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surdiablo's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
These stories possess Abercrombie's signature charm and are entertaining, but for the most part, they are pointless. Some of these stories are deleted scenes that offer further insight into things we already know, while others start and end rather abruptly, just when you are getting invested. Some introduce new characters that are featured in multiple stories, which I was ambivalent about. Only a few stories offer a glimpse of what's to come in the next trilogy, which I can't say for sure without reading them. I enjoyed it overall, especially the last story, but I wouldn't say it's a must-read collection.
Graphic: Violence, Gore, and Death
Moderate: Cursing, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, and Kidnapping
bookishwondergoth's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Reading this so soon after binging the entire preceding First Law series via audiobook meant that all the stories and characters within were familiar, made sense, and a lot of rip-roaring fun. As with most short story collections, some of them are excellent and others less so. Some aren’t really short stories so much as companion pieces or extra behind the scenes stuff that don’t really make sense or resonate without the reader being familiar with the original source.
Shev and Javre are wonderful and I really hope we see them again in other books, though time is pressing on them a bit by the end of The Age of Madness so not sure how feasible this is!
‘Two’s Company’ is God tier. The end.
Shev and Javre are wonderful and I really hope we see them again in other books, though time is pressing on them a bit by the end of The Age of Madness so not sure how feasible this is!
‘Two’s Company’ is God tier. The end.
Graphic: Blood, Alcohol, Murder, Violence, Cursing, Fire/Fire injury, Torture, Vomit, War, Death, Drug use, and Gore
Moderate: Kidnapping and Lesbophobia
Minor: Sexism, Toxic relationship, and Animal death
The usual Joe Abercrombie fare so expect a lot of swearing, sex, booze and violence etc. At one point, one of the main recurring characters—who is a lesbian—is addressed with the slur
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