This is The First Law trilogy TNG. Out favourite characters from the First law have offspring who are the prime movers in this, the first in a new trilogy. King Jezal's son, Orso, heir to the throne of the Union, is a notorious wastrel, mainly because he's never been allowed responsibility. He's trying to prove himself, with limited success. Arch Lector Glokta, the most feared man in the Union, has a daughter. Savine, a socialite, inventor and celebrated beauty – and also completely ruthless in the pursuit of wealth. The Union is racing headlong into an industrial revolution, with predictable effects for the common people, hence the Breakers and the Burners pitted against the industrialists. And in the north Scale Ironhand and Black Calder are moving to reclaim The Protectorate, now part of the Union and ruled by the Dogman. Stour Nightfall, Black Calder's son and Scale Ironhand's heir rides at the head of the northern armies, while Rikke, the Dogman's fit-prone daughter has the long-eye. Leo dan Brock, son of deceased war hero and Fintree dan Brock, a canny general in her own right, is a prodigious but sometimes reckless warrior. If this all sounds complex, it is. It's one of Abercrombie's multi-character, multi-viewpoint sprawling stories. If you enjoyed First Law, which I did, you'll love this.

When I first moved to England 12 years ago, one of the first books I discovered from what was deemed a new wave of "gritty fantasy" was The Blade Itself. It had a quote on its cover - "Deliciously twisted and evil." It was that and more... I loved the First Law trilogy, the story, the backdrop... but moreso the way Joe Abercrombie provided a unique voice to each of his characters. A joy to read... and here we are diving right back into the story, with a new set of characters but the right place for the old, set some 30 years post the events of The Last Argument of Kings, and it has not missed a beat. I can't recommend these books more, and A Little Hartred is a worthy start for a new adventure in the Great Circle. 5 out of 5

My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

I was a little concerned going into this book as I’d already seen a number of reviews saying that despite it being the first of a new series, you really had to have read Abercrombie’s First Law trilogy in order to fully appreciate this new novel from the self-appointed Lord of Grimdark. Given that I’m a veritable Abercrombie virgin, I was worried that I’d miss out on some hidden plot lines or fail to grasp the mysterious twists and turns that link back to his earlier works. Having now finished the book I think I can say with some authority that even if you’re as new to Abercrombie as I was you can read and enjoy this delightfully refreshing novel.

Set several decades after the events of The First Law, this novel takes place in a world in the grip of the early years of an industrial revolution. Machines are being used to gradually replace the labour of the masses, leaving those masses out of work and embittered. A rebellion is forming, and it is up to the agents of Grand Lector dan Glokta to end the revolution before it begins. Meanwhile, on the border of the Union there’s a war brewing, and the armies of Stour Nightfall threaten to bring down the hard-won Protectorate of the North.

What we have here is a deliciously well-written novel that manages to bring something a little different to the fantasy genre. There are still some pretty blatant elements of the magical and mystical presented within the narrative, most notably in the character of Rikke and her prophetic Long Eye, but then there’s also the treatment of the rise of the machines. Here we get to see both sides of the social divide, with sympathetic characters being drawn from both the privileged noble classes and the downtrodden working classes of the revolution.

The storytelling itself is phenomenal, but it’s in the character development and the growth of the narrative that Abercrombie seems to excel. Even the more repellent characters are presented in a delightfully readable manner, and the gradual unveiling of the manipulations going on behind the scenes leaves the reader with plenty of questions for book two and beyond. By the end of this book I was left with no doubt that there’s a lot more going on than this first chapter has revealed, and look forward to the next instalment with bated breath.

I daresay I might have gotten more out of the narrative if I’d previously read The First Law as other reviewers seem to suggest, but even without that prior knowledge this is still a remarkably strong first instalment and racks up a strong four and a half stars as far as I’m concerned.

Joe Abercrombie took a secured place among the best fantasy writers out there. His writing style and the grimdark themes around his books captured millions of fantasy readers.

This would be a sequel to the first trilogy and a succeeding series to the world of First Law.

The characters are humorous and each story was well-written. I can't say enough with the world-building, because it was astonishing and astounding.

The premise was well-written and well-plotted.

I need more of Abercrombie's writing and books!

A Little Hatred is a new fantasy work from Joe Abercrombie, set in his First Law universe. The First Law sequence is a seminal work within the modern fantasy genre, and one of the central works within the ‘grimdark’ subgenre. We haven’t had a new First Law novel for seven years (though the short story collection was ace), so expectation and anticipation have been high.

