heart racing. And in spite of what the review in Publishers Weekly says, most of the characters are in fact likable - mainly because of their very human flaws and shortcomings. If you are an avid reader of the epic fantasy genre you'll chew through this in a week.
  
  
• A Solid Debut
  By A1RA3KKI4OHXQ4 on 2007-11-22
  Abercrombie's "The Blade Itself" could best be described as "Dark Epic Fantasy". Really dark. You get the requisite wizards, barbarians, and a quest. But there are also sudden bursts of gore, cursing, and seriously flawed anti-heroes. Among the more interesting characters are Logen Nine-Fingers, a contemplative barbarian who is haunted by the people he has killed, and Inquisitor Glotka, a zealous torturer who practices dentistry on his prisoners without the courtsesy of anesthesia.
  
  Abercrombie's day job is that of film editor, so it should as no surprise that he knows how to write pithy, crackling dialogue. The action scenes are also very well done. The action is well-described and briskly paced, with copious amounts of bloodshed. Read the first two pages and see for yourself.
  
  "Blade"'s primary weakness lays in its lack of a clear antagonist. I wasn't sure who I was supposed to be rooting against or what the bad guys wanted. There are villains but they didn't get enough screen time for me to hate them. Without clear villains to propel the narrative, the plot seems to meander and drag in spots.
  
  Still, Abercrombie is a smart writer and this is a promising debut. If you want fast-paced, bloody fantasy, Joe Abercrombie's "The Blade Itself" is just what the doctor ordered.
  
  
• Good but suffers from a lack of focus
  By AU7GBJQ462VP7 on 2007-12-05
  First the good. Joe is a gifted writer who creates witty and punchy dialogue between interesting and quirky characters. In fact, his character development is great, they draw you into the book, hoping to see what happens to them. This brings me to the bad.
  
  The bad, there is no story. Ok, that's a little harsh, but there is barely a plot. The books suffers from so many new characters being introduced that the flow of the story is hampered. To be honest, the book is one big set up for the sequel to come. (or so it felt to me)
  
  I was so distracted by the number of characters introduced. In fact, I disagree with the reviewer before me, he lists who the main characters are in his review and if you would ask me, some of those people I would not name as main characters. One if fact didn't show up until the end of the book.
  
  I give it three stars because of the writing and I hope that the next book will overcome this distracted, fragmented plot and start to flow more evenly (now that the characters are out, make them do something)
  
  I'll wait to see the other reviews before I buy book two.
  
  
• great opening to a new fantasy trilogy
  By A2RI7Z8BN4D6VJ on 2007-12-21
  I have always enjoyed character driven books in any genre, so ended up loving this fantasy debut novel.
  
  The focus is more on the characters than on the world building, though the setting - a country with a senile king, being threatened by other nations from both the north and the south, is an interesting one.
  
  Logen Ninefingers is a great barbarian character from the north,and not used to big cities. Jezal dan Luthar is a selfish and self centered young nobleman who wants to get ahead in the world. My favorite - Sand dan Glotka - is a tortured torturer who is always keeping a sarcastic and hilarious running commentary in his head.
  
  Not a farm boy of destiny or noble hearted thief or nasty tempered princess in the lot. (Is anyone else out there tired of farm boys?)
  
  All this said, though, the book is clearly a set up book for the rest of the trilogy.
  
  I cannot wait for March and Before They Are Hanged (The First Law: Book Two).
  
  
• Fantastic From Start to Finish
  By A36Y85AFXXLH9L on 2008-01-08
  I'm not going to re-summarize the plot... I'll just throw in my 2 cents: I thoroughly enjoyed this book. So much so, that I've pre-ordered the 2nd book on Amazon, and pre-ordered the 3rd book on Amazon.co.uk (since it comes out there first). I must admit that I've had trouble convincing myself to read first-time author books, I usually look for established authors that have proven themselves. There were so many recommendations for this book in several fantasy lists that I figured I'd give it a shot. Also, since it's been out in the UK for several months, there's a plethora of positive reviews.
  
  A wonderful read. Thank you.
  
  
• Funny Fantasy, Witty dialogue
  By A1VTPX3NI4TANU on 2008-01-18
  Abercrombie is a skilled writer whose clever turns of phrase are darkly funny. From Glokta's thoughts on bodies in the river, Logen's pragmatic remarks, or Jezal's naivete, each character is full and vibrant. Filled with intrigue, the plot moves along, meanwhile developing characters the reader will become deeply invested in. If Abercrombie's writing has a flaw, it his use of swearing in the story. Although humorous at times, I found that I was more often thrust out of the story by the use of modern curse words than drawn in. Some readers will take offense at his usage, but the story is too interesting to dismiss only because of this. Each character's motivations are different but compelling, and the fight scenes are impressively described.
  
