I recently finished reading Joe Abercrombie's First Law Trilogy, which consists of The Blade Itself, Before They Are Hanged, and Last Argument of Kings. Abercrombie is a young British author and this is his first published work. I give a complete thumbs up and recommend you try it.
It is difficult not to compare this fantasy trilogy to George R. R. Martin's Song of Fire and Ice series. Like Martin, Abercrombie writes "dark" fantasy, for lack of a better term. "Dark" in the sense that the violence, language, and sex are frank and real. "Dark" in the sense that the world is a dangerous place, lines of "good" and "evil" are often blurred, and every character has deep - and more importantly, interesting - flaws in their nature. (This does not mean "dark" in any goth sense, however - the setting is high fantasy.)
Unlike Martin, however, Abercrombie has created a trilogy - one that you can buy complete on the bookshelves today. No waiting months and months for the next volume. Also, Abercrombie has announced that his next two books will be stand-alone stories in the same universe.
Already, I love this guy.
Abercrombie presents what at first glance would appear to be a typical fantasy adventuring band - a high-bred knight in armor (a paladin, if you will), a barbarian warrior, an archer, a wizard, and a ... hmmm ... assassin? cleric? ... a member of the Inquisition, who could be considered both or neither. But never mind the stereotypical pigeonholes - Abercrombie turns these archetypes on their ears and gives each of them tremendous depth.
The title refers to one of the two (so far) revealed rules of magic in this universe. The First Law is not to have direct contact with the "other side" - which is the plane of demons from which magic power springs. The Second Law is not to eat human flesh. Naturally, conflict occurs among the people who would seek to break these laws.
I won't reveal any more of the plot, but suffice to say that there is enough here to satisfy all of your appetites - individual battles, siege combat, magic, intrigue, politics, betrayal, love, death. Moreover, it is presented in a thoroughly readable and entertaining form.
And what more can you ask for?
The title refers to one of the two (so far) revealed rules of magic in this universe. The First Law is not to have direct contact with the "other side" - which is the plane of demons from which magic power springs. The Second Law is not to eat human flesh. Naturally, conflict occurs among the people who would seek to break these laws.
I won't reveal any more of the plot, but suffice to say that there is enough here to satisfy all of your appetites - individual battles, siege combat, magic, intrigue, politics, betrayal, love, death. Moreover, it is presented in a thoroughly readable and entertaining form.
And what more can you ask for?
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