I have already the entire First Law Universe already, but your video is definitely making me want to re-read the series again. I 100% agree that the Age of Madness trilogy is amazing. The quality is so consistently high, that it's pretty crazy how Abercrombie was able to write the age f Madness in such a concise and exciting way. Both trilogies are fantastic and I honestly have a hard time deciding which one I enjoy more.
Amazong. I've been watching a number of your reviews to find my next books to read and I think this one is it! I really appreciate the way you do your reviews. I've been able to cross a few things off my list that I know I just won't have the mental space to deal with (themes, problematic moments etc), so this has been so helpful!! Fun and engaging to watch too ❤
Wow, this was excellent! Your "grimdark" description is now my favorite on BookTube (there's been some debate on the genre definition). Age of Madness was insanely good! I'm beyond excited to watch your Malazan video! 😊
Thank you Book Guy, After listening to your breakdown of the complete series. I have just now invested in all 13 books. You are simply the best when it comes to breaking down books of this genre. I am new to reading fantasy books and intend to buy more books in this genre. You now have a new subscriber. Keep up the good work 💯
I can’t say that you’ve convinced me to read trilogy two… YET. But you have convinced me to move trilogy one up my TBR. This video has shown me that more people need to talk about the plot of The First Law. All I’ve ever heard was that there wasn’t much of a plot and it’s all about the characters. I love characters, so I’ve always planned to get to The First Law eventually. But as soon as you mentioned the plot I was thinking, okay, that sounds really cool! Thank you for making me want to dive in even more!
Great overview - I am ready to jump into the first trilogy! Also, appreciated your contributions to the conversation with Johanna and Ben in "Why Read . . ."
Excellent! I am at the very end of The Heros now, and was worried of spoilers but there were none and you got me excited about moving forward in this world!
I've had the first trilogy sitting on my bookshelf for the past few years but haven't gotten around to reading it yet. I kept putting it off because the term 'grim dark' has always made me hesitant...but you explained everything so well, and have me intrigued. I'm thinking this is what I'm going to be reading this weekend ☺ Great video!
You did, indeed, add a big pile of stuff to my TBR right now. I read _The Blade Itself_ a couple of years ago, and I thought it was fine but not worth the hype. But after watching this, I very much want to read _The Age of Madness,_ and perhaps I have to read the earlier books too to get the full fun out of it.
Im 2/3ds into Last Argument, and I can't put it down. All the plotlines seem to finally be converging, it's honestly like a Brando Sando Sander-lanche. Everything I've heard about the ending, is that it's subversive and wild, I dont know if I'm ready! Abercrombie has become a must read author for me.
Omg Abercrombie. My beloved ❤ Favorite characters: Rikke, Nicomo Cosca, Shivers, Logan, Glokta, Orso. Bayaz was such a cool subversion of the wise old mentor wizard archetype. The ensemble cast in Best Served Cold was freaking awesome. And I had such a blast with the western/Oregon Trail adventure with the epic rescue and revenge quest in Red Country. But I agree that the Age of Madness Trilogy is the masterwork. Have you heard the theory that Logan is possessed by some kind of spirit that gives him his berserker fury? Because he can speak to the spirits (a talent that is mentioned but doesn’t come up again after the beginning of book 1? Now why is that? It must signify something). And also it’s mentioned multiple times that he gets blood in his mouth/consumes some of it while fighting. And we all know that breaking the second law and eating human flesh gives you super strength and resilience. While Logan is the Bloody Nine he is immune to pain and never runs out of steam so possibly he’s partially benefitting from that magical transformation.
Ok you convinced me to read them all ❤ I don't shy from violence, sex and dark themes but stopped reading books where the mail protagonist dies ( kinda I check first if that's the case 😂 ) Just finished the first chapter of the audiobook 🎉 and just came back to see the right order
Found you from Johanna’s Why Read? video! Really love your stuff mate! Could hear distinct Aussie birds in the background, took me back to living in Perth. Thanks for the content!
This might actually be the first comment I’ve ever put on TH-cam - I absolutely adore your content and style and I must say you’re an absolute treasure. That being said - I loved the first trilogy. Currently going through some others (recently finished the green bone saga - please review this one!) but after watching I *can’t wait* to dive back into Joe’s world
Just found you on Johanna channel. Love the content. I just started my Abercrombie journey. Posted my first review a day or so ago. Anyway happy to have found and subscribed to your channel.
