From the Bookshelf of Sci-fi and Heroic Fantasy…

The Blade Itself (The First Law, #1)

Joe Abercrombie

Start date: September 1, 2012

Finish date: September 30, 2012

Discussion: Book Discussions

Why we're reading this: Contemporary Group Read
[close] Contemporary Group Read

Find A Copy At

Libraries

Group Discussions About This Book

Showing 2 of 250 topics — 8,801 comments total

Book Discussions

"Cyteen" by C.J. Cherryh
By deleted member · 48 posts · 105 views

last updated May 24, 2025 11:25PM

Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke
By deleted member · 46 posts · 150 views

last updated Mar 28, 2025 02:28PM

showing 10 of 18 topics view all »

What Members Thought

Jan 31, 2025 Aurelia rated it liked it

Joe Abercrombie’s The Blade Itself is a character-driven fantasy that subverts traditional genre tropes with flawed protagonists, political intrigue, and sharp, darkly humorous dialogue. Set in a world of shifting alliances and looming conflict, the novel follows three main characters: Logen Ninefingers, a battle-worn barbarian trying to outrun his past; Jezal dan Luthar, a self-absorbed noble more interested in vanity than valor; and Inquisitor Glokta, a former war hero turned ruthless interrog Joe Abercrombie’s The Blade Itself is a character-driven fantasy that subverts traditional genre tropes with flawed protagonists, political intrigue, and sharp, darkly humorous dialogue. Set in a world of shifting alliances and looming conflict, the novel follows three main characters: Logen Ninefingers, a battle-worn barbarian trying to outrun his past; Jezal dan Luthar, a self-absorbed noble more interested in vanity than valor; and Inquisitor Glokta, a former war hero turned ruthless interrogator, now navigating the dangerous world of politics and espionage. Their fates slowly converge under the guidance of Bayaz, a mysterious and powerful mage with his own hidden agenda.

Rather than a traditional fantasy story with a clear overarching quest, The Blade Itself is more focused on its characters and the intricate power struggles they become entangled in. The world Abercrombie builds is rich and detailed, with a dry wit underlying even its darker moments. There is certainly violence, cynicism, and moral ambiguity, but I found myself expecting even more grimness and brutality given Abercrombie’s reputation as a quintessential modern grimdark writer. While the book leans into the messiness of war and power, it balances this with a surprising amount of humor and character-driven storytelling.

Despite its strengths, my experience with The Blade Itself was initially frustrating. I had attempted to read the novel twice before and struggled to get past the halfway point. The beginning is slow and, at times, disorienting, with frequent shifts in perspective and little clarity on how the characters or their stories connect. The narrative seemed to lack a clear direction, making it difficult to stay engaged.

However, determined to give it another chance, I persisted. And once I crossed the halfway mark, everything began to fall into place. The characters became more compelling, their interactions more meaningful, and the overarching story started to take shape. By the final quarter of the book, I was fully invested, and upon finishing, I was eager to continue the series.

It is difficult to pinpoint exactly why the first half was such a struggle—whether due to pacing, structure, or the sheer amount of setup required for such a complex world. However, in retrospect, I am glad I gave it another attempt. If you are willing to push through the slower opening, The Blade Itself offers a rewarding and immersive experience, setting the stage for what promises to be an engaging and unpredictable trilogy. ...more

Like · see review

Sep 14, 2010 V.M. rated it it was amazing

One of the best fantasy novels I've read in a long time. Great characters, great story, great author. Politics, magic, war, intrigue, horror, comedy, realism... Excellent characters, very likable and realistic. ...more

Like · see review

Aug 08, 2012 Stuart McMillan rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Cracking sword'n'sorcery novel with mock European setting. Well worth investing 500 pages in and (frankly) the best of the oeuvre I've read in a long while. I don't know who did it first, but I was reminded of a similar novel ('The Steel Remains' Richard K Morgan) with equally well rounded characters and snappy dialogue.

If you compare it with something a bit more trite ('Orcs' by Stan Nicholls) it's streets ahead.

I wouldn't normally recommend this kind of stuff, but in this case, it's been a ple ...more

Like · see review

Jan 09, 2012 Stephanie rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fantasy

Fantasy lovers- this is a 'must-read.' I was completely wowed by the author's ability to develop his characters and create vivid and lifelike descriptions of their surroundings. And this is just the first of three books in the series- I've heard that they only get better from here. ...more

Like · see review