User Reviews
Rating: really liked it
I have a Booktube channel now! Subscribe here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRjh...ARC provided by the publisher—Gollancz—in exchange for an honest review.Incredibly mesmeric and brilliant. The trouble with reading Abercrombie’s newest book is that there’s no more new Abercrombie book to read. “He’d seen victories enough, and they were like the false summits of a great fell. You struggle towards ‘em, sure you’ve made the top, then the moment you get there you see another just beyond. No fight was ever the last. No victory was ever for good.”
Conspiracy. Betrayal. Rebellion. Peace is just another kind of battlefield. Politics, backstabbing, betrayals, and treasons have their viciousness highlighted further during times of peace. Let’s look back to what our favorite Inquisitor loved to say: “life is the misery we endure between disappointments.” The same quotation, unfortunately, applies to this momentary—and relative—state of calmness; peace doesn’t last forever.
The Trouble With Peace is the second book in the
Age of Madness trilogy by Joe Abercrombie, the story continues immediately from where
A Little Hatred ended, and the themes in the novel revolved around ambitions, bravery, glory, war, peace, and legacy. This is a sequel that’s heavily focused on politics, scheming, manipulation, and rebellion. Most of the pages in this novel were spent on planning, sharp dialogues, and attaining the courage to get things done. Of course, these were done in Abercrombie’s trademark grim, humorous, and bloody storytelling.
“There comes a point… when talking about a better world is simply not enough. There comes a time… when men of conscience, principle and courage must dare the unthinkable… and fight for a better world.”
I’m starting to become more and more invested with the new characters of this trilogy. That shouldn’t come as a surprise, characterizations have always been one of Abercrombie’s main forte as a writer, and his characterizations of many characters throughout the eight novels (so far) in
The First Law World is exemplary to the genre. I’ve read quite a lot of grimdark fantasy novels, and seriously, though many were good, so few can match Abercrombie’s skill in making me genuinely care towards the fate of the morally grey characters. Rikke, Leo dan Brock, Orso, Savine, Broad, Viki, and Clover are back as the key characters, and their character’s development was nothing short of outstanding. It was highly delightful seeing each and every one of them doing their best to survive, or in some rare cases, fight for a better world. Whether they achieved it or not, well, this is an Abercrombie book. Some will succeed, some will fail. You have to be realistic about this.
“My scripture teacher used to say that those who strive and fail are as blessed as those who succeed.”
I know that it’s none of my business, and I’ve said this in my review of
A Little Hatred, but it genuinely makes me sad when I see/heard readers read this trilogy without reading the previous six books in the universe first. At the very least, please take some time to read
The First Law trilogy first; in my opinion, it’s a must-read before you read this trilogy. Not only
The First Law trilogy is one of the best grimdark trilogy series of all time, but finishing the trilogy—even better if you include
Best Served Cold and
The Heroes as well—prior to reading the
Age of Madness would benefit your reading experience of both
A Little Hatred and
The Trouble With Peace so much. Readers would be missing on so many delicious character backgrounds, impactful dialogues, and intricate world-building contexts if they decided not to read the previous books first. There’s no rush, take your time, buy the new books on release day to support the author, but these new books aren’t going anywhere. True, the main story is centered on the new characters, but many important side characters in this trilogy were major characters in the previous books that still play a role in enhancing the story and the rich universe that Abercrombie has built for the past fourteen years.
“We’re all like children, Rikke. The older you get, the more you realize the grown-ups won’t suddenly walk in and set things right. You want things right, you have to put ‘em right yourself.”
“With your bones and your brains, eh?”
“And your heart, Rikke. And your heart.”
Politicking, conspiracy, engaging dialogues, and superb characterizations weren’t the only great things that this book has to offer. It’s not another volume in
The First Law World if it were to miss its wonderfully vicious action sequences, and by the dead did Abercrombie delivered spectacularly. There’s a possibility, in an epic fantasy novel, that when the POV suddenly changes to non-main characters, the particular chapter could end up being boring or less interesting, this isn’t the case with Abercrombie. If you’ve read
Last Argument of Kings and beyond, you should know by now that a chapter where Abercrombie starts using non-main characters POV to tell his story IS the chapter where things descent into chaos, madness, and brutal violence. I love how this has started to become a standard to expect in
The First Law World, and Abercrombie’s depiction of destruction and fatalities in one scene through the eyes of many characters were magnificent.
