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Available
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Series
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Publication
London : Gollancz, 2008.
Description
Fantasy. Fiction. Thriller. Historical Fiction. HTML:The final novel in the First Law Trilogy by New York Times bestseller Joe Abercrombie. Logen Ninefingers might only have one more fight in him �?? but it's going to be a big one. Battle rages across the North, the king of the Northmen still stands firm, and there's only one man who can stop him. His oldest friend, and his oldest enemy: it's time for the Bloody-Nine to come home. With too many masters and too little time, Superior Glokta is fighting a different kind of war. A secret struggle in which no one is safe, and no one can be trusted. As his days with a sword are far behind him, it's fortunate that he's deadly with his remaining weapons: blackmail, threats, and torture. Jezal dan Luthar has decided that winning glory is too painful an undertaking and turned his back on soldiering for a simple life with the woman he loves. But love can be painful too �?? and glory has a nasty habit of creeping up on a man when he least expects it. The king of the Union lies on his deathbed, the peasants revolt, and the nobles scramble to steal his crown. No one believes that the shadow of war is about to fall across the heart of the Union. Only the First of the Magi can save the world, but there are risks. There is no risk more terrible, than to break the First La… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member DeltaQueen50
Last Argument of Kings by Joe Abercrombie is the final volume of his First Law Trilogy and this was a excellent ending to this adventurous, bloodthirsty, and extremely riveting story. All the various storylines are merged and resolved bringing both moments of immense satisfaction and a few
First and foremost the characters that people these books are some of the most sharply drawn, and uniquely original ones that I have read about. The author digs beneath the surface and gives his characters a balance and purpose behind their deeds. The reader comes to know the evil, twisted Glokta, but also gets to see the inside of the man, what formed him, what causes him to act and why. Far from being repulsed by his dark deeds, we understand and at times even root for him. Every character springs from the page, fully formed, well rounded and complete. From the main character of Logen Ninefingers, to secondary ones like Ardee West, each one complete, original and multi-sided.
The answers as to who lives and who dies, who is the ultimate winner and who is pulling all the strings are revealed in this breathtaking, bloody tale of action and intrigue. Last Argument of Kings is an excellently crafted, deeply plotted conclusion to this epic fantasy trilogy.
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exclamations of surprise. Of course when I say resolved, I don’t mean that everything has been neatly tied up with a pretty bow. This is not the kind of story that ends neatly or even necessarily happily.First and foremost the characters that people these books are some of the most sharply drawn, and uniquely original ones that I have read about. The author digs beneath the surface and gives his characters a balance and purpose behind their deeds. The reader comes to know the evil, twisted Glokta, but also gets to see the inside of the man, what formed him, what causes him to act and why. Far from being repulsed by his dark deeds, we understand and at times even root for him. Every character springs from the page, fully formed, well rounded and complete. From the main character of Logen Ninefingers, to secondary ones like Ardee West, each one complete, original and multi-sided.
The answers as to who lives and who dies, who is the ultimate winner and who is pulling all the strings are revealed in this breathtaking, bloody tale of action and intrigue. Last Argument of Kings is an excellently crafted, deeply plotted conclusion to this epic fantasy trilogy.
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LibraryThing member pstotts
Joe Abercrombie‘s writing improved drastically between his debut novel, “The Blade Itself”, a hard-boiled, profane, dark fantasy-noir, and his follow-up novel, “Before They Are Hanged”. Now arrives the final volume in the First Law trilogy, “Last Argument of Kings”, and the question
The First Law trilogy is a bloody, excessively violent, gritty action-packed adventure, filled with unsavory and disgusting characters doing repulsive things. Considering that two of the main characters are a government-employed torturer who gleefully celebrates his grim work and a mentally unstable and bloodthirsty barbarian who brings death and destruction to friend and foe alike, you know you encountered something far from the rosy side of epic fantasy. “Last Argument of Kings” ratchets the hard-edged brutality up even more, making it the most grim and violent of the trilogy. But it also makes the novel the most emotionally satisfying as my investment in the characters has been raised much higher.
Bayaz, Jezal, Logen and Ferro have returned empty-handed from their quest to find the mysterious artifact, the “Seed”, an object of vast destructive power. The Union still wages a bloody war against Bethod, the King of the North, and things have gone poorly for the Union side. Soon, Logen decides to confront his bloody past, heading back to the North, to reunite with his old comrades and join the Union army in its fight against Bethod. To make matters worse, Glokta discovers that his old nemesis, the Gurkish, plan to invade the Union within days.
So when the King suddenly dies and leaves no living heirs, chaos ensues as a successor is sought out by the nobles. When a surprise candidate ascends to the throne, he discovers he must immediately figure out how to fight a battle against the Northerners and the Gurkish simultaneously.
Abercrombie brings the trilogy to a rousing and very satisfying conclusion, peppering the novel with incredible battles, grim humor, and many unforeseen twists. In the previous novels, Abercrombie’s strength has been in his ability to create amazing characterizations like the absolutely unforgettable Inquisitor Glokta and Logen Ninefingers. In “Last Argument of Kings”, his deft plotting attains a similar sublimeness. Additionally, the characters become even more nuanced and complex, fighting hard against the reader’s expectations of them. It is as though a new light has been shined upon them, making for stunning transformations.
