Eli
Good:
Once again the Northmen viewpoints carry this book similarly to the previous entry. By far the best book for the Inquisitor Glokta plot-lines; his chapters are consistently entertaining and engaging beyond the previous two books. The world-building and historical implications bloom and flourish and continue to bolster the plot in pleasant ways.
Bad:
Certain plot-lines are setup (i.e. Jezal becoming king) that ended up being far too predictable. (Perhaps this was intentional by Abercrombie, I'm not so sure)
Ugly:
Bloody-Nine chapters get progressively more and m0re tedious. Abercrombie seems to push his tragic-hero-ness too far and it just becomes annoying and depressing to read his viewpoints. There was no reason really for him to become king and ends up mostly just being a waste of time.
Good:
Once again the Northmen viewpoints carry this book similarly to the previous entry. By far the best book for the Inquisitor Glokta plot-lines; his chapters are consistently entertaining and engaging beyond the previous two books. The world-building and historical implications bloom and flourish and continue to bolster the plot in pleasant ways.
Bad:
Certain plot-lines are setup (i.e. Jezal becoming king) that ended up being far too predictable. (Perhaps this was intentional by Abercrombie, I'm not so sure)
Ugly:
Bloody-Nine chapters get progressively more and m0re tedious. Abercrombie seems to push his tragic-hero-ness too far and it just becomes annoying and depressing to read his viewpoints. There was no reason really for him to become king and ends up mostly just being a waste of time.
Good:
The plot lines are overall more engaging in the followup to the Blade Itself owing in good part to the further development of the Northmen characters (Dogman, Tul Duru, Three Trees etc.). Bayaz's quest to the edge of the world also consistently engages and entertains. Character development and world-building takes large strides here and overall creates a much more immersive reading experience.
Bad:
The Glokta viewpoint never seems to maintain interest and comes off as more of a diversion/throwaway plotline (especially considering the overall implications to the overarching plot). This also suffers from the middle book issue of having an awful cliffhanger ending that leaves no satisfaction for the reader.
Ugly:
N/A
Good:
The plot lines are overall more engaging in the followup to the Blade Itself owing in good part to the further development of the Northmen characters (Dogman, Tul Duru, Three Trees etc.). Bayaz's quest to the edge of the world also consistently engages and entertains. Character development and world-building takes large strides here and overall creates a much more immersive reading experience.
Bad:
The Glokta viewpoint never seems to maintain interest and comes off as more of a diversion/throwaway plotline (especially considering the overall implications to the overarching plot). This also suffers from the middle book issue of having an awful cliffhanger ending that leaves no satisfaction for the reader.
Ugly:
N/A
