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kylieqrada's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I am so bad at rating books because it is legit allllllll vibes. The further I get into a series and the more invested I get, for the most part, my rating goes up. And there wasn't much room to improve here from The Blade Itself's 4.5 ⭐s! We were definitely moving and grooving more in this one (in some cases literally - ew Joe don't write sex scenes) and I am READY for book threeeeeeeee.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Torture
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual content
Minor: Animal death, Domestic abuse, and Slavery
jaskovivich's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
In this second installment of the First Law, Superior Glokta tries to defend a city while surrounded by enemies and traitors, the Union makes war on the North, and Bayaz and his band of unlikely allies continue his search for an ancient weapon to save mankind from The Eaters.
This is Another amazing installment in the first law it throws us right into the thick of things at the beginning, with war starting in the north, a conspiracy in the south, and a journey to the edge of the world. this book balances intrigue and warfare perfectly with all the character development that seems to be Joe Abercrombie’s trademark. all the plots are finally coming together and interweaving into a blanket of “Holy Fuck” continuing with the brutality displayed in The Blade Itself Joe Abercrombie Gives us another easy Must-Read for fans of Grimdark Fantasy with Before They Are Hanged.
This is Another amazing installment in the first law it throws us right into the thick of things at the beginning, with war starting in the north, a conspiracy in the south, and a journey to the edge of the world. this book balances intrigue and warfare perfectly with all the character development that seems to be Joe Abercrombie’s trademark. all the plots are finally coming together and interweaving into a blanket of “Holy Fuck” continuing with the brutality displayed in The Blade Itself Joe Abercrombie Gives us another easy Must-Read for fans of Grimdark Fantasy with Before They Are Hanged.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Torture, Violence, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Mental illness, Grief, Body horror, Murder, and Sexual content
Moderate: Cannibalism
Minor: Alcohol and Drug use
cosmologicaldefect's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
The plot opens up between the North, the South, and far West of the world. Good action and intrigue. I think this book really opens up the world in a lot of fun ways as we follow the characters as they travel all around the world. The far West plotline is probably love-it-or-hate-it for people since it has a rather unconventional conclusion. The Southern plotline is probably my favorite as a certain character is given the reigns of power and allowed to spread their wings a bit.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture and Violence
Moderate: Cursing and Gore
Minor: Slavery
podanotherjessi's review
challenging
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
WOW This was an improvement over the last book. Just already knowing the characters made this much better. I still wish the plots seemed more interconnected, and some characters I care considerably more or less about, but this was a good book. If you're on the fence after The Blade Itself, I recommend giving at least book 2 a shot.
Characters: 9
Plot: 8
Setting: 8
General appeal: 8
Writing style: 9
Originality: 9
Ending: 9
Characters: 9
Plot: 8
Setting: 8
General appeal: 8
Writing style: 9
Originality: 9
Ending: 9
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Cursing, Death, Gore, Sexism, Torture, and Violence
Moderate: Murder, Rape, Slavery, and Vomit
taglharp's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
4 bloody stars, and no mistake.
From a structural point of view, middle books in trilogies are always hard to judge for me. Not much experience analyzing them as I do with beginnings. The better they are in the elements I favor, the harder I know how to review them. This one is no different.
But. Say one thing for Abercrombie, say that he does not let you down when it comes to characters. Bastards they might be, bastard roles they might play, and yet no matter how vile... they fucking grow on you. If you were ever attached to any characters you met in the first book, well. I have both good and bad news for you in this one.
(And though I do have some qualms about certain choices in the narrative, they're few compared to the good.)
NGEL, don't think I'll be able to keep myself from jumping on the Last Argument of Kings ASAP.
From a structural point of view, middle books in trilogies are always hard to judge for me. Not much experience analyzing them as I do with beginnings. The better they are in the elements I favor, the harder I know how to review them. This one is no different.
But. Say one thing for Abercrombie, say that he does not let you down when it comes to characters. Bastards they might be, bastard roles they might play, and yet no matter how vile... they fucking grow on you. If you were ever attached to any characters you met in the first book, well. I have both good and bad news for you in this one.
(And though I do have some qualms about certain choices in the narrative, they're few compared to the good.)
NGEL, don't think I'll be able to keep myself from jumping on the Last Argument of Kings ASAP.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Blood, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Racism, and Violence
Moderate: Cannibalism, Sexual content, Slavery, and Torture
Minor: Rape and Sexual assault
shadereads's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, War, Torture, Violence, Racism, and Murder
Moderate: Slavery and Sexual content
Minor: Sexual assault
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