reading list
First Law (3): Last Argument of Kings
Joe Abercrombie
Half of the way through so far and I give it a 9/10
Spoilers from here on out, if you've read the first two books, you'll read this one as well.
I wasn't able to articulate my character criticism of Logan until this point (7th day of the siege scene). His arc is that he's a wretched sadboi. "Woe is me who carries the guilt of all who I have slain" but his inner monologue is so gentle, legitimately remorseful, and level minded. We learn that he used to be the Bathod's champion, around the same time we're introduced to Bathod's current champion who seems unkillable and like 4x more powerful than Logan. His remorse seems apt for a barbaric northman (killing ur rivals/buddies, and just indiscriminate pillaging, etc.), but not proportionate to how much guilt he carries.
This critique dissolves after this battle scene from midway through.
"Who fought who was none of his concern. The living were on one side, and he was on the other"
chills
Once before we saw him go berserk, and once earlier he exercised restraint, but after it's revealed how/why he was Bathod's champion relative to "The Feared," it all makes sense and is jaw dropping. Younglings beware.
Conspiracy arc is great throughout this book as well so far.
The way the narration bounces between West and Glokta in chapter 45 is so good. +0.25 flat points for that alone
Fin - super good grimdark trilogy. Only thing I'd critique is that the minor "villains" of the battle in the 2nd half of this book didn't get much screentime throughout the series.
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| 8/11/23 | Joe Abercrombie | Last Argument of Kings First Law (3) | 674 | 2008 | Fantasy | 9.125 | 9.028 | Jack H. | |
| 8/2/23 | Joe Abercrombie | Before They Are Hanged First Law (2) | 577 | 2007 | Fantasy | 8.167 | 7.963 | grimdark | Jack H. |
| 7/27/23 | Joe Abercrombie | The Blade Itself First Law (1) | 436 | 2006 | Fantasy | 8.000 | 7.778 | grimdark | Jack H. |
| 7/6/25 | Ken Liu | The Veiled Throne Dandelion Dynasty (3) | 1008 | 2021 | Fantasy | 6.900 | 6.556 | grimdark | |
| 8/25/24 | George R.R. Martin | A Dance with Dragons A Song of Ice and Fire (5) | 1056 | 2011 | Fantasy | 7.500 | 7.222 | grimdark | |
| 3/19/24 | George R.R. Martin | A Feast for Crows A Song of Ice and Fire (4) | 753 | 2005 | Fantasy | 8.125 | 7.917 | grimdark | |
| 12/1/23 | George R.R. Martin | A Storm of Swords A Song of Ice and Fire (3) | 973 | 2000 | Fantasy | 9.300 | 9.222 | grimdark | |
| 10/3/23 | George R.R. Martin | A Clash of Kings A Song of Ice and Fire (2) | 768 | 1999 | Fantasy | 6.083 | 5.648 | grimdark | |
| 9/6/23 | George R.R. Martin | A Game of Thrones A Song of Ice and Fire (1) | 694 | 1996 | Fantasy | 9.250 | 9.167 | grimdark | |
| 9/21/16 | Henry Neff | The Maelstrom Tapestry (4) | 480 | 2012 | Fantasy | 8.500 | 8.333 | rage | Charlie J. |
| 5/23/25 | Alan Moore | Watchmen | 334 | 1986 | Graphic Novel | 8.708 | 8.565 | grimdark | |
| 4/7/25 | Pierce Brown | Light Bringer Red Rising Saga (6) | 704 | 2023 | Sci-Fi | 7.750 | 7.500 | grimdark | Thomas |
| 3/27/25 | Pierce Brown | Dark Age Red Rising Saga (5) | 784 | 2019 | Sci-Fi | 7.500 | 7.222 | grimdark | Thomas |
| 3/18/25 | Pierce Brown | Iron Gold Red Rising Saga (4) | 596 | 2018 | Sci-Fi | 6.000 | 5.556 | grimdark | Thomas |
| 3/13/25 | Pierce Brown | Morning Star Red Rising Saga (3) | 518 | 2016 | Sci-Fi | 5.125 | 4.583 | grimdark | Thomas |
| 3/5/25 | Pierce Brown | Golden Son Red Rising Saga (2) | 464 | 2015 | Sci-Fi | 5.875 | 5.417 | grimdark | Thomas |
| 2/28/25 | Pierce Brown | Red Rising Red Rising Saga (1) | 382 | 2014 | Sci-Fi | 5.500 | 5.000 | grimdark | Thomas |
| 12/18/25 | Adrian Tchaikovsky | House of Open Wounds The Tyrant Philosophers (2) | 606 | 2023 | Fantasy | 7.625 | 7.361 | Alex W. | |
| 12/7/25 | Adrian Tchaikovsky | City of Last Chances The Tyrant Philosophers (1) | 500 | 2022 | Fantasy | 7.625 | 7.361 | Alex W. | |
| 7/30/25 | Ken Liu | Speaking Bones Dandelion Dynasty (4) | 1047 | 2022 | Fantasy | 8.000 | 7.778 | ||
| 6/16/25 | Ken Liu | The Wall of Storms Dandelion Dynasty (2) | 880 | 2016 | Fantasy | 7.500 | 7.222 | ||
| 5/31/25 | Ken Liu | Grace of Kings Dandelion Dynasty (1) | 656 | 2015 | Fantasy | 6.250 | 5.833 | ||
| 12/19/24 | J.R.R. Tolkien | The Return of the King Lord of the Rings (3) | 432 | 1955 | Fantasy | 8.000 | 7.778 | Ginny | |
| 12/17/24 | J.R.R. Tolkien | The Two Towers Lord of the Rings (2) | 352 | 1954 | Fantasy | 7.750 | 7.500 | Ginny | |
| 12/14/24 | J.R.R. Tolkien | The Fellowship Of The Ring Lord of the Rings (1) | 432 | 1954 | Fantasy | 7.000 | 6.667 | Ginny | |
| 11/11/24 | Patrick Rothfuss | The Wise Man's Fear The Kingkiller Chronicle (2) | 994 | 2011 | Fantasy | 6.750 | 6.389 | Jeff W. | |
| 10/31/24 | Patrick Rothfuss | The Name of the Wind The Kingkiller Chronicle (1) | 662 | 2007 | Fantasy | 7.625 | 7.361 | Jeff W. | |
| 2/8/24 | Rebecca Yarros | Empyrean The Fourth Wing (1) | 512 | 2023 | Fantasy | 3.833 | 3.148 | ||
| 7/19/23 | Gene Wolfe | The Shadow of the Torturer The Book of the New Sun (1) | 303 | 1980 | Fantasy | 6.125 | 5.694 | ||
| 6/13/23 | Brandon Sanderson | Warbreaker | 669 | 2006 | Fantasy | 5.500 | 5.000 | Charlie J. | |
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| 7/14/16 | Henry Neff | The Second Siege Tapestry (2) | 512 | 2008 | Fantasy | 7.500 | 7.222 | Charlie J. | |
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