Kara Sears
Joe Abercrombie's First Law trilogy is often compared to George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series (ASOIAF). Both are dark, multi-POV works that break fantasy genre conventions. However, some critics argue that ASOIAF is superior in terms of plot, world-building, and female character development. On the other hand, First Law is praised for its exciting world, humour, irony, and character arcs. Abercrombie's ability to release books in a timely manner and his respectful treatment of his audience are also appreciated. Ultimately, the preference between the two series may depend on individual tastes and the specific elements that readers value most in fantasy literature.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Genre | Epic fantasy, violent, dark humour, noir fantasy |
| Plot | Unpredictable, sense of dread and mystery |
| Writing Style | Playful, minimalist, evocative, recognisable |
| Characters | Unforgettable, vile, nasty, horrible, sadistic |
| World-building | Reminiscent of early modern Europe, war-centric |
| Pace | Fast to slow |
| Tone | Cynical |
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What You'll Learn
- Joe Abercrombie's writing style is evocative and recognisable, with a darkly humorous tone
- The First Law trilogy is a modern fantasy masterpiece
- The story's plot is unclear until it gradually unfolds through the eyes of 5-6 characters
- The First Law trilogy is followed by a sequel trilogy, The Age of Madness
- The First Law trilogy is unpredictable, compelling and packed with unforgettable characters
Joe Abercrombie's writing style is evocative and recognisable, with a darkly humorous tone
Joe Abercrombie's writing style is distinctive and compelling. His prose is described as "unreal" and "perfect", with a talent for creating fascinating, three-dimensional characters. Abercrombie's writing is evocative, with a strong sense of place and atmosphere. He achieves this through detailed descriptions, particularly when introducing characters for the first time. For example, Yoru is introduced as a "plain-looking man with short curly hair... oh, and his eyes are two different colours".
Abercrombie's writing is also notable for its pacing, which moves from fast to slow, keeping the reader engaged and influencing them to question the impact of events in the story. The plot gradually takes shape through the perspectives of multiple characters, usually five or six, and the reader is kept in suspense as to the outcome of each scene. This adds to the sense of mystery and dread that pervades the narrative.
The First Law trilogy is described as ["grimdark" fantasy], with a dark and gore-filled narrative that includes war, murder, and conspiracies. Abercrombie's characters are complex and morally ambiguous, with a ""refreshing lack of black and white". They are often flawed, with negative aspects to their personalities, such as a drinking problem. This adds depth to the story and makes the reader question who they are supposed to be rooting for.
Abercrombie's writing is also noted for its humour, with one reviewer stating that it made them "squirm, laugh, and cry". The dialogue is described as "unputdownable", and the characters' one-liners are praised as being particularly memorable. Abercrombie's writing is filled with aphorisms and insights that reflect his views on life and reality.
Overall, Abercrombie's writing style is evocative and recognisable, with a darkly humorous tone that keeps readers engaged and entertained. His talent for creating vivid characters and worlds, combined with his skill for pacing and suspense, makes him a standout author in the fantasy genre.
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The First Law trilogy is a modern fantasy masterpiece
The First Law trilogy is characterised by its gritty, adult fantasy tone. Abercrombie's writing style is evocative and instantly recognisable, serving the story well. His prose is not flowery but instead paints atmospheric scenes and creates a darkly humorous tone. The action scenes are described as cinematic and impactful, and the pacing moves from fast to slow, making the story's end unpredictable. The trilogy is also marked by its playful narration, poking fun at the characters' stupidity.
The books are filled with unforgettable characters, and the line between hero and villain is blurred. The reader is not allowed to hero-worship, and the characters are often vile, making the reader almost sadistic for enjoying their comeuppance. The plot gradually takes shape through the perspectives of five or six characters, and the sense of dread and mystery is ever-present.
The First Law trilogy is a masterpiece of modern fantasy, with its unique narrative style, compelling characters, and unpredictable plot. Abercrombie successfully achieves his dream of "single-handedly redefining the fantasy genre".
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The story's plot is unclear until it gradually unfolds through the eyes of 5-6 characters
Joe Abercrombie's First Law trilogy is a series of gritty modern fantasy novels. The story's plot is unclear until it gradually unfolds through the eyes of 5-6 characters. The trilogy involves three major powers: The Union, the Gurkish Empire, and the North, recently united under King Bethod. The Union is a central realm in a state of near-perpetual war, constantly maneuvered into conflicts by a dysfunctional government. The plot centres on the fortunes of a variety of characters as they navigate these conflicts.
The first book, The Blade Itself, introduces Logen, a warrior from the North who can speak to spirits and goes into berserker rages; Jezal dan Luthar, a dashing young fighter with bad habits; and Sand dan Glokta, another fighter, who was captured and tortured during the war in the south. The North is at war with the Union, and the story focuses on a dozen Northmen sent to guard a ring of stones called The Heroes on a hill. The second theatre of war is in the south, between the Union and the Gurkish Empire, who attempt to annex the Union city of Dagoska.
