The First Law Trilogy

The *First Law Trilogy* by Joe Abercrombie is nothing short of a modern fantasy masterpiece. From the first page to the last, this series grabs hold of you with its dark, unforgiving world and never lets go. It’s gritty, violent, and sometimes even cruel—but it’s all delivered with such finesse and wit that it becomes a brilliant, captivating experience. Abercrombie crafts a world that feels alive, yet utterly bleak. There are no shining heroes or easy victories here. Instead, you get morally gray characters who are as flawed as they are fascinating. Whether it’s the tortured Inquisitor Glokta, the barbarian warrior Logen Ninefingers, or the cocky nobleman Jezal dan Luthar, each character is meticulously developed, with their personal struggles laid bare for all to see. You’ll love them, hate them, and everything in between—but you’ll never stop caring about what happens next. What sets *The First Law* apart from typical fantasy is its unflinching realism. The battles are brutal, the politics ruthless, and the magic—when it appears—feels raw and dangerous. Abercrombie doesn’t shy away from showing the harshness of the world he’s built. It’s a place where idealism dies quickly, and survival often means compromising your soul. Yet, for all its darkness, the writing is sharp and incisive. Abercrombie’s style is dry, witty, and often darkly humorous, making even the bleakest moments enjoyable. The plot twists come fast and hard, leaving you breathless and desperate for more, as alliances shift and betrayals strike like daggers. The trilogy’s themes of power, corruption, and the cyclical nature of violence are woven deeply into the narrative, creating a story that feels as thought-provoking as it is thrilling. Abercrombie challenges your perceptions of good and evil, forcing you to grapple with the choices the characters make. If you're looking for a series that defies fantasy conventions, that embraces the dark and gritty realities of a world where happy endings are a rarity, *The First Law Trilogy* is an absolute must-read. It’s an unforgettable journey into a world that is brutal, beautiful, and utterly compelling. Prepare to be haunted long after you’ve turned the final page.

Okay, I have only got through the first third of the first book, but it was so good that I wanted to see what else Joe Abercrombie has published. I was very surprised to see so few reviews for this book. First thing I thought when I started was: This guy can write! Second thing I thought: This guy can write great characters! The first chapters introduce us to the main characters and the world they inhabit. You get a very clear picture of these characters with the authors great descriptions, and the world comes alive as the characters inhabit their place in it. Abercrombie's writing is crisp and snappy, his characters fully three-dimensional, no fluff, no filler! I I think another reviewer compared this to Game of Thrones, and I think in some ways that is fair. Each chapter is from a different characters point of view, there is a lot of political gamesmanship and backstabbing, motives are unclear, mysteries are slowly revealed and the characters come to life in the action and unfolding of the plot, and the magical elements are not overwhelming. Unlike Game of Thrones (which I thoroughly enjoyed!) there are not as many characters to keep track of so it is not as dense. The pace of The Blade Itself is therefore a bit faster and an easier read. But that does not mean it is not full of great characters and great writing. Seriously, this is great stuff! I have been reading quite a bit of fantasy between non-fiction stuff and read this trilogy and was pretty much blown away from the start. Abercrombie is a fantastic writer and has created an amazing group of characters. The story and the characters will pull you along and it's a difficult series to put down. I'm just glad I had all three books to rip through without waiting. I thoroughly enjoyed the first two books and was excited to see how it was all going to end. Not the way I thought - but that's a good thing! The only complaint is that I wanted more. His characters are so fully three-dimensional and well written that you can smell them! I was disappointed that everything wasn't neatly wrapped up and resolved, but my understanding is that Abercrombie will revisit these characters in a future series. All the characters initially seem like types familiar from the fantasy genre: the hero, the wizard, the evil manipulator, the warrior, the female warrior, etc. But the skill and talent of Abercrombie is to take those types and fully flesh them out so they are more than just types you have seen before. Compare these characters to say those of the Lord of the Rings trilogy and I daresay Abercrombies are more fully developed, with conflicting desires and motives, with a fair share of good and evil within them that stops them from being cliched.

Read it twice. Translated then in its original version. Amazing piece of littérature. Great and so original characters. Better read it than never have heard or it!

It was damaged on the edge

Un infaltable si se es aficionado al genero fantástico. En la trilogía de la primera ley acompañamos a Logen Nine-Fingers, el hombre mas temido en el norte, en su viaje a travez del Circulo del Mundo. A Sand dan Glokta, quien busca la verdad de una conspiracion en contra del rey mismo. A Bayaz, el primero de los Magi, lleno de mentiras y sin duda el personaje mas despreciable de la saga. A Ferro Maljin y su profundo odio hacia los Gurkos. Y a Jezal dan Luthar, quien sin duda es el mas afortunado del grupo.

Everything is so beautifully packaged, received them in good condition and for the best prize. And got the product within 24 hours( to top it all off) Fanatasy books have been too costly lately and in India we need to get them from other countries with shipping. In my opinion this is a crazy deal...especially for fantasy lovers who couldn’t afford(just like me) Joe Abercrombie is a prominent author in the fantasy genre. And his books are mostly adult fantasy. This is my first instalment from his. One reviewer suggested that GOT fans will absolutely enjoy this book and I’m no exception.

Bought this for my kids and they loved it :-)