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Brutor Fartknocker posted:About two thirds through best served cold, not really feeling it as much. Like BananaNutkins I like at least a little magic happening, so it's definitely partly that, but do all his books continue the very gritty, nothing good ever happens line? BSC was my least favorite book of the series by far, but I know it's a lot of other peoples' favorite. There's a grimdark streak to the whole series but BSC really marinates in misery. I liked the next two more. Edit: specifically I just didn't feel that (general BSC spoilers) how sadistic Shivers' point of view becomes in the back half of the book was justified by his "betrayal" and disfigurement. He really goes off the deep end, to the point where I had trouble caring about his character after a certain point. The bitterness of the fates of the characters in the original trilogy was one of my favorite parts because I felt like the characters all more or less earned their fates (I even wanted a worse end for Glokta. He gets off easy.) I think part of the reason BSC didn't work for me in the same way is the shorter story length means everything just happens quicker. Randallteal fucked around with this message at 20:29 on Feb 14, 2022 |
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Feb 14, 2022 20:11
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Good to know, I'll keep on him for another book or two then. I liked Logan and want to see where he comes back up again. Also BSC spoilers Yeah, Shivers going angry sadist after being the "good" man and kindof a knockoff Logan berserker is a letdown. Like Logan minus any trying to be better. For the original trilogy Glokta getting out so well was really amusing to me, other than Bayaz. Also gently caress Bayaz. Further books question, are there more Glokta esque life is torment I'm physically broken characters past BSC? Only going off Glokta and BSC, it feels like it might be a thing for him. Also original trilogy spoilers Is there more of main character killing they're friends through the series? It surprised me and was narratively disturbing when Logan killed his friends and Bayaz killed/sealed away Yulwei, which like, good writing, I liked those characters, that really sticks in the mind, but if it's something that happens regularly throughout the series it's not shocking, just boringly grim.
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Feb 14, 2022 21:47
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Brutor Fartknocker posted:Also original trilogy spoilers Is there more of main character killing they're friends through the series? It surprised me and was narratively disturbing when Logan killed his friends and Bayaz killed/sealed away Yulwei, which like, good writing, I liked those characters, that really sticks in the mind, but if it's something that happens regularly throughout the series it's not shocking, just boringly grim. Occasionally, but not so often that it comes predictable or cliche
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Feb 14, 2022 21:52
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FWIW, a lot of people think The Heroes (the next standalone book) is the best he's ever written, so it's definitely worth powering through and going one book further. Or, you know, if you're really not feeling BSC, just putting it down and skipping ahead. There are some references later on to the events of BSC and it does change the status quo a little bit but it's nothing you can't figure out through context (or googling a plot synopsis). I do like BSC if only because it lets my boy Cosca have an arc, I liked him in it a lot. I did not like him in Red Country one bit however
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Feb 14, 2022 22:34
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Shivers is awesome, you just have to give him some time.
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Feb 14, 2022 22:37
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Ainsley McTree posted:FWIW, a lot of people think The Heroes (the next standalone book) is the best he's ever written, so it's definitely worth powering through and going one book further. Or, you know, if you're really not feeling BSC, just putting it down and skipping ahead. There are some references later on to the events of BSC and it does change the status quo a little bit but it's nothing you can't figure out through context (or googling a plot synopsis). Heroes is awesome, also yeah Cosca is probably the highlight in BSC.
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Feb 14, 2022 22:39
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Nice, good to know. Cosca is a highlight of BSC for sure. Hmm now I'm curious if Shivers comes back later, but I'll hold off on knowing until I finish BSC, he probably won't get double double crossed by Monza but can't be too sure.
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Feb 14, 2022 22:53
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dont skip Sharp Ends, its my favorite
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Feb 14, 2022 23:49
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Sharp Ends: ”Changed my mind.”
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Feb 15, 2022 01:15
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Feb 16, 2022 18:17
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Morveer is the highlight of BSC.
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Feb 17, 2022 06:00
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Relevant Tangent posted:Morveer is the highlight of BSC.  A tragic character if there ever was one!
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Feb 17, 2022 20:45
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i don't know if it's possible to both like a character and be glad he's dead but abercrombie pulled that off with morveer for me
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Feb 17, 2022 20:59
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Ainsley McTree posted:i don't know if it's possible to both like a character and be glad he's dead but abercrombie pulled that off with morveer for me
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Feb 17, 2022 21:09
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The whole king of poisons scam is the funniest scene in the entire series imo, Morveer is an all time great
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Feb 17, 2022 21:22
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What book was Friendly in. Because he’s the best character of that book.
