The Blade Itself
The First Law, Book #1
By Joe Abercrombie
ISBN# 9780575079793
Author’s Website: http://www.joeabercrombie.com/
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Heidi
I’m not even sure how to describe the plot of this book, I’m highly tempted to use the blurb from the book, but that’s just not my way (sounding a bit like Brother Longfoot there).
Logen Ninefingers (his name after losing a finger in battle) is a barbarian that nearly dies in the beginning of the book, so close that his friends he’s been treading this earth with actually think he *is* dead, leaving him to have to scrape to survive on his own. Alone until the apprentice of The First of the Magi appears. Malacus Quai was sent by his master to fetch Ninefingers, but becomes ill on his quest, leaving his fate in Logen’s hands.
Inquisitor Glotka was a strapping and promising young soldier and fencer in his prime, until he becomes a prisoner of war and is tortured. Now he is a cripple, who’s every move causes him pain, and his appearance horrifies anybody who sees him. Now the Arch Lector has a new position for him, one that puts him in a position to go after some very high ranking people and to get their confessions, even if they aren’t guilty at all.
Captain Jezal dan Luthar is believed to be the next great fencing champion and is undergoing a brutal training regime to assure it, if only his heart was in it. But with the right motivation and help from unlikely sources, he just may achieve his goal. But what happens when he falls in love with the sister of his friend? A commoner that he could never marry …
All these characters (and several others) paths all collide in this adventurous tale! As it all comes to a head, it will test the mettle of all involved and make them choose sides or in some cases be forced unto sides they never expected to be on.
I went into this book with an open mind. I found it took a long time to even get a grasp of what was going on as the book slowly introduced us to all the characters, and what was going on in each of their lives. It wasn’t clear what each had to do with the other, but as the story neared its end, it all started to take shape and we could see the pieces starting to fit together.
I found myself liking some of the characters … Logen, Bayaz, West, and even the arrogant Jezal. I did want to see how things played out for each of them, but this story wasn’t all that interesting to me and at times I found myself forcing myself to keep going just to finish the book so I could move on to something else. I don’t think the book was bad, but obviously just wasn’t my cup of tea. Based on the other reviews I’m seeing, I think this is just one of those books you love or hate and there just isn’t much room in between.