I'm 2/3 through the Age of Madness and I can completely attest to your feelings about it. Excited to finish it. I've been reading the standalones in-between the age of madness books. Probably not the best reading order... Haha
that was some awesome hair flipping! I think I'll look into the young adult trilogy and then maybe I'll try self censoring the others if I like it. Also your shirt is super funny, I low key want it
🤟 thanks! That's awesome! Shattered seas really is a great trilogy, so even if you never get to the First Law, you'll still have a good time. I think it's a shirt from t-fury, but from years ago.
I read the first trilogy at the beginning of the year and I'll start the standalones next month. I was excited for the second trilogy but now I'm even more (most booktubers don't consider it better than the first).
New subscriber here! Loved your content so far. I particularly found your First Law trilogy synopsis brilliant. I never thought of the plot in Bayaz perspective. The first book is oftentimes referred as plotless but you found the perfect way to summarize it. 👍
Thank you, my friend! Glad you're enjoying the content. Yeah I've heard First Law called plotless before. It's more that the plot is in the background and the characters are in the front. But there's definitely lots of plot going on!
Love your videos, I just finished the standalone trilogy, and I hate to say it, Best Served Cold will be one of my all time favourite books. Definitely my favourite standalone. I’m yet to read the Age of Madness, I’m holding off, cause that means there’s no more. P.S. love seeing a local booktuber, shout out from the sunny side of Brissy! P.S.S I would love to see a deep dive of John Gwynne’s books, I absolutely devoured the faithful and the fallen.
Hey, no shame in loving Best Served Cold the most. It's an incredible book! You must have good taste. There will be more after Age of Madness, it just hasn't been written. PS eeeey! Brisbane! How bout these summer storms? PPS John Gwynne on my shelf waiting for me to read. Hopefully soon!
Oh! Sand dan Glokta must have been an inspiration for Trortur in Fear and Hunger! I was wondering how a tortured hero can go to dedicate to torturing people after all that pain. Of course Trortur is not a complicated character in the game but a cool find
I like your mode of presentation very much; so far I have read five of the First-Law-novels and enjoyed them immensely. But I still got a lot of good things coming according to your videom ;) I am looking forward to your Malazan review, because I have been struggling with this series from the very beginning. What about Tad Williams? Cheers, Nali
Haven’t read any of the first law books yet, but your video definitely made me want to buy them so i can read them :). Also it would be really helpful if you would specify at the beginning of the video whether or not it is going to be a spoiler free review
I feel like you are spoiling a bit saying that there is a plot twist at the end is preparing the reader for it. When I read the books I didn't expect any plot twists at the end and i was really surprised
Hi!! Thank you for convincing me to give a chance to this universe lol. I'm just not sure about where to begin yet. (I'm probably going for the chaotic approach and read the first standalone to feel this author's vibes, then move to the first trilogy if I like it)
I also enjoyed the second trilogy more! But it is kinda hard to recommand it to someone who hasn'T read any First Law books yet: "This Trilogy is awesome, you must read it! But yeah there are one Trilogy and 3 more standalones before, which comes in handy if you have read those, too" :X
I have the age of madness trilogy on my shelves waiting to be read, but I haven’t gotten to the 3 stand-alones or short story collection yet. Loved the first law trilogy!
I read trilogy one and was somewhat nonplussed when I finished but maybe I'll give it a re-read and maybe prevent you from crying by trying trilogy 2... Have you ever read the Cycle of Arawn and sequel series Cycle of Galand? Has some of the same duo dynamics as Genltemen Bastards and Ryria Revelations with one sorcerer-type and one warrior-type. Book 1 is about stopping a war and things just kinda keep spiralling out from there.
