Last Argument of Kings (The First Law #3)

[Trisha]

This thread is to discuss Last Argument of Kings, the third book in the The First Law Series by Joe Abercrombie.

Pages: 536 pages

Length: 1 Month (March)

Participants: Sinisa, Kathelijne, Raviteja.

Everyone reads at their own pace during a Buddy Read. Because participants can be at different parts of the book at different times, it is extremely important to mark spoilers so that the book is not ruined for someone who is not as far along as others!!!

Mark spoilers by placing {spoiler} before the text and {/spoiler} after the text but use the < and > instead of the { and }.


Happy Buddy Reading!

[Kathelijne]

Well I made sure that I put my notifications on this time haha 🙈

[Sinisa]

Lol
Start planing date so we can synchronise. I was thinking 15th to 20th since you are still reading. I am flexible with start

[Kathelijne]

I did finish! But 15th to 20th sounds good to me.

[Raviteja]

Sinisa wrote: "Lol
Start planing date so we can synchronise. I was thinking 15th to 20th since you are still reading. I am flexible with start"

Sounds good to me too! :D

[Raviteja]

I started it today because I finished my previous book early. I've read 8 chapters so far (till the chapter Ghosts), which counts to 13%.

Thoughts
Chapter "So Much in Common"
(view spoiler)[
He did not take his slow eyes away from her for a moment. “We are much alike, you and I. You may not see it, and yet we are. So much in common.” Ferro frowned. She did not know what the sickly idiot meant by that, but she did not like the sound of it. “Bayaz will bring you nothing you need. He cannot be trusted. I found out too late, but you still have time. You should find another master.”

“I have no master,” she snapped at him. “I am free.”

One corner of Quai’s pale lips twitched up. “Neither of us will ever be free. Go. There is nothing for you here.”

“Why do you stay, then?”

“For vengeance.”

Ferro frowned deeper. “Vengeance for what?”
Oh boy. Something is different with Malacus Quai. He is speaking of vengeance which means Bayaz did something. Either there is a back-story for Quai where he seems to have joined as an apprentice to extract revenge, or another extreme possibility is Quai is not Quai but someone else pretending to be him for revenge. Time will tell. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter "Ghosts"
(view spoiler)[This is probably now how I expected this reunion to happen but I love it! (hide spoiler)]

[Kathelijne]

I'm at the same point in the book as Raviteja
As for Quai,
(view spoiler)[Ohh that's a good theory that he's not actually Quai. He does feel like a complete different person than the man we met in the first book. I personally interpreted it as he wants to get vengeance on Bayaz for some reason and he's trailing along until he can. But I have no idea 😂 There's something, that's for sure! (hide spoiler)]

Other thoughts
(view spoiler)[ The reunion really was great, it felt very much like the Northmen haha. What I really love about Logen's story is that you can really feel the journey and growth his character has gone through. These last few chapters felt a little like the beginning of book 1. Logen being alone on the road and fighting. Yet he feels like a completely different, but also the same, character. Hard to explain but I'm sure you guys get it haha. I love Logen.

Also, this relationship with Jezal and Ardee is... interesting? Don't know how to feel about all of that. (hide spoiler)]

[Sinisa]

I cought up with you two, just finished Ghosts

(view spoiler)[
Ghosts were great, it was funny and emotional. I love all the reactions we got from people realizing Logan is alive from West, then guards disbelieve, happiness from some, ignoring from others to the hate in the background.
For Quai reactions my first thoughts were maybe they did find something it just went into him. We had him building up doubts in Bayaz along the way but with this revenge something had happend during that trip. It is building up to something we will see.
Jezal had couple of funny moments, first with Bayaz and 2nd one with Glokta and his 3 option. One with Bayaz first I though he did something magic to him to provoke that reaction with that poor girl and guards but looks like it was just a mind game.
Jezal and Ardee as much as I cheer for that story it is annoying also. After almost nothing from her in 2nd book and so much slow development in first one we start their relationship like that. I mean so many ways that goes bad and only one way it goes satisfying for me and it is kind of to obvious to happen. I almost route for Glokta option No3 - Jazal mess up and Glokta cuts him up in peaces.
(hide spoiler)]

[Raviteja]

Sorry, I've not been actively updating.. I've finished it.

Overall, I am not fully satisfied with the way things ended but nevertheless its a wonderful read.
(view spoiler)[
1) I guess I had most fun readint this book particularly around the parts of the king's election and the events going forward. I would have loved if the tone continued, but the book went dark again.

2) Quai being Tolomei in disguise was not something I expected.. I thought Quai was not himself, as I had earlier stated but this is big. However, it did not last too long.

3) If I have to rate a character to be the baddest in this book, its gotta be Bayaz. Most other characters feel like his puppets most of the time.

4) Logen's battle against Feared, the way it went was mostly predictable and it was not so much fun to read.

5) For all his efforts despite his difficult life, I think Glokta is one character that gets rewarded by the end.. This is one arc whose ending I am happy with.

6) As for Jezal, I can only pity him and his situation, but I guess things certainly got a bit better for him even when he is not aware of the sad reasons.

7) Logen and Ferro's arcs felt too open-ended for me. Logen is obviously alive and so is Ferro. Particularly Ferro's ending felt a bit abrupt in my case.
(hide spoiler)]
That is all, for now. It was fun reading this series and thank you both for being a part of it!

