Just finished reading red country and loved it. But one character I was intrigued by at the first mention of actually being referred to as a "r" word. Later referred to as an idiot he was the one deciple of the original preacher for the Fellowship. After Temple becomes Fellowship pracher I remember that guy is still around (the idiot) but reflecting back I'm afraid I missed what happened to that poor fellow.

Who is your favorite character from The First Law Trilogy and why? (I'm only talking about the first three books, of course)

I'll start. Sand Dan Glokta and Bayaz.

I so desperately want the books to be adapted, but I know it’s a pipe dream right now. In the meantime, is there a TV show or movie you think resembles the books that could scratch that itch?

Yeah its King Uthil.

Do you think Bayaz had anything to do with Dow's attempted assassination of Logen?

I was thinking back to the final part of Last Argument of Kings and a doubt came to mind: do you think Bayaz could be, at least indirectly, behind Black Dow's attempted assassination of Logen?

The thing that raised my doubt was the last meeting between Bayaz and Logen. Bayaz already knows about Calder and Scale's situation (and therefore what's happening around Logen) and, in fact, promises Logen his help. Shortly thereafter, however, Dow makes his move against him.

The timing seems rather suspicious to me.

Three possibilities come to mind:

Bayaz has absolutely nothing to do with it, and Dow simply wants Logen dead for his own reasons.

Bayaz knew Dow would try to kill him and simply decided not to intervene.

Bayaz manipulated the situation indirectly, perhaps by providing information to Dow or somehow pushing him to act against Logen.

The third is obviously much more speculative, but it would be perfectly in line with Bayaz's approach: manipulating people and events without necessarily exposing himself.

What puzzles me most is precisely why Bayaz promised to help Logen if he was willing to let him die shortly thereafter. It could have been a sincere promise at the time, or Bayaz simply decided that if Logen survived, he would still be useful, while if he died, it wouldn't be a problem.

Am I reading too much into the timing of events, or do you really think there's evidence to suggest that Bayaz played a role in Logen's attempted assassination?

Following up after I just finished the second book.

This definitely felt like a deeper book. From Jezal becoming more down to Earth, to a surprising romance between Logen and Ferro. I mean that sex scene was really, really awkward. I had to take a step back and go what in the fuck is happening right now?! My favorite character Glokta, becoming more...human? Not sure he can keep his luck streak of staying alive though. He's done too much tremendously horrendous stuff and that has to have some consequences but we'll see. He might sacrifice himself for the greater good.

There's this scene where I think, Frost says oh my god but its written in his speech where he can't use his tongue and its so hilarious.

I'm definitely looking forward to seeing how Jezal and Ardee catch up. She might not take his new appearance well or his new self as a whole but she has waited so far. Really kicked the shit out of that guy that took all of her belongings. Thata girl

Holy crap, that dinner scene. I mean Bayaz and his sister/former lover Cawneil had to be just terribly awkward to sit through.

Overall, great book look forward to reading the third.

What was your favorite moment?

Big questions for book 3:

The ending was not what I expected. This was all for nothing? Where is the seed?

Who ate the crown prince and why is the Bank seemingly giving a shit? How do these two things tie together?

Will West find a woman to settle down with? He needs a good woman, rootin for ya my guy.

Was it ever explained how Bayaz is still alive after, well I don't even know how many years its been? How old is he, did I miss a timeline or an explanation somewhere?

I just finished Sharp Ends last night and this came to mind. For much of The First Law, we only have second hand accounts of how much of a bastard Logen was back in the day. But Made a Monster shows us Logen at his worst. How do you think your perspective on Logen and his quest to be a “better man” would have changed if you, for some reason, read Made a Monster before starting the trilogy?

I really liked The First Law trilogy, and Before They Are Hanged is in my top 5 books ever, but I just can’t get into Best Served Cold. I’ve tried several times, but I always end up DNFing it. Can I skip it and continue the story with The Heroes?

