Pages

Friday, July 13, 2012

Joe Abercrombie

He might be my new favorite author. I'm reading BEFORE THEY HANGED, book two of the trilogy, THE FIRST LAW. I'll admit it took me a bit to get into the first one, THE BLADE ITSELF, but now that I'm almost half-way through book 2 I'm getting a little anxious, feeling the need to have that third and final book right at my fingertips. Because I'm beginning to worry about these characters, these horribly perfectly flawed characters. That's why it took me a bit to get into the first book. These people were not exactly likeable. They weren't awful, just not the sort of main characters I'm accustomed to. I don't want to say too much but I'm really enjoying them now - which is why I'm worried. There's a war coming and I'm afraid they might not all make it. But we'll see, maybe Abercrombie is a kinder god than Martin.

Here's Amazon's description: 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.

Now, tell us, what are you reading?

15 comments:

  1. The descriptions of those characters leaves little thought that any of them shine as the "blazing bright flame in the darkness." They lurk int he darkness, work the shadows to their advantage and it looks like each one's headed on a path of increasing danger.

    I've taken a pause in reading Article 5. Got a little caught up in working revisions for my WiPs.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. oh no, no heroes among them, that's for sure, at least, not on purpose...

      Delete
  2. I'm a big fan. I've only read the first book, but I loved the writing. I'll probably read the others some day too. He's very irreverent and bold, and I like that.

    Right now I'm reading Bring Up the Bodies by Hilary Mantel. She is my writing idol when it comes to historical fiction.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Bringing up the Bodies looks good and book two of The First Law trilogy is absolutely wonderful.

      Delete
  3. oooo, i like flawed, terrible characters with promise! thanks for the review! like the cover too. i'm determined to finish these 2 books this weekend and review them next week, surprise!

    ReplyDelete
  4. and i have something for you...later this morning!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I've seen the books online many times just haven't picked them up yet.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I just finished reading Olive Thomas: The Life and Death of a Silent Film Star. She was an incredibly lovely young silent film star who died mysteriously -- and yes, I want to use her as inspiration for a Shiny New Idea. I'll send you details soon, Marcy! I'll be in brainstorming mode!

    ReplyDelete
  7. "horribly perfectly flawed characters" are my fav kind. I have to check this one out.

    I'm actually reading a ton of contemp novels right now - which is out of my normal zone. Having fun though.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. yeah, I don't read much contemp either altho strangely, my latest wip is contemporary.

      Delete
  8. Yay for amazing flawed characters you get to like eventually!! Sounds fab!! Am still reading Ishiguro's "Never let me go". Take care
    x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I read that book a while back. Interesting.

      Delete

If you're interested in my blog I'm interested in your comments.