Stop doing this, I'm already over-hyped for the second trilogy!! I just hope that my hype won't ruin the books for me (sadly it happens sometimes). Just sharp ends and I'm good to go. But I just started something I call massive Rick Riordan summer re-read (that means almost every book from him). When started the series two years ago, I had low expectations, I thought I am a plot reader. It turned out I'm definitely character reader. I also finally found my favorite writer - not necessarily because his books are my absolute number 1, but because I just enjoy his writing do much. Also, order doesn't matter. I recommend these to my father and he accidentally read 2,3 and then he realized it and came back to 1. He still enjoyed it 😅 I loved that metal interlude. Each video is better and better. That subtle humor of yours is cracking me 😁❤️
I read the first law books and like It BUT somehow the end was lacking something for me... SPOILER . . . I would love Bayaz using magic and the seed being more "explained" and dar more used by Ferro. Maybe my problem was expecting more of a fantasy building I don't know. Glockta was superb 😂 Final note: at the end of the first law i end up loathing the quantity of descripction of dismembered bodies XD Thanks again for such a great video!! 💜
Yes you persuaded me to read series 2 As for Sarah J Maas I prefer the author where she got a lot of the ideas, namely Anne Bishop and the Black Jewels series. Though Anne Bishop is also great at urban fiction, epic fantasy and lots more. I have read Maas, it was OK Love your energy in your videos ❤
I'm intrigued by the reviews of the First Law. I've been looking for a great series to read again like Game of Thrones or LOTR, heck even something like Harry Potter or the Wheel of Time, but everytime that I start to read something recommended I stop half way through the book because it stinks, like those awful Sara J Mass books. I hesitate at this series to avoid being disappointed.
I read the first trilogy and I hated it, that is to say, I thoroughly enjoyed it but god did I hate how things turned out Q__Q I don't think grimdark is for me...
Was super disappointed with the first book. Didn't see it as Grimdark at all. I kept waiting for it to get dark and it never did. Lawrence's Prince of Thorns series was way way darker and in my opinion much better.
@@محمدعثمان-ق3ش I have the trilogy, I will read it at some point but it dropped down any kind of priority list I have based on it not being what I thought (and had been led to believe) it was in and of itself.
This video made me finally pick up The Blade Itself and I absolutely, utterly loved it…. but you say the second trilogy somehow beats it? HOW can you say the second trilogy is better! I don’t understand how it can be any better! I can’t wait!🫨
Haha! This made me laugh. 😁 Legit, Abercrombie was still perfecting his craft for a while. Trilogy 2 is where he becomes a MASTER. You're gonna love it!
I have already the entire First Law Universe already, but your video is definitely making me want to re-read the series again. I 100% agree that the Age of Madness trilogy is amazing. The quality is so consistently high, that it's pretty crazy how Abercrombie was able to write the age f Madness in such a concise and exciting way. Both trilogies are fantastic and I honestly have a hard time deciding which one I enjoy more.
OMG! The metal band interlude was hilarious!😂
Thank you! I filmed it as a joke for myself. Then I edited it together and was like...oh damn! 😂😂😂
Why do I keep watching your old videos? My TBR is growing exponentially 😭
"It's got an industrial revolution and the regular Revolution 👍"
I don't know why but the way he said it made me literally lol
You have convinced me to read trilogy 1 and 2!, love the style of your videos so can't wait to see what you've got next
I love love love Joe Abercrombie. The Master . Instant buy for me .
Amazong. I've been watching a number of your reviews to find my next books to read and I think this one is it!
I really appreciate the way you do your reviews. I've been able to cross a few things off my list that I know I just won't have the mental space to deal with (themes, problematic moments etc), so this has been so helpful!! Fun and engaging to watch too ❤
Thank you so much, my old friend. ❤
And you've made an excellent choice! You will love First Law, I'm certain.
Can I just say how glad I am that M*A*S*H is still remembered and loved 😍
The 4077 will never die!
This is a book series that i often think about in the years since reading it. It's crazy good.
Wow, this was excellent! Your "grimdark" description is now my favorite on BookTube (there's been some debate on the genre definition). Age of Madness was insanely good! I'm beyond excited to watch your Malazan video! 😊
Thank you!!! That is high praise. Now I'm so glad I let myself get completely sidetracked with a genre chat. 😄 I'm excited about Malazan too!
Thank you Book Guy,
After listening to your breakdown of the complete series.
I have just now invested in all 13 books. You are simply the best when it comes to breaking down books of this genre.
I am new to reading fantasy books and intend to buy more books in this genre. You now have a new subscriber.