  Abercrombie's novel ends too soon. The characters and world have been set up, a few key events have occurred, but I was left unsatisfied in some ways. I'm still not sure what the point of the story is, other than a few cultural potshots and the character development. While I enjoyed the reading, and look forward to the next installment, I still am not sure where the story is going. Still, the character development is fun to read, and I hope the second book will really move the plot forward.
  
  I recommend reading The Blade Itself. The story is wickedly funny, the fight scenes memorable, and the characters fascinating. Nothing in this novel is as it seems, and Abercrombie's contribution to the genre is sure to endure.
  
  
• Addictive!
  By A2AYHOWTVLGG9I on 2008-04-09
  I so enjoyed this book - I couldn't put it down, and had to pretend to be sick so that I could stay in bed and read it cover-to-cover. Fabulous storytelling, and characters that oblige me to buy the sequel.
  
  Very highly recommended.
  
  
• MY GOSH!!!!!!
  By A2DZ4IDSTEJYBD on 2008-04-22
  Once you start this book you can not put it down. I read this very fast and I am on to book two. Fantasy Book of the Year is an understatement. This guy knows how to pull the reader in and keep him/her there. Book three will be at Amazon in May and I can hardly wait. I usually do not get into a trilogy because by the time the next book is out you forget who is who. Guess I got lucky with this author. Only one thing would have been great to have in this book and that would be a map.
  
  I hope this guy keeps writing.
  
  
• A winning fantasy debut!
  By A326P7NAOKG8KZ on 2008-06-19
  "The Blade Itself" is a worthwhile debut full of hard-edged, brutal dialogue and worldbuilding, nasty and anti-heroic characters and an overall gritty and stark tone. I admit I have a taste for this type of dark fantasy and gallows humor, so the book really works for me in a refreshing new way. These are not your normal epic fantasy type of characters. That said, I imagine some more traditional epic fantasy readers may be turned off by the hard-edged nature of the storytelling.
  
  Logen Ninefingers is a Northman who has worn out his welcome in his homeland due to his bloody, corpse-littered past. He now finds himself escaping from the new King of the North, an old acquaintance who no longer wishes to keep the Bloody Nine around. Logen's only recourse is to travel to the south to the empire called the Union. Inquisitor Glokta is a Union torturer of extraordinary abilities working in the House of Questions. Glokta, who once was a dashing, skilled warrior before he was captured by the Gurkish and tortured, is now a shell of a man, in constant excruciating pain and crippled. Captain Jezal dan Luthar is a young, arrogant swordsman and debutante who basks in his nobility, and strives to make an even greater name for himself in a highly publicized fencing contest. Logen, Glokta and Jezal are probably the most important of the major characters int the novel, and the majority of the story is told through their perspectives.
  
  Abercrombie successfully writes a style for each of his characters. Glotka, for instance, is much more cerebral in his chapters, his thinking process alway in overdrive as he works out the political angles and consequences of his situation. Refreshingly, he thinks the smartass things people would love to say, but don't have the courage to. However, much of this subject matter is dark and brutal considering it revolves around his occupation as Union torturer. On the other hand, Jezal doesn't exhibit much in the way of cerebral gymnastics, and this adds greatly to the perception of his character as mindless twit.
  
  Into the lives of these disparate characters, the wizard Bayaz is injected, a man who embodies mystery and appears to have his own agenda. If anything, "The Blade Itself" is a setup novel. We get an introduction to the characters, get a familiarity with the situation, tone and worldbuilding, and by the end the pieces finally seem to have been placed on the chessboard for the real story to begin. Therefore, not many questions are answered in this novel, and the story is far from self-contained, so if you dislike books without some sense of completeness to them, you may wish to wait until Abercrombie finishes the trilogy.
  
  Abercrombie's writing is simple and not heavy on detail or description. It is straightforward and a hard-boiled type of prose, almost a fantasy noir, that is used effectively to move the story along. As far as technical writing chops, "The Blade Itself" appears very much to be a debut novel which seems more focus on story than prose. There is a good amount of profanity and explicit, brutal violence and torture in the book, so if those things bother you, you've been warned.
  
  Last Word:
  If you enjoy a gritty and brutal type of dark fantasy loaded with a plethora of nasty characters, then look no further than Joe Abercrombie's "The Blade Itself", a crackling debut novel that holds a vast amount of promise for the ongoing series.
  
  

• Before They Are Hanged (The First Law: Book Two)
• The Name of the Wind (The Kingkiller Chronicle, Day 1)
• The Lies of Locke Lamora
• Last Argument of Kings (First Law: Book Three)
• Red Seas Under Red Skies