This is the second book in the First Law Trilogy, a swords and sorcery adventure. It picks up right where the The Blade Itself, the first book, left off with no summary whatsoever of what happened in the first book. All of the main characters from the first book reappear in this book, but now they are all flung to various corners of the globe on separate new adventures. There is more sorcery in this book (although still not much) and more monsters (although still not many). There is lots of gore, although less torture. I love the humor here, definitely my kind of humor in my darker moments. If you're in the mood for a raucous adventure, this is a great book for you. If you're in the mood for resolution of that adventure, this is not at all the book for you. Nothing whatsoever is resolved here. I can only assume everything will be resolved in the third and final book, The Last Argument of Kings. I'd definitely recommend this, but you should probably read the first book first.
Book 2 in the First Law trilogy. "Before They Are Hanged" is reminiscent of "Game of Thrones" and LOTR and Abercrombie is clearly influenced by Tolkien and George R.R. Martin. But it is a really fun fantasy novel in its own right. Like GOT, there is plenty of explicit violence and language so this is not a book for kids.
Terri R. (emeraldmagick) reviewed Before They Are Hanged (First Law, Bk 2) on + 31 more book reviews
Second installment not as good as the first but still loved it:)
Plenty of trickery, battles, and twists abound... a couple unexpected surprises to be sure and some head scratching moments.
We get to know some of the characters better as they slog their way through each of their individual journeys.
Ferro grew on me more, you can see more where she's coming from even though she never lets us in completely. Jezal grows some too from being a spoiled arse... his growing friendship with LOGEN was fun to watch. Still not clear on what purpose Bayaz had in mind for him on this journey though.
Bayaz is keeping more secrets but more is revealed about the past between him and his brothers/sister of the Magi. You can see where things went downhill and how it all got there... left me wondering if things could have been different or if the path was meant to be this way.
Quai we don't really get to know better much and Brother Longfoot is a bit of a fool sometimes, but in a well meaning way.
Something bigger stirs behind the Gurkish/Union war, something that is content with all this destruction... guiding events the way THEY want them to go... knowing who you think it is doesn't solve all the matters either, only more unanswered questions (I will be perfectly happy though without an intimate glimpse into this character's head, thank you very much).
Glotka has a sense of what's going on and I share something of his suspicions but as to what it all is *shrugs* I have a feeling it'll come to light soon.
What more can I say without repeating myself? Haha.. Action intrigue, battle, violence, betrayal, conspiracy... all blended together for one heck of a mixture.
Only big complaint I have is the pacing is the same as the first... not much happening but at the same time there's plenty going on... no rest for anyone in the Union or Gurkish.
I don't mind ,don't get me wrong... it's never a boring novel, the pages fly by and you forget at times how thick the book is since your kept engaged in what's happening.
Bethod is one cunning bastard, I'll give him that, but how much of it is him?
The ending for each of the narratives, had me thinking 'what the hell are they going do to now?' I have a feeling things will be alot worse before they get even slightly better.
Plenty of trickery, battles, and twists abound... a couple unexpected surprises to be sure and some head scratching moments.
We get to know some of the characters better as they slog their way through each of their individual journeys.
Ferro grew on me more, you can see more where she's coming from even though she never lets us in completely. Jezal grows some too from being a spoiled arse... his growing friendship with LOGEN was fun to watch. Still not clear on what purpose Bayaz had in mind for him on this journey though.
Bayaz is keeping more secrets but more is revealed about the past between him and his brothers/sister of the Magi. You can see where things went downhill and how it all got there... left me wondering if things could have been different or if the path was meant to be this way.
Quai we don't really get to know better much and Brother Longfoot is a bit of a fool sometimes, but in a well meaning way.
Something bigger stirs behind the Gurkish/Union war, something that is content with all this destruction... guiding events the way THEY want them to go... knowing who you think it is doesn't solve all the matters either, only more unanswered questions (I will be perfectly happy though without an intimate glimpse into this character's head, thank you very much).
Glotka has a sense of what's going on and I share something of his suspicions but as to what it all is *shrugs* I have a feeling it'll come to light soon.
What more can I say without repeating myself? Haha.. Action intrigue, battle, violence, betrayal, conspiracy... all blended together for one heck of a mixture.
Only big complaint I have is the pacing is the same as the first... not much happening but at the same time there's plenty going on... no rest for anyone in the Union or Gurkish.
I don't mind ,don't get me wrong... it's never a boring novel, the pages fly by and you forget at times how thick the book is since your kept engaged in what's happening.
Bethod is one cunning bastard, I'll give him that, but how much of it is him?
The ending for each of the narratives, had me thinking 'what the hell are they going do to now?' I have a feeling things will be alot worse before they get even slightly better.
This is Book 2 of The First Law Trilogy.
In all, this was not a bad book. Character development is coming along well enough, and all of the separate character arcs are finally starting to converge. Everyone is still mostly unlikable, but Abercrombie continues to tease the reader with glimpses of personal growth and the potential for them to develop more redeeming qualities. But in the end it is only that - a tease. It is on that point that he never seems to fully deliver.
The plot still remains a bit of a mess and the characters are still sucking their teeth, but they are doing it less often in this book and for that I am grateful. Abercrombie does have a gift for moments of witty dialogue, black humor, and irony. However, I can't help but feel that his attempts to write a darker fantasy series that defies stereotypes will also fall short of the mark, and could render this entire journey even more pointless than it already seems to be.
In all, this was not a bad book. Character development is coming along well enough, and all of the separate character arcs are finally starting to converge. Everyone is still mostly unlikable, but Abercrombie continues to tease the reader with glimpses of personal growth and the potential for them to develop more redeeming qualities. But in the end it is only that - a tease. It is on that point that he never seems to fully deliver.
The plot still remains a bit of a mess and the characters are still sucking their teeth, but they are doing it less often in this book and for that I am grateful. Abercrombie does have a gift for moments of witty dialogue, black humor, and irony. However, I can't help but feel that his attempts to write a darker fantasy series that defies stereotypes will also fall short of the mark, and could render this entire journey even more pointless than it already seems to be.