Last Word:
“Last Argument of Kings” is one of the best fantasy series endings ever, and makes the First Law trilogy must reading for all fantasy aficionados. Joe Abercrombie has proven himself to be one of the best young talents today.
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naturally arises, does Abercrombie again improve his writing chops between the two volumes or has he regressed artistically? The answer is emphatic as “Last Argument of Kings” is the best fantasy novel released so far in 2008.The First Law trilogy is a bloody, excessively violent, gritty action-packed adventure, filled with unsavory and disgusting characters doing repulsive things. Considering that two of the main characters are a government-employed torturer who gleefully celebrates his grim work and a mentally unstable and bloodthirsty barbarian who brings death and destruction to friend and foe alike, you know you encountered something far from the rosy side of epic fantasy. “Last Argument of Kings” ratchets the hard-edged brutality up even more, making it the most grim and violent of the trilogy. But it also makes the novel the most emotionally satisfying as my investment in the characters has been raised much higher.
Bayaz, Jezal, Logen and Ferro have returned empty-handed from their quest to find the mysterious artifact, the “Seed”, an object of vast destructive power. The Union still wages a bloody war against Bethod, the King of the North, and things have gone poorly for the Union side. Soon, Logen decides to confront his bloody past, heading back to the North, to reunite with his old comrades and join the Union army in its fight against Bethod. To make matters worse, Glokta discovers that his old nemesis, the Gurkish, plan to invade the Union within days.
So when the King suddenly dies and leaves no living heirs, chaos ensues as a successor is sought out by the nobles. When a surprise candidate ascends to the throne, he discovers he must immediately figure out how to fight a battle against the Northerners and the Gurkish simultaneously.
Abercrombie brings the trilogy to a rousing and very satisfying conclusion, peppering the novel with incredible battles, grim humor, and many unforeseen twists. In the previous novels, Abercrombie’s strength has been in his ability to create amazing characterizations like the absolutely unforgettable Inquisitor Glokta and Logen Ninefingers. In “Last Argument of Kings”, his deft plotting attains a similar sublimeness. Additionally, the characters become even more nuanced and complex, fighting hard against the reader’s expectations of them. It is as though a new light has been shined upon them, making for stunning transformations.
Last Word:
“Last Argument of Kings” is one of the best fantasy series endings ever, and makes the First Law trilogy must reading for all fantasy aficionados. Joe Abercrombie has proven himself to be one of the best young talents today.
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LibraryThing member stefferoo
Very rarely do I find a series (especially in a trilogy) where the later books actually outshine the first. Last Argument of Kings was so good, however, it kept me riveted the whole way through. Finally, everything the author had set up in the first two novels pays off in this one, making up for
Whereas The Blade Itself was strong in the character development, Last Argument of Kings' forte is the action. Even so, the fast-paced adventure and intrigue does not come at the expense of the characters we've come to know and love (or hate) and it's such a great feeling to be able to enjoy a tale of epic battles and magic and still feel connected to characters that breathe and bleed. And boy, do they bleed! Joe A's books are definitely not for the faint-hearted; there are scenes of torture or war that are so violent and bloody that made even me with my strong stomach cringe.
I wasn't sure if I would like the First Law trilogy when I first started these books, but I'm glad now I stuck with it. They just got better and better.
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the first book which I saw more as an "intro" where not much really happened.Whereas The Blade Itself was strong in the character development, Last Argument of Kings' forte is the action. Even so, the fast-paced adventure and intrigue does not come at the expense of the characters we've come to know and love (or hate) and it's such a great feeling to be able to enjoy a tale of epic battles and magic and still feel connected to characters that breathe and bleed. And boy, do they bleed! Joe A's books are definitely not for the faint-hearted; there are scenes of torture or war that are so violent and bloody that made even me with my strong stomach cringe.
I wasn't sure if I would like the First Law trilogy when I first started these books, but I'm glad now I stuck with it. They just got better and better.
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LibraryThing member graspingforthewind
Read more at my blog, Grasping for the Wind.
Have you ever felt that sometimes a hero is just too heroic? As if everything seems to go their way, and that even their obstacles rapidly become beneficial with the wave of a wand or the death of a minor villain? Joe Abercrombie feels your frustration.
Last Argument of Kings concludes the stories of Glokta, Logen, Jezal, Bayaz, Colonel West, Dogman, and others in just the way it should have been. Far from being the hero conquers all tale of most Tolkienesque fantasy, Last Argument of Kings is a satirical look at the cyclical nature of politics, and the pragmatic nature of all true heroes.
The story picks up where Before They are Hanged left off. Jezal, Bayaz and Logen have returned from their quest, much the worse for wear. Logen immediately takes off for the North and Angland, still seeking revenge against he self-styled "King of the North" Bethod. West is already there, and in dire straits trying to keep the army together against the implacable foe as his Lord Marshal gets more and more ill. Dogman is at West's side, but is conflicted about the role of leadership he finds himself in. Jezal returns a hero, even though his mission had failed, and grand political events are sweeping him up, carrying to heights of power he could never have dreamed. And poor, crippled Sand dan Glokta, finds himself between a rock and a hard place, what is called in the Bible "serving two masters" with the attendant results thereof. And of course, the religious and evil fanatic empire of the Gurkish is amassing its forces to send against them all. Bayaz continues to be enigmatic, little help to anyone but Jezal.