So, first question is it actually any good?

Oh my yes.

If you’re just here to see if Abercrombie dropped the ball, rest assured that he has not, that this is a book of fierce prose, framed by superlative worldbuilding and relatable, empathetic, detailed characterisation. Also there’s a fair bit of swearing, and more than a little blood. If you were already a fan, this one isn’t going to change your mind. Go and get a copy right now.

With that out of the way. This is the start of a new trilogy, albeit in the same world as the other First Law books. So, can you read it without having read any of the preceding books? Yes, I think so. Full disclosure, I have read all the preceding books, so I may be a little off, here. But while there are some lovely references, and extra layers of context and flavour to be gained from that larger background, they aren’t required for the story to make sense, nor for it to grip you by the throat until it’s done. You can read this on its own, and it’s still going to be a cracking story.

The world is as detailed as ever, and as vividly realised. Much of the action takes place in Angland, a rather cold, desolate place that has served as a somewhat dour battlefield between the forces of “civilisation”, fronted by the Empire of Adua, and the more rural, Viking-esque North, for several generations now. The peace is uneasy, as ever, and movers and shakers on both sides are ready to kick off and see what they can grab for themselves. The portrayal of a border region, laced through with the scars of old conflicts, is both affecting and effective. Old friends can become foes on the toss of a coin here, and people are struggling.

Part of that is because of progress. Because what cities Angland has, are experiencing a boom in productivity. They aren’t necessarily sharing that boo with all of their citizens, though. The aristocracy is getting very rich indeed, while doing the best it can to ignore the less fortunate now toiling away in mills and forges. Of course, it was ever thus – the world of the First Law isn’t known for being pleasant. But the widespread deprivation, the gradual boiling of social pressure, those are things that the reader can taste on the wind, even as characters wonder how to deal with it, or what might come next. One of the cities of Angland serves as a key location for much of the novel, and in its misery, its poverty, in its low expectations and lower returns, it is heart-piercing. Likewise its robber barons, in its governing class who serve the realm and serve themselves, feel strangely familiar. Even those who are doing as much as they feel they should are, looking down the scale, doing nowhere near enough. The frisson of class warfare simmers behind every interaction, behind every strike broken, behind every cold stare from a servant who knows exactly where the knives are kept.

This isn’t a story about a progressive society bringing peace and enlightenment to the masses. It’s a story of oppression, of rebellion, of revolution. Of the way in which a mob can turn on the hand which feeds it, the way order can be nothing more than institutionalised violence, and the way that disorder ca look surprisingly similar. It’s a story of a society on the cusp of something, trying to work out what, and making some very poor choices.

At the same time that Adua is trying to absorb these changes, and the rise of the noveau riche, there’s conflicts breaking out along the edge of the border with the North. Abercrombie’s always written beautifully crafted fight scenes, and these are no exception, both individually and en-masse. You can taste the adrenaline at the back of your throat, feel the fear the terror, the warm streak of piss running down a leg. It’s muddy, bloody, uncompromising work, which doesn’t flinch from the exhilaration of combat for some, but isn’t afraid to look at its aftereffects, at the price paid, and the ongoing costs. You may thrill to the surge of a cavalry charge, but cringe at the blood, at the screaming and the running, at the ambushes, at the way glory transmutes into a man trapped under a horse, begging for water. This isn’t a story about the glories of war, but about its realities, and about the people who live within it.

They, much like the urban-dwellers further into Angland, make some very poor choices.
I won’t dig too far into the characters, at least in part for spoiler reasons. But I will say this. Each of the cast has such a unique voice, There’s over a handful of viewpoint characters, and they each feel different, each feel like individuals Some of them feel like fairly unpleasant individuals, to be fair. But in their thoughts and feelings, in their reactions, in their internal monologues and external actions, you can see the faces, hearts and minds of real people. Scared people, often. Selfish? Absolutely. But not always. There are moments of hope, of humanity amongst utter madness, of joy and kindness. If the world is a dark place, and much of the time the folk in it aren’t especially nice, still, sometimes they have the capacity to surprise, the spark that draws in a breath at night.

Not all of them, of course. Some of them are right bastards.

