The Wisdom of Crowds - Abercrombie [Mar 1, 2022]

[Jenna, I'd be free if not for Temper & Edgewalker]

The Wisdom of Crowds - Joe Abercrombie

March 1, 2022.
Requested by Siobhan.

[Niki Hawkes, I made it past GOTM... barely]

In.

[Siobhan]

Yay!

And thank you Jenna :)

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

I made a note I need to read book 2 in February :D

[Jenna, I'd be free if not for Temper & Edgewalker]

Siobhan wrote: "Yay!

And thank you Jenna :)"

You're welcome :)

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

And I followed through, I guess...

I started my restart of Trouble With Peace today...

[Siobhan]

That's great Iain! You can give me a recap before this one xD

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Siobhan wrote: "That's great Iain! You can give me a recap before this one xD"

My summary will probably be barebones... my memories of the first book are faint...

(view spoiler)[so far, tensions are rising...

Orso is dealing with being King, and the rapist in the Open Council... which is causing tension among the nobles, which is manipulating Leo dan Brock to rebellion...

Savine dan Glokta left Orso after the first book, when she learned they were half-siblings... ends up married to Leo dan Brock, and tangled in his rebellion... may or may not be pregnant with Orso's baby or Leo's... timing is close...

Leo is also looping the Northmen into the rebellion...

Vick dan Teufel is in Westport, as an agent of Archlector Glokta, making sure they don't secede from the Union... (hide spoiler)]

I think that's most of what's been going on in the first half of the book...

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

75% mark of book 2, and things are heading to disaster... (view spoiler)[spies/sympathizers have warned the King that a rebellion is coming... so Archlector Glokta had to retire, but not before one last meeting with Vick dan Teufel...

So the empire is ready to repel the rebellion... and Yuru Sulphur is lurking around Leo's mother, warning about the loans they owe Bayaz...

The North sounds like a powder keg, too, between Stour's faction with old Black Dow, and Rikke with the Long Eye (seer powers) and Caul Shivers...


Things seem to be going best for the Burners / Breakers... killing bank managers and steal money... throwing a wrench into Bayaz' works...

If there's one thing I really want to see, it's the death of Bayaz'... but I feel like that's wishful thinking... hell, I saw a fan theory that Bayaz IS Khalul... and the whole Bayaz vs Khalul thing is just a smokescreen hiding how much MORE of the world Bayaz controls... and I can believe it, considering we pretty much KNOW he's secretly an Eater, like Yuru Sulphur and others of his former minions from the standalones... (hide spoiler)]

Other than that, it's been classic Joe Abercrombie... gross sex scenes and graphic descriptions of bodily functions ;)

[Siobhan]

I remember most of that actually!! And I can picture the last scenes of Trouble with Peace. So Abercrombie has done well there xD

[Niki Hawkes, I made it past GOTM... barely]

scheduled to start today... bump.

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Not sure when I'll start... I was considering starting last week, then did a bunch of easier books instead... soon, tho... it's loaded and waiting...

[Siobhan]

I'm so behind on my Feb reading, gonna give myself a few more days to try and catch up before starting this. :)

[Siobhan]

I started! 8% in, up to chapter "No More Trouble" - (view spoiler)[ I loved the way the uprising was written from so many different people's perspectives! Abercrombie does that so well. Great chapter! (hide spoiler)]

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Read the first chapter, to avoid hitting the 2 week rule :D

(view spoiler)[things aren't going too well for Orso... it's a shame... he's probably the first good leader of Angland in generations, and things are looking rough...

Perfect climate for Bayaz to try and regain control, maybe?... altho he has his work cut out for him as well... (hide spoiler)]

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Through Lines of Communication (16%)?: Typical Abercrombie... mix of horrible and hilarious, occasional possible good developments, and a generous sprinkling of gross...

(view spoiler)[That axe-wielder really knows how to stop a feud in it's tracks, LOL... seemed feudy... (hide spoiler)]

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Through The Only Explanation (40%): (view spoiler)[I spend a fair bit of time frowning and vaguely disgusted by the plot... it's a collection of the worst depravities... it has a real French Revolution vibe, I think?... with guillotines and mob rule...

I found it funny when the guy tried to use the opening line of the Declaration of Independence, and was mocked...

The kangaroo court antics also vaguely remind me of season 3-4 of Person of Interest...

So far, all the unrest, and Bayaz / Yuru Sulphur are still finding ways to meddle, just fine... for all Valintz and Bolk are all screwy...

