From the Bookshelf of Sword & Sorcery: "An earthier sort of fantasy"…

The Blade Itself (The First Law, #1)

Joe Abercrombie

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What Members Thought

Jul 12, 2013 Dan rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fantasy, dark-fantasy

The Blade Itself is the first novel in Abercrombie’s The First Law trilogy. While I would refer to this novel as high fantasy, as opposed to low/sword & sorcery, it is definitely a darker tale than many other novels of its ilk. It has an involving interwoven story, that though written from the third person point of view, is also told from the different points of view of the flawed but generally likable characters within. The storytelling is similar in some ways to how George R.R. Martin wrote hi ...more

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Apr 28, 2016 Joey rated it really liked it · review of another edition

A lot of memorable characters and a well written storyline so far. For a fantasy novel with wizards and barbarians it's been one of the better ones. 4.5 stars ...more

1 like · Like · see review

May 21, 2014 Filip rated it really liked it

Shelves: 4-stars, fantasy

I was unsure whether I should give this book 3 or 4 stars. The first third of it wasn't really that gripping but it quickly became better. Much, much better. All in all two things decided about me giving 4 stars:
1) I loved the characters, very real, three-dimensional and vivid
2) I immensely enjoyed the background references and I have a feeling - or rather I'm certain - that they will affect the plot.
I'm beginning the second book right away. ...more

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