Last Argument of Kings

I honestly wasn't as taken with the first two books of the trilogy as I'd hoped—they were very solid and I greatly enjoyed the characters and tone, but was less impressed with the pacing or plotting. Last Argument of Kings has far better momentum, making it a much satisfying a read, in my opinion. After its more sluggish predecessors (that I'd argue don't really have proper arcs), I loved how the various threads of the trilogy—and all of our colourful cast—converge in Last Argument of Kings. I give the book extra props for its ending, which I'm assuming may have disappointed some. It felt much like how many non-Hollywood films end, never a simple black-and-white “good triumphs over evil and all loose ends are neatly wrapped up” affair, often melancholic and open-ended. I'm a big fan of greyness in characters and storytelling, so the trilogy's pretty ballsy conclusion is the icing on the cake for me.

Also, though it hardly needs any more saying, Sand Dan Glokta is really such a fantastic character. His story was the biggest pleasure the trilogy offered me, both due to the man himself and the intriguing plots he always seems surrounded by.