[Sinisa]

I am done. I think it will be a 5 star for me and I will just forget last 150 pages. I mean I was expecting something much worse but other side of that it could have been so much better also.
(view spoiler)[
My fan fiction idea that I was hoping to happend is Ferro becoming queen of the north and getting new ways of her revenge story(kids, new army, new alies...).
Other disappoint stories is Ardee and West. There was just a lot of potential for me there and both ended up kind of sad.
I will go through your list:
1) For me most fun was reading Jazal story before he was king, rest was also kind of sad and disappointing. We just went back to his introduction character where he was coward and selfish. Queen being a lesbian was just out of nowhere to help Glokta's story.
2) Quai being Tolomei - that was surprising I liked it. And we got Bayaz dark past story which was kind of hinted before
3) Bayaz is just a mix to me - so much power at times and so much luck at the end. Idk he was annoying to me most of time
4) Logen's battle against Feared - yes it was predictable but only other option was if Logen died and that would be worse. All that war against Bethod was predictable. Logen talking to ghosts/dead was also used very little. Was expecting more from that "superpower"
5) Glokta is a badass, his story arch was best and you understand him the most, even tho he is brutal. How he got last practical to join him was pretty great His story with old practicals was great, parts with mercenaries also, and with Carlot dan Eider. He was most complete character for me
6) and 7) i think i covered alredy
(hide spoiler)]
I am defiantly going to read more Abercrombie this year and if anyone wants that also lets talk. Still haven't decided what to tackle, to continue this story or go with Shatter see trilogy. Was thinking i post something for May or June in buddy reads.
It was a fun adventure and great company, thank you both also for joining in and following through 1850 pages.

[Kathelijne]

I'm a little behind on my reading so I probably won't be able to finish it this month, I'm gonna try to next week and then I'll respond to your thoughts :)

[Raviteja]

Sinisa wrote: "I am done. I think it will be a 5 star for me and I will just forget last 150 pages. I mean I was expecting something much worse but other side of that it could have been so much better also.

My f..."

(view spoiler)[
1) I believe that was the best part of the book. It was hilarious and complete fun (till it lasted). After Jezal became the king, he tried being himself though, almost till the end.
I think Glokta would have found something to get his job done with the queen, even if there was no last minute revelation. I think it made his job easy though.

2) I was only disappointed that Tolomei did not last long enough to have some impact on the plot. With/without Tolomei, the plot would have still remained same.

3) Bayaz was annoying but I think his character is the one of the closest to realities - the ones who survive in the end are those with a plan and enough cunning to get it going. I guess most of Logen's talkling to spirits is only vital to Bayaz's quest in the previous book and there is no use of it. (hide spoiler)]

[Sinisa]

Raviteja wrote: "Sinisa wrote: "I am done. I think it will be a 5 star for me and I will just forget last 150 pages. I mean I was expecting something much worse but other side of that it could have been so much bet..."
(view spoiler)[
Closest to reality and with best story arch is Glokta to me. Just survives somehow day by day with persistence, hard work and a bit of luck. Every story line with Bayaz is inconsistent.He is some great cunning character who puts him self in desperate situation and then by miracle he survives. He helped Bethod and then just lost control over him, trip to the end of the world he took future king and they both could have died couple of times for nothing but they just didn't, he saved and controlled Logen most of time, gave him another chance and at the end when both could have benefit from alliance Bayaz just lost him. That final battle was all dependent on Ferro and she was in danger to die fighting in front line before that. Tolomei could have killed him or Ferro or Jazal earlier but for some reason she just didn't even try. Just those resolutions were annoying to me for someone so smart and with so much power. Best part of trip in book 2 was when Bayaz was out and we had only Jazzal/Logen/Ferro.
(hide spoiler)]

[Sinisa]

Kathelijne wrote: "I'm a little behind on my reading so I probably won't be able to finish it this month, I'm gonna try to next week and then I'll respond to your thoughts :)"

Don't worry you have time to finish, this will be open for a month almost so just enjoy reading.

[Raviteja]

Sinisa wrote: "Raviteja wrote: "Sinisa wrote: "I am done. I think it will be a 5 star for me and I will just forget last 150 pages. I mean I was expecting something much worse but other side of that it could have..."

I definitely agree. You make good points :D

Btw, if you are planning to continue, there are other First Law World books too. May be you can start with Best Served Cold? The rest of the stories are either continution of the current story or prequels, I am considering reading them for the sake of completion.

[Kathelijne]

I finished it last night!
The book was really good, I'm just not sure if it's my kind of book, after all. However, I'm really glad that I got to read with you guys! That's the fun thing about buddy reading I think, it helps you push through some books you normally wouldn't read :)
(view spoiler)[
I did enjoy reading about Jezal becoming king. Even though, he kind of went back to who he was before, I think it was pretty realistic. No one changes overnight and towards the end, he did try to be a little bit better.

Glokta is definitely back to being my favorite character. I agree with everything you're saying about him. His ending was definitely the most satisfying one and Logen was probably the most dissapointing arc for me, especially his ending. He didn't get to see Ferro again and literally everyone just left and abandoned him :(

Something I struggled with, was that there were some things that were briefly introduced / brought up and then it was just done...? Or it just wasn't really used later in the book. Things you also already brought up like, the Quai / Tolomei revelation, the duel with the Feared, Logen's abilities to talk with the Spirits, but even the events with Bayaz/the Seed & the mysterious disease at the end? Even West, who was definitely one of my least favorite characters, I think deserved a little better than just to die within a few pages. I really wanted more scenes between him, Glokta and Ardee. Ferro was also barely in this book and her arc definitely didn't feel finished. So yeah, it just feels a little unresolved to me.

Of course, there are more books so maybe he'll continue some of these threads in later ones, but I do think that trilogies should be able to stand on their own as well. (hide spoiler)]

But overall I did really enjoy this series. I actually listened to the audiobook for this last one and the performance was also great! I don't think I'll continue with First Law for now, but I am really glad that I read this trilogy. Thank you guys!