Cheers, I'll get to them after I finish the Raven's Shadow and Wool series'. Both of those are really good so far (just finished both of the first books and I'm hooked on both)
-
Ever wanted an RSS feed of all your favorite gaming news sites? Go check out our new Gaming Headlines feed! Read more about it here.
Cheers, I'll get to them after I finish the Raven's Shadow and Wool series'. Both of those are really good so far (just finished both of the first books and I'm hooked on both)
Er....hard to say. I'd have to read the entire thing to tell you whether it brings up any old plot-threads directly from the previous trilogy. It certainly spoils the ending status of several of the characters.
But I'm currently 10% in and if you really wanted to, you could understand the basic plot points happening so far. I'll get back to when I finish the whole thing in about 2-3 days, but theoretically, yeah, I think you could.
Last edited:
Probably. It's advertised as a new trilogy set decades after the last trilogy book. So I'd assume it's written with accessibility for new readers in mind, even if some threads continue from the first trilogy, but why skip the others?
I finished the trilogy a while ago and I'm now reading Best Served Cold. It's really good! Abercrombie knows how to put his characters through the ringer. But even though it's 'standalone', you get much more out of it if you've read the trilogy before it.
Can't wait to read this newest book but I want to read The Heroes and Red Country first.
Can't wait to read this newest book but I want to read The Heroes and Red Country first.
Last edited:
For those interested, I reviewed this on the B&N SFF Blog.
It's excellent for both longtime fans and newcomers who haven't read any of Abercrombie's prior work.
It's excellent for both longtime fans and newcomers who haven't read any of Abercrombie's prior work.
That's an odd way to spell Logen or Ferro.
The Heroes is probably my favorite standalone book ever.
OP
OP
I always liked her and her story was one never really picked up on in the standalones so I have been curious as to what she is up to.
OP
OP
Hah, OK. I didn't mind her but I can't say I care that much about her story. Though, you're right, she did have some loose ends that went largely unresolved. Since this is 30 years later... I wonder if we'll eventually see her as some badass older woman or if half-demons don't age or whatnot 🤔
Oh god I didn't know this was out. The First Law was one of those series that slow burn'd for me--I wasn't a huge fan until I realized that I'd gotten through the whole thing in 2 weeks. Ordered this copy and now it's on the way! Cheers. This'll be a nice distraction from my ill conceived The Wheel of Time reread.
Last edited:
I think all of Abercrombie's books can be good starting points - you'll just enjoy the references to characters and situations from the past a bit more if you start with the First Law trilogy and the standalone books first. I read The Heroes before Best Served Cold by mistake (I thought the Heroes came first), and still thoroughly enjoyed it and then enjoyed the links between the two when I got caught up.
They are very much post-Game of Thrones style fantasy though. Far grittier and darker than The Name of the Wind or The Lies of Locke Lamora type fantasy that popped up at the same time.
They are very much post-Game of Thrones style fantasy though. Far grittier and darker than The Name of the Wind or The Lies of Locke Lamora type fantasy that popped up at the same time.
Yup
You can, but you shouldn't.
There's actually six books to read or listen to. The trilogy, then a trilogy of standalone a that are actually quite important to the overall narrative (or at least, the first two are).
I would strongly recommend not jumping ahead.
Best Served Cold was fantastic, if there's more of that I'm all here for it.
The audiobooks of the whole First Law series and the subsequent titles are awesome.
I re-read Eye of the World and just go until I get bored every other year or so. I used to get pretty far, now I can't even get more than Dragon Reborn if that. The intro to eye is so good.
The audiobooks of the whole First Law series and the subsequent titles are awesome.
I re-read Eye of the World and just go until I get bored every other year or so. I used to get pretty far, now I can't even get more than Dragon Reborn if that. The intro to eye is so good.
I'm sure readers get more out of it if they know the full story, but I'm not too concerned with spoiling older stuff. If things sound interesting enough, I figure I'd just go back.
I'd skip for a couple of reasons: I'm not too interested in Abercrombie's earlier work and am pretty much only interested in his newer stuff after he started writing more diverse characters. That and I'm not looking for a long series at the moment.
Good to know!
Thanks for the info everyone. :)
I don't think there is a whole lot lost reading those two books without the original trilogy. However, I think Red Country would suffer, since a major element of the narrative structure of that book is that the reader knows when the characters don't.
Just finished.
This is going to be a damn good trilogy. I'll leave it at that.
As I mentioned, I didn't read the standalones, but from what I can gather from their plot summaries both Best Served Cold and The Heroes both have fairly relevant elements, so it would be best to have some knowledge of those.
This is going to be a damn good trilogy. I'll leave it at that.
As I mentioned, I didn't read the standalones, but from what I can gather from their plot summaries both Best Served Cold and The Heroes both have fairly relevant elements, so it would be best to have some knowledge of those.