Then, of course, all hell breaks loose.
Abercrombie continues to look deeply at characters and his writing style reflects that. Most of the story is written in dialogue, and setting is given a cursory onceover, but only enough to give the reader an idea of the look of a room, or the layout of a city. It is Shakespearean in its sparseness. Readers who dislike lots of dialogue with little description should steer clear. However, if you enjoy a bit of satire about fantasy, as well as the nature of man, this will be for you.
Last Argument of Kings is a satirical novel. In the first two books of the First Law trilogy, readers got a sense of Abercrombie's black humor. It was as if Abercrombie smirks knowingly at the silliness of life. Last Argument of Kings brings that twisted sense of humor out of mere jokes and elevates it into a satire of humanity. Heroes are found in unlikely places, and the greatest of them are those who do what need to be done, no matter how gruesome. Those other characters that were supposed to be heroes, that presented with all the necessary character traits, exuding 100th level charisma, wind up cowards, with only sporadic heroism at best. All of the events, all of the triumphs and failures, end up being part of a never ending cycle, a result of the machinations of a few men of power. Abercrombie's novel has a parallel in the very work of literature from which this blog takes its name. The Book of Ecclesiastes claims that "all of life is but vanity and grasping for the wind". Abercrombie has managed to see the humor in this, and subsequently weave it into a three part fantasy series.
For readers who dislike coarse language, bloody violence, and sex in their novels, this one is most definitely not for you. Abercrombie's book is something like HBO's The Wire in a fantasy setting. It manages to see deep into the depravity of man and laugh at it, but does nothing to hide it.
Last Argument of Kings manages to wrap the story well. Although in places it seems that Abercrombie is feeling forced to wrap some loose ends due to having many plot threads, the majority of the story wraps up tightly and neatly, even if it isn't quite the ending most readers will be looking for. Much like F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby Abercrombie has broken with the tradition of ending his fiction wholly hopeful note. That is unique in the epic fantasy setting in which this story is based. There is hope, yes, but in the grand scheme of things, this novel eloquently points out some of the futility of our striving.
With the few caveats above, I recommend reading this novel. It is unique in the epic fantasy subgenre, and has only a few comparisons within the broader realm of Speculative Fiction, and most of those are short stories. This alone makes it worth reading, though don't expect to come away from Last Argument of Kings on an emotional high. Joe Abercrombie deserves the accolades he has given, and in recognition of a singular achievement in epic fantasy, I think he deserves the all elusive ten out of ten stars. However, in keeping with Abercrombie's own sense of humor and the theme of the novels, he will find that is meaningless, as I never rate any books I review. Hence, those ten out of ten stars are naught but vanity, just another worthless part of the endless cycle of human history.
Have you ever felt that sometimes a hero is just too heroic? As if everything seems to go their way, and that even their obstacles rapidly become beneficial with the wave of a wand or the death of a minor villain? Joe Abercrombie feels your frustration.
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His award-nominated First Law trilogy is a darkly humorous reality check on all epic fantasy. The final volume, Last Argument of Kings, makes clear that the First Law trilogy is a modern, pragmatic tale, not a starry-eyed heroic adventure.Last Argument of Kings concludes the stories of Glokta, Logen, Jezal, Bayaz, Colonel West, Dogman, and others in just the way it should have been. Far from being the hero conquers all tale of most Tolkienesque fantasy, Last Argument of Kings is a satirical look at the cyclical nature of politics, and the pragmatic nature of all true heroes.
The story picks up where Before They are Hanged left off. Jezal, Bayaz and Logen have returned from their quest, much the worse for wear. Logen immediately takes off for the North and Angland, still seeking revenge against he self-styled "King of the North" Bethod. West is already there, and in dire straits trying to keep the army together against the implacable foe as his Lord Marshal gets more and more ill. Dogman is at West's side, but is conflicted about the role of leadership he finds himself in. Jezal returns a hero, even though his mission had failed, and grand political events are sweeping him up, carrying to heights of power he could never have dreamed. And poor, crippled Sand dan Glokta, finds himself between a rock and a hard place, what is called in the Bible "serving two masters" with the attendant results thereof. And of course, the religious and evil fanatic empire of the Gurkish is amassing its forces to send against them all. Bayaz continues to be enigmatic, little help to anyone but Jezal.
Then, of course, all hell breaks loose.
Abercrombie continues to look deeply at characters and his writing style reflects that. Most of the story is written in dialogue, and setting is given a cursory onceover, but only enough to give the reader an idea of the look of a room, or the layout of a city. It is Shakespearean in its sparseness. Readers who dislike lots of dialogue with little description should steer clear. However, if you enjoy a bit of satire about fantasy, as well as the nature of man, this will be for you.
