The First Law Trilogy Paperback – November 15, 2016

Absolutely amazing books. My only gripe is that the story isn’t technically a “trilogy” there’s several other books that continue the story but from different perspectives and characters. So if you have it in your head that you can just read these three books and get the entire story, it doesn't really work like that. And you will want to keep reading after you finish this trilogy because it is that interesting.Also Glokta is literally Dr. House and once you get it in your head you can’t erase it.

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.

I’m a fan of fantasy. Not a huge one, but you can’t drink up Tolkien from the age of short-pants and not be a fan. I’ve flitted in and out of reading the genre over the course of the last thirty years or so, and have eyed Abercrombie’s books on the shelves of shops and libraries for the last 15 odd years, but never picked them up.First, the missing star: Abercrombie is a “grim dark” fantasy author. If you’re not familiar with it (I wasn’t, beyond occasionally hearing it and thinking it was a cool sounding phrase), it’s basically “adult” fantasy, as far as I can tell. Not X-rated or pornographic, mind you, just very violent, no good guys or bad guys, moral gray areas, that kinda thing. “Game of Thrones” is in that sub-genre from what I hear. Not saying there’s anything wrong with it, and the “light vs. the darkness” in the Tolkien mould does get a little samey when it’s the only thing around. Still, the cynical aspects of the grim dark stuff, the hopelessness of a lot of it, does rub me the wrong way sometimes. Again, not saying there’s anything *wrong* with it, but to my mind, it smacks a bit of a teenager reading Nietzche and then saying he/she is a nihilist, without realizing that he/she is mistaking a “no I mean I *really* don’t care” attitude for being deep. The emphasis on “gritty” and “realistic” and other words people use instead of saying that the characters are all fallible human beings can get a little tiresome. Some think it makes the fiction better, but it’s just different. I will always enjoy the classic light vs dark stories. Yknow, classic star wars and that kinda stuff.Now, the 4 stars: this trilogy is fun. I mean FUN! Abercrombie has great talent as a writer, which means you’ve blown through a mess of pages and are now late for doing something else you were supposed to do. You can almost “watch” the story unfold, with the way he writes Also, the black humor is genuinely funny. Actual, laugh out loud jokes. The story is dark, don’t get me wrong, but he has a talent for making you feel that you know the characters. Not friends, really, but acquaintances you don’t mind who are a good time, as long as you know where the exits are.The real winner for me, though: No one, single part of these stories is particularly original (stay with me here). The setting, the magic, the characters, the plot points. It’s all stuff that is… not stock, necessarily, but not anything mind-blowingly new. You’ll recognize every facet of this tale.BUT! Abercrombie’s arrangement of these well worn pieces is inspired. Again, I recognized every last part of the story, setting, and characters from plenty of other stuff I’ve read. The fact he’s a film editor means that makes sense. The barbarian, wizard, fop, former dashing noble turned torturer (Sand Dan Glokta, my personal favorite character), the dangerous wild woman; all characters you’ve met before. Not a “good v evil” story, but that’s the norm now, especially in fantasy.I was glued to this trilogy. I work with my hands, as a handyman, farm hand, and low-key farmer myself, and every free moment I had, I was glued to whichever of the three I was reading at the time.It’s *enjoyable.* It’s *fun.* It’s not “important” or “groundbreaking” or any other word you’d use to describe a lot of the navel-gazing that passes for literature, which I will read because I’m a pretentious b*stard.But it is an absolute pleasure to read. We have a book exchange in town near me, and I blew my trade in credit to get two more of Abercrombie’s books after I finished these.Books can be difficult (Cormac McCarthy, Flannery O’Connor) or classic (Salman Rushdie, George Eliot) or thought provoking and deep (Chuang-tzu, Soren Kierkegaard). But what Abercrombie reminds us, specifically for fantasy, but also in general, is that it’s also supposed to be fun. A good time and characters you are genuinely sorry to say goodbye to. That is also what makes a good book, not just deep themes and heavy layers.In short, loses a star because I’m stodgy and Victorian and a bit of a self-important d*uche.Four stars for excellent writing and dialogue, emotional engagement, and being, above all, fun.Highly recommend

How can anyone not love Joe Abercrombie’s work! He brings the medieval age to life with his words. Finished the first book and loving the second one… must read for all the adventure seekers. 5 start no doubt!

You need to read these straight through, the first book will not be a good indicator of what’s to come. It is very much an introduction to the characters with minimal plot. The story really picks up in book two, but remains character driven. If you don’t like the characters, the series will not be for you. I loved almost all of the characters and how they change throughout the series. Very unique approach to fantasy.