But that’s the thing. These aren’t people who are good, and bad, in an absolute way (well, mostly). They’re people pushed to the bring by the systems they inhabit, making the choices they think they have to. No monsters, no saints, just people. On that level, the characterisation is an absolute tour-de-force, as each of our protagonists is relatable, believable, each voice a unique note in the gathering storm.

So, you’ve got a world that lives and breathes, and characters whose fate you’ll care for, whose actions will have heart in mouth, and hands desperately flipping pages to see what happens next.
As to what happens next? As to the story they have to tell? It’s fabulous. A gradual interweaving of threads across multiple strands of narrative, each as sharp and compelling as the others. Tension is built expertly, so that each turn of the page is done on tenterhooks. The story works. It has broader themes it wants to talk about – the futility (or otherwise) of war, the benefits (or otherwise) of progress, the necessity (or otherwise) of governance – and more. It asks big questions, and takes some steps in letting the reader find their own answers. But it’s also a blood-pumping story of revenge and madness and blood and family and truth and chaos.

A Little Hatred is Abercrombie at his best, and it’s a book you ought to go and get a copy of, right now.

First, I want to thank Netgalley and Orion Publishing Group for putting an end to my misery of waiting for this book to come out. I didn't think I was going to last two more weeks, and thankfully, mercifully, I didn't have to. I am honored to be leaving you a review of this outstanding book.

I'm a massive fan of grimdark fantasy. It's the genre I pick up most often, the type of books I look for. Joe Abercrombie's name and grimdark go hand in hand, right? I was late to the Abercrombie train and just finished The First Law Trilogy a little over a year ago. Obviously, I loved them. The thing that makes his books so enjoyable for me has to be the humor liberally sprinkled in there. Right now, I am also reading The Wolf's Call by Anthony Ryan. I don't know why his name doesn't come up more with grimdark fantasy, because damn… he can write the hell out of a dark, adult, bleak, unhappy, violent book. And I love it. But it gets emotionally exhausting after a while. With Abercrombie, I find myself amused as often as I am hanging on the edge of my seat, which helps break up the emotional trauma and, I think, gives you a whole other way to connect to the characters.
I agree with others that think its really important to read at least The First Law Trilogy first. I would highly suggest the audiobook version. Holy moly is Steven Pacey a genius!
Aside from the industrial growth that is happening in this book, there is zero world-building. That groundwork was laid in The First Law. I also think to understand the complexities of this book, the undertones and the meaning behind some of the conflicts, you have to know the whole story. I don't think it would have been nearly the experience it was, had I not known the older generation. Name dropping Ninefingers meant something to me. What if you didn't know who that was? Sad. And the last part of the book would mean very little if you didn't understand the significance of Bayaz.

For me, the most critical ingredient for books is the characters. I have to care about at least one of them, or I will drop that book like a hot potato. Abercrombie's books have incredibly special characters. They are flawed in the most real ways. Their struggles are relatable, ordinary things that we all go through. They make you laugh, make you roll your eyes, make you angry, and make you believe. It really is incredible, and they are the heart and soul of these books.
I found there to be more likable characters this time around. My favorite character from the First Law Series was West because I liked his honesty, his drive, and his awareness of his shortcomings. Of course, I enjoyed Ninefingers and Glokta, too, but West won me over. It was no great surprise that my favorite in this book was the honest, brave, kind, and often stupid Leo dan Brock. I found him to be incredibly endearing. He has a head the size of Texas, but often gets knocked back down to earth by those that know better than him. He could be shithead, but that was part of his charm. He's a ferocious warrior but still has a kind heart. He is just like his father in that regard. I fear that he is going to get eaten alive in high society. In true Abercrombie fashion, his love life felt like a roller coaster. I thought he was headed one way, and then he did a 180 on me. I'm still a little confused and think that deep down, he is too. Knowing Abercrombie, it will rear it's ugly head eventually. Rikke came in a close second on the Favorites List. She was funny, smart, stubborn, and a little crazy. I enjoyed her a lot. Savine and Orso were both about what I expected them to be. Vick was surprising, and I am sure she will have a more significant part to play in the future. And Broad, he killed me every time he carefully took his glasses off. Those little details are what make these books so spectacular. Magic! The big surprise for me was how much I liked Finree this time around. She was a BADASS. She has grown up a lot since we first met her in The Heroes and has really stepped into herself. In the end, the cast was wonderfully complex and varied. I can't imagine anyone picking up this book and not finding at least one character they could relate to.

