Gavin Howe
Joe Abercrombie's novel Best Served Cold is a standalone novel set in the First Law world, featuring some of the same characters, such as Caul Shivers and Nicomo Cosca. It is a revenge story with Monza Murcatto, the leader of the Thousand Swords mercenary company, at its centre. While Best Served Cold received positive reviews, with praise for its fight scenes, character development, and prose, some readers found it harder to get through than the First Law trilogy, citing a lack of humour and unrelatable characters. The First Law trilogy is considered a technically dazzling and brilliantly composed series of fantasy novels with compelling narration and distinctive characters.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Book Title | Best Served Cold |
| Author | Joe Abercrombie |
| Genre | Fantasy, Sword and Sorcery |
| Setting | Styria, a land of warring city-states reminiscent of Renaissance Italy |
| Main Character | Monzcarro "Monza" Murcatto |
| Monza's Occupation | Leader of The Thousand Swords mercenary company |
| Plot | Monza's quest for revenge against those who betrayed her |
| Narrative Style | Gritty, witty, philosophical, with memorable catchphrases |
| Tone | Dark, violent, with black comedy |
| Characterization | Flawed, broken, treacherous, and selfish characters |
| Pace | Fast-paced, with a straightforward progression |
| Magic | Significantly lower magic content compared to the First Law trilogy |
| Comparison to First Law Trilogy | Opinions vary; some prefer First Law, while others find Best Served Cold superior |
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What You'll Learn
'Best Served Cold' is a standalone novel set in the 'First Law' world
Best Served Cold is the fourth novel by Joe Abercrombie, first published in 2006 by Gollancz in the UK. It is the first standalone novel set in the First Law world. The novel takes place in Styria, a land of warring city-states reminiscent of Renaissance Italy, three years after the events of The First Law.
The story follows Monzcarro "Monza" Murcatto, the ruthless and notorious leader of The Thousand Swords mercenary company, who has brought victory after victory to her employer, Grand Duke Orso of Talins. However, her success has made her too popular for the Duke's taste, leading him to betray her and her beloved brother, Benna, by throwing them down a mountain. Determined to seek revenge, Monza assembles a crew of unlikely allies, including a drunkard, a poisoner, a mass murderer, and a Northman.
Best Served Cold explores themes of betrayal, revenge, and obsession, with vivid battle scenes, brutal action, and intricate plot twists. Abercrombie's characterisation is a highlight, with flawed and broken characters that are nonetheless likeable, treacherous, and selfish. The novel is known for its dark humour and witty prose, with memorable catchphrases and philosophical musings.
While some readers have praised Best Served Cold as an excellent addition to the First Law world, others have found it challenging to get through due to its relentless focus on the darker aspects of humanity and the lack of humour compared to the original trilogy. Nonetheless, it is generally regarded as a worthwhile read, with gripping storytelling and well-crafted characters.
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The story is a simple, straightforward revenge plot
Joe Abercrombie's Best Served Cold is a straightforward revenge plot. The story takes place in the First Law world, two years after the events of the Last Argument of Kings, and three years after the events of The First Law. It is springtime in Styria, and that means war and revenge.
The premise of the book is simple: Monza Murcatto, the Snake of Talins, has been betrayed by her employer, Grand Duke Orso, who has her and her brother, Benna, thrown down a mountain. Benna dies, and Monza is left in a crippled state. She is now determined to assemble a crew of unlikely allies and assassins to kill the seven men responsible for her brother's death and her own attempted murder.
Along the way, Monza and her crew leave a trail of blood and gore, eliminating those who tried to kill her. The story is filled with bloody battles, political tension, and a cast of treacherous, selfish, and greedy characters. Abercrombie is known for his gritty and witty prose, memorable catchphrases, and philosophical musings.
Best Served Cold is a standalone novel set in the First Law world, and it has been described as a fantastic addition to the series. It is a relentless epic of vengeance and obsession, with vivid and visceral battles, brutal action, and plenty of betrayals, reversals, and plot twists.
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The book is bloodier and more political than other fantasy novels
Joe Abercrombie's Best Served Cold is a fantasy novel set in the First Law world. It is a standalone novel and the fourth book in the series. The novel is described as "bloodier and more political" than other fantasy novels.
The story is set in Styria, a land of warring city-states reminiscent of Renaissance Italy. It is springtime, which means war and revenge. Monza Murcatto, the leader of the Thousand Swords mercenary company, has been betrayed by her employer, Grand Duke Orso, who has her and her brother thrown down a mountain. Monza survives, but her brother does not. She sets out on a mission to avenge her brother's death by assembling a crew of unlikely allies, including a drunkard, a poisoner, a mass murderer, and a Northman.
The novel is characterized by its harsh language, unrelenting violence, and flawed characters. It features battles, action, betrayals, and plot twists. Abercrombie's writing is described as "gritty and witty," with dark humor and philosophical undertones.