Keep up the good work 💯
I can’t say that you’ve convinced me to read trilogy two… YET. But you have convinced me to move trilogy one up my TBR. This video has shown me that more people need to talk about the plot of The First Law. All I’ve ever heard was that there wasn’t much of a plot and it’s all about the characters. I love characters, so I’ve always planned to get to The First Law eventually. But as soon as you mentioned the plot I was thinking, okay, that sounds really cool! Thank you for making me want to dive in even more!
Great overview - I am ready to jump into the first trilogy! Also, appreciated your contributions to the conversation with Johanna and Ben in "Why Read . . ."
Excellent! I am at the very end of The Heros now, and was worried of spoilers but there were none and you got me excited about moving forward in this world!
I really enjoyed The First Law Trilogy One.
I’m excited that I have more to read! Thanks for the review.
I've had the first trilogy sitting on my bookshelf for the past few years but haven't gotten around to reading it yet. I kept putting it off because the term 'grim dark' has always made me hesitant...but you explained everything so well, and have me intrigued. I'm thinking this is what I'm going to be reading this weekend ☺ Great video!
You did, indeed, add a big pile of stuff to my TBR right now.
I read _The Blade Itself_ a couple of years ago, and I thought it was fine but not worth the hype. But after watching this, I very much want to read _The Age of Madness,_ and perhaps I have to read the earlier books too to get the full fun out of it.
I absolutly love your videos! You're one of the best in the fantasy booktube for me! Great Work!
Thank you! That helps with the imposter syndrome. 😉
Best damn review of JA, grimdark and first law EVER
Joe Abercrombie is my favorite author. Read the first trilogy and then very quickly read all of his other books including the YA series.
Dude, you have reviewed everything! Loving the channel, just discovered it a few days back.
My man. Absolutely loving your channel. Great work!
First law just bumped its way up to next in line on my tbr 🌻😊 thanks for the great video!
Love this series, but the audiobooks are where it really, really shines. Steven Pacey is a master at the craft and what he does with Glotka is superb
You are the definition of organised chaos and I love it ❤😊 Every review is an adventure.
Im 2/3ds into Last Argument, and I can't put it down. All the plotlines seem to finally be converging, it's honestly like a Brando Sando Sander-lanche. Everything I've heard about the ending, is that it's subversive and wild, I dont know if I'm ready! Abercrombie has become a must read author for me.
Omg Abercrombie. My beloved ❤ Favorite characters: Rikke, Nicomo Cosca, Shivers, Logan, Glokta, Orso. Bayaz was such a cool subversion of the wise old mentor wizard archetype. The ensemble cast in Best Served Cold was freaking awesome. And I had such a blast with the western/Oregon Trail adventure with the epic rescue and revenge quest in Red Country. But I agree that the Age of Madness Trilogy is the masterwork.
Have you heard the theory that Logan is possessed by some kind of spirit that gives him his berserker fury? Because he can speak to the spirits (a talent that is mentioned but doesn’t come up again after the beginning of book 1? Now why is that? It must signify something). And also it’s mentioned multiple times that he gets blood in his mouth/consumes some of it while fighting. And we all know that breaking the second law and eating human flesh gives you super strength and resilience. While Logan is the Bloody Nine he is immune to pain and never runs out of steam so possibly he’s partially benefitting from that magical transformation.
Definitely convinced to read these!! Thanks for a fantastic intro to grim dark
Ok you convinced me to read them all ❤ I don't shy from violence, sex and dark themes but stopped reading books where the mail protagonist dies ( kinda I check first if that's the case 😂 )
Just finished the first chapter of the audiobook 🎉 and just came back to see the right order
Found you from Johanna’s Why Read? video! Really love your stuff mate! Could hear distinct Aussie birds in the background, took me back to living in Perth. Thanks for the content!
This might actually be the first comment I’ve ever put on TH-cam - I absolutely adore your content and style and I must say you’re an absolute treasure.
That being said - I loved the first trilogy. Currently going through some others (recently finished the green bone saga - please review this one!) but after watching I *can’t wait* to dive back into Joe’s world
Wow, thank you! ❤For your first comment ever, it sure was awesome. 10/10 comment skills.
Great video! Convinced me to get on the hold list for these at my library ☺️
I really enjoyed this video, though I am currently about to read Red Country in the series. Thanks so much. ❤
Just found you on Johanna channel. Love the content. I just started my Abercrombie journey. Posted my first review a day or so ago. Anyway happy to have found and subscribed to your channel.