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Feb 18, 2022 02:46
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RCarr posted:What book was Friendly in. Because he’s the best character of that book. Best served cold When he tried going back to prison lol
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Feb 18, 2022 02:47
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Was he confirmed the dice dude in the new trilogy at cardotis house of leisure?
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Feb 18, 2022 02:49
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Harton posted:Best served cold the Saejima of first law
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Feb 18, 2022 03:55
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Apologize to my loving dice!
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Feb 18, 2022 12:32
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Seems Joe has just announced his next trilogy https://twitter.com/gollancz/status/1509550946581422086?t=tOT1L_OeBN1gH_FJGxX4EA&s=09 Magic heist hijinks, but in real Europe! Could be fun
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Mar 31, 2022 17:54
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quote:In a magic-riddled Europe under constant threat of elf invasion, the 10-year-old Pope occasionally needs services that cannot be performed by the righteous. And so, sealed deep beneath the catacombs, cathedrals and relic stalls of the Sacred City lies the secret Chapel of the Holy Expediency. For its highly disposable congregation – including a self-serving magician, a self-satisfied vampire, an oversexed werewolf, and a knight cursed with immortality – there is no mission that cannot be turned into a calamitous bloodbath.” What CKIII mod is this?
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Mar 31, 2022 19:36
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quote:“In a magic-riddled Europe under constant threat of elf invasion, the 10-year-old Pope occasionally needs services that cannot be performed by the righteous. And so, sealed deep beneath the catacombs, cathedrals and relic stalls of the Sacred City lies the secret Chapel of the Holy Expediency. For its highly disposable congregation – including a self-serving magician, a self-satisfied vampire, an oversexed werewolf, and a knight cursed with immortality – there is no mission that cannot be turned into a calamitous bloodbath.” I want to go to there
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Mar 31, 2022 19:43
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I guess that sounds like it could be fun? Joes gonna keep doing different trilogies until one of them gets turned into a tv show.
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Apr 3, 2022 22:54
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I just finished the First Law trilogy and absolutely enjoyed it. Very interested in continuing through the rest of his books but I get the impression Best Served Cold is kind of a low point. I'm just going to be blunt, will I be chasing the dragon from here on out?
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Apr 23, 2022 21:38
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Social Animal posted:I just finished the First Law trilogy and absolutely enjoyed it. Very interested in continuing through the rest of his books but I get the impression Best Served Cold is kind of a low point. I'm just going to be blunt, will I be chasing the dragon from here on out? The Heroes, the next book, is generally considered to be one of his best, so take heart! Opinions seem more mixed about the latest trilogy but I liked it overall.
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Apr 23, 2022 21:44
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Social Animal posted:I just finished the First Law trilogy and absolutely enjoyed it. Very interested in continuing through the rest of his books but I get the impression Best Served Cold is kind of a low point. I'm just going to be blunt, will I be chasing the dragon from here on out? no, and dont skip Sharp Ends
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Apr 23, 2022 22:19
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Social Animal posted:I just finished the First Law trilogy and absolutely enjoyed it. Very interested in continuing through the rest of his books but I get the impression Best Served Cold is kind of a low point. I'm just going to be blunt, will I be chasing the dragon from here on out? BSC isn't bad, and the next two are very good.
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Apr 23, 2022 22:44
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The standalone books are all takes on various genres. Best Served Cold is about a former mercenary gathering a band of rogues to take revenge on a former employer. The Heroes is a war story. Red Country is a western. They’re all good
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Apr 23, 2022 22:54
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I love me some BSC. Morveer is the coolest.
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Apr 23, 2022 22:58
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I like Red Country on the whole--I think he did my favorite character dirty, but when you decide to have a favorite character in an abercrombie book, these are the risks you take, and i'm at peace with that i still wish cosca never came back after BSC though, I liked his arc in that and didn't care for him having a heel turn offscreen and becoming a villain again
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Apr 23, 2022 23:15
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I think the discussion came up earlier in the thread regarding Red Country, but personally I really liked the way Cosca was utilized in the story. With the possible exception of the last 1-2 pages he appears on, he’s the exact same person we had seen in previous books. What changes is perspective — this story is written by people who are victimized by his merry band of amoral mercenaries, rather than the fellow mercs or the people who hire them.
