The Blade Itself | 
pick5⭐️ this is a political, dark, epic fantasy, and it was freaking amazing. It was violent and bloody and brutal and sad. I honestly don‘t have the words to express how much I loved it. I will, however, be a little controversial, and say, I think this was so much better than a very well-known popular book, turned into TV show that everybody‘s obsessed with. My opinion only of course. I‘m looking forward to finishing this trilogy.
“Logen plunged through the trees, bare feet slipping and sliding on the wet earth, the slush, the wet pine needles, breath rasping in his chest, blood thumping in his head.” #FirstLineFridays
pickI rarely focus on what a book lacks, but I am so impressed with this medieval high fantasy action book that doesn't have raping in it! I don't read a lot of these types of books b/c authors use so much rape and domestic abuse so I was blown away by this. Don't get me wrong, it is bloody, there is a lot of torture some mild racism and sexism.
Overall I enjoyed this it is fast moving and has a thread of humor throughout.
“Everything frightens me, and it's well that it does. Fear is a good friend to the hunted, it's kept me alive this long. The dead are fearless, and I don't care to join them.”
Going to finish this today. It really is a remarkable book. I see now why the ratings across platforms is so high.
“A friendship between a man and a woman is what you called it when one of them had been persuing the other for a long time and had never gotten anywhere. He had no interest in that arrangement“
One thing that no one mentioned to me about this book, is there is a current of humor running throughout. It is very refreshing.
You have to have fear to have courage
#quotes #thebladeitself
Thoroughly enjoying #grimdark genre, as always. I can't believe it took me this long to get started on this series.
#grimdarkfantasy #darkfantasy #fantasy #fantasybook #reading #reader #books #bookworm #bookstagram #booknerd #booklover #bookish
I am trying to finish my book, but my little weighted lap blanket keeps sighing at me. 😄
#dogsoflitsy
I'm currently reading this one, and it is just fantastic. I hate putting it down to do stuff. Grown-up responsibilities suck.
pickReally enjoyed this one as a new fantasy series. Enjoyed all the characters, world building, and overall feel of the book
So today on the blog I participated in The Nope Book Tag. One of the questions it asked was “name and antagonist that you would hate to run into.” And since I‘m reading The Blade Itself, Glokta was the first person that came to mind. Seriously, I wouldn‘t want to be in his bad side.
I‘ve heard his character evolves a little though so I‘m interested to see that. But what antagonist would you hate to run into?
We‘re finally finished with remodeling so it‘s time to get caught back up on reading. I‘m so excited to spend a cozy weekend at home with books and tea.
I‘m ready to read a chunk in The Blade Itself. I‘ve been enjoying it. I just haven‘t had the time to focus on it. But now that my house is put back together it‘s time to get to it.
#BookCoverChallenge
Day 283.
Here I will note 365 books (or as many as I will have before I get tired) that have shaped my taste in literature. No explanations, no reviews. Just the cover of the book.
I do not challenge anyone. You are all welcome to take part.
I received book one in a new book box series.
The First Law by Joe Abercrombie
I was given number 824/1500.
The big picture is the audiobook & how I was hooked. I love this series!
The book is signed by the author.
I think the stenciled edge of the 3 books might complete the star that‘s on the hardcover.
All the stars!!
1. If they are done well, yes, I love anti-hero books ❤️
2. Tagged and added some pics of a few of my favorite anti-hero books 🥰🩸🔪
#Two4Tuesday #AntiHero @TheSpineView
#BookNerd 🤓💙📚
Thanks for the tag @TheSpineView
1) As long as they're MEANT to be an anti-hero! Sometimes I'm not sure whether characters are supposed to be arseholes!
2) Tagged. I need to re-read this one and finish the trilogy. Glokta is a fabulous character and Joe Abercrombie is from Lancaster where I used to live 💕
so-soMy first grim dark fantasy and having now read this book I truly understand the meaning of this sub genre. The setting is grim, the characters are horrible, the plot is dark. There's no good guy bad guy here, everyone is awful.
I really am not sure how I feel about this book. It is the beginning of a trilogy and I'm definitely interested enough to see where this story goes but as its so heavy on the bleakness I'll think ill space these books out.
pickThis meme is def. my feelings about this book. A lot of moving parts that come together at the end of a book that reads like GoT/LotR fanfic. Abercrombie wears his influences on his sleeves & I'm in no way knocking fanfic, but I think that my initial problem with this book was an issue of wrong expectations. There were a couple of characters that I particularly liked & the fight scenes are really well done, including a spectacular one towards👇
I read this last night & had to use it for today's prompt ☕ Although coffee in its wonderful varieties is without a doubt my #hotbeverage of choice, I do enjoy a London fog from time to time. #WishesAndBlessings @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Eggs
#weekendreads
1. Quite determined to finish tagged this weekend, listening to Shadow‘s Claim by Kresley Cole and reading The Perks of Loving a Wallflower by Erica Ridley.
