The First Law Trilogy by Joe Abercrombie (4.2 Stars)

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 Captain Jezal dan Luthar, dashing officer, and paragon of selfishness, 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.

Premise: How compelling or unique is the overview of the story?
----- 7: The story takes a long time to develop. Much of the first book leaves you wondering what major problem is within the world. At face value, the story seems very standard. There’s a powerful wizard and his apprentice, a fierce northman, a snobby nobleman, and a crippled torturer. However, the magic of the story starts as the author turns these fantasy tropes into something more.

Plot: How well does the action of the story fulfill or even expand the potential of the premise?
----- 7: The action of the story is satisfactory, but not anything spectacular. It helps move the story along, but it doesn’t keep you at the edge of your seat. There are some exciting moments that stand out, but they are the exception to the rule.

Characters: Overall feelings towards the characters. Are they memorable? Exciting? Human? Do we even like them?
----- 10: The characters were the most impressive part of the story. Their depth and differences make them fascinating, likable, and loathsome- all in their own ways. They each have their own unique voice. No character is completely righteous or evil. They are spread out across a spectrum of gray, rather than black and white. I’d give this 11/10 if I could.

Pacing: How strong is the momentum of the story? Is it hard to put the book down?
----- 9: The first book starts out slowly, but the momentum stays strong once begun. The books were easy to pick up and hard to put down.

Prose: Does the author have strong writing skills? Is the text easy and enjoyable to read and not jarring or distracting?
----- 9: The author writes the story masterfully. The text is easy to read and never distracting or unnecessary.

Depth: Do elements of the story combine to form an immersive setting? Is it easy to visualize and well thought out?
----- 8: The story has many layers that reveal more underneath at critical times. It’s easy to switch viewpoints as each of the characters offers significant steps to the development of the story. The world is well thought out, but maybe not on the scale of Sanderson.

Epic-ness: Are cool things happening? Are story elements used to creating plot action that is exciting and satisfying?
----- 9: Epic things happen all the time. From duels to the death to denizens of the underworld, there is a lot to keep you coming back for more. The resolution of the trilogy isn’t as satisfying as possible, but it leaves the story open for so much more to come.

Total: 59/70: This story is driven by some of the best characters and prose I’ve read in a long time. Needless to say, I’ll love forward to the continuation of this story as more books come along.

Content warning: Significant language and minor sexual content. Firmly PG-13