Man, can he write AMAZING battle scenes. You can feel them, hear them, taste them, smell them. Its a 100% immersive experience. Every time I pick up an Abercrombie novel, I am blown away by his ability to bring battles to life. Exceptional. There is a lot of sex in this one, more than in his past books I thought, so fair warning. I didn't find this to be overly dark or grim. It was actually surprisingly lighthearted, in my opinion. Clearly, there was blood and violence, but in smaller amounts than I've seen before. Exciting? Hell, yes. Terrifying? Absolutely. But it didn't ever feel helpless or depressing to me.

I was completely satisfied with this book. It's the best book I've read this year for sure. I always worry that books like this won't live up to the hype, but this one exceeds it. Y'all are in for a treat! Glad to have you back, Joe Abercrombie. I will be anxiously awaiting the next one.

What a read! Thrilling,entralling! A brilliant story. I could not wait to read the next chapter. This author know how to write fantasy! I loved it.

Really good book full of adventures, action with a good pace. However, it took a long time to get into it with all the characters and lots of things happening.
But, I loved it anyway and will continue with the series.

Thanks a lot to Netgalley and the publisher for this copy in exchange for an honest review.

A LITTLE HATRED

A LITTLE HATRED / AUTHOR: JOE ABERCROMBIE / PUBLISHER: GOLLANCZ / RELEASE DATE: 17TH SEPTEMBER

Joe Abercrombie’s First Law trilogy took the fantasy world by storm and cemented the author as one of the genre’s finest with his unique brand of grimdark fantasy. A Little Hatred returns to that same world, around thirty years after the events of the original series. Progress has been made – coal is heavily mined and utilised, there’s power to be had through industry and trade – but that hasn’t necessarily made the world a better place. Greed, it seems, is universal.

Right from the start, Abercrombie drops us into the centre of trouble that’s brewing and keeps us there throughout. Fans of First Law may find themselves initially hoping to meet old favourites, but the new characters in here are equally as engaging and it doesn’t take long for any of them to earn their place among the ranks of those that have gone before. The story is told with Abercrombie’s usual flair, offering points of view from multiple protagonists, each with their own distinct narrative voice. The author juggles his plot brilliantly; there are some brutal surprises, with the reader often being taken in one direction only to realise they’ve been led astray. It’s never tiring, though, always performed in a way that is believable when one realises the clues were always there, and proves satisfying in every case.

Abercrombie’s readers have been yearning for his return to the world that began his career, and A Little Hatred won’t disappoint. Although it contains moments of wince-inducing violence and eye-opening profanity, there’s a warmth that creates empathy with those who populate the story, ramping the tension to great heights when these characters are in danger. There’s intelligence to the writing and cutting social commentary that Terry Pratchett would be proud of, in a book that shows how misfortune and failing – even success – can bring out the best or worst in people. Although there’s a lot going on, there’s a feeling that what’s happening is merely the start of something world-changing. Written with confident style and providing unfailing entertainment, this is Abercrombie at his gritty best and the opening to a new trilogy that could prove to be a masterpiece of fantasy fiction.

Okay so, I love this book, its ram packed full of adventure and a great story but.... Its blooming hard to get into. There are so many characters and so many names it took me till the end of the first 1/4 of the book to work out who was who and what was happening. Once I was in though I was hooked.
Can't wait for more in the series.

This book is incredible! Have read books by Joe Abercrombie and am a massive fun of his style of writing and this book did not disappoint! The books focuses on two main characters: Savine and Riike and the dangers they get caught up in. A truly interesting and fascinating read.

ARC provided by the publisher—Gollancz—in exchange for an honest review.

Grim, dark, fun, and glorious; A Little Hatred is irrefutably worth the wait.

Let me begin by saying that although this is a new series in the First Law World and you can technically start your journey into this world here, it’s quite mandatory to read at least The First Law trilogy in order to fully appreciate the intricacies of this book; even better if you’ve also read Best Served Cold and The Heroes. Reading A Little Hatred without knowledge of the previous books would be a similar experience to reading Pierce Brown’s Iron Gold without reading his previous three books or reading Robin Hobb’s Tawny Man trilogy without reading Farseer trilogy first. Do yourself a favor and make sure you read The First Law trilogy first before you start A Little Hatred, I even binge reread the entire trilogy to make sure that I can start this book with refreshed information. Make some time for it, not only it’s a brilliant trilogy, but you’ll also be doing a huge disservice to the book and most of all your reading experience if you don’t do it. On to the actual review now.

