I finally got to this and absolutely loved it. I’m a big Abercrombie fan and this did not disappoint. Complex characters, humour and intrigue. What’s not to enjoy?

Its Joe Abercrombie, so you know what you are going to get. Realistic characters doing brutal things, but mostly (with some obvious exceptions!) for the right reasons.
A nice addition to the canon.

I actually really fell out of love with grimdark fantasy in general. Abercrombie's clever and a good writer... but really stuck in the mud of the worst of humanity. I DNFed this -- just couldn't work up the interest.

| Rating |

4.5 Stars

| TL;DR |

Sharp Ends is an anthology of thirteen stories set in the world of The First Law. With brilliantly dark humour, action packed battles, and frequent blood-lettings throughout, this is a collection which delights in introducing new faces amongst familiar friends and enemies, and is nothing short of a thrill ride from beginning to end.

| Review |

Introducing characters old and new, Sharp Ends is a chronological set of short stories that mark events both significant and insignificant, told and untold, from the world of The First Law.

Exciting and darkly humorous throughout, this collection displays Abercrombie’s wit, clever writing style and skilful characterisation as he forges links throughout the Circle of the World. And whilst knowledge of the other novels is not essential, overall enjoyment is likely to be increased by an understanding of the overarching events, backstories and familiar names and faces that comprise much of this anthology.

With a theme of two new central characters running throughout this collection, in Small Kindnesses, Skipping Town, Two’s Company, Three’s a Crowd and Tough Times All Over, Shev and Javre prove a brilliant and engaging comedic duo who are thoroughly deserved of a series of their own. And with other favourites including A Beautiful Bastard and Made a Monster, which bring us face to face with familiar and long loved characters, this is an anthology which truly does have a story for all fans.

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A Beautiful Bastard [ Kadir, Spring 566 ] - 5 Stars

A Beautiful Bastard takes us to a time before The First Law, when Sand dan Glokta was a swaggering cavalier whose skill was only outweighed by his ego. Told from the perspective of a blubbering and gushing Salem Rews, or Superior Pike as we now know him, this is a brilliant tale of Glokta’s magnificence before his destruction at the hands of the Gurkish. A thoroughly enjoyable and amusing tale, this short story is made all the more brilliant by the knowledge of Glokta’s and Rews’ futures and also features a cameo by Corporal Tunny.

Made a Monster [ Carleon, Summer 570 ] - 5 Stars

Logen Ninefingers returns to Sharp Ends in Made a Monster; a wonderfully brutal tale which showcases his bloody, brutal violence and features almost none of his redeeming qualities. Told from the perspective of Bethod, with more than a few glimpses of Scale, Calder, The Dogman and Curnden Craw, we see the Bloody Nine in all his fearsome glory from the side of those who dread the edge of his sword. A brilliantly bloody tale, Made a Monster provides a glimpse of Bethod’s determination to right his terrible wrong in creating the Bloody Nine.

Small Kindnesses [ Westport, Autumn 573 ] - 4 Stars

Small Kindnesses introduces us to Shevedieh, the best thief in Westport, as her life on the straight and narrow is brought to an abrupt end when a large, red-headed woman washes up on her doorstep. Accompanied by Severard – yes, that’s Practical Severard of Inquisition fame – her life is turned upside down by a job gone wrong, with her small act of kindness ending up her saving grace. This introduction to our recurring characters, Shev and Javre the Lioness of Hoskopp, is a funny, bloody and somewhat grim beginning that paves the way for a strange and wonderful relationship.

The Fool Jobs [ East of the Crinna, Autumn 574 ] - 4 Stars

The Fool Jobs tells the tale of Curden Craw and his dozen as they accept a contract to retrieve a mysterious item of value – a thing, let’s say – from the village of Fox Clan prior to the events of The Heroes. With nostalgic cameos from Wonderful, Whirrun of Bligh, Jolly Yon Cumber, Brack-i-Dayn and Scorry Tiptoe, The Fool Jobs is a funny snatch and grab tale that’s equal parts messy, bloody and hilarious.