The Age of Madness trilogy is a sequel trilogy that began in September 2019 with A Little Hatred, followed by The Trouble with Peace in 2020. The story is set 20-something years after the events of the first trilogy and centres on the children of the original characters. The Union has entered an Industrial Age, with chimneys rising all over Midderland, and a new generation of Northmen led by Stour Nightfall seek to drive the Union from Angland.
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The First Law trilogy is followed by a sequel trilogy, The Age of Madness
The First Law trilogy by Joe Abercrombie is a series of gritty modern fantasy novels. The first three novels form a trilogy, while the remaining stories are stand-alone but interconnected novels. The First Law trilogy is followed by a sequel trilogy, The Age of Madness, which started in September 2019 with the novel A Little Hatred. The First Law trilogy includes The Blade Itself, Before They Are Hanged, and The Last Argument of Kings. The Age of Madness trilogy is set twenty-something years after the First Law trilogy and is the seventh novel in an extended universe where magic is as real and terrible as any weapon of mass destruction. Abercrombie's world is vast, and with so many books, there are a lot of characters, wars, and political schemes to keep track of.
The First Law trilogy has been described as a "modern fantasy masterpiece" and "the finest epic fantasy trilogy in recent memory." Abercrombie's writing style has been described as evocative and instantly recognizable, serving the story well. His narration pokes fun at Jezal's stupidity, and his writing becomes superbly minimalist in later books. The trilogy has also been praised for its unpredictability, compelling narrative, and unforgettable characters.
The Age of Madness trilogy continues Abercrombie's style of having vile characters endure nasty, horrible things. One reviewer notes that you need to be almost sadistic to enjoy the books. The character Orso is described as the nicest character Joe Abercrombie has written, as he always tries his best despite being a spoiled brat.
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The First Law trilogy is unpredictable, compelling and packed with unforgettable characters
The First Law trilogy by Joe Abercrombie is a set of gritty modern fantasy novels set in an epic fantasy world called the Circle of the World. The trilogy is unpredictable, compelling, and packed with unforgettable characters.
The plot of the trilogy is revealed gradually through the eyes of five or six characters, including Logen, a warrior from the North who goes into berserker rages and can speak to spirits; Jezal dan Luthar, a dashing young fighter with bad habits; and Sand dan Glokta, a former dashing young fighter who was tortured during the war in the south. The pacing moves from fast to slow, making the reader question the impact of events in the story and adding to the unpredictability of the ending.
The trilogy is filled with wars, political schemes, conspiracies, and battles of small groups that impact the outcome as a whole. The Union, a central realm in the Circle of the World, is in a state of near-perpetual war, constantly manoeuvred into conflicts by a dysfunctional government. The North is also at war, with the new king of the North, Black Dow, testing the Union border.
The First Law trilogy is compelling due to Abercrombie's evocative and instantly recognisable writing style. His writing is playful and satirical, poking fun at the characters' stupidity and creating a darkly humorous tone. Abercrombie's narration is minimalist, recognising that sometimes words fail us, and this style serves characterisation purposes well. The trilogy is also compelling because of its unpredictability and the sense of dread and mystery that permeates the story.
The characters in the First Law trilogy are unforgettable, with reviewers commenting that they had to put aside their other readings to finish the books as quickly as possible. Abercrombie's characters are vile, nasty, and horrible, and the reader is not allowed to hero-worship them. However, the reader ends up needing to be almost sadistic to enjoy the books as horrible things happen to these vile characters. Abercrombie's character development is such that even the most vile characters become endearing, like Orso, whose optimism in the face of disaster is quite endearing.
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Frequently asked questions
The First Law is a series of gritty modern fantasy novels by British author Joe Abercrombie. The series is set in an epic fantasy world called the Circle of the World, reminiscent of early modern Europe. Magic was once a force in this world, but now seems to be fading, to the point that most people don't believe in it. The Union, a central realm in the Circle of the World, is in a state of near-perpetual war, constantly maneuvered into conflicts by a dysfunctional government.
The First Law trilogy consists of the first three novels in the series: The Blade Itself, Before They Are Hanged, and The Last Argument of Kings. The trilogy is followed by several stand-alone but interconnected novels, including Best Served Cold and the Shattered Sea trilogy.
Abercrombie's writing style is described as evocative and instantly recognizable, and playful. His narration pokes fun at characters' stupidity, and his writing is characterized by minimalism and dark humour. Abercrombie's books are known for their unpredictability, compelling storylines, and unforgettable characters.
This is a matter of personal opinion and preference. However, some readers have suggested that fans of A Song of Ice and Fire will enjoy The First Law series. Abercrombie's writing style differs from George R.R. Martin's in that it is more playful and satirical, with a minimalist approach. The First Law series is also noted for its distinct grittiness and violence, as well as its sense of dread and mystery.
