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The Blade Itself

Book One
By Joe Abercrombie
Series: The First Law
0.0 (0 reviews)
4.22 goodreads logo

Ratings/reviews counts are updated frequently.

Check link for latest rating. ( 298,561 ratings, 20,199 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Blade Itself is a gripping tale set in a gritty fantasy world, where a diverse cast of characters—including a barbarian warrior, a spiteful torturer, and a privileged noble—are drawn together by looming threats and their own personal demons. Thrust into a brutal political landscape, they must navigate intrigue, betrayal, and the clashing forces of magic and steel. As the tension between rival factions builds, each character's past and future collide, testing their loyalties and survival instincts.
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Format: Hardback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might like this book if you enjoy gritty and dark fantasy stories filled with complex characters and intricate plotlines. Its rich world-building and sharp, witty dialogue create an immersive experience for fans of fantasy that challenges conventional heroes and villains.

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The bestselling epic reissued for the first time in hardback with its original striking design

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Delightfully twisted and evil GUARDIAN

Highly recommended ... seek it out Joe Hill

Inquisitor Glokta, a crippled and increasingly bitter relic of the last war, former fencing champion turned torturer extraordinaire, is trapped in a twisted and broken body—not that he allows it to distract him from his daily routine of torturing smugglers.

Nobleman, dashing officer and would-be fencing champion Captain Jezal dan Luthar is living a life of ease by cheating his friends at cards. Vain, shallow, selfish and self-obsessed, the biggest blot on his horizon is having to get out of bed in the morning to train with obsessive and boring old men.

And Logen Ninefingers, an infamous warrior with a bloody past, is about to wake up in a hole in the snow with plans to settle a blood feud with Bethod, the new King of the Northmen, once and for all—ideally by running away from it. But as he's discovering, old habits die really, really hard indeed...

...especially when Bayaz gets involved. A bald old man with a terrible temper and a pathetic assistant, he could be the First of the Magi, he could be a spectacular fraud, but whatever he is, he's about to make the lives of Glokta, Jezal, and Logen a whole lot more difficult...

Series: The First Law

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  • The Blade Itself
    The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie is a gripping and darkly humorous fantasy novel that plunges readers into a world of brutal conflicts and complex characters. Set in the war-torn land of The Union, this tale of cunning politics, intense battles, and vivid personalities weaves an unforgettable narrative that captivates from the first page. Inquisitor Glokta, the tormented and disfigured...
    By Joe Abercrombie
    Paperback
    $2500
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Before They Are Hanged
    A bitter and merciless war is engulfing the frozen North, with the Union army caught unprepared in the path of a bloody onslaught. The army, divided by internal politics and crippled by incompetence, lacks the necessary experience, training, and even basic weaponry to fend off Bethod's minions, let alone his elite forces. In the heat-ravaged South, the situation is equally...
    By Joe Abercrombie
    Paperback
    $2200
    Elsewhere:
    $2499
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Before They Are Hanged
    Inquisitor Glokta, a crippled and increasingly bitter relic of the last war, former fencing champion turned torturer extraordinaire, is trapped in a twisted and broken body—not that he allows it to distract him from his daily routine of torturing smugglers. Nobleman, dashing officer, and would-be fencing champion Captain Jezal dan Luthar is living a life of ease by cheating his...
    By Joe Abercrombie
    Hardback
    $4500
    Elsewhere:
    $4999
    Backorder
    Ships mid August
  • Last Argument Of Kings
    Last Argument of Kings by Joe Abercrombie is a gripping and masterfully woven tale of conflict, ambition, and power. As the epic conclusion to the First Law Trilogy, this novel delves deep into the lives of its complex characters, each facing their own personal battles in a world teetering on the brink of chaos. Logen Ninefingers, known for his ferocity...
    By Joe Abercrombie
    Paperback
    $2200
    Elsewhere:
    $2499
    In Stock
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  • Before They Are Hanged
    'As brilliant as its predecessor' SF REVU Bitter and merciless war is coming to the frozen north. It's bloody and dangerous, and the Union army, split by politics and hamstrung by incompetence, is utterly unprepared for the slaughter that's coming. Lacking experience, training, and in some cases even weapons, the army is scarcely equipped to repel Bethod's scouts, let alone...
    By Joe Abercrombie
    Hardback
    $5400
    Elsewhere:
    $6000
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Last Argument Of Kings
    The end is coming. Logen Ninefingers might only have one more fight in him, but it's going to be a big one. Battle rages across the North, the King of the Northmen still stands firm, and there's only one man who can stop him: his oldest friend and his oldest enemy. It's past time for the Bloody-Nine to come home....
    By Joe Abercrombie
    Hardback
    $4500
    Elsewhere:
    $4999
    Backorder
    Ships mid August
  • The Blade Itself
    Delightfully twisted and evil GUARDIAN Highly recommended ... seek it out Joe Hill Inquisitor Glokta, a crippled and increasingly bitter relic of the last war, former fencing champion turned torturer extraordinaire, is trapped in a twisted and broken body—not that he allows it to distract him from his daily routine of torturing smugglers. Nobleman, dashing officer and would-be fencing champion...
    By Joe Abercrombie
    Hardback
    $6000
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Last Argument Of Kings
    The end is coming. Logen Ninefingers might only have one more fight in him - but it's going to be a big one. Battle rages across the North, the King of the Northmen still stands firm, and there's only one man who can stop him. His oldest friend, and his oldest enemy. It's past time for the Bloody-Nine to come...
    By Joe Abercrombie
    Hardback
    $5400
    Elsewhere:
    $6000
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • The Blade Itself
    Inquisitor Glokta, a crippled and increasingly bitter relic of the last war, former fencing champion turned torturer extraordinaire, is trapped in a twisted and broken body—not that he allows it to distract him from his daily routine of torturing smugglers. Nobleman, dashing officer, and would-be fencing champion Captain Jezal dan Luthar is living a life of ease by cheating his...
    By Joe Abercrombie
    Hardback
    $4999
    Backorder
    Ships mid August

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Joe Abercrombie's debut novel is celebrated for its dark humour, fast-paced action, and vividly drawn characters. The story features a gritty world where cynicism and violence are pervasive, skillfully capturing the human cost of conflict. Inquisitor Glotka is highlighted as a standout character with his sharp wit and cynicism, making for an engaging and exhilarating read.

Book Hero reading reviews

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781399604307

Publisher: Orion Publishing Co

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 14 July 2022

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Gollancz

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 44.0mm

Width: 160.0mm

Height: 236.0mm

Weight: 640g

Pages: 432

Collections

Fantasy Fiction General Fiction Joe Abercrombie Sci-Fi & Fantasy Series: The First Law

About the Author

Joe Abercrombie was born in Lancaster, England, studied psychology at Manchester University, and worked as an editor of documentaries and live music before his first book, The Blade Itself, was published in 2006. Two further instalments of the First Law trilogy, Before They Are Hanged, and Last Argument of Kings, followed, along with three standalone books set in the same world: Best Served Cold, The Heroes and Red Country. He has also written the Shattered Sea trilogy for young adults, the Age of Madness trilogy for old adults, and Sharp Ends, a collection of short stories. He lives in Bath, England, with his wife and three children. 

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  • The Blade Itself
    The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie is a gripping and darkly humorous fantasy novel that plunges readers into a world of brutal conflicts and complex characters. Set in the war-torn land of The Union, this tale of cunning politics, intense battles, and vivid personalities weaves an unforgettable narrative that captivates from the first page. Inquisitor Glokta, the tormented and disfigured...
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