2. Pumpkin bread
3. The Bakeshop at Pumpkin & Spice - though I only finished the first of this book of novellas. I DNF‘d the other two. This book screams cozy fall goodness.
#weekendreads
1. Tagged, listening to The Last Graduate and just finished The Spanish Love Deception
2. The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
3. Oh yes, several holiday themed books in the que!
#thoughtfulthursday
📖Reading tagged, also 🎧The Last Graduate and ebook The Spanish Love Deception
🍁Taking the dogs to the dog park on a beautiful fall day
📚I really dislike immature characters in adult books.
Who waited until a week before book club to start this 500+ page beast? Guilty…
THE BLADE ITSELF did get better! Hurray! I still don‘t love it the way I loved BEST SERVED COLD, but I‘m interested enough to keep on reading.
Who thrifted an awesome-looking but poorly-insulated Hocus Pocus mug yesterday? Me!
Who waited years to read THE BLADE ITSELF but isn‘t really feeling it? Also me. 😔 I‘m gonna give it a hundred pages instead of fifty, because in theory it‘s totally my thing. Hopefully it clicks for me.
pickStill trying to put my thoughts in order. Not your average fantasy as there is not a huge amount of magic involved. I enjoyed and am definitely interested to see where the stories goes.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
pickMany POV‘s, all of them so interesting. I can‘t wait to see where the journey is going. Really looking forward to the fall buddyread of book two with @DuckOfDoom
pickA masterful first book in the the first law trilogy. Well developed characters that you will find unforgettable. I found the middle to be a bit slow and the story felt stalled, he focuses so much on characters it‘s almost like he forgot to move the story along. But it did pick again and I‘m hooked. Looking forward to book 2..
pickHow could I have gone so long without reading this book? It has everything that I enjoy in a book. Brilliant prose and well crafted characters. Say one thing for Abercrombie, say he knows how to write characters. He's so brilliant in fact that I didn't even notice there was no plot in The Blade Itself. Sand dan Glokta is the reason I couldn't put down this book and I can't rest until I've read the second book. And everything he has ever written.
I've never really been a fantasy person but this book has been given to me as a challenge. Hopefully this'll be fun ✌🏼😅
I started a re-read of this trilogy yesterday. I'ma try and squeak it in on the side before the end of the year.
I really wanna read Abercrombie's new(er) Age of Madness series but it's been so long since I've read any of his stuff that I figure I should just start fresh.
Anyways - so far it's as fantastic as I remember it being. 💯🤘💯
We‘re in the home stretch and to be honest I‘m not sure of what to say about these.
I‘m nervous about World Without End as the other book by Ken Follett I read I didn‘t like but I can‘t quite place my finger on why.
I have heard a lot of good things about Joe Abercrombie just in general.
And I can‘t wait to get back into the world that Philippa Gregory creates whether that be with the Tudors or somewhere else.
#unreadandontheshelf
You have to learn to love the small things in life, like a hot bath. You have to love the small things, when you've nothing else.
Once you've got a task to do, it's better to do it than to live with the fear of it.
so-soThis was good. It took me about a week to get through it, which feels like forever, but probably isn't. It's the first in a trilogy, but I sort of think I might be all set.
Happy 1st December everyone.
I love this time of year. 🎄🎀
pickIt was good. A tad too much fencing but the last 200 pages made it very worth it! On to book two.
pickOne of my favourite fantasy series (though I don't think I've mentioned it on here before). When people are looking for grimdark, this is where I point them ⬆️👍
pickWOW! Can it be any better?! An intriguing cast of characters, a mysterious adventure, and a war looming for the people of Adua. An amazing narration by Steven Pacey added a down to earth and witty dialogues. Loved it! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ #TheFirstLaw
Got my hands on these today. Heard great things about this trilogy.
Have you read these, what did you think? I've not read anything by Joe Abercrombie yet but I love trying new authors. 🤞
pickI had absolutely no expectations going into this one, I found it rather entertaining and as I neared the end I felt so glad that I finally read it, book 2 is already waiting for me, so I guess I am going on another adventure...
pickWell damn... that was some good grimdark. Great characters, story and world. On to the second!
"Just the two of them. Him and the pot. They were the only survivors."
Page 9
"The Blade Itself" by Joe Abercrombie