“Nothing like being wanted, is there? Wanted by someone you want. Always seems like magic, that something can feel so good but cost nothing.”

Red Country was first published on October 2012; it’s been seven years since Abercrombie released a novel within his First Law World series. A Little Hatred is the first book in The Age of Madness trilogy by Joe Abercrombie; chronologically this is the eight—seventh if you exclude Sharp Ends anthology—installment in his First Law World series. Honestly, A Little Hatred and Dark Age by Pierce Brown—which I’ll read after I post this review—are two of my most anticipated books of the year; to say that I’m excited about reading these books are a huge understatement. It gladdens me wholeheartedly to say that A Little Hatred successfully exceeded my high expectations, to say the least.

The story in A Little Hatred takes place roughly 30 years after the end of Last Argument of Kings, that’s 15 years after the end of Red Country. Many years have passed and with it, the world has entered a new age: the industrial revolution, it’s a time of innovations, progress, technologies, and commerce. Despite the arrival of a new age, fans of the series have nothing to be scared of, everything that’s familiar and awesome about First Law World was evidently easy to find in this book. Times have changed, but money, politics, power, and bloody war remained as the central driving themes of the story; told in his trademarked gritty, at times humorous, and dark storytelling style, Abercrombie once again tells a compelling story that shows how good or bad are most of the times decided merely by different perspectives and which side you stand on.

“Believe it or not, we all want what’s best. The root o’ the world’s ills is that no one can agree on what it is.”

Abercrombie is pretty well known for his well-realized and memorable characters, there’s no shortage of them in the series so far: Logen Ninefingers, Sand dan Glokta, Jezal dan Luthar, Bayaz, Collem West, Nicomo Cosca, Caul Shivers, Dogman, Black Dow, The Feared, Bremer dan Gorst, and Monza Murcatto to name a few. In A Little Hatred, we follow the perspectives of a new cast of memorable characters. One way or another, almost all of the perspective characters were related to characters that have appeared before in the series. Familiar faces and names do appear quite a lot; there are so much depth and complexity in the background of the characters and world-building that’s impossible to appreciate if you jump into this immediately. For example, even after three decades have passed in the world, the legend of the Bloody-Nine’s glory still triumphed in the North; many warriors admire his deeds and try their best to follow his footsteps. Also, without entering spoiler territory, for those of you who’ve read the first trilogy, you should know by now who the main despicable villain of this series is. He’s back again, and rest assured he brings havoc, treachery, and maximum manipulations with his arrival.

“Now all a man’s worth is how much work can be squeezed from him. We’re husks to be scraped out and tossed away. We’re cogs in the big machine.”

The new cast of characters was fantastic to read. In A Little Hatred, we mostly follow the perspectives of seven characters: Rikke, Leo, Savine, Orso, Vic, Broad, and Clover. Every single POV was imbued with a distinctive voice that captivated me. I honestly have a hard time deciding which new perspective I loved most within this book. Almost halfway through the book, I became addicted to reading every storyline, and I think I have to settle with saying that I love reading every new perspective equally. Each character’s internal struggles, different motivations, and their characterizations were extremely well-written; seeing how their paths connect with one another was truly delightful.

"She had long ago learned that at least half of everything is presentation. Seem a victim, soon become one. Seem in charge, people fall over themselves to obey."

Superbly written and incredibly vivid battle scenes are one of Abercrombie’s strongest strength as an author, and A Little Hatred doesn’t disappoint. The two big action sequences in A Little Hatred were simply jaw-dropping. Abercrombie used the same storytelling style he implemented previously in one or two chapters in Last Argument of Kings and The Heroes to create a chain of events with a seamless perspective’s transition that portrayed mayhem, destruction, and madness towards every participant in a conflict. The poor tend to pay the biggest price of war, and this was showed magnificently. Say one thing for Abercrombie, say he writes some of the best duel scenes in fantasy. The monstrous rage, the noise of clashing steels, the crushing impacts, and the bloody deathblows delivered; everything about the pulse-pounding duel featured in A Little Hatred reached a super palpable quality that made my reading experience totally engaging and immersive.