Last Argument of Kings is a satirical novel. In the first two books of the First Law trilogy, readers got a sense of Abercrombie's black humor. It was as if Abercrombie smirks knowingly at the silliness of life. Last Argument of Kings brings that twisted sense of humor out of mere jokes and elevates it into a satire of humanity. Heroes are found in unlikely places, and the greatest of them are those who do what need to be done, no matter how gruesome. Those other characters that were supposed to be heroes, that presented with all the necessary character traits, exuding 100th level charisma, wind up cowards, with only sporadic heroism at best. All of the events, all of the triumphs and failures, end up being part of a never ending cycle, a result of the machinations of a few men of power. Abercrombie's novel has a parallel in the very work of literature from which this blog takes its name. The Book of Ecclesiastes claims that "all of life is but vanity and grasping for the wind". Abercrombie has managed to see the humor in this, and subsequently weave it into a three part fantasy series.
For readers who dislike coarse language, bloody violence, and sex in their novels, this one is most definitely not for you. Abercrombie's book is something like HBO's The Wire in a fantasy setting. It manages to see deep into the depravity of man and laugh at it, but does nothing to hide it.
Last Argument of Kings manages to wrap the story well. Although in places it seems that Abercrombie is feeling forced to wrap some loose ends due to having many plot threads, the majority of the story wraps up tightly and neatly, even if it isn't quite the ending most readers will be looking for. Much like F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby Abercrombie has broken with the tradition of ending his fiction wholly hopeful note. That is unique in the epic fantasy setting in which this story is based. There is hope, yes, but in the grand scheme of things, this novel eloquently points out some of the futility of our striving.
With the few caveats above, I recommend reading this novel. It is unique in the epic fantasy subgenre, and has only a few comparisons within the broader realm of Speculative Fiction, and most of those are short stories. This alone makes it worth reading, though don't expect to come away from Last Argument of Kings on an emotional high. Joe Abercrombie deserves the accolades he has given, and in recognition of a singular achievement in epic fantasy, I think he deserves the all elusive ten out of ten stars. However, in keeping with Abercrombie's own sense of humor and the theme of the novels, he will find that is meaningless, as I never rate any books I review. Hence, those ten out of ten stars are naught but vanity, just another worthless part of the endless cycle of human history.
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LibraryThing member kalky
Great characters and a departure from the usual fantasy formula make this series well worth the read. The first book starts a little slow, but the series picks up pace and the third book is by far the best. I look forward to more books by Abercrombie.
LibraryThing member lpetrazickis
The First Law trilogy (The Blade Itself, Before They are Hanged, Last Argument of Kings) is a very enjoyable one.
They are Abercrombie's first published books and to some extent it shows. To me, they read like a reaction to the Lord of the Rings -- what if, instead of being set in a Manichean
His later books are more his own. I started with his fourth, Best Served Cold, which is funnier and more biting and nearly perfect. He does better in later books with the nuance of writing craft, such as having more female viewpoint characters. Though Ardee, Vitari, and Carlot are fascinating in the First Law triology, the story is not told from their perspective and this perhaps makes the story somewhat shallower than it could be.
Inquisitor Sand dan Glokta is a divinely sardonic protagonist, and it is a pleasure to inhabit his mind.
Some flaws it shares with Lord of the Rings (and, bizzarely, the Song of Ice and Fire). The analogue of the exotic, fallen First Empire is clearly Rome, but historical Rome was by no means the first empire. That honour belongs to Sargon's Akkad and its many non-Roman successors. Omitting analogous other predecessors makes history shallower.
I also wish Abercrombie's world were mundane rather than magical -- the first half of Best Served Cold is almost entirely magic-free, which misled me -- but perhaps there is not yet a market for non-magical fantasy.
They are Abercrombie's first published books and to some extent it shows. To me, they read like a reaction to the Lord of the Rings -- what if, instead of being set in a Manichean
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universe, it were set in an amoral one? What if Gandalf was less Jesus and more Dick Cheney? What if success and failure were unrelated to virtue and vice?His later books are more his own. I started with his fourth, Best Served Cold, which is funnier and more biting and nearly perfect. He does better in later books with the nuance of writing craft, such as having more female viewpoint characters. Though Ardee, Vitari, and Carlot are fascinating in the First Law triology, the story is not told from their perspective and this perhaps makes the story somewhat shallower than it could be.
Inquisitor Sand dan Glokta is a divinely sardonic protagonist, and it is a pleasure to inhabit his mind.
Some flaws it shares with Lord of the Rings (and, bizzarely, the Song of Ice and Fire). The analogue of the exotic, fallen First Empire is clearly Rome, but historical Rome was by no means the first empire. That honour belongs to Sargon's Akkad and its many non-Roman successors. Omitting analogous other predecessors makes history shallower.
I also wish Abercrombie's world were mundane rather than magical -- the first half of Best Served Cold is almost entirely magic-free, which misled me -- but perhaps there is not yet a market for non-magical fantasy.
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LibraryThing member furriebarry
The slow build up and shuffling of pieces from the first two books pay off in this final installment of The First Law Trilogy. Cliches are deftly avoided, tension is nurtured and I was kept guessing all the way to the end. The only concerns I have are with regards to pacing and a lack of subtlety.
