The Blade Itself
By Joe Abercrombie
- Release Date: 2015-09-08
- Genre: Epic Fantasy
Description
The first novel in the First Law Trilogy and debut fantasy novel from New York Times bestseller, Joe Abercrombie.
Logen Ninefingers, infamous barbarian, has finally run out of luck. Caught in one feud too many, he's on the verge of becoming a dead barbarian -- leaving nothing behind him but bad songs, dead friends, and a lot of happy enemies.
Nobleman, dashing officer, and paragon of selfishness, Captain Jezal dan Luthar has nothing more dangerous in mind than fleecing his friends at cards and dreaming of glory in the fencing circle. But war is brewing, and on the battlefields of the frozen North they fight by altogether bloodier rules.
Inquisitor Glokta, cripple turned torturer, would like nothing better than to see Jezal come home in a box. But then Glokta hates everyone: cutting treason out of the Union one confession at a time leaves little room for friendship. His latest trail of corpses may lead him right to the rotten heart of government, if he can stay alive long enough to follow it.
Enter the wizard, Bayaz. A bald old man with a terrible temper and a pathetic assistant, he could be the First of the Magi, he could be a spectacular fraud, but whatever he is, he's about to make the lives of Logen, Jezal, and Glokta a whole lot more difficult.
Murderous conspiracies rise to the surface, old scores are ready to be settled, and the line between hero and villain is sharp enough to draw blood.
Unpredictable, compelling, wickedly funny, and packed with unforgettable characters, The Blade Itself is noir fantasy with a real cutting edge.
Reviews
Anti Arab Sentiment
1By SukmuhgirthAll the other names are made up, but just had to stick with Uthman the Terrible smh.Masterful
4By cybrquackI’d say, a master student of RR Martin and of course, Tolkien. Hard Fantasy? Not sure that’s a term but everything he writes is grounded in the science of man and nature, the story’s nature, keeping the reader fully within the world. Explanations of the fantastical are often drawn out thru chapters and some that don’t come promise to arrive in the next book(s). Long form at its finest.Slow Burn
4By narakkuGreat character development, and set up for the next two installmentsExcellent
5By TigersJC86So I’ll admit in terms of plot this didn’t “wow” me and I’m still not quite sure where the story is going. However, the characters are some of the most interesting I’ve read in a while. Every character seemed to have a different voice and i appreciate that because it keeps the book interesting and I can say there was never a POV I was trying to rush through because they bored me.Seriously?
5By Habib85577444788The characters are great. The world is interesting. I could not believe it ended where it did. It felt anti-climactic, but I can’t wait to start the next book and see where it goes, so it did its job wonderfully.Phenomenal
5By WubbwubbsIt takes awhile to get through at points, but the characters alone are worth every second. Absolutely a masterwork of fiction.Fun and engaging
5By jwellingtonbI thoroughly enjoyed this book. I was unsure at the start, but the characters are engaging, the pacing lively and the plot mysterious, but can be followed and unfolds in clever ways.Great book, too many exclamation marks
5By Dizzle99999Good book although way too many exclamation marksGrim Dark Fantasy at its Finest
5By JthorpBook 1 of 9. Technically there are 3 different trilogies, but they’re all set in the same world. Do yourself a favor and press the ‘buy’ button. (Steven Pacey turns in performances of a lifetime for the audiobook, if that’s your thing. 10/10 would recommend.)Best book in a long time
5By Eric2791Too much good stuff to describe. Read. This. Book!Dark, compelling, entertaining till the last page.
5By jdc098I’ve read dozens of fantasy books, but none have left quite the impression as this. The perfect blend of action, character, and world building. Anti-heroes deserve more representation in the genre and books in general.Great book
4By Mattyboy375GreatOk so I have 4 pages left of n the book.
5By yeetbooksgoodAnd let me say it is pretty good, the characters are amazing the absolute best. The story is a bit slow but picks up more at around 400 pages in its a fun read and you should definitely check it outAnother great one by Abercrombie
5By Worcester SullyThe dude who said it sounds like batman is clearly a troll and has zero basis for his review..what a clown. Abercombie is a master of grimdark and this is phenomenal..read all his books you wont be disappointed.Goodness not Gracious
5By It'sLiteratureIf you read one fantasy series as an adult, make it the First Law trilogies. The Blade Itself is just a precursor to the incredible series that is the First Law. A book full of flawed characters, dramatic irony, nuance, and chunks of humor so rooted in the plot makes this book richer than Bezos and deeper than the Mariana Trench. There are two trilogies, a collection of short stories, and Abercrombie has just began a new trilogy set in the same world. Not only is this single book incredible, it will open you to a new world that easily rivals that of Rothfuss or Tolkien.Me likey :)
5By Gene flowOk ok I see you boiii I likey gimme moreeThe Blade Itself
2By punjack2goNot sure who is leaving reviews for this drivel...the author, apparently, should be writing old Batman TV shows with his descriptive “Oofs!” and “Ughs!”. Could barely choke my way through 40 pages of this crap before I gave up.Amazing
5By Matthewmatics18This book is an amazing read with so many applicable quotations and struggles “Better to do something than to live with the fear of it”Magnificent.
5By XXXIRONMANXXXVery well crafted. The characters are such an interesting cornerstone of this book. As the mysteries are expanded on, so also are the main characters. They are revealed (and evolve) throughout the book, and they are interesting. This feels very original. The story is engaging, with lots of action and moving parts, but without frivolity or flowery embellishments. I read a lot of fiction, and can say that this was right up there with the best. I hope the rest of the books hold up to such a high standard of story telling.
