Sanibel
If The Blade Itself was the setup, Before They Are Hanged is the payoff. Gone is the slow stage-setting—this time, Abercrombie throws us straight into the fire. The world remains brutal and unforgiving, but we see so much more of it. From the siege of Dagoska to the ruins of the Old Empire, every setting feels alive, dangerous, and steeped in history. While the magic and deeper lore still hold their secrets, we get tantalizing glimpses that promise more to come.
The real strength of this book lies in its characters and political intrigue. Glokta is at his absolute best, balancing survival and scheming in the doomed city of Dagoska. His razor-sharp wit and grim pragmatism make every chapter he’s in a joy to read. Logen and his reluctant companions trudge across the Old Empire, their journey fraught with tension and shifting dynamics. Meanwhile, West is thrown into the horrors of war, where his own darker instincts begin to surface.
Abercrombie doesn’t just develop his characters; he reshapes them. Jezal, once an insufferable noble, shed his arrogance and starts to see beyond his privilege as the harshness of the real world sets in. Logen, always trying to be a better man, can’t seem to outrun his bloody past. Glokta remains a cynic, but even he isn’t immune to small, surprising moments of humanity. Every choice they make feels consequential, and the lack of clear heroes or villains makes it all the more compelling.
The pacing is sharper, the stakes are higher, and the payoff for sticking with these characters is immense. Battles are chaotic and grim, victories feel hollow, and power shifts in ways that are as unpredictable as they are inevitable. Before They Are Hanged takes everything good about The Blade Itself and makes it better. It’s darker and more focused, with meaningful character arcs and political maneuvering that keeps you hooked.
With only one book left, I’m looking forward to a revealing and satisfying conclusion—one that answers the lingering questions while staying true to the grim, unpredictable world Abercrombie has crafted.
If The Blade Itself was the setup, Before They Are Hanged is the payoff. Gone is the slow stage-setting—this time, Abercrombie throws us straight into the fire. The world remains brutal and unforgiving, but we see so much more of it. From the siege of Dagoska to the ruins of the Old Empire, every setting feels alive, dangerous, and steeped in history. While the magic and deeper lore still hold their secrets, we get tantalizing glimpses that promise more to come.
The real strength of this book lies in its characters and political intrigue. Glokta is at his absolute best, balancing survival and scheming in the doomed city of Dagoska. His razor-sharp wit and grim pragmatism make every chapter he’s in a joy to read. Logen and his reluctant companions trudge across the Old Empire, their journey fraught with tension and shifting dynamics. Meanwhile, West is thrown into the horrors of war, where his own darker instincts begin to surface.
Abercrombie doesn’t just develop his characters; he reshapes them. Jezal, once an insufferable noble, shed his arrogance and starts to see beyond his privilege as the harshness of the real world sets in. Logen, always trying to be a better man, can’t seem to outrun his bloody past. Glokta remains a cynic, but even he isn’t immune to small, surprising moments of humanity. Every choice they make feels consequential, and the lack of clear heroes or villains makes it all the more compelling.
The pacing is sharper, the stakes are higher, and the payoff for sticking with these characters is immense. Battles are chaotic and grim, victories feel hollow, and power shifts in ways that are as unpredictable as they are inevitable. Before They Are Hanged takes everything good about The Blade Itself and makes it better. It’s darker and more focused, with meaningful character arcs and political maneuvering that keeps you hooked.
With only one book left, I’m looking forward to a revealing and satisfying conclusion—one that answers the lingering questions while staying true to the grim, unpredictable world Abercrombie has crafted.