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Last Argument of Kings (First Law: Book Three) by Joe Abercrombie
Book Summary InformationAuthor: Joe Abercrombie Edition: Paperback Audio: English (Original Language); English (Unknown); English (Published) Published: 2008-09-23 ISBN: 1591026903 Number of pages: 639 Publisher: Pyr
Book Reviews of Last Argument of Kings (First Law: Book Three)Book Review: Surprisingly Disappointing Summary: 2 StarsWhen you come away from a book feeling disappointed in pretty much every character - minor and major alike, and outright wishing death upon several of them, it's hard not to feel disappointed in the book itself.
It left me wondering whether good writing was enough, or if something actually has to happen in the story itself. Ultimately, nothing changed for any of the characters. You could read the first half of Book 1, and you're done. The characters are EXACTLY the same, and doing the same things (just to different people).
**** Spoilers ****
Glokta's ending was the best of the bunch, but still disappointing. Essentially, he went from groveling before one master that he hated to groveling before another master he hated AND babysitting someone he hated. The part that bothered me most were the Practicals. His relationship with them was a major part of his story. But apparently Severard, who had enough money to buy a house, got himself in debt during the time he was at sea (how is that even possible?!) and betrayed Glokta over it. Frost did it for no apparent reason. Vitari pretty much disappeared for the entire book, glared at Glokta a few times, and made an exit. Joy?
Ferro went from being a superhuman woman bent on vengeance, to being an extra superhuman woman bent on vengeance.
Logen killed one too many of his own friends, flip-flopped between being sure he could be good and sure he couldn't, and really didn't do much more than spectate. Even in his fight with the Feared, it was West and Dogman/Dow/Grim who won it for him. He was just a leaf swept along by the wind, and I could look out my window to see that. The character didn't even contribute many hilarious observations like in past books.
Jezal. Bah, where to start? The "noble with redeemable value" turns out to have none. He had a few memorable rants, but that's it.
Bayaz ended up being every bit the bastard I suspected he was. All of the "bad" guys are actually good guys, or less bad anyway. Even Khalul has caused fewer deaths than Bayaz ultimately has. The Maker didn't do many bad things, after all. The Maker's daughter, even in her eater/demon-loving state, has the moral high ground over Bayaz.
I understand the concept of questionable pasts, character flaws, all that. But I think you need to look towards Jaime and Tyrion from the Song of Ice and Fire series to see how it should be done. Those two can both be ruthless, conniving bastards, and have serious character flaws, but there's still *something* there which lets you understand and/or cheer for them.
Ultimately, memorable characters or not, nothing happened in this series. Glokta is still doing terrible things he has no interest in doing for masters who don't tell him why. Jezal is still a naive coward. Ferro is still all about vengeance. Logen is still the Bloody Nine. Nothing changed.
Summary of Last Argument of Kings (First Law: Book Three)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 time for the Bloody-Nine to come home. With too many masters and too little time, Superior Glokta is fighting a different kind of war. A secret struggle in which no one is safe, and no one can be trusted. As his days with a sword are far behind him, it's fortunate that he's deadly with his remaining weapons: blackmail, threats, and torture. Jezal dan Luthar has decided that winning glory is too painful an undertaking and turned his back on soldiering for a simple life with the woman he loves. But love can be painful too-and glory has a nasty habit of creeping up on a man when he least expects it. The king of the Union lies on his deathbed, the peasants revolt, and the nobles scramble to steal his crown. No one believes that the shadow of war is about to fall across the heart of the Union. Only the First of the Magi can save the world, but there are risks. There is no risk more terrible, than to break the First Law...
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