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Apr 24, 2022 01:13
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Magitek posted:I think the discussion came up earlier in the thread regarding Red Country, but personally I really liked the way Cosca was utilized in the story. With the possible exception of the last 1-2 pages he appears on, he’s the exact same person we had seen in previous books. What changes is perspective — this story is written by people who are victimized by his merry band of amoral mercenaries, rather than the fellow mercs or the people who hire them. I hadn't thought of it that way, maybe i'll give it another look if I read the book again; I do agree that his treatment in red country is much more consistent with how he comports himself in the original trilogy, I just thought he had a kind of redemptive arc in BSC that would have been nice for him to go out on instead of getting back on his bullshit but hey, that's grimdark for you. One thing I can't remember; is he drinking again in Red Country? Him beating the habit was one thing I liked in BSC and I feel like they undid that for Red Country (which to be fair is not an unrealistic portrayal of an addict, but still), but now that I'm writing it out I can't remember if that actually happened e: tried googling it and couldn't find the answer but I did appreciate this reddit user's description of him: "He's a lovable-rogue, and he is at least as much rogue as he is lovable" Ainsley McTree fucked around with this message at 01:26 on Apr 24, 2022 |
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Apr 24, 2022 01:24
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Cool thanks guys I'll grab BSC. The trilogy books were just so perfect for reading before bed. A little dangerous though when that "just one more chapter" hits when you really need to turn the light off and sleep.scary ghost dog posted:no, and dont skip Sharp Ends I didn't even see this one, looks cool. Should I get on this after the standalone stories or does it not matter? I like catching references.
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Apr 24, 2022 03:58
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Social Animal posted:Cool thanks guys I'll grab BSC. The trilogy books were just so perfect for reading before bed. A little dangerous though when that "just one more chapter" hits when you really need to turn the light off and sleep. I can't remember how much of the standalone novels tie into it, but it was published (according to google) 4 years after Red Country, so I'd probably read the novels first just to be safe
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Apr 24, 2022 04:16
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Ainsley McTree posted:I hadn't thought of it that way, maybe i'll give it another look if I read the book again; I do agree that his treatment in red country is much more consistent with how he comports himself in the original trilogy, I just thought he had a kind of redemptive arc in BSC that would have been nice for him to go out on instead of getting back on his bullshit but hey, that's grimdark for you. One thing I can't remember; is he drinking again in Red Country? Him beating the habit was one thing I liked in BSC and I feel like they undid that for Red Country (which to be fair is not an unrealistic portrayal of an addict, but still), but now that I'm writing it out I can't remember if that actually happened “Sometimes men change for the better. Sometimes men change for the worse. And often, very often, given time and opportunity . . .’ He waved his flask around for a moment, then shrugged. ‘They change back.”
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Apr 24, 2022 04:43
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Social Animal posted:I just finished the First Law trilogy and absolutely enjoyed it. Very interested in continuing through the rest of his books but I get the impression Best Served Cold is kind of a low point. I'm just going to be blunt, will I be chasing the dragon from here on out? BSC is one of my all-time favorites, but I'm a sucker for the type of story being told in it. The Heroes is fantastic. Red Country is very good. Sharp Ends is great. New trilogy is...just okay.
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Apr 24, 2022 06:37
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Magitek posted:I think the discussion came up earlier in the thread regarding Red Country, but personally I really liked the way Cosca was utilized in the story. With the possible exception of the last 1-2 pages he appears on, he’s the exact same person we had seen in previous books. What changes is perspective — this story is written by people who are victimized by his merry band of amoral mercenaries, rather than the fellow mercs or the people who hire them. Yeah, it's this. The other books are with the Cosca cannon aimed away from you. In Red County the main cast have it pointed right at them and it's a whole different feeling.
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Apr 24, 2022 07:40
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I guess at the end of the day, if you're hoping for a happy ending for a character in this series and are unpleasantly surprised, then that's on you really
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Apr 24, 2022 08:37
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I reread the first two books in the most current trilogy in the lead up to the third but I don’t think I’ll reread the third ever. I mean I blitzed through it so it’s not like it wasn’t engagingly written, but there were just aspects that didn’t work for me. I think Joe is taking the right approach by taking a break from The First Law world now.
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Apr 24, 2022 17:17
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