Ratings96
Average rating4.1
An epic battle that will decide the fate of the North unfolds in this novel set in the world of the First Law from NYT bestselling author Joe Abercrombie. Three men. One Battle. No Heroes. They say Black Dow's killed more men than winter, and clawed his way to the throne of the North up a hill of skulls. The King of the Union, ever a jealous neighbor, is not about to stand smiling by while he claws his way any higher. The orders have been given and the armies are toiling through the northern mud. Thousands of men are converging on a forgotten ring of stones, on a worthless hill, in an unimportant valley, and they've brought a lot of sharpened metal with them. Bremer dan Gorst, disgraced master swordsman, has sworn to reclaim his stolen honor on the battlefield. Obsessed with redemption and addicted to violence, he's far past caring how much blood gets spilled in the attempt. Even if it's his own. Prince Calder isn't interested in honor, and still less in getting himself killed. All he wants is power, and he'll tell any lie, use any trick, and betray any friend to get it. Just as long as he doesn't have to fight for it himself. Curnden Craw, the last honest man in the North, has gained nothing from a life of warfare but swollen knees and frayed nerves. He hardly even cares who wins any more, he just wants to do the right thing. But can he even tell what that is with the world burning down around him? Over three bloody days of battle, the fate of the North will be decided. But with both sides riddled by intrigues, follies, feuds and petty jealousies, it is unlikely to be the noblest hearts, or even the strongest arms that prevail. For glory, for victory, for staying alive. For more by Joe Abercrombie, check out: First Law Trilogy The Blade Itself Before They Are Hanged Last Argument of Kings Novels in the First Law world Best Served ColdThe HeroesRed Country
Series
6 primary books9 released booksThe First Law is a 9-book series with 6 primary works first released in 2006 with contributions by Joe Abercrombie, Gillian Flynn, and 18 others.
Series
11 primary books12 released booksFirst Law World is a 11-book series with 11 primary works first released in 2006 with contributions by Joe Abercrombie.
Reviews with the most likes.
I've read just about every book Abercrombie has written in the First Law series and this one is probably the best. The Heroes is action packed, fast paced, exciting, but most importantly an earnest and damning examination of the violent people he often glamorizes in other books.
Abercrombie writes a lot about the pointlessness of war and the waste of human life but he's never been so focused on his critique of violence as he is in The Heroes. War is not glamorous, and “heroes” as they are often worshipped in his stories are nothing more than ordinary people that can swing a sword and have been lucky to survive long enough to earn a name... names that are soon forgotten once they've been put “back to the mud.” Abercrombie is usually really good at weaving complex morality into his tales, but he's at his best in The Heroes.
It also sets up the Age of Madness trilogy and frame those books in a new light. Calder is now one of my favourite characters and I really didn't see that coming and it makes me want to re read that entire trilogy!
Anyway, yeah, damn good read.
This is a book with all the hallmarks of Abercrombie's writing, except for a very critical one: an intriguing plot. Otherwise, the writing is engaging, the characters are unique and well-developed, and it's all infused with the gritty anti-heroic Abercrombie magic throughout. But it wasn't a compelling read for me.
He did something interesting by placing the entirety of the book over the course of a few days of a battle. I respect him for trying. But ultimately, it was not a compelling read, and from about the middle of the book onwards, it was a true slog to finish.
DNF. After 250+ pages decided 780 pages of sword battles was not for me.
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1,558 booksWhen you think back on every book you've ever read, what are some of your favorites? These can be from any time of your life – books that resonated with you as a kid, ones that shaped your personal...