Just used an audible credit on A Little Hatred. Awesome video, man!
I'm 2/3 through the Age of Madness and I can completely attest to your feelings about it. Excited to finish it. I've been reading the standalones in-between the age of madness books. Probably not the best reading order... Haha
Also the headbanging made me miss my long hair. Haha
Hey, any order where you actually read it is a good reading order! Well done!
And yeah sorry my friend, but long hair is the best.
How’s the leg?
You sold me to read the rest of the books after deciding to stop after the first trilogy. Good job!
VICTORY! :D Enjoy!
that was some awesome hair flipping!
I think I'll look into the young adult trilogy and then maybe I'll try self censoring the others if I like it.
Also your shirt is super funny, I low key want it
🤟 thanks!
That's awesome! Shattered seas really is a great trilogy, so even if you never get to the First Law, you'll still have a good time.
I think it's a shirt from t-fury, but from years ago.
This is on my TBR this month!
I read the first trilogy at the beginning of the year and I'll start the standalones next month. I was excited for the second trilogy but now I'm even more (most booktubers don't consider it better than the first).
I will read all of it, ty
(Re-) watching your old videos, I really feel like the new ones flow better without the meme inserts.
(Even though they’re funny sometimes)
New subscriber here! Loved your content so far.
I particularly found your First Law trilogy synopsis brilliant. I never thought of the plot in Bayaz perspective. The first book is oftentimes referred as plotless but you found the perfect way to summarize it. 👍
Thank you, my friend! Glad you're enjoying the content.
Yeah I've heard First Law called plotless before. It's more that the plot is in the background and the characters are in the front. But there's definitely lots of plot going on!
Love your videos, I just finished the standalone trilogy, and I hate to say it, Best Served Cold will be one of my all time favourite books. Definitely my favourite standalone.
I’m yet to read the Age of Madness, I’m holding off, cause that means there’s no more.
P.S. love seeing a local booktuber, shout out from the sunny side of Brissy!
P.S.S I would love to see a deep dive of John Gwynne’s books, I absolutely devoured the faithful and the fallen.
Hey, no shame in loving Best Served Cold the most. It's an incredible book! You must have good taste.
There will be more after Age of Madness, it just hasn't been written.
PS eeeey! Brisbane! How bout these summer storms?
PPS John Gwynne on my shelf waiting for me to read. Hopefully soon!
I checked out Half A King from my library today!
I absolutely love the First Law trilogy but if I honest, didn’t love Age of Madness. I found the last book in particular absolutely infuriating lol
Oh! Sand dan Glokta must have been an inspiration for Trortur in Fear and Hunger! I was wondering how a tortured hero can go to dedicate to torturing people after all that pain. Of course Trortur is not a complicated character in the game but a cool find
I like your mode of presentation very much; so far I have read five of the First-Law-novels and enjoyed them immensely. But I still got a lot of good things coming according to your videom ;) I am looking forward to your Malazan review, because I have been struggling with this series from the very beginning. What about Tad Williams? Cheers, Nali
you make me want to read all of those series. sarah j mass included
Haven’t read any of the first law books yet, but your video definitely made me want to buy them so i can read them :). Also it would be really helpful if you would specify at the beginning of the video whether or not it is going to be a spoiler free review
Yeesss - trilogy 2 is one of my all-time favourites! 🤘
I feel like you are spoiling a bit saying that there is a plot twist at the end is preparing the reader for it. When I read the books I didn't expect any plot twists at the end and i was really surprised
Hi!!
Thank you for convincing me to give a chance to this universe lol. I'm just not sure about where to begin yet.
(I'm probably going for the chaotic approach and read the first standalone to feel this author's vibes, then move to the first trilogy if I like it)
So chaotic! I love it!
I also enjoyed the second trilogy more! But it is kinda hard to recommand it to someone who hasn'T read any First Law books yet: "This Trilogy is awesome, you must read it! But yeah there are one Trilogy and 3 more standalones before, which comes in handy if you have read those, too" :X
I have the age of madness trilogy on my shelves waiting to be read, but I haven’t gotten to the 3 stand-alones or short story collection yet. Loved the first law trilogy!
I know that feeling! 🤣
Same here.
I read trilogy one and was somewhat nonplussed when I finished but maybe I'll give it a re-read and maybe prevent you from crying by trying trilogy 2...
