Who Would Like This Book:
If you love fantasy that doesn’t flinch from rough edges and real flaws, The Blade Itself is a must-try. Abercrombie gives us a cast of morally gray, often hilarious, and totally memorable characters - think a grumpy, witty torturer and a brooding, (sometimes) thoughtful barbarian. The book leans heavily on sharp dialogue, dark humor, and gritty action scenes, offering a fresh twist on classic fantasy tropes. Fans of character-driven stories, especially those who enjoy grimdark or the likes of George R. R. Martin and Scott Lynch, will find much to savor here. Come for the battles and banter, stay for the addictive personalities.
Who May Not Like This Book:
Readers craving a fast-paced, tightly plotted adventure or sweeping displays of magic might find this one slow to start. Much of the book focuses on building its world and introducing characters - sometimes at the expense of forward momentum. If you need a self-contained story arc, you might feel frustrated, as The Blade Itself is just the opening move for the trilogy. Some have found the prose repetitive or the cast overwhelmingly male, and those who prefer plenty of strong female characters or neat resolutions may be disappointed. Also, if you’re sensitive to graphic violence, grim themes, or dark comedy, steer clear.
About:
The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie is a dark fantasy novel that delves into a world filled with political intrigue, impending war, and morally ambiguous characters. Set in a medieval-like world, the story follows multiple characters such as Logen Ninefingers, Inquisitor Glokta, and Captain Luthar, each with their own unique perspectives and motivations. The plot weaves together their stories as they navigate through a world on the brink of change, with war looming and alliances shifting. Abercrombie's writing style is characterized by its gritty realism, grounded characters, and a focus on the inner thoughts and struggles of the protagonists.
Genres:
Tropes/Plot Devices:
Topics:
Notes:
Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Content warnings include graphic violence, torture, and dark themes throughout the narrative.
From The Publisher:
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.
Ratings (483)
Incredible (132) | |
Loved It (174) | |
Liked It (96) | |
It Was OK (42) | |
Did Not Like (28) | |
Hated It (11) |
Reader Stats (1055):
Read It (496) | |
Currently Reading (12) | |
Want To Read (403) | |
Did Not Finish (15) | |
Not Interested (129) |
26 comment(s)
Didn’t really pick up until the end
I'm almost convinced that I do not like male fantasy authors (with the major exceptions being James Islington, Pierce Brown, and Brandon Sanderson), because they tend to lack the kind of substance that actually interests me. The Blade Itself is a perfect example. WHERE. IS. THE. HOOK!?
I went into this book excited! I'd seen it hyped up in every corner of the fantasy community, touted as gritty, character-driven brilliance. What I got felt more like a turd coated in sugar: deceptively polished on the outside but empty at its core. Yes, the characters are complex (I'll give it that), and I do believe they develop more over time... but I will not be sticking around to find out. Glokta was the only one who managed to hold my attention, and even he couldn't carry the dead weight of the rest of the narrative.
I gave this book every chance. I tried reading it physically, I tried listening to the audiobook, and even attempted an immersive read with both formats, and none (I mean NONE) of it helped. The pacing dragged, the plot wandered, and the prose, while sometimes witty, rarely moved the story forward in a meaningful way (for me).
I am genuinely baffled by the praise this book receives. It failed on all fronts for me! The only reason I pushed through to the end was sheer spite, spit, and stubbornness (and maybe a dash of morbid curiosity). But if this is what grimdark has to offer, I think I'll pass.
It seems Joe Abercrombie is responsible for two of the recent trends in Fantasy that I hate the most. Subversion for subversion's sake and the whole three or four characters viewpoints that we constantly switch between. Needless to say didn't like it and proudly didn't finish this one.
Great Read!
An amazing set up for the next two books. I can't wait to get started. I enjoy Abercrombie's ability to build a variety of different characters and cultures. This book has it all - swords, magic, romance, and politics. Bravo.
This book surprised me, the characters really caught my interest and the slow reveal of the world they were in was fun and left me wanting more.
Looking forward to reading the other books in this series.
really disliked the narrator
3.5⭐
Did not like it even a little. There are three main characters you follow in the story and two of them I outright hate and the "hero" meh. If I don't care about the characters then it's hard to go on. I did make it over 2/3 through before moving on to a different series. I really thought I would like this story since it does have great reviews but I'm not sure what I'm missing. The writing is amateurish, the characters are dull and uninspired, and it's boring. Sorry Mr. Abercrombie but it's not for me.
It took me a while to get into it but got pretty decent by the end. But the biggest problem with this book is it spends the entire time just introducing you to the characters and doesn't give you enough plot to end in a cliffhanger or have any idea where the 2nd book will be going.
Arguably my favourite display of good writing in all my years of reading.
Just… absolutely superb.
Thank you Joe.
What can you read after
The Blade Itself?
When you click the Amazon link and make a purchase, we may receive a small commision, at no cost to you.