“Why folk insisted on singing about great warriors all the time, Rikke couldn’t have said. Why not sing about really good fishermen, or bakers, or roofers, or some other folk who actually left the world a better place, rather than heaping up corpses and setting fire to things? Was that behavior to encourage?”

I can vouch with temerity that Abercrombie has crafted another amazing book; expect great things from him and he shall deliver. Fans of grimdark fantasy and The First Law trilogy will have an utterly terrific time reading this must-read book, I’m sure of it. Abercrombie has created a ground-breaking impact with The First Law trilogy; a lot of modern grimdark fantasy series have been inspired by it. Based on the experience from the reading the first book of this trilogy alone, I don’t think it’s a stretch to claim that The Age of Madness will strengthen that notion. Fueled by furious action sequences, profound passages, compelling narratives, and characters that get under your skin; A Little Hatred is a bloody brilliant and breathtaking book. This absolutely stunning return to Abercrombie’s beloved First Law World once again established himself as the reigning lord of grimdark fantasy. A new age for grimdark is here, and it is called The Age of Madness. Read it.

Official release date: 17th September 2019

You can pre-order the book from: Amazon UK | Amazon US | Book Depository (Free shipping)

The quotes in this review were taken from an ARC and are subject to change upon publication.

You can find this and the rest of my reviews at Novel Notions

Fantasy follow-up and first of a new series - very interesting

Following on from The First Law trilogy, this new series, the Age of Madness, begins with this novel, introducing several main interesting characters such as Savine, an investing capitalist and noble, and Riike, “blessed” with predicting ability. Both women get heavily involved in the struggles and conflicts of a world echoing the Industrial Revolution, the Terror of the French Revolution and Viking invasion. The plot is complicated and full of moral issues to stimulate the reader. Characters are interesting and developed, complex and ever-changing. There’s betrayal, battle, conspiracies, combat and death to spice up the diplomatic wranglings. Certainly enjoyable and provocative and therefore recommended. I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Abercrombie returns with the beginning of a new trilogy. An epic tale filled with love, hatred, wars and rebellion. Joe Abercrombie is a master craftsman and an author that any fan of fantasy or historical fiction should be reading.

Mayhem, murder, treachery, sex. Excellent, another bloody and tricksy tale from Joe Abercrombie. As ever, there is a large cast of characters which he keeps fully distinguishable and which enable there to be many heroes and villains and all shades between and of all sexes. The start of a new trilogy, if this is your first Abercrombie you can thoroughly enjoy it and then go on to read his other novels also set in the world of First Law. Thank you to Gollancz and Netgalley for this free ARC and a lot of fun.

Joe Abercrombie makes a triumphant return to the First Law in A Little Hatred. Its been a long old wait for a new book set in the world which kicked Grimdark fantasy into new heights, and its been well worth the wait.

Id forgotten just how damned good Joe Abercrombie is. The writing is brilliant. Its witty, sharp and clever. The dialogue flows effortlessly. The action is intense and dramatic. The plot races along at one heck of a pace.

There's a brilliant chapter, told from mulitple PoVs, which details an extended battle, and is just a masterclass of writing. Amazing.

Bringing the industrial revolution to a swords and sandals fantasy world is a brilliant idea, and allows him to experiment with a new level of darkness and grittiness. The supporting cast to the new age are just as brilliant as the original cast, and there's a few old faces to bring a smile to his longtime readers.

I loved this so much, cant wait for book 2 next year.

I've ended up reading Joe Abercrombie in a bloody funny order, having so far managed none of the original trilogy which made his name; one stand-alone novel off to one side of it; the short story collection; and now this, set a generation after the First Law books, with what had been a fairly typical mediaeval-ish fantasy-historical world in the early stages of an industrial revolution. Abercrombie being Abercrombie, the emphasis is inevitably on the pollution, child labour and enclosures, the old inequalities giving way to the new but equally unequal ones; I suppose it only makes sense, because looking at the horror of early capitalism is a better way to appreciate the horror of late capitalism than considering the bearable bit which happened in the middle, after checks and balances were created and before they were subverted. Still, it was with this industrialisation of a fantasy world the writer had established in previous books that I twigged how much Abercrombie has in common with Terry Pratchett, a quote from whom opens the second section of A Little Hatred. There's that same suspicion of grand ideals and noble pretensions, that same weary understanding of what's good and bad in people, not to mention plenty of humour. It's just that the tone of the humour is considerably blacker, the understanding of the balance tilted a little more towards the bad, and the happy resolutions harder to come by. All the same, I feel as if Vimes in particular, dropped into the Circle of the World, wouldn't take long to find his feet. Thin shoes, life being more expensive for the poor than the rich, stinking streets – those are all very Abercrombie details. The stink in particular; it's a rare novel which opens on one of the leads having recently shat themselves, and there's an ever-present awareness of discomfort, imperfection and dirt here, applied as much to the elegant, impractical costumes of the rich as the sorry rags of the poor. On this front, there's one effort which seemed particularly bold. Of late, there has been much justified mockery of male authors writing really weirdly about the experience of life in a female body – the 'she breasted, boobily' school of literature. But here, while there are a few sex scenes scattered around, there's rather more on the ordeal of period pains. It seemed broadly to accord with first-hand accounts I've heard, but I'd still be very interested to hear the verdict of a reader with direct experience on how well he's pulled it off.