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Joe has shown that he is at the front of the march to break down the boundaries around the genre and lead on to pastures new. Show Less
LibraryThing member irunsjh
This was a fitting end to an excellent series. I loved how Joe Abercrombie was able to roll up most if not all of the lose ends, while maintaining a very interesting world. I can not wait to return to Adua to see what other havoc comes of the place. The characters where very well written, and I
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loved to see where they would go next. A very good series which i would recommend to anyone interested in reading. Show Less
LibraryThing member woodge
This is the last of a trilogy and I enjoyed it but not to the gushing degree I've found on Amazon. Nevertheless, the characters don't exactly take a fairy-tale story arc. Instead, their arcs seem more realistic. That was interesting to see. Also, there were a couple of characters you just knew were
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headed to the grave but their route to the hereafter seemed anti-climactic. I suppose my biggest gripe would be that none of the characters really merit rooting for -- or actually, just don't overcome a certain flaw in their character. But without a doubt, the most interesting character was the crippled torturer Glokta. He's heinously twisted, ruthless, miserable, smart, and perhaps a softie at heart. And, for a fantasy epic, this trilogy curiously did NOT come with a map (but then again, it wasn't really necessary either). Show Less
LibraryThing member cherrymischievous
The author's "voice" feel and read smooth. The world building and character development is masterful. The character development is so good that they feel like old friends at this point. And then the ending broke my heart! It is "not really" a “happily-ever-after” (HEA). Those characters that
Final Say: Joe Abercrombie has a very compelling author's voice, I just wish he'd improve on his writing style and endings.
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the author is so good at creating? Some of them did not have a HEA. But on the other side of the coin, maybe I got so heartbroken because the author is so good at weaving the story that I felt it deeply. Gotta give the author a lot of kudos for that! It gives you pause to wonder though if some of the “good guys” might not really be good and some of the “bad guys” might not really be bad. The whole trilogy is just a long sad tale where I couldn't find much of a meaning to the heros' struggles. Is it even a fight of good versus evil? So at the end of it, what were all their struggles for? All their trials? All their hardships? For what? The answers to those questions were not very satisfying to me as a reader. I also find the writing style using multiple threads to be slow going, annoying and feels discordant to read. So despite the masterful author’s “voice”, I don’t think I would be buying anymore work by this author.Final Say: Joe Abercrombie has a very compelling author's voice, I just wish he'd improve on his writing style and endings.
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LibraryThing member Tyllwin
In this third, and tightest, book of The First Law things come back together for a high-stakes conclusion. And, in my opinion, an excellent ending, that others could take a lesson from. Without spoilers, I'll say only that I think it's rare to find an ending that seems to stem so naturally from the
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events and personalities that have gone before it. Show Less
LibraryThing member Fledgist
Conclusion of a fantasy trilogy. War, kingship, murder. But this is no Tolkien clone and nothing is smooth or simple. A king gets the throne, and the beautiful queen, but nothing is quite as it seems. In many ways.
LibraryThing member majkia
"Still alive!" and "You have to be realistic about these things" will echo in my memory forever thanks (or perhaps not) to Joe Abercrombie and his unforgettable character Logen Ninefingers.
This is the last book of his trilogy The First Law and continues on with excellent if dark and sometimes
Obviously not for everyone, but if you like gritty, uncompromising and entertaining, then this is your series.
This is the last book of his trilogy The First Law and continues on with excellent if dark and sometimes
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shocking writing. But even in the midst of the full horrors of war, his dark humor has me laughing out loud. That feels very real to me and reminds me of my own time in the military. It is very much the sort of humor men and women who deal with horrible things use to ease their own horror and pain.Obviously not for everyone, but if you like gritty, uncompromising and entertaining, then this is your series.
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LibraryThing member crazybatcow
I really shouldn't like Glokta as much as I do. Really. And, I have to admit that from the very start of this book, I wanted him and Ardee to get together... even while knowing the whole thing is completely inappropriate, but still...
This is a nasty little book... nasty nasty... and a fantastic
Lots of blood and death and gore and a lot of time spent inside Glokta's head (which I quite liked)... and most of the characters did not come away with a "happy ending" even if the over-arching story did... sorta...
I thoroughly enjoyed this series (even with its length) and particularly liked how "right" and "wrong" were sort of up in the air a lot of the time... the author didn't try to tell us what the moral should be, or if there are even supposed to be any morals. And if you don't like that, you can suck on your sour toothless gums.
This is a nasty little book... nasty nasty... and a fantastic
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wrap up of the trilogy. Everyone is neatly squared away at the end (yeah, okay, not so neatly in some cases, but anyway.) Some horrible twists, some intriguing plot turns...Lots of blood and death and gore and a lot of time spent inside Glokta's head (which I quite liked)... and most of the characters did not come away with a "happy ending" even if the over-arching story did... sorta...
I thoroughly enjoyed this series (even with its length) and particularly liked how "right" and "wrong" were sort of up in the air a lot of the time... the author didn't try to tell us what the moral should be, or if there are even supposed to be any morals. And if you don't like that, you can suck on your sour toothless gums.
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LibraryThing member autieri
Last Argument of Kings completes the First Law trilogy. The writing is excellent and the action is great. Characters grow and change. Then you get to the final quarter of the book and it lets you down. If you've read all the other books, you have to read this book. You will like it. But the end?
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Really? I felt like the ending was a long winded explanation of everything that happened in the series along with some housekeeping. I knocked off a star for that. Otherwise, I it was a good read. Show Less
LibraryThing member JeremyPreacher
I was stunned by how brilliantly Abercrombie turned his characters on their heads. Not the plot - he foreshadowed those twists pretty well, and none of them came as a huge surprise. But each of the characters is given new depth that made me entirely rethink my sympathy - or lack thereof. Really a
That said, I HATED the ending. I don't think it was poorly done or anything - quite the contrary. But good god, it's nihilistic to the point of absurdity. I will give the guy one pass - ONE - because it's a remarkable series, but if this is his prevailing outlook on life there's no way I can read any more of his books.