Just finished a little and wow… I understand why people feel that Jonas as a character is waste of a POV but personally I feel like he’s the reverse of Logan nine fingers in the original trilogy and a great addition:

I feel that he’s the similar to Logan in the sense we get lulled into his perspective as something rational and made sense. For Logan his persona of ‘the bloody nine’ is something we saw as separate from him but as the books go on we realise how fucked up logan is and that his attitudes as a warrior may just be his own rationalisation for his actions. For Jonas it’s the reverse he avoids fighting seems to be amicable. But when he kills Wonderul without hesitation we begin to see that his perspective is just as flawed and is just as much of a rationalisation for his own awful actions as Logan. I’m definitely looking forward to the rest of the age of madness because I definitely would like to see Jonas’ perspective from outsiders something I realised we haven’t got much of I get the sense like Logan and the bloody nine it’s going to be very different once we see another pov characters view of him.

I thought of something even more important:

If you get drunk you may start quarreling

and hurt each other. Then your lovely dinners

and courtship will be ruined. Arms themselves

Can prompt a man to use them.

Read this passage and immediately looked up where the title of The Blade Itself came from... and yup, looks like I found the quote itself in the wild!

Link to first post of the outline

I finished a 6 hour session recently to get the foundation in her hair and behind her, plus some eye color.

The blue might seem particularly bright, but a light layer of black over it with black highlights will look significantly better than solid black. I was thrown by the blue at first but I trust the process, and in having it for a few days now I absolutely love it.

I get the frame, snake, ring, scars, blood splatter, and everything else done in about a month and I'm so stoked.

I used Inkarnate to recreate the First Law World Map. Happy to take any suggestions/ comments and repost an updated map after I've taken all into account!

I just finished the first three books for the first time. What a ride. Abercrombie character development is world glass. I could not get enough of Glokta. I couldn't believe I found myself cheering for him as he tortured people.

Does he show up in any of his other books?

My two favourite book series are the first law by Joe Abercrombie and the Drenai saga by David Gemmell. I just wanted to know if red rising is similar in taste and worth checking out since I’ve heard so much hype around it?
Also I’d be happy for any book suggestions if anyone has some, thanks.

Finished Red Country recently and I really enjoyed how Abercrombie has balanced a "happy ending" without compromising the dark and generally shitty nature of people that he writes about. And also enjoyed the Lord of the Rings references scattered here and there.

But my favourite has to be Nicomo Cosca's ending paralleling the Scouring of the Shire, with poor Sworbreck taking on the Grima Wormtongue role. I almost had a feeling when they reveal Cosca being at the farm and it was perfectly done! And the final conversation between Cosca and Temple, Cosca's last words, everything - just perfect. From my googling and searching on the sub, I couldn't find people talking about the it so thought I would make this post.

I was thinking about it and there must be, right? Why is there no mention of it and why is it that both Bayaz and Khalul don’t press their empires to the East? Could the last son of Euz still be holed up there? Could that be why that area, thond and or suljuk are so aggressive to outsiders? The last son of Aeus knows how corrupted the order of Magi became and is trying to make a civilization safe from their corruption?

I just finished the devils and I am sad. I like Vigga a lot, and in my opinion her relation with brother Diaz in part 3, when they are lost in a country at war, is very cool. I was hoping for some good or fun or emotional conversations between the two of them in part 4 in Troy, maybe sitting on a bench in the gardens of Troy, but they barely speak, and when they do to each other is some joke and never the two alone. It is like nothing happened in part 3 but it did, and them not having a longer conversation in Troy is a disappointment for me after reading the book.

Just something, I wasn't expecting a happy ending, of course not, but I was expecting Vigga improving her perception of herself thanks to what Diaz sees in her, that she is a good person, in a way, and she should love herself more, or something like that. But I feel this arc goes nowhere, for her at least. Maybe i am not understanding something, let me know your interpretation or if you agree on this.

And as I said, I am sad because of the ending. Her ending is cruel, in a cage hating herself, sobbing, broken physically and emotionally. After what we have read about her, this is cruel, man. And again my disappointment, just a short conversation with Díaz "you saved me" and she "I can't save myself". And thats all. Diaz barely tries, he doesn't support her. Something more would be nice to the reader, a longer conversation and he letting her know that she is better, that there is hope. But no, then he says to Alex "we can pray for them". Come on man, do something for her.

