The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie

 

"The world changes, Glokta, the world changes. The old order crumbles. Loyalty, duty, pride, honour. Notions that have fallen far from fashion. What has replaced them?" He glanced over his shoulder for a moment, and his lip curled. "Greed..." 

This book was a collection of fascinating characters. There's Logan the Bloody Nine, a barbarian warrior who has lost everything. Bayez, First of the Magi, wise and powerful. There's Jezal, spoiled rich boy who's in love with Ardee, a woman who hides her feelings behind alcohol and cruelty. There's Glokta the torturer and Ferro the escaped slave, and Ferro's rescuer Yulwei who may or may not also be magi. 

With characters such as these you'd think the plot would be outrageous, and in a way, it is...As far as I could tell, there is no plot. Bayez calls upon Logan for help but doesn't explain with what and Logan never asks. Yulwei saves Ferro in return for a favor, but we aren't told what the favor is. Jezal and Ardee's relationship is secret and probably ill-fated, pushed far enough into the background that we know the romance is not the point. Glokta? We can't possibly know his motivations because at the end of the day, even he doesn't know. 

We do know there is a war coming. Long ago the Union seized a location called Angland for a prison, but now the North wants their land back. It hardly matters because it sounds like none of our characters will be going. 

This is a character introduction that never ends. I know trilogies are allowed a little leeway when it comes to rising action, climax, and falling action, but this is a stretch. The characters are about to embark on an epic journey, and no one knows why or what for, including the reader. Add to the list of things JA forgets to explain are his fantastical elements. Shankers, Eaters, Carls... We are supposed to know what they are without it having been explained which takes away from the overall effect of his world building. 

If you're looking for a book where just the characters matter, you'll love this, I just prefer my stories to be a bit plottier. This book was just okay and I don't know if I really want to read the second installment.