Have you ever read the Cycle of Arawn and sequel series Cycle of Galand? Has some of the same duo dynamics as Genltemen Bastards and Ryria Revelations with one sorcerer-type and one warrior-type. Book 1 is about stopping a war and things just kinda keep spiralling out from there.
When he started headbanging I literally lost my shit😂😂😂
Tadaaa, you convinced me to read trilogy 2… after Malazan
Stop doing this, I'm already over-hyped for the second trilogy!! I just hope that my hype won't ruin the books for me (sadly it happens sometimes). Just sharp ends and I'm good to go. But I just started something I call massive Rick Riordan summer re-read (that means almost every book from him).
When started the series two years ago, I had low expectations, I thought I am a plot reader. It turned out I'm definitely character reader. I also finally found my favorite writer - not necessarily because his books are my absolute number 1, but because I just enjoy his writing do much.
Also, order doesn't matter. I recommend these to my father and he accidentally read 2,3 and then he realized it and came back to 1. He still enjoyed it 😅
I loved that metal interlude. Each video is better and better. That subtle humor of yours is cracking me 😁❤️
Amazing! Yes it's absolutely possible to over-hype.
Oh a Riordan re-read sounds fun! I stopped after Heroes of Olympus. But good times. Enjoy!
Yep, not only should I read trilogy 2 but also I should complete Red Country, which was breaking my heart from the get go.
I’m definitely going to give the first law trilogy a go. If I like it (which I probably will) I’ll definitely read the second one 😂
I read the first law books and like It BUT somehow the end was lacking something for me...
SPOILER
.
.
.
I would love Bayaz using magic and the seed being more "explained" and dar more used by Ferro.
Maybe my problem was expecting more of a fantasy building I don't know.
Glockta was superb 😂
Final note: at the end of the first law i end up loathing the quantity of descripction of dismembered bodies XD
Thanks again for such a great video!! 💜
You can never have too many knives.
I read the second trilogy first and I'm reading the first now.
I also read The Shattered Seas before anything else and absolutely loved it, but didn't know it was YA grimdark lol
It was still pretty damn brutal
2 mins in.. THE HAIR!!!!!😊
I really loved the original trilogy. The stand alone were ok, but I got burnt out on them and never tried to read the second trilogy.
😂 really good intro
Very entertaining and informative, but I'm still not sold on Abercrombie.
Have you read Richard Nell, awesome grimdark. Team Ruka all the way ❤
Yes you persuaded me to read series 2
As for Sarah J Maas I prefer the author where she got a lot of the ideas, namely Anne Bishop and the Black Jewels series.
Though Anne Bishop is also great at urban fiction, epic fantasy and lots more. I have read Maas, it was OK
Love your energy in your videos ❤
Oh sadly I haven't read Richard Nell, but I've now added it to my TBR. Thanks for the tip! Glad you're like the vids. ❤
I'm intrigued by the reviews of the First Law. I've been looking for a great series to read again like Game of Thrones or LOTR, heck even something like Harry Potter or the Wheel of Time, but everytime that I start to read something recommended I stop half way through the book because it stinks, like those awful Sara J Mass books. I hesitate at this series to avoid being disappointed.
I think it’s just realistic
Yes! 😂
I read the first trilogy and I hated it, that is to say, I thoroughly enjoyed it but god did I hate how things turned out Q__Q I don't think grimdark is for me...
Was super disappointed with the first book. Didn't see it as Grimdark at all. I kept waiting for it to get dark and it never did. Lawrence's Prince of Thorns series was way way darker and in my opinion much better.
So, will you continue reading the rest of the books or will you stop? I find it rash to judge the entire series based on the first book alone.
@@محمدعثمان-ق3ش I have the trilogy, I will read it at some point but it dropped down any kind of priority list I have based on it not being what I thought (and had been led to believe) it was in and of itself.
This video made me finally pick up The Blade Itself and I absolutely, utterly loved it…. but you say the second trilogy somehow beats it? HOW can you say the second trilogy is better! I don’t understand how it can be any better! I can’t wait!🫨
Haha! This made me laugh. 😁 Legit, Abercrombie was still perfecting his craft for a while. Trilogy 2 is where he becomes a MASTER. You're gonna love it!