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stunning conclusion.That said, I HATED the ending. I don't think it was poorly done or anything - quite the contrary. But good god, it's nihilistic to the point of absurdity. I will give the guy one pass - ONE - because it's a remarkable series, but if this is his prevailing outlook on life there's no way I can read any more of his books.
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LibraryThing member amf0001
So, you have to be practical (as Logan would say) but I couldn't... I had to stay up to 3 am to finish this book. This was a great end to an exciting series and lifted the work to a whole new level. Exciting and entertaining, but also thought provoking and interesting. I never loved Glotka, in that
I look forward to reading more of Abercrombie's works. :)
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he kept asking himself why does he do the terrible things he does, and he couldn't give himself (or me) a satisfactory answer. But I did become far more interested in Jezal than I thought I would and Bayez was a whole other ball of wax! Definitely worth reading for seeing how it turns out around him.I look forward to reading more of Abercrombie's works. :)
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LibraryThing member suzemo
I'm going to repeat a bit of what I said about the previous book: I wish I had read all three books back to back.
This is a case where I feel like it's not three books, just one long story divided into three books. In fact, in this book, there's at least one character that you haven't seen since the
So yeah, if you want to read this book, go read it immediately after the second, which you should have read immediately after the first.
I do love this series. It's so dark, so gritty. There are no truly happy endings anywhere, and shit just goes down and feels more real than in happy-fantasy-epics where everything ends up OK, the hero gets the girl, and unicorns fart rainbows and crap gold and everyone is happy. Not so much here, and I appreciate it.
It gives us decent endings for all of our main characters - some of them more open-ended than others (Ferro, Logen). I really liked seeing how the main characters in the Union ended up (like Luthar, Glokta, and West).
The whole series was about interconnected power plays, and it was nice to see how the whole thing had been orchestrated by a small number. It was also great how some characters were just played by others.
I'll even admit to laughing out loud to some of the fun twists in the series. I think an overly optimistic and positive person might not like the series - it does get down and dirty (not just literally, either), but someone who appreciates the darker, more cynical side of life should love it.
This is a case where I feel like it's not three books, just one long story divided into three books. In fact, in this book, there's at least one character that you haven't seen since the
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first book, and you either need to have a phenomenal memory (I had to dig in my brain to remember) or have just read the book not long ago to have it fresh in your head.So yeah, if you want to read this book, go read it immediately after the second, which you should have read immediately after the first.
I do love this series. It's so dark, so gritty. There are no truly happy endings anywhere, and shit just goes down and feels more real than in happy-fantasy-epics where everything ends up OK, the hero gets the girl, and unicorns fart rainbows and crap gold and everyone is happy. Not so much here, and I appreciate it.
It gives us decent endings for all of our main characters - some of them more open-ended than others (Ferro, Logen). I really liked seeing how the main characters in the Union ended up (like Luthar, Glokta, and West).
The whole series was about interconnected power plays, and it was nice to see how the whole thing had been orchestrated by a small number. It was also great how some characters were just played by others.
I'll even admit to laughing out loud to some of the fun twists in the series. I think an overly optimistic and positive person might not like the series - it does get down and dirty (not just literally, either), but someone who appreciates the darker, more cynical side of life should love it.
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LibraryThing member sereq_ieh_dashret
The internal dialogue of a couple of characters contains more instances of the word "bastard" than I have read in my whole life. Bloody, cynical and disturbing. Some of the "nicest" (as in well-written) torture scenes ever (and I have read most historical novels about Vlat Tepes). Not recommended
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to the weak and sensitive. Show Less
LibraryThing member ispeaknerd
Highly enjoyable. Interestingly complicates common fantasy tropes. No deep art here, just fun entertainment. Very satisfying end to the trilogy.
LibraryThing member mattries37315
The climatic last third of Joe Abercrombie's Last Argument of Kings, is a fantastic sequence that the reader cannot help but read in one sitting. After the first two book's of The First Law trilogy this confluence of events is exactly what the series deserved in it's final volume, however leading
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up to this literally climatic battle there was a congestion of happenings to begin the book that while not frustrating just took too long to get through that made the volume feel longer than it was. Abercrombie's characters lost none of their originality or well-roundedness throughout the book, however in a few instances they seemed to accept things or do things that seem literally out-of-character. Like that previous two volumes, Abercrombie seemed to telegraph basic fantasy tropes then paid them off in surprising and unexpected ways though as stated before some of them happened at the beginning of the book and felt longer to get through then seemed necessary once you finished the book. The ending of Last Argument of Kings is without a doubt a very thought provoking one, especially in the character of Bayaz who is the embodiment of the saying "history is written by the victors." Though I was a tad disappointed with the pace of the first 375 or so pages, the last 260 pages through are what makes The First Law Trilogy great and so if you've read the first two books, The Blade Itself and Before They Are Hanged, then you have to read this book to see how all the story arcs play out. Show Less
LibraryThing member JohnnyPanic13
The Last Argument of Kings by Joe Abercrombie
The Third and final book in the First Law Trilogy.
