Best Served Cold (World of the First Law)

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You were a hero round these parts. That's what they call you when you kill so many people the word murderer falls short.” Then the book may have lasted too long, my eyes kept glazing over and I kept promising myself it would get better. Regardless, you’re the best thing going in fantasy right now, I feel, and I’ll certainly read Red Country the second it is available for my eyes to devour.

No more than a supporting role. A comic turn in a great tragedy, but one appreciated by the audience, I hope.’

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Abercrombie has written the finest epic fantasy trilogy in recent memory. He’s one writer that no one should miss. (Junot Diaz) As do we all,’ she muttered. A half-finished set of statues stood along the roofline. Duke Orso giving alms to the poor. Duke Orso gifting knowledge to the ignorant. Duke Orso shielding the weak from harm.

THE HEROES: Over three bloody days of battle, the fate of the North will be decided. But with both sides riddled by intrigues, follies, feuds and petty jealousies, it is unlikely to be the noblest hearts, or even the strongest arms that prevail. Three men. One battle. No Heroes. I think with a book like best served cold, and its treatment on the revenge tale, it was always going to have a polarizing effect on people. I would agree Monza wasn’t easy to like, but you could identify with her. It The sword & sorcery trilogy that began with The Blade Itself and Before They Are Hanged comes to a violent, sardonic, and brilliant conclusion. (Publishers Weekly on Last Argument of Kings) We deserve to be remembered. We could have our own city. You could be the noble Duchess Monzcarro of . . . wherever—’I haven’t read the First Law books yet (I’ve just bought the first one; I’ve been worried that I won’t like them as much because of the male leads and the less politics), so maybe I had an advantage in that I wasn’t judging it against anything but my own tastes. BTW, on both Goodreads and Audible (which is where I bought it from), I’ve given it 5 stars. I’m really surprised to read that “Best Served Cold” fares weakly by comparison – I’ve not read “Heroes” yet, but I definitely think this book by itself was stronger and tighter than than anything proceeding in the First Law trilogy. She recruits help for this mission. Shivers (from Joe's previous First Law trilogy) is the first of the recruits. He's arrived in Styria to start life over after leaving The North, to be a better person and leave a life of killing behind him. He's the closest person to "likable" in the book, and his transformation and character development is outstanding, tragic and scary. Friendly is her second recruit. A former prison convict, a sociopathic, number obsessed man that is tasked by one of Monzas previous acquaintances who owes her, to assist her in her revenge. Third is Morveer, a professional poisoner and narcissist, and his assistant Day, a child like/looking young woman that's obsessed with food, and every bit as accomplished in the art of poison as Morveer. Fourth is Shilo Vitari, also from the First Law trilogy. Finally there is Nicomo Cosca, the previous Captain General of the Thousand Swords (again, from the First Law trilogy). Cosca was Monza's mentor and the man that initially hired her (when she was barely more than a child) to be a common soldier in the Thousand Swords. All of these characters are as extremely interesting, entertaining, sympathetic, vile, perplexing, brutal, realistic, funny and varied as any that Joe has ever written. They have different motivations that change over time, some are loyal and some are not. Nothing is what it seems, and this has one of the best endings I've read in Abercrombies books. It also sets up certain characters perfectly for Joe's next standalone book "The Heroes", and even the one after that "Red Country". a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q "Joe Abercrombie Awards". Science Fiction Awards Database. Locus Science Fiction Foundation . Retrieved 19 February 2022.

The dialogues and interactions between characters were insanely delightful and fun to read. Also, once again, Abercrombie exhibited his skill in delivering intricate and immersive action sequences effectively. Abercrombie’s prose never fails to pull me inside the chaos and conflicts; everything always felt so vivid when I’m reading his books. Rest assured that wars, duels, gore, and many other thrilling battle sequences exist in Best Served Cold. Monzcarro "Monza" Murcatto is the notorious leader of The Thousand Swords mercenary company. She has brought victory after victory to her employer Grand Duke Orso of Talins, and become wealthy and popular as a result. Perhaps too popular. Unfortunately for Monza, he has her and her beloved brother Benna thrown down a mountain. Unfortunately for Orso, she survives the stabbing, mutilating, garroting and a brutal fall. She narrowed her eyes against the stiff breeze, pushed some stray hair out of her face. ‘I never tire of this view.’ They hardly even fought. Ten times as many drowned trying to swim the river as died fighting. More than four thousand prisoners. Some ransoms were paid, some not, some men were hanged.’ No!’ Foscar stumbled away. ‘I’ll have no part of this!’ He turned and ran from the room, his boots slapping against the marble floor.If you are going to say one thing for Abercrombie, say he’s got catchy sayings because, after all, you have to be realistic about these things! What is the next Joe Abercrombie book? The latest book by the popular British fantasy author is The Trouble With Peace, the second novel in his new Age of Madness series, which also takes place in The First Law world. Currently, Joe Abercrombie lives in London with his family, where he works on his next book (hopefully another First Law story) and does editing work in his spare time. Huge Spoilers! Those who haven’t read Best Served Cold look away NOW! And indeed buy and read it NOW! Or at any rate buy it. Reading is optional.