Skipping Town [ The Near Country, Summer 575 ] - 4.5 Stars

In Skipping Town we return to Shev and Javre as they complete a job for Tumnor at The Weeping Slaver. Only there’s something not quite right, the job is more than likely a double cross and it’s high time they skip town. This action-packed and blood thirsty addition is brilliantly brutal and develops the powerful. warrior-like character of Javre as she is pursued by a mysterious and dangerous order from which she has fled.

Hell [ Dagoska, Spring 576 ] - 3.5 Stars

Hell tells the tale of the Siege of Dagoska from the perspective of Temple, who later features in Red Country alongside Shy South. A brutal, fiery and chaotic tale, Hell captures the dangerous atmosphere of a city under siege and the terrifying arrival of the Eaters.

Two’s Company [ Somewhere in the North, Summer 576 ] - 5 Stars

Two’s Company rejoins Shev and Javre as they meet Whirrun of Bligh on a flimsy bridge over a remote canyon. In a humorous and brutal bout between warriors, the Lioness of Hoskopp and Cracknut Whirrun find themselves treading over familiar, sword swinging ground as they are pursued by both Bethod and the Fifteen. Two’s Company is a funny, engaging and brilliantly bloody tale that could easily hold its own outside of this anthology.

Wrong Place, Wrong Time [ Styria, 580 ] - 4 Stars

Wrong Place, Wrong Time tells the tale of three somewhat innocent bystanders who find themselves swept up in the wholesale destruction wrought by Monzcarro Murcatto as she enacts her revenge in Best Served Cold. From the Banking House of Valint and Balk, to Cardotti’s House of Leisure and the battlefields of Ospria, no one walks away untouched by The Snake of Talins’ vengeance. Wrong Place, Wrong Time is an exciting and bloodthirsty tale that showcases three brilliant alternative perspectives in the ensuing torrent of chaos, flames and blood.

Some Desperado [ The Near Country, Summer 584 ] - 4 Stars
Some Desperado tells the tale of Shy South before the events of Red Country. As she flees from three bounty hunters armed with nothing but a bag of gold and the clothes on her back, she must use all her cunning to fight, trick and escape her pursuers before she ends up hanging from the gallows. Some Desperado is an action packed, gritty tale which is a wonderful return to a familiar favourite.

Yesterday Near a Village Called Barden [ Near Barden, Autumn 584 ] - 4.5 Stars

In Yesterday Near a Village Called Barden, Pale-as-Snow is preparing an ambush against a troop of Union soldiers accompanied by Bremer dan Gorst in his position as Royal Observer – a position he’s been forced into after the disaster at Cardotti’s House of Leisure (which appears in Wrong Place, Wrong Time). Written during the events of The Heroes, this story is an action-packed and bloody skirmish told from numerous perspectives and proves that there’s nowhere safe when the swords start swinging.

Three’s a Crowd [ Talins, Autumn 587 ] - 5 Stars

Shev and Javre return in Three’s a Crowd after Shev’s lover, Carcolf, is abducted by Horald the Finger as a consequence of the events in Small Kindnesses. In a story laden with familiar faces – Vitari, Lieutenant Forest, Corporal Tunny and Lance Corporal Yolk to name but a few – Shev and Javre must embark on a rescue mission which unveils some uncomfortable truths for the Lioness of Hoskopp.

Freedom! [ Averstock, Summer 590 ] - 3.5 Stars

Freedom is an extract from Nicomo Cosca’s biography written by Spillion Sworbreck as he accompanies the Company of the Gracious Hand during the events of Red Country. A exaggerated, farcical and glorified narrative ensues which paints Cosca in hilariously flowery and heroic language as his company sack (nay, save!) the hillside town of Averstock. Freedom is a ridiculously funny tale which reads as though Cosca had written it himself.

