Before They Are Hanged: The First Law: Book Two: 2

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Jezal dan Luthar, a self-centred, immature nobleman and swordsman training reluctantly for the greatest tournament in the nation. Plot: With the heavy lifting of getting the characters (some of them) together done in book 1, Abercrombie tightens the narrative. The three main storylines are woven together seamlessly. Each chapter, be it West in the North Glokta in Dagoska, or Bayaz and co adventuring together, is irresistible. The Bayaz plot is just fun to read for the character interactions and the fight scenes, Gloktas storyline works because of the mystery involved and the constant tension of the city falling to the Gurkish, and the Angland scenes provide the large scale battles and introspective looks into dogman and West. Joe Abercrombie is one of the best character writers I’ve ever read. Yes, I’ve read books where there may be one character whom I’ve enjoyed, but never have I read a book series where I’ve genuinely been fascinated to be reading each person’s story and their personality arcs and what they’re going to do next. Before They Are Hanged final rating – 4.5/5

The book has elements of surprise, and its only when you reach the end the that thing do not quite turn out as you expected. The stones here speak to me, and I know their mute language. Also, they seem deeply to feel what I think. So a broken column of the old Roman times, an old tower of Lombardy, a weather-beaten Gothic piece of a pillar understands me well. But I am a ruin myself, wandering among ruins.”

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In this second book, Jezal goes from being a scared, naive young warrior who thinks winning a sword content in his hometown is enough to grow an understanding of what it really means to try and survive in the wild with the likes of Ninefingers and Collem West.

Mauthis, a representative of the banking clan Valint and Balk. A remarkably cold individual, he causes numerous problems for Glokta when he presents him with the demands of his mysterious masters. So, here's me gushing about the things Before they are Hanged excels in. Which is to say, everything. Harker curled his lip. ‘If you say so, Superior, but they can’t be trusted, and that’s a fact. They don’t think like us.’I am Korsten dan Vurms.’ The Lord Governor’s son spoke his own name as though it was a magic spell, offered his hand to Glokta as though it was a priceless gift. He was blond-haired and handsome, spread out carelessly in his chair, a well-tanned glow of health about him, as lithe and athletic as his father was ancient and wizened. I despise him already. During the battle of Ospiria he saves Monza's life after she leads a charge into the valley against the Talins' army led by Prince Foscar. After the Talins' defeat, Shivers, having gone off the deep end in terms of morality, kills Prince Foscar rather brutally when Monza hesitates; about to show him mercy to the younger man and solidifies his conscious decision to throw away his previous held beliefs. When Monza asks him why he did it, he tells her that it's what she wanted. During these events, he eventually secures a metal eye to replace his lost one and begins to wear it throughout the rest of the book. The Age of Madness takes place 15 years after the end of Red Country. The Union has begun to see rapid changes with the onset of an industrial revolution.

Nicomo Cosca, a notoriously treacherous, but charismatic and generally good-tempered mercenary who turns up repeatedly under different employers. The North is referred to as such not only by The Union (for whom it really is to the north) but also by those who live there, who refer to themselves as Northmen. Beware: The audiobook for Blade Itself does not include the entire book and is missing the last 3 chapters. Audible has removed, I'm assuming to fix the issue. If you have not read the first book I would wait until they fix the audiobook before starting this one.People in those old times had convictions; we moderns only have opinions. And it needs more than a mere opinion to erect a Gothic cathedral.” I think once again, Before They Are Hangedstruggles a little with not having the most exciting plot. In fact, I would go as far as to say that if you disliked the first book because of its average plot and you weren’t into the characters, then you can stop reading this review here as the second doesn’t get any better. Fearlessness is a fool's boast, to my mind. The only men with no fear in them are dead, or the soon to be dead, maybe. Fear teaches you caution, and respect for your enemy, and to avoid sharp edges used in anger. All good things in their place, believe me. Fear can bring you out alive, and that's the very best anyone can hope for from any fight. Every man who's worth a damn feels fear. It's the use you make of it that counts.” Logen Joe Abercrombie's "The First Law" trilogy is really growing on me (I have not read the 3rd book yet).