Review: The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie

Blurb:

The first novel in the First Law Trilogy and debut fantasy novel from New York Times bestseller, Joe Abercrombie.

Logen Ninefingers, infamous barbarian, has finally run out of luck. Caught in one feud too many, he's on the verge of becoming a dead barbarian -- leaving nothing behind him but bad songs, dead friends, and a lot of happy enemies.

Nobleman, dashing officer, and paragon of selfishness, Captain Jezal dan Luthar has nothing more dangerous in mind than fleecing his friends at cards and dreaming of glory in the fencing circle. But war is brewing, and on the battlefields of the frozen North they fight by altogether bloodier rules.

Inquisitor Glokta, cripple turned torturer, would like nothing better than to see Jezal come home in a box. But then Glokta hates everyone: cutting treason out of the Union one confession at a time leaves little room for friendship. His latest trail of corpses may lead him right to the rotten heart of government, if he can stay alive long enough to follow it.

Enter the wizard, Bayaz. A bald old man with a terrible temper and a pathetic assistant, he could be the First of the Magi, he could be a spectacular fraud, but whatever he is, he's about to make the lives of Logen, Jezal, and Glokta a whole lot more difficult.

Murderous conspiracies rise to the surface, old scores are ready to be settled, and the line between hero and villain is sharp enough to draw blood.

Unpredictable, compelling, wickedly funny, and packed with unforgettable characters, The Blade Itself is noir fantasy with a real cutting edge.

Review:

The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie follows the stories of Inquisitor Glokta, a crippled former fencing champion; Logen Ninefingers, a fierce and cunning warrior and Jezal dan Luthar, a arrogant nobleman facing the pressure of becoming the next big fencing champion. Abercrombie introduces his cast of characters and explores how their journeys have intertwined throughout the series.

I have held off on starting this series for the longest time because my expectations were so high, given the high praise this grimdark trilogy receives. Additionally, I was new to the grimdark subgenre and was unsure whether I could handle the characters that I grew to love endure traumatic experiences. However, after reading Isla’s Reach by Francisca Liliana and Soul Cage by L.R. Schulz, I gained a better understanding of what to expect of the grimdark genre and felt ready to dive into the series that revitalised the genre.

There wasn’t much of a plot within this novel, as nothing major or substantial happens, but I believe this was done intentionally. Joe Abercrombieseems to have focused on giving the reader a deep sense of each individual character, their motivations and how they are coping in their current situations.

The character chapters that I loved most were those focused on Glokta and Logen. At first, Glokta’s character is unbearable,  coming across as unsympathetic and psychotic. However, there were subtle elements which made him more human and understandable. As the novel progresses, Glokta’s struggles and hardships that led to his current condition are gradually revealed, making him a deeply compelling character. I found Glokta so fascinating that I would have loved many more chapters centred on him. His inner monologues were particularly amazing to read, offering an insight into his true feelings about various situations and revealing what he really wanted to say.This choice by Joe Abercrombie was brilliant, as it made Glokta more relatable. We all have inner monologues about how we want to respond or how we think situations should play out and it was brilliant to see this aspect of human nature reflected in Glokta’s character.

Now let’s talk about the wild warrior Logen Ninefingers who is introduced right away. At first, you know almost nothing about him, except that he’s a savage man trying to survive. Multiple aspects of Logen’s character are gradually revealed throughout the story, allowing you to better understand him and experience events from his perspective. His alter ego, however, is simply a ruthless fighting machine, which I find intriguing. Yet, despite the fearsome reputation of ‘Ninefingers,’ this side of him is mostly discussed and only briefly showcased in a small fight scene. I’m hoping the rest of the series provides more insight on this unstoppable force. In addition to his fierceness, Joe Abercrombie highlights Logen’s curiosity and sharp mind, especially when he encounters big cities and interacts with nobles for the first time. Watching how Logen navigates these new experiences is fascinating. However what Joe Abercrombie emphasises above all else is his exceptional survival skills and relentless will to keep moving forward.

The character that I was not particularly fond of was Jezal, a nobleman training to become the next fencing champion. While Jezal’s chapters were informative and occasionally entertaining, his arrogance and big headed demeanour in every scene made him difficult to like. This became even more pronounced when he began developing feelings for a female character (I won’t reveal her name to avoid spoilers). Jezal does have some redeeming qualities, particularly in his own determination to prove others wrong, which I appreciated, as it resonated with my own mentality especially when people doubt your abilities or don’t want you to succeed, working even harder to show what you’re capable of. I hope Jezal’s character develops further in the subsequent books and that we see him become more humble or gain a greater appreciation for the common people.

In conclusion, The Blade Itself is a great start to Joe Abercrombie’s First Law Trilogy, offering solid character development and excellent introduction to the First Law world. While I would have preferred more plot development in this book, as it sometimes felt like not much of significance happened, it still serves as a good entry point for those seeking a grimdark fantasy novel. The story effectively showcases the morally grey nature of the characters and the bleakness of the world, making it a compelling read for fans of the genre.