Say one thing about Joe Abercrombie, say he tells a good story, and tells it well.
I should really just end it there, and leave it with that. That says it all really.
But when did I ever know how to stop
This trilogy is going on my shelf. The "Series that I love" shelf. It's joining Game
of Thrones, The Malazan Series, The Bas-Lag series, The Sandman graphic Novels, and
select others. This was an amazing trilogy. It's a damn fine book in a damn fine series. And I'd recommend it highly. Of course, if you're reading a review on
the third book, you know that already. So lets talk about other things.
I read these books out of order. Not the trilogy, I had was alert enough to realize
that the first book in the First Law Trilogy came before 2 and 3. But I didn't
realize that the First Law Trilogy comes before everything else.
So I read 'Best Served Cold' first. Through books 2 and 3 I was enjoying the fact
that I had read them out of order. I even advised others to read them out of order.
At least 'Best Served Cold'. And there were definitely fun moments, knowing the
events and characters out of order like that. But my mind changed with this book.
And now I'm back to agreeing with convention. They are probably best read in order.
I think the reverse introduction could still be fun. I'm thinking of Shivers in
particular (yup, spoilers). Knowing what happens to him, and who he becomes, in 'Best
Served Cold', it was fun to see his back story unfold and have all thos little pieces
fit together in reverse. But at the end of it all, I think the experience of having Shivers walk back into the story would have been better. And honestly, I'll get the best of both worlds, I've got at least 2 more Joe Abercrombie books to go..
The Third and final book in the First Law Trilogy.
Say one thing about Joe Abercrombie, say he tells a good story, and tells it well.
I should really just end it there, and leave it with that. That says it all really.
But when did I ever know how to stop
Show More
when enough had been said already?This trilogy is going on my shelf. The "Series that I love" shelf. It's joining Game
of Thrones, The Malazan Series, The Bas-Lag series, The Sandman graphic Novels, and
select others. This was an amazing trilogy. It's a damn fine book in a damn fine series. And I'd recommend it highly. Of course, if you're reading a review on
the third book, you know that already. So lets talk about other things.
I read these books out of order. Not the trilogy, I had was alert enough to realize
that the first book in the First Law Trilogy came before 2 and 3. But I didn't
realize that the First Law Trilogy comes before everything else.
So I read 'Best Served Cold' first. Through books 2 and 3 I was enjoying the fact
that I had read them out of order. I even advised others to read them out of order.
At least 'Best Served Cold'. And there were definitely fun moments, knowing the
events and characters out of order like that. But my mind changed with this book.
And now I'm back to agreeing with convention. They are probably best read in order.
I think the reverse introduction could still be fun. I'm thinking of Shivers in
particular (yup, spoilers). Knowing what happens to him, and who he becomes, in 'Best
Served Cold', it was fun to see his back story unfold and have all thos little pieces
fit together in reverse. But at the end of it all, I think the experience of having Shivers walk back into the story would have been better. And honestly, I'll get the best of both worlds, I've got at least 2 more Joe Abercrombie books to go..
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LibraryThing member marti.booker
I actually hated this one. I skimmed the last 2/3 of it. If your point is that everything is pointless, aren't you being hypocritical?
LibraryThing member debbie.menzel
Loved this series - very black humour, great character studies, believable battle sequences and some political intrigue to boot. This book was a tad bit disappointing as it didn't really come to any resolution, but the ending was clever as it basically ended exactly the same way it started. A good
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read - check it out. Show Less
LibraryThing member edgeworth
I didn’t overly enjoy the first two volumes of Abercrombie’s First Law trilogy, but finished it off because I like to finish what I start and because I already had access to all three books. Last Argument of Kings is probably the strongest of the series, because it actually has a sense of
Abercrombie is merely competent as both a writer and a storyteller – not bad, but not particularly good either. The thing which generally annoyed me most about this series (apart from the fact that Abercrombie badly needs an editor, but that’s par for the course with fantasy) is how irritatingly self-aware it is. Abercrombie said he set out to “turn the fantasy genre on its head.” He does so by having a Northern barbarian, a dashing young warrior, a wildling, a wizard and his apprentice go on a quest for a magic stone. Now, granted, you can argue that he merely set this up in such a cliche manner so that he could then upend it and present what he thinks is his unique twist: that the world is a horrible place, bad things happen to good people, and happy endings are for fairytales. This still means you’re wading through more than 1,500 pages of fantasy that is, on the surface, mostly stock standard.
In the previous book, Before They Are Hanged, the “grimdark” angle largely annoyed me in the dialogue and narration. The same little bits of wisdom and supposedly sage observations about the reality of the world come up over and over again. I was especially surprised that Logen and his Northmen didn’t fucking drown in their own world-weary stoicism. This is all still here in Last Argument of Kings, but it works its way into the plot itself. The novel runs about 100 pages beyond where another fantasy author might end the story, turning what appears to be a fairly standard happy ending into something a little more grim.