Also, the way no argument works to appease the crowds reminds me of Happily Ever Ninja... a romantic comedy book where the husband likes to use the phrase "that sounds like something Hitler would say" to try and win arguments... (hide spoiler)]

[Siobhan]

Timelord Iain wrote: "Read the first chapter, to avoid hitting the 2 week rule :D
.."

(view spoiler)[ I really like Orso and he does try his best to be decent!! I'm waiting for Bayaz to rock back up at some point! (hide spoiler)]

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Siobhan wrote: "Timelord Iain wrote: "Read the first chapter, to avoid hitting the 2 week rule :D
.."

[spoilers removed]"

It's a shame (view spoiler)[Abercrombie isn't kind to decent characters... or any characters, really... (hide spoiler)]

[Siobhan]

Timelord Iain wrote: "Through Lines of Communication (16%)?: Typical Abercrombie... mix of horrible and hilarious, occasional possible good developments, and a generous sprinkling of gross...

[spoilers removed]"

Downside! Loved him 😂 (view spoiler)[ I love Clover as well and how he always tries to side with the winners. No loyalty, but he seems like a reasonable man. That was definitely great Abercrombie chapter. (hide spoiler)]

[Siobhan]

Timelord Iain wrote: "Siobhan wrote: "Timelord Iain wrote: "Read the first chapter, to avoid hitting the 2 week rule :D
.."

[spoilers removed]"

It's a shame [spoilers removed]"

Haha true!!

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Siobhan wrote: "Timelord Iain wrote: "Through Lines of Communication (16%)?: Typical Abercrombie... mix of horrible and hilarious, occasional possible good developments, and a generous sprinkling of gross...

[spo..."

Abercrombie has a gift... and I kinda hate him for it :D

He can make you love horrible characters... (maybe not Judge, she's crazy)... but almost any other...

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

I'm near the end of Part XIII now, and the start of the final Part IX... and the hints of a plan are starting to be revealed... (view spoiler)[Pike knows this anarchy can't last forever, and has given Vick the green light and a blind eye to continue with her plan to right the ship a bit...

And Rikka has revealed the extent of her Long Eye, with the soon-to-be defeat of Black Dow, death of Stour, and revelations about her ally that was a double agent (the mentor figure?)... (hide spoiler)]

Still alot left to go... about 60% done, 40% left... the length of a "normal" book... 15hrs audio read, 9hrs audio left...

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Through Side of the Saints (70%): things are getting hectic again... (view spoiler)[but I loved listening to Savine almost win her trial, before Judge intervened... and Orso's stall tactics... (hide spoiler)] I'm still a bit in the thick of it, in the "aftermath" now, but I think this is as far as I'm gonna get, tonight... should finish tomorrow... it's been a wild ride...

Can't forget to mention Clover/Downside: (view spoiler)[that was a wicked twist, when Black Calder tried to have Downside kill Clover for his inevitable treachery at the end, and Clover showed he's more than just talk... poor Downside... (hide spoiler)]

[Siobhan]

I'm reading physical copy whenever I can squeeze it in, so I'll be a lot slower! But I'll catch up eventually. :)

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Finished… it was a Masterpiece… 5 stars… I have a bit more to say about the book and the future of the series, after work…

[Siobhan]

Yay I like the word masterpiece!! 😄

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Siobhan wrote: "Yay I like the word masterpiece!! 😄"

It was beyond good... I liked the first 2/3rds, but it doesn't let up in the entire final act...

Really pays off, when an author writes a whole trilogy before releasing...

I see Petrik used the word masterpiece in his review... found out after I used the word...

There's just so many payoffs in the conclusion (not necessarily good ones)...

I'd kinda compare it to The Departed :D (but that probably also isn't the best comparison)...

I forgot to compare Orso in Act 1-2 to (view spoiler)[the 10th Doctor in a cage in the John Simms / Harold Saxon Master storyline... (hide spoiler)]

Weaver: (view spoiler)[I spoiled the Glokta angle awhile back, but I didn't see the Eaters being Savine's helpers all along... seeing Yuru Sulphur murdered was gruesome, and kinda fast... kinda want to draw more Harold Saxon comparisons... this time the End of Time, when he can't stop eating at super speed...

The ending of that scene gave me Borgias vibes... (hide spoiler)]

Bayaz: (view spoiler)[his final scenes drew me back to the very beginning, when he was a humble-seeming character assembling a team... and now he's got Clover and Hilde and the son of Black Dow I assume?... this isn't over... (hide spoiler)]

Final Rikke scene: (view spoiler)[and the Long Eye is back... and pretty terrible... everything's gonna get toppled again...

