Fantasy for adults with a dark sense of humour
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A story of kings, mages, warriors and torturers, enough to satisfy the most epic of escapist longings. But with their strengths and flaws so keenly written, these are characters that are developed, believable, unpredictable and hilarious.
I was a fan of fantasy as a youngster, particularly Michael Moorcock, but I thought the whole genre now a bit cliched. However I came across Joe Abercrombie by accident, when in a bookshop I saw book 2 and read the first quote, "We should forgive our enemies, but not before they are hanged," and I thought... COOL! Joe Abercrombie has given the genre a trilogy that is fun, wicked, and a hell of a good story. I can't remember reading anything better. I'm just sorry it had to end.
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Almost, but not quite...
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In Last Argument of Kings, the story of Logen, Luthar and all the others continues apace and many of the sidebars are pulled together to form an even more connected story, than in the first books. The full trilogy is thus completed nicely. The story is well-paced and there are twists and turns that I did NOT see comming. I don't want to reveal too much, and spoil it for those of you who haven't read it, but I just have to point out that the twist at the end of Logen's story is master-full. Nice work Mr. A!
However all isn't well in the land of Joe A. While I really enjoyed the first two books in this trilogy, this concluding chapter doesn't quite have the same hint of greatness to it.
In the first two books I thoroughly enjoyed the interaction among the (very much not) merry band of adventurers, but in this book Abercrombie allows them to drift apart and continue their stories pretty much on their own. This allows for some of the tension to bleed out of the story and pushes the more unsavoury character-flaws of our heroes to the fore. In short, they become less charmingly nasty and more just plain unpleasant.
So while the story is still very good and very recomendable, I was left feeling just a tiny bit disapointed that the book didn't quite match up to the first two installments.
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Quality, grim, fantasy
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Totally failed to answer most of the questions in the first two books!
Where do the Shanka come from?
Why is Bethold getting help form the witch?
Where did the fierce come from?
Etc etc.
Still, somehow manages to be a wonderful, laugh outload at the audacity of it, blast of a novel
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What's with everyone thinking this is the end?
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And the couple two star ratings? I just don't understand. Great books; the only bad thing is that I have to wait for more...gah.
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Rushed
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Like a few of the reviewers here, I really enjoyed the first two Abercrombie books. He has created some really memorable characters and proved he is an author with plenty of talent. However, this last book feels a little underdone. He flys around at break-neck speed in an effort to resolve all the plot ends but ends up leaving everything feeling a little contrived and unfinished. A shame.
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