“A man is measured by his enemies. Worthy ones can be more missed than friends… Magic fades from the world but, in truth, most problem have always been better solved with a few sharp words. Or a little sharp steel.”
For example, there was a chapter in this book where we see an event occurred from the perspective of one character at first. The narrative then immediately proceeds to rewind and show the same scene again, but this time from the eyes of a different character in the same location. This was repeated several times within this one chapter, and each rewind and reenaction brought a new compelling, vivid, and cinematic reading experience. There’s a chapter titled
Little People that exhibits this clever narrative structure again. The explosive last quarter in
The Trouble With Peace was Abercrombie’s action sequences at his best; crushing, merciless, chaotic, and intense. Can injustice be vanquished? Can the characters survive the terrifying ordeal they faced? I’ll let you find out for yourself.
“I must confess I have always had some sympathy with villains. Heroism makes fine entertainment but sooner or later someone has to get things done.”
“Well-written villains, maybe. You wouldn’t believe Wetterlant in a book! How the hell does a man end up like that?”
“Being given everything he wants all his life. Being asked for nothing in return.”
Same with practically everyone in the world, the year 2020 has been one hell of a difficult year, maybe even the worst year ever for some people. It’s good to know that, at the very least, literature managed to uphold one law in grimdark fantasy escapism, and that is Joe Abercrombie still remains as one of the greatest modern fantasy writers. I have no doubt that when
The Trouble With Peace invades the library of Abercrombie’s fans, it will—once again and unsurprisingly—satisfy their craving for an excellent grim, dark novel.
The Trouble With Peace is that it doesn't last.
The Trouble With Peace is that it’s Abercrombie's newest book, which means that we have to wait again for his next book to be published. I’ve read everything in
The First Law World, that’s eight full novels and one collection of short stories, and I can’t get enough of this series.
The Trouble With Peace is a marvelous sequel by a grimdark fantasy novelist at the top of his craft; Abercrombie might truly end up becoming THE best grimdark novelist of all time. I can’t wait to find out how this trilogy concludes; the third and last book of the
Age of Madness trilogy has been written, and it’s currently scheduled to be released on September 2021. Follow the wisdom of crowds; be wise, and invest your time and money on this series.
“An investor must know an opportunity when she sees it, must judge the risks and rewards in an instant, and if one outweighs the other pounce upon it, commit without delay, without regret, without sentiment.”
Official release date: 15th September 2020You can pre-order the book from: Amazon UK | Amazon US | Book Depository (Free shipping)The quotes in this review were taken from an ARC and are subject to change upon publication.You can find this and the rest of my reviews at Novel NotionsSpecial thanks to my Patrons on Patreon for giving me extra support towards my passion for reading and reviewing!
My Patrons: Alfred, Alya, Annabeth, Devin, Hamad, Jimmy Nutts, Joie, Mike, Miracle, Nicholas, Zoe.
Rating: really liked it
Check out my new youtube channel where I show my instant reactions to reading fantasy books seconds after I finish the book. A truly wonderful follow-up in what is turning into one of the greatest fantasy series of all timeI'm running out of words to describe how much I love Joe Abercrombie's books. Every time a new one is released, it seems he clicks a little higher on my "favorite fantasy author" list, and this book was no exception. This book did what is exceptionally rare in a fantasy trilogy, it didn't fall for any of the traps that middle books typically have. It was full of action, gave solid developments across the board, delivered resolutions to some others, and left the reader extremely excited for the final book.
I absolutely love Abercrombie's telling of a "revolution" type story here, and it's probably the best I've read in the fantasy genre. It's so well done, and feels simultaneously real and joyfully ridiculous.
The cast of characters in this series are turning out to be every bit as good as the cast in the first trilogