Right from the first quote I could tell this book would be violent and insightful. Thankfully, it was!
The Blade Itself is a fantasy novel written by Joe Abercrombie in 2007. I note the date because it’s very recent. Most fantasy worlds have been around for quite a bit and new contenders never fair well in this demanding genre. But this series is strong enough to survive.
The Blade Itself is the first book in The First Law trilogy and introduces the cast of characters, and the world they live in, with a nice flow. Each character’s attitude and purpose in the world are very real and relatable. A lot of fantasy books take the humanity out of their heroes to leave them appearing unscathed and strong until they are inevitably bested. The Blade Itself does a great job of bringing out the humanity right away and making you question what the heroes even want.
Logen Ninfingers is a notorious barbarian who wishes to be free from violence but is regretfully always around it.
San dan Glokta used to be the most notable soldier in the Union but once he was captured by enemy soldiers, and brutally tortured, he became a crippled, resentful shell of his old self.
Jezel Luthar is a young, arrogant nobleman who thinks most men are beneath him and that most women should literally be beneath him.
Bayaz, First of the Magi, is a short-tempered wizard who can kill men without moving a finger and hides his true purpose to those he brings along on his journey.
The story is driven by these complex characters. Seeing into their minds and understanding what they want is what kept me reading. The order of chapters was laid out with different perspectives from all of the characters in a way that made their experiences feel fresh.
The story does a great job of leaving me with questions about sorcery, true motives, and future battles but didn’t flesh out on a lot of what it introduced. A lot of the big mechanics like magic and where our heroes are bound to are revealed in the later books. As an introduction, this book is fantastic, but for those looking to experience a wide range of explanation must continue the series. Thankfully I plan to!
These books feel vastly different from other fantasy novels and has often been compared to the A Song of Ice and Fire series (better known as Game of Thrones). Story elements may be similar with perspectives and the focus on magic and swordsmanship but the direction and movement of the story is more linearly focused and quicker. Where Game of Thrones and other fantasy books can spend a long time fleshing out the world, The First Law trilogy pushed the story further in each page and goes at a fierce pace.
In closing, this trilogy looks to be a contender completely separate from other works of fantasy. With a tight focus on a few unique characters and bloody-quick pacing, The Blade Itself will make you feel more apart of the world with each page. Explore something new and give it a try!
Constant Surprises 