What stops proceedings from being merely dismal, as ever in Abercrombie's work, is the scabrous verve of his characters. The point of view is shared widely from chapter to chapter, taking in the listless heir to a throne tenuously held; his ruthless and rich, but socially not quite the thing, lover; a woman who may be a seer, or just not right in the head; a revolutionary; a farmer back from the wars, forced from his land and trying to stay out of trouble; and of course the would-be hero, too young to see his time has passed, if it ever existed at all. That last, Leo, has the most mirrors in the other storylines; there are a lot of angry young men who find it difficult listening to the hard-won wisdom of their elders, and doubly so if said elders should happen to be female. Some of them are more forgiveable than others; none of them approach that close to being conventionally likeable, at least at first, and precious few of the other characters do either. But they're all alive enough on the page that it doesn't matter, all as recognisable in their failings as their occasional moments of being impressive. The villain in one strand of the story is the loving (if vexing) father in another, and all of them, however mighty or feared they might be, are painfully aware – if they have any sense at all – that "There's nothing can't be ruined in a moment...It all hangs by a thread, all the time". As much as anything, it's a book about trying to find where the power lies, and how no matter how high you might climb, your available range of action is always far less than you might have thought. Destroying is easy, albeit only attractive to absolute pricks, or in the heat of the moment. Changing things, building them? That's a lot harder, and trying to do so without making things worse along the way is next to impossible. Needless to say, because that's how the genre works, things do get worse along the way. A lot worse. Death, destruction, all that stuff the songs make sound so beautiful and real life always renders so very ugly. But all the while, Abercrombie is working his socks off to keep the reading fun enough to get you through the horror of the contents. Having established that chapter by chapter relay of narration, he goes one further in some of the setpiece chapters, having the perspective switch from major to minor to minor to major character like some absolute show-off director's tracking shot. And it works every time, the bastard. Indeed, there was only one small incident in the whole book on which I wasn't entirely sold (a tattoo, which has been noticed very readily on prior occasions, suddenly goes conveniently unmentioned). The rest of it? Unpleasant, to be sure, but alive, and true. What more than that can one ask of fiction?

(Netgalley ARC)

A Little Hatred exceeded all my expectations and I loved every moment of this perfectly crafted return to the First Law series. The story is set 30 years after the previous books and includes a (mostly) new cast of characters, it's ruthless, funny, exciting and even poignant.
I have literally nothing bad to say about this book, If you're a fan of the series you'll absolutely love it. Even if you're new to Joe Abercrombie's work this book has been written in such a way that you don't need to have read the previous books... although if you have you'll get a a whole ’nother level of enjoyment out of it.
A Little Hated gets my highest recommendation!

This was my first time reading a Abercrombie book and I wasn't disappointed. This is a huge complex fantasy with lots of characters and at the begginning I did struggle with following the story and the only negative for me was the switching POV. I saw someone compare Ambercrombie books to chess boards where several pieces move at once and that is such a great description for this book. The characters are memorable which helps with following the story and even if you haven't read his previous books then I still think you can jump right into this one and enjoy it. There is war, politics and profit im this book and it is an amazing read from start to finish. The characters are shown at their best and worst and you can decide who you want to cheer for. I have to say i did enjoy the book, even though it took me longer to read than other books.

Trigger warning - graphic violence, foul language, war, sex.

Great to have Joe back and it was nice to be back in Adua, I love what he's done with the place.

This was a brilliant start to what's clearly going to be an epic trilogy. I can't wait for the next one.