Compared to the First Law trilogy, Best Served Cold has been described as more straightforward and fast-paced. Some readers found it harder to get through due to the lack of humor and the similarity in character motivations. However, others appreciated the distinctive characterizations, cinematic action scenes, and well-crafted narrative.
Overall, Best Served Cold offers a gripping tale of vengeance, bloody action, and intrigue, set in a politically tense world. It builds upon the First Law world while standing as a compelling story in its own right.
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The characters are flawed, treacherous, lethal, selfish and proud
Joe Abercrombie's novel "Best Served Cold" is a standalone novel set in the First Law world. It is a tale of betrayal and revenge, centred around Monza Murcatto, the leader of the Thousand Swords mercenary company. Monza has been betrayed by her employer, Grand Duke Orso, which results in her brother's death and her being left for dead. She sets out on a mission of revenge, assembling a crew of villains to help her assassinate the seven men responsible for her brother's murder.
The characters in "Best Served Cold" are described as "flawed, treacherous, lethal, selfish and proud". Monza herself is described as "heartless" and "cut-throat". She is a ruthless mercenary who has brought victory after victory to Duke Orso, becoming wealthy and popular as a result. However, her popularity threatens the Duke, leading to her betrayal.
Other characters include Caul Shivers, who undergoes a moral transformation from a likable optimist to a cold-blooded killer; Nicomo Cosca, a drunkard and soldier of fortune; and Shenkt, a mysterious assassin with his own plans for revenge.
The novel is known for its harsh language, unrelenting violence, and flawed or broken characters. Abercrombie successfully portrays the selfish greed for vengeance of his characters, and the grey morality of the world he has created. The characters are driven by their suffering, which leads them to seek revenge and achieve great things.
While some readers found the novel to be less humorous and more brutal than the "First Law" trilogy, others praised Abercrombie's characterisation and the philosophical nature of his prose.
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The novel is cruel, original and brilliant
Joe Abercrombie's novel Best Served Cold is a cruel, original and brilliant tale of vengeance and obsession. Set in the First Law world, it is a standalone novel that takes place three years after the events of The First Law. It is a bloody and relentless epic of vengeance and obsession, featuring tyrants and torturers, poisoners, a serial killer, a treacherous drunk, a warrior and a mercenary captain.
The novel is cruel in its depiction of the selfish greed for vengeance displayed by its characters. Abercrombie nails these qualities in each of his characters, and the book is filled with unrelenting violence and flawed or broken characters. The protagonist, Monzcarro "Monza" Murcatto, is thrown down a mountain by Grand Duke Orso, along with her brother Benna, and left for dead. She then sets out on a mission of revenge, assembling a crew of unlikely and bloody villains to kill the seven men responsible for her brother's murder and her attempted death.
The novel is original in its philosophical and witty prose, with beautifully crafted memorable catchphrases. Abercrombie's writing is described as a step up from the First Law, with gritty and witty passages that are philosophical and blackly humorous. The novel is also original in its plot, with Abercrombie's skill in crafting plot twists and turns that keep the reader guessing.
The novel is brilliant in its characterisation and action scenes. Abercrombie's characters are fully realised, treacherous, lethal, selfish and proud, and the action scenes are cinematic, with vivid and visceral battles. Abercrombie's narrative is executed with brilliance, prioritising distinctive characterisations and action.
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Frequently asked questions
This is subjective, but some readers have found Best Served Cold to be a more enjoyable read than The First Law. They claim that it is a fantastic addition to the First Law World and an impressive revenge story. However, some readers have also found it to be less relatable than the First Law trilogy, with some characters feeling too similar in motivation and lacking humour.
Best Served Cold is a standalone novel set in the First Law World. It is a tale of betrayal and revenge, taking place three years after the events of The First Law. The story follows Monza Murcatto, the leader of The Thousand Swords mercenary company, who is thrown down a mountain by her employer, Grand Duke Orso, along with her brother Benna. Monza survives and sets out on a quest for revenge against the seven men responsible for her brother's death and her attempted murder.
Best Served Cold has received mostly positive reviews. It is described as a "magnificent tale of vengeance filled with bloody action, betrayal, and humour". The book is praised for its gripping story, memorable characters, and vivid combat scenes. However, some readers have found it difficult to get through due to the relentless focus on the darker aspects of humanity and the lack of humour compared to Abercrombie's previous works.
Best Served Cold can be read as a standalone novel and is a good introduction to Joe Abercrombie's style. However, reading The First Law trilogy first may provide a more comprehensive understanding of the world and characters, as there are references and undercurrents that build upon the First Law series.
Best Served Cold is described as having a more straightforward progression compared to The First Law trilogy. It has significantly lower magical content and focuses more on political intrigue and character development. The story is also set in a different location, Styria, a land of warring city-states reminiscent of Renaissance Italy.