BUT... who was waking from slumber at the end?... I feel like it could mean any of the big mages... Bayaz (obviously getting things going again with Hilde running Valintz & Bolk)... but also Khalul, who hasn't played a big part in the series in awhile... but the most interesting, to me, is if it's Juvens, coming back to life somehow, and seeking vengeance on Bayaz and the other ungrateful mages that killed him... I barely remembered the myths about him anymore, but that would throw an already chaotic world into who knows what... (hide spoiler)]

It's great, being 99% confident there will be more books, at some point :D

This book/trilogy really reinvigorated my love for this series/world... I'd had my troubles with the standalone books, if Siobhan remembers... grimdark isn't my favorite genre of fantasy... but Abercrombie does it so well, and peppers in great inappropriate humor...

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Future of the series: (view spoiler)[after reading the end of Wisdom of Crowds, there's clearly plans for another epic trilogy down the line...

In the meantime, according to secondhand info on reddit, he'd like to do another set of standalones, like he did between the first and second trilogy... probably exploring characters like Hilde and Stour's half-brother a bit more... maybe what Vick gets up to after leaving the capital?... I wouldn't mind more time with Clover... (hide spoiler)]

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

I'm really glad you "made me" read this and the previous book that I delayed for 16 months... now I wish I had people to gush with :D

[Siobhan]

I'm sure people who read it when it came out will gush with us!! I can't wait to finish it now.

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

I tossed a comment into the old thread... only Rob & Silvana made it to the BR... altho Scott and some others on my friend list read it as well... Scott just doesn't seem to have time for GR since he started working for Google...

[Rob]

I think I have to go back to the old friend to comment. i love this series, but it is already fading fast from my memory. (I'm sure I'll re-read all that is Abercrombie though in the future).

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Rob wrote: "I think I have to go back to the old friend to comment. i love this series, but it is already fading fast from my memory. (I'm sure I'll re-read all that is Abercrombie though in the future)."

Like I said above... I've had a rocky relationship with the standalones, but this book was amazing, and this trilogy in general was great...

And the prospects for the future are promising, too...

Next up, Abercrombie is writing a new series in a new settings... called The Devils, so far... set in a high fantasy world, I think...

[Siobhan]

Up to A Sea of Terror, 30% (view spoiler)[ My god that scene was fucking horrendous!! Them just throwing people off the roof of the tower so brutally and heartless. Broad just going along with it when he surely disagrees! I can't believe Pike has put Judge in charge!! She's psychotic! (hide spoiler)]

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Siobhan wrote: "Up to A Sea of Terror, 30% [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)["Some people... just want to watch the world burn..."... I read on the wiki that the Judge = The Joker, for inspiration... and that made so much sense when I read it... look how many different origin stories the Judge has for her name... like the Joker and his face paint / scarification... (hide spoiler)]

Usually, stories like this one just stress me out... especially when you start feeling a similarity to current turmoil...

[Siobhan]

Timelord Iain wrote: "Siobhan wrote: "Up to A Sea of Terror, 30% [spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]

Usually, stories like this one just stress me out... especially when you start feeling a similarity to current tu..."

Yeah I'm definitely feeling the heavy cynicism for our current world in this one!

[Siobhan]

Timelord Iain wrote: "Through Side of the Saints (70%): things are getting hectic again... [spoilers removed] I'm still a bit in the thick of it, in the "aftermath" now, but I think this is as far as I'm gonna get, toni..."

I'm just past this section that felt like a massive climax with still 30% to go!! Omg! This book is amazing. (view spoiler)[ I hadn't considered what Leo would do once they won, but in the chapter when Orso and Savine were saved I was fully expecting him to get stabbed to death during his little speech. Not dead, but back where he was by the sounds of it, but with a different captor 😅
Such a great twist.

I loved how Rikke used the spy to make Calder think she was weak, I didn't see that coming for some reason! (hide spoiler)]

[Siobhan]

Timelord Iain wrote: "Siobhan wrote: "Yay I like the word masterpiece!! 😄"

It was beyond good... I liked the first 2/3rds, but it doesn't let up in the entire final act...

Really pays off, when an author writes a whol..."

I totally agree this was a masterpiece! I love how it ended and I am sure there must be more to come in the future too!

Love your theories for future of the series and standalones!! That would be absolutely amazing!

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Glad to hear... was a great book... almost makes me want to do a re-read from the very beginning... almost...

[Siobhan]

Sorry I took so long to comment. I've been far too busy it's unreal.

I would love to do a whole reread... But maybe not just yet xD

I'm dying to reread Realm of the Elderlings.

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

No worries… I’m not doing great at responding much, either… or participating in BRs of new-to-me series…