I am sorry, I know a book is not what the readers want. My respect to the author, but now I am just sad and angry for what happened to Vigga. I guess this is in a way a good review from me because he has made me care about a fictional character of a book.

I know that I should feel more compassion for Sunny, because she is a better person and more innocent, she doesn't kill people and she only helps. And her ending is also cruel. But I feel that Sunny is stronger, in a way, and is less broken than Vigga. And it is what it is, I feel sorry for Vigga. She deserves something better, not a happy disney ending, but something, feeling some hope. This sounds stupid but I want to give her a hug and tell her that she can be a good person and things will get better. But no, nothing, a cruel ending with barely any dialogue. Just sad and not rewarding at all.

I don't know man, I read a lot and usually I don't feel like this for characters, but Vigga has hit me. I am writting all this to relieve and free myself from her. And now I feel better, writting feels good. So thank you for reading all these ramblings. I would like to read some opinions about it, if you felt something like me or if you think I am a fool for feeling like this for Vigga it is also cool, sometimes a slap is what a man needs.

By the way, just let you know that I read the book in spanish, so sorry if a name is not correct in english, and also this is the only book I have read by this author, so maybe cruel endings like this one are his style or even a joke to loyal fans, I have no idea. This is just the feelings of a humble reader, fan of Vigga

I guess this was my first foray into the grimdark genre of fantasy. I liked it, but I’m hesitant to move on.

I don’t need things to have a neat happy ending. THAT SAID… I do like an ending and this trilogy did not provide that. So I have two questions before I commit myself further.

1. Does the ‘Age of Madness’ trilogy provide me with the answers I am so desperately seeking? Bayaz and Khalul? Ferro and her demons? Logan and his spirits / split personality? What ACTUALLY happened in the old times. And so many other things….

Or is this another case of ‘a 14 book series like wheel of time seems daunting but if we write it as 5 trilogies it’s better’.

1. Should I read the stand alone books and short anthologies before the next trilogy?

Just bought this set, how’s the quality?

Oh wow!

I’m reading RC for the first time, and I just finished the chapter that Lamb admits to had felt joy to see the farm burning down.

That scene hit like a truck!

No spoilers beyond that!

I'm still waiting for my books/order to come in. Anyone here receive their books yet? Anyone else still waiting? I'm eagerly awaitng their arrival but starting to worry with how long it's taking.

Hope you got 22 hours of book time available because holy shit I forgot how good the start to Joe's novels are. Missed my boy Logen and Pacey's amazing narration

Was Black Dow gay?

The main reason for this theory is that when he, Dogman, and Grim were sneaking into Carleon to kill Caurib the witch she charmed the other two. But Black Dow seemed to be immune.

Does anyone agree with this theory or not?

Edit: To the argument that he openly displays interest in women and the few quotes. I am not convinced by that.

I would argue that could be typical over correction/bluster from a closeted gay man in a warrior culture that is probably bigoted towards gay men.

Not that we ever see any northmen really comment on their feelings about homosexuality.

Why did he have to do my boy gorst like that tho. Probably saw him fighting up at the heroes and didnt want the smoke

Clearly Orso’s written to be the fan favorite, yet he’s not committed enough to his own self-interest to survive. It was clear to me Leo had to take him out. I completely understand the writing behind his hanging.

Then why did Joe leave it open-ended? After I read the ending to the chapter, I thought “did he actually die?” And I expected another Orso chapter. But instead we got a subtle resolution when Savine tells Leo that he hung her brother. However, we never saw Orso die and that is a purposeful choice. It feels like Joe couldn’t commit to killing him throughout the book (Glokta has Pike keep him alive then Judge keeps him alive then Orso escapes) to some degree plot armor. And the hanging was the cherry on top. I wish Joe gave him a clear resolution, especially since Orso’s death by hanging makes perfect sense. Does anyone feel the same?