Fantasy Book Club Series discussion

A new Alternate Series starts up today with Joe Abercrombie's First Law series and its initial offering, The Blade Itself.

This is a great darker series containing some unforgettable characters: Logan NineFingers, Glokta the Torturer, and Jezal the misguided noble son.

Who is planning to join in?

I plan to join in on the third book, which I never got around to reading. I enjoyed this first book quite a bit, more than I thought I would considering how dark it is. Abercrombie writers battle scenes exceptionally well.

Just finished Eye of the World and will tackle The Blade Itself.

Just made a start and already loving how well the characters are evolving. There is a lot of humour there, so looking forward to reading this.
I think Glokta is going to a fascinating character.

I'm excited to start a new series after finishing A Song of Ice and Fire. I've already made a start on the first book and I'm looking forward to further discussions.

I've been meaning to read this one for a couple of years. Seems like now's a good time to start!

I'm starting it tonight.

I read the trilogy, then went straight to Best Served Cold and just finished the Heroes. Loved it! I was looking for a worthy follow up to ASOIF, which I read last summer. Abercrombie is right up there with GRRM.
Looking forward to the discussion.

I've been wanting to read this series for a while as well. I'll join in, but I have a few other on my TBR list first.

Just got the last few chapters to read as I had to start a little early, suddenly 3 I had waited ages to have came from the library at once including this. I am enjoying it and can't wait to see what happens at the end and then discussing it with all of you on here.

I'm going to join as soon as I finish Shadow Rising. I have absolutely no prior expectations for this book... I had never even heard of it before joining this book club, and I don't have the slightest clue what it's about. This should be interesting ;)

This book have been on my TBR list for a long time, so I would like to join this group read. I'm not so eager for a grit fest and all I hear about this book how gritty story is. My expectations are low on personal taste level, but we'll see.

Ena wrote: "This book have been on my TBR list for a long time, so I would like to join this group read. I'm not so eager for a grit fest and all I hear about this book how gritty story is. My expectations are..."

Same here - I've read rave reviews about it, but they all mention the dark and gritty, which I'm not usually fond of. It's time to find out!

It will be interesting to see how everyone goes determining what is dark & gritty and what is uncomfortable & sadistic.

I have only read the first couple of chapters so far. I can see that Abercrombie is going to offset some of that cruelty with likeable bad guy characters, (I already like Golokta, but i shouldnt really) and humour.
Books like Black Company and the Malazan series can be dark and gritty, but well balanced and a justification (from a plot perspective) for the inclusion, opposed to something like American Pyscho which I found completely nauseating where sadistic violence was the plot.

Looking forward to the comments as we go.

Joe Abercrombie's First Law Trilogy was so good, I immediately began re-reading it, after completing Best Served Cold and the Heroes. Fun stuff!

about 200 pages in so far. what about ya'll?

I am really enjoying it. I found Logan's character a little flat at first, but now that I am understanding who is he is, I am enjoying it a lot more.
Glokta is brilliant, I love how he thinks and acts, I like how he interacts with his team and I find it amazing that I have come to enjoy his character so much, yet he is an awful person.

I think the humour in this really makes the book stand out. I have smiled a lot reading this, given so of the story, that does say much about how the dark side of the plot is written.

I am not sure if we are having other discussion threads on this book or are well all commenting in this one?

I read this series a few months back. Its a great story, you guys won't be sorry you read it.

I recently read The Blade Itself and Before They Are Hanged. I still need to read Last Argument Of Kings, The Heroes and Best Served Cold in preparation for Red Country. I admire Joe Abercrombie's style.

Lee wrote: "I am really enjoying it. I found Logan's character a little flat at first, but now that I am understanding who is he is, I am enjoying it a lot more.
Glokta is brilliant, I love how he thinks and ..."

I was trying to figure out the discussion thread also. I wanted to hear of other's take on Glokta. I found I was a bit sympathetic to his character but the cruelty in the book is getting to me a bit.

@ Marilyn, looks like this is the only place to discuss till the end.
I am still enjoying Glokta and hs dark humour. He has just met Logan, bayaz and Quai and simply has no idea what is going on. Understanding what he wa thinking during that interview was very funny. I am starting to enjoy Logan's character more now. He is developing an interesting personality and I look forward to having all the characters interact.

no, there is a finished one...it's not showing up??? I will try to figure it out.....


