Joe Abercrombie - Should I Try Again?

[Ash]

So if I enjoyed the First Law books on the way through, but hated the ending, should I try more of Joe Abercrombie's work?

To be clear, I'm not looking for Cinderella endings obviously, but I thought that one was so deliberately black for both Logen and particularly Luthar it left me pretty disappointed.

[Brendan]

Check out his other series, the Shattered Sea, starting out with Half a King. Lots of Abercrombie goodness but its much less crushingly grim since its ostensibly for a YA audience. Though we don't yet know how it ends, because the third book is due out later this year I think.

[Bill]

No Cinderella endings but the stand alones definitely didn't have such depressing endings. I think they were actually better than the first law trilogy.

[Ruth (tilltab) Ashworth]

Brendan wrote: "Check out his other series, the Shattered Sea, starting out with Half a King. Lots of Abercrombie goodness but its much less crushingly grim since its ostensibly for a YA audience. Though we don't yet know how it ends, because the third book is due out later this year I think. "

Seconded! Haven't got to the end yet, but I grabbed the third book at a signing last night, and so far I am loving it. (it's officially released later in the month, I think)

[Ash]

Thanks all, I'll have a look at one of those standalone novels.

[Joel]

The only thing I've read from Abercrombie is The Shattered Sea books. They weren't terribly dark or grim. They were action packed, funny, and had some great twists. The second book was especially awesome.

[Dara]

I wasn't crazy about the First Law trilogy myself but I loved Best Served Cold and I moderately enjoyed Half a King. I recommend trying Best Served Cold.

[G.R.]

I'll second the nomination on "Best Served Cold." I just finished it a couple of weeks ago. It's grim, but it's a satisfying type of grim, if that makes any sense.

[Brendan]

Best Served Cold is probably my favourite of his books as well, although Before They Are Hanged and Half the World come very close. I think Best Served Cold just edges the others because Monza is probably his strongest protagonist.

[Nathan]

I would try Red Country and Best Served Cold. Both of those (atleast somewhat) deal with the objections you raise.

[Sree]

Personally I'm happy Luthar got the short end of the stick. He was a total douche. And Glotka got the best ending he could hope for so no complaints there.

[Ash]

Sree wrote: "Personally I'm happy Luthar got the short end of the stick. He was a total douche. And Glotka got the best ending he could hope for so no complaints there."

Agree Lothar started as a douche, but he was the only character in the series I thought showed any positive development. I liked Glokta less and less the more I read.

[Fresno Bob]

If you liked Best Served Cold, and read the First Law trilogy, you really should read Red Country

[Silvana]

Shattered Sea is not as strong as First Law novels. I think he rushed the publication. And ir was not as gritty as FL novels. Plot is also predictable. Would recommend you to read Best Served Cold and the rest instead. BSC is probably my fave of all six.

[Darren]

Ashley wrote: "So if I enjoyed the First Law books on the way through, but hated the ending, should I try more of Joe Abercrombie's work?

To be clear, I'm not looking for Cinderella endings obviously, but I thou..."

If you thought The First Law was dark, then Abercrombie is probably just not for you. The other books in that world are both darker and crueler. More interesting. Better written. The characters become less black and white, and just all dark.

Best Served Cold is one of my favourite books of the last decade. It's a tightly plotted gem of a revenge novel, and its torture scenes made Glotka's whole arc seem like comedy.