And I had no problem with that at all. The “grimdark” notion has been roundly criticised in many quarters, but although I ultimately disliked these books, that wasn’t the reason why. Firstly, Abercrombie maintains a sense of humour throughout, preventing the books from dropping into sheer horror and misery. Secondly, and more importantly, it’s a perfectly valid take on the genre. The last hundred pages are the best in the book and the series – certainly better than the infinite number of battle scenes and Glokta’s inner narrative that preceded them.
The problem is that this isn’t nearly as original as Abercrombie thinks it is. He winks at the reader far too often. Take this, for example:
“I’m trying to get through this damn book again.” Ardee slapped at a heavy volume lying open, face down, on a chair.
“The fall of the Master Masker,” muttered Glokta. “That rubbish? All magic and valour, no? I couldn’t get through the first one.”
“I sympathise. I’m onto the third and it doesn’t get any easier. Too many damn wizards. I get them mixed up with one another. It’s all battles and endless bloody journeys, here to there and back again. If I so much as glimpse another map I swear I’ll kill myself.”
Fifteen pages later:
The sun glinted on raised sword and lance, on shield and full armour. Banners streamed and snapped in the wind. It was quite the display of martial grandeur. A scene from a lurid storybook with a muscular hero in which meaningless words like honour and righteousness were often repeated.
The book is scattered with these self-referential moments which go far beyond being tiresome and begin to actively hurt the tone of the novel. (That second segment also gives you a taste for Abercrombie’s adjective addiction.) It’s too clever for its own good, and not really clever at all – as I pointed out in my last review, George R.R. Martin had already been writing grim, realistic fantasy for ten years at this point, and I doubt he was the first. You can no longer write a “grimdark” story and stand on that alone. Neither Abercrombie’s story nor his writing is strong enough to compensate for this.
The First Law trilogy is perfectly competent fantasy, and if you’re a regular reader of the genre you will probably enjoy it. If, like me, you’re seeking out the best the genre has to offer, then give it a miss.
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importance and urgency, and brings the plot to a close. But this is hardly high praise.Abercrombie is merely competent as both a writer and a storyteller – not bad, but not particularly good either. The thing which generally annoyed me most about this series (apart from the fact that Abercrombie badly needs an editor, but that’s par for the course with fantasy) is how irritatingly self-aware it is. Abercrombie said he set out to “turn the fantasy genre on its head.” He does so by having a Northern barbarian, a dashing young warrior, a wildling, a wizard and his apprentice go on a quest for a magic stone. Now, granted, you can argue that he merely set this up in such a cliche manner so that he could then upend it and present what he thinks is his unique twist: that the world is a horrible place, bad things happen to good people, and happy endings are for fairytales. This still means you’re wading through more than 1,500 pages of fantasy that is, on the surface, mostly stock standard.
In the previous book, Before They Are Hanged, the “grimdark” angle largely annoyed me in the dialogue and narration. The same little bits of wisdom and supposedly sage observations about the reality of the world come up over and over again. I was especially surprised that Logen and his Northmen didn’t fucking drown in their own world-weary stoicism. This is all still here in Last Argument of Kings, but it works its way into the plot itself. The novel runs about 100 pages beyond where another fantasy author might end the story, turning what appears to be a fairly standard happy ending into something a little more grim.
And I had no problem with that at all. The “grimdark” notion has been roundly criticised in many quarters, but although I ultimately disliked these books, that wasn’t the reason why. Firstly, Abercrombie maintains a sense of humour throughout, preventing the books from dropping into sheer horror and misery. Secondly, and more importantly, it’s a perfectly valid take on the genre. The last hundred pages are the best in the book and the series – certainly better than the infinite number of battle scenes and Glokta’s inner narrative that preceded them.
The problem is that this isn’t nearly as original as Abercrombie thinks it is. He winks at the reader far too often. Take this, for example:
“I’m trying to get through this damn book again.” Ardee slapped at a heavy volume lying open, face down, on a chair.
“The fall of the Master Masker,” muttered Glokta. “That rubbish? All magic and valour, no? I couldn’t get through the first one.”
“I sympathise. I’m onto the third and it doesn’t get any easier. Too many damn wizards. I get them mixed up with one another. It’s all battles and endless bloody journeys, here to there and back again. If I so much as glimpse another map I swear I’ll kill myself.”
Fifteen pages later:
The sun glinted on raised sword and lance, on shield and full armour. Banners streamed and snapped in the wind. It was quite the display of martial grandeur. A scene from a lurid storybook with a muscular hero in which meaningless words like honour and righteousness were often repeated.
The book is scattered with these self-referential moments which go far beyond being tiresome and begin to actively hurt the tone of the novel. (That second segment also gives you a taste for Abercrombie’s adjective addiction.) It’s too clever for its own good, and not really clever at all – as I pointed out in my last review, George R.R. Martin had already been writing grim, realistic fantasy for ten years at this point, and I doubt he was the first. You can no longer write a “grimdark” story and stand on that alone. Neither Abercrombie’s story nor his writing is strong enough to compensate for this.
The First Law trilogy is perfectly competent fantasy, and if you’re a regular reader of the genre you will probably enjoy it. If, like me, you’re seeking out the best the genre has to offer, then give it a miss.
Show Less
Awards
SF Site Reader's Choice (2008)
David Gemmell Legend Award (Shortlist — 2008)
Language
Original publication date
2008-03-20
Physical description
787 p.; 25 inches
ISBN
0575077891 / 9780575077898