It is there...I can see it fine.

Here is a link if you are having trouble:

http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/9...

I am really amazed at how much I like the scenes with Glokta too. His cruelty comes from his own pain. I also am liking the growth in Jezal

@ Maggie, I can see the finished one. There was nothing in between Planning to read and finished. I didn't want to start saying to much in planning to read thread. I guess there is not the usual discussion volume with this book. Which is a shame as I am loving it.

I was a bit blah! with the Jezal story at first, but he is growing on me. I do expect a lot more from him. I like his nobility prejudices, they make him look like a right ass at times. I wonder if some of those prejudices will be taken out of him with this involvement in Aidee and West.
Then there is the other character (whose name I have forgotten) the crazy woman, who is out to kill every one, is she aligned to be with Logan? Now that would be a dangerous relationship.

I just met her, her name is Ferro. She seems to be the female version of Glokta. I like the character of Aidee so far becuase she did tell Jezal off. Are we sure the two wizards are on the same side?

I don't want to spoil anything, but Lee, you are on the right track. Jezal's future does look bright, eh? And Ferro and Logen would make an interesting pairing, dangerous and intriguing...

Marilyn, are you asking about Bayaz and Yulwei; and do you really want the answer?

No, I don't want the answer if you know for sure. It was just a thought in my head. I also think Logen and Ferro will not make a pairing. Not sure what will go on with Logen.

ok so I have just met the Eaters and they have added a completely new complexity to the story.
This is why it is hard to have only one discussion thread. I am loathe to discuss some of the things happening here that I have gotten to (65% read) whilst there are readers still on the first half of the story.

Marilyn, that is an interesting question, re: Bayaz and Yulwei. I think i understand what Bayaz goal is, well I thought I did, he has a journey planned that has me a little confused. But I have no idea where Yulwei sits in the whole story. Yet.
His actions so far, seem to suggest he is one of the good guys, not just rescuing Ferro to use her like a tool. He does show sympathy and compassion (unusual for this book).

His relationship with Ferro has become interesting with (view spoiler)[ him rescuing her, again, from the Eaters. These Eaters add a whole new complexity to the story, especially since it seems like Ferro had absolutely no chance to kill them with conventional methods. They were also hunting her, so she obviously has a lot more to offer us than we have been shown yet. (hide spoiler)]

There is a lot more to Ferro than we have been told yet, there is no history offered to us yet, but it appears that she was some kind of slave. It will be interesting to learn her back story.

The other part of this story that hasn't really held my interest is the Dogman crew, they kind of hop in and out of the story, the characters are kind of annoying, certainly a mixed bunch of personalities. They look completely leaderless without Ninefingers.

One last thing. I was intrigued when Aidee met Logan, I think that her demeanour and what she says has more importance than is implied. I am either reading way to much into a chance meeting, or there is something more to Aidee than meets the eye.

I'm having hard time reading this book, especially Glokta's parts. Abercrombie uses five senses very well in his narration, so much so that my mirror neurons flares with phantom pain and uncomfortable senses when I read. I was wrinkling my nose when book describes Logen's rotten blanket rather aptly. So, Jezal's parts are a blessing, even fun; his constant mild-to-severe condescension, his priviliged and spoiled inner thoughts.

Ena wrote: "I'm having hard time reading this book, especially Glokta's parts. Abercrombie uses five senses very well in his narration, so much so that my mirror neurons flares with phantom pain and uncomforta..."

I'm with you! I think it's the tangible, tastable sensations you get when reading it that makes it "gritty." I'm not sure I've read anything before that feels so real.

Gonna read this after I finish The Way of Kings. I have to scour the local bookstores first to find a copy, if that fails gonna have to order online :(

I recently joined this group and had to hurry to start The Blade Itself in time. That said, this is an excellent book, I'm 66% into it and I've become an instant Joe Abercrombie fan!

oops I knew there was a reason I was going to read this next. It's been a mad couple of weeks. I will start it today but I may not finish it by the 15th. I will leave a review when I do though.

Sorry guys I am rubbish.

no worries-we will be reading all the books in this world so there is plenty of time to jump in!