Glotka is an Inquisitor for the central government in the capital city Adua, a former war hero who suffered immense torture in the last great war, is now a torturer himself. I had a bit of a problem getting into Glotka at first, until someone on the forum suggested an actor for him: Michael Emerson from Lost. Ever since then, Glotka as a character made perfect sense, someone twisted by fate and circumstance into doing vile things for his country. Glotka is used as a weapon against the Guild of Mercers, who have grown too rich and powerful for the sake of many in the government.
Captain Jezal dan Luthar is a man born of wealth and privilege, but pressed into a sword-fighting competition which could make or break his career. Jezal is a bit lazy, prone to drinking and gambling rather than practicing, so this challenge is a bit above him. Jezal seems destined to lose this match until he meets Ardee, the sister of his friend Captain West. The three of them have an intense relationship which form an interesting sub-plot for the entire trilogy.
There are some other interesting players that emerge to become viewpoint characters. Ferro Maljinn is a former slave from Gurkhul with unworldly skills at combat, possessed with a vengeful bloodlust against her former masters. Ferro’s fierce attitude and rebellious nature won me over immediately, especially when she utters lines like “Stupid Fucking Pink!” at her allies. Logen’s former allies, a band of Northmen with names like Dogman, Black Dow, and Threetrees are tremendous fighters, but also with some of the greatest comedic banter. Did I mention that Abercrombie has a great sense of humor? Many scenes made me laugh out loud.
Like any good sprawling novel, The Blade Itself has Logen, Glotka, and Jezal in their own chapters, eventually colliding as events progress. Magic is used sparingly in this series, with Bayaz and a handful of others capable of wielding it. Bayaz is far from a Gandalf clone. He’s a master manipulator who has been making plans for decades, if not centuries, playing with all these characters like pieces on a chessboard. Two wars are threatening Midderland: one from Logen’s own Northmen, a cunning and savage band of barbarians that resemble Vikings in some ways. The other faction is in the south, the nation of Gurkhul, looking to avenge themselves from the losses of the last great war. The first novel ends with a terrific action sequence, with Ferro and Logen on the run by a band of Inquisitors through the city of Adua. You discover why Logen has the nickname the Bloody Nine, and if you’re a fan of the Incredible Hulk, you can see some similarities in both heroes.
The second novel, Before They Are Hanged
I inhaled this book and the third one, Last Argument of Kings
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