I might have to actually pay full price for a month of Audible for the first time to pick this up there... they seem to have cycled off throwing out lots of promotions/trials etc. and allowing anyone without an active sub to use them.
First trilogy was great, and the narration was some of the best.
First trilogy was great, and the narration was some of the best.
I have read the trilogy and the 3 stand alone books twice. I also read his young adult books. The audio books are also amazing and I have the first law on audible. Have listened to it twice. I am a fan.
My only concern is that I will have to wait for the second book of this new trilogy!
You won't have to wait too long. He specifically drafted out the entire trilogy before he published the first book. As such, we can expect a fairly regular release schedule.
I know. I think it's yearly. He is good at releasing books in sequence
I know. I was being sarcastic. I love Abercrombie, but it's going to be hard to beat Dark Age this year.
Indeed. Dark Age was utterly exhausting a read. Still, Brown and Abercrombie serve as a good contrast. Other than one being scifi and the other being fantasy, while both can be considered grimdark in their natures, the grandiosity of Red Risng's world is enchanting compared to the gravely, grittiness of Abercrombie's. I am always partial to the former myself, but it's good to switch it up.
Fuck Lysander.
Just wanted to comment on this because Thorn is one of my all time favorite characters. I'm currently reading the Book of Ancestor series from Mark Lawrence and his main character Nona bears a strong resemblance to Thorn. If you think you would like a series about warrior nuns, this is it.
Yes I did. The bloody 9 gets fleshed out. Good to learn a bit about good dark past.
Yes I did. The bloody 9 gets fleshed out. Good to learn a bit about good dark past.
I'm almost at the end, it's so good.
It's going to be hell waiting for the sequel until next summer, though.
Also, unexpectedly, my favorite new character is Crown Prince Orso.
It's going to be hell waiting for the sequel until next summer, though.
Also, unexpectedly, my favorite new character is Crown Prince Orso.
Thanks for theention, this looks up my alley.
Also seems like I need to order Sharp Ends...
Just finished it.
Non-spoiler thoughts is that it's very much more Abercrombie. It's got the same sense of humor, pacing, cadence and direction in it's writing as the ones before. If you liked what came before, you'll like this and if you didn't, I don't think whats here will change your mind.
But it's a great start to the trilogy that I am eager to see how it will conclude.
Non-spoiler thoughts is that it's very much more Abercrombie. It's got the same sense of humor, pacing, cadence and direction in it's writing as the ones before. If you liked what came before, you'll like this and if you didn't, I don't think whats here will change your mind.
But it's a great start to the trilogy that I am eager to see how it will conclude.
Finished it tonight. So many name-drops. Who thought fictional characters could effectively use nepotism against the reader to get you to like them before you know them.
Sad that it ended, felt like we just got out of Act 1. Although the Blade Itself also felt like that, but then when I got into the series all three books were already out
I finished on Saturday. It's really good. It doesn't quite hit the peaks of the previous First Law novels, but then neither did The Blade Itself. First-in-a-trilogy syndrome I guess. Writing is as enjoyable as ever though. There was a particular line near the end in the writer's office which had me giggling.
What do you reckon Bayaz accelerated Jezal's death? Fitting also that Bayaz gets the last word in the book.
Clover ... who did he lose to in the Circle? Also what an utter bastard.
Poor Jurand, lol.
Orso, Savine and Rikke are my favourite protagonists, perhaps unsurprisingly. I wonder if Broad, Vick and Clover will be more fleshed out in the next book, because they felt a little underserved in this one.
Also, I know Red County was basically a send off for the B9, but I was secretly hoping decrepit old Logen would leer his ugly head. At least we vaguely know what Ferro's been up to.
Clover ... who did he lose to in the Circle? Also what an utter bastard.
Poor Jurand, lol.
Orso, Savine and Rikke are my favourite protagonists, perhaps unsurprisingly. I wonder if Broad, Vick and Clover will be more fleshed out in the next book, because they felt a little underserved in this one.
Also, I know Red County was basically a send off for the B9, but I was secretly hoping decrepit old Logen would leer his ugly head. At least we vaguely know what Ferro's been up to.
I have a hard time imagining any fan of the first law trilogy not also enjoying this one. It's really just more of that fantastic character work, but didn't leave me feeling like it was almost entirely setup like The Blade Itself did. Loved it.
Coulda been, but it could have been Isher too. In fact, I'd bet that's more likely. Bayaz obviously doesn't really give a toss and just sees it as an opportunity to remake the political structure of Adua, but I don't see why he'd kill off a king who was pliant to him.
If I had to guess, Logen. It's been emphasized how much Logen preferred to spare his opponents in the circle and Clovers disillusionment with fighting was Logen-esque atleast.
Isher didn't really cross my mind, good shout though. Reason I reckoned Bayaz was because it wouldn't have been the first time in the series he's picked off royalty.