Last Argument of Kings

Executive Summary: A fitting end to what is an essence a bleak series. Still, it made for an entertaining ride. I'm not sure what that says about me exactly. lol.

Full Review
I started this book fully expecting to give this book one of the those elusive 5 star ratings, but somewhere along the way it lost me. I'm still not quite sure why.

Don't get me wrong, I really enjoyed it, but it just didn't hold my attention fully like a 5-star book does.

The Union is learning what Napolean and the Germans could have told them. Don't fight a 2-front war. Things are pretty bad. They are only going to get worse.

Thank god there are heroes like Logen Ninefingers, Superior Glokta and the First Magi Bayaz to put things right. Or should we be cursing god and wondering what we did to deserve such “heroes”?

The characters are great, albeit not very likable. Yet they are. I'm rooting for killers and torturers. Mr. Abercrombie must himself be a wizard, because I don't understand how else he can have me not only enjoying these characters, but rooting for them as well. It makes me feel uncomfortable. I chalk it up to “interesting to read about, but I'd never want to meet any of them.”

This book is worth reading just for Glokta's internal dialogue alone. I have also acquired all the wisdom Logen's father has to offer.

Overall I was happy with the ending, but some things were left open-ended and unresolved that I wouldn't mind a follow-on story. Or maybe I'll get some glimpses into what happens after from the stand-alone novels? I shall see eventually, as I now count Mr. Abercrombie among my favorite authors, and plan to read the rest of his works at some point.