Tough Times All Over [ Sipani, Sping 592 ] - 5 Stars

Tough Times All Over tells the tale of a mysterious package, which could well be the thing from The Fool Jobs, as it changes hands across the city of Sipani. The narrative is exciting and well written with the POV changing character each time the package is picked up, handed over or pilfered in its journey across the city. Joined by faces both old and new, Tough Times All Over is a fitting end to a brilliant anthology.

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Darkly humorous with brilliant characterisation throughout, Sharp Ends is a wonderfully witty, nostalgic and exciting look at the stories between stories, alternative perspectives and unrecorded events that make up the Circle of the World.

I highly recommend reading this collection whilst already immersed in the universe of The First Law as each story weaves subtle links and ties through almost every other Abercrombie novel and discovering new connections heightened my enjoyment throughout. Consequently, this literary device may be lost on new readers or those who haven’t returned to Abercrombie’s writing in some time.

I really like Joe Abercrombie´s first law universe, and can´t wait for his new trilogy set back in this world. Sharp Ends was a nice small dosage needed to keep us at bay whilst we wait for the main dish to come our way. Can’t wait.

The world over is super excited by this upcoming release of Joe Abercrombie's latest, Sharp Ends - a return by the master of modern grimdark to the world of the First Law, featuring a motley collection of short stories about some of the best-loved and also lesser-known fringe characters from his earlier books. I was over the moon to have snagged a copy of an ARC and finished this off yesterday night, reveling in that besmirched, blood-spattered, double-crossing world, in his trademark writing that smacks of gallows-humor drenched in black about hopeless situations and also touching upon the futility of violence and war beautifully conveyed in that unflinching unapologetic prose of his.

I make no bones about how big a fan I am of Mr. Lord Grimdark! My love and belief stands vindicated by this triumphant return to form - after a brief outing into the world of YA ( and of course, basking in the warm glow of accelerated success) in the Shattered Sea series, I liked the fact that he's back to adult fiction. Without the cordon of having to write for a younger audience ( I really don't think that bothered him while writing the previous series ! but he seems to have shaken off whatever reserves he may have had!) Joe goes the full distance in these stories. Though, short in format, all of them pack quite a meaty punch in its delivery and style and the conveying of that deliciously ironic feeling at the end of each story was a reward in itself.

Abercrombie's characters all follow a pattern here - In spite of being dead tired and exhausted by the hand dealt out by life, not even one of them is giving into the depravity and insanity that defines the world around them. There is always a sliver of good hope and a genuine fire in them to go beyond this muck that threatens to overwhelm them. But sometimes, reality wins out. We are only too craven to take that first step out. These characters are just like you and me. Not super heroes. Not heroes for sure. This forms a wonderful bond with readers like me - and his ability to spin out axioms of life about all those situations that smack of death and disaster still remains uncanny.

But reading similar stories again and again - filled with darkness, black humor and non-stop gritty action - can be exhausting. I had to frequently stop, pull myself out and read something light before I got back to this gore-spattered, treacherous world of First Law.

And of course, there is Logen Bloody Ninefingers at the last. Made a Monster is a poignant story - from the point of view of King Bethod, a man who wanted peace in the North. I will leave you guys to experience Logen once again.

Though I must warn you that, here, all that glitters is never gold. Men are only men. and succumb to the decadence and evil that is the mark of life in these times. The wry observations of life laced with bitter humor are again the gold nuggets you will mine from these stories. Classic Joe Abercrombie, dished out in smaller quantities, that nevertheless sock you right in the guts, Sharp Ends is a winning collection of stories from the world we have all grown to love and loathe at the same time.

Joe Abercrombie is one of the world's best fantasy authors and this volume of short stories, lives up to the high standards we have come to expect. All your favourite characters are here, giving extra depth and missing sides to those you thought you knew and introducing a few new people, you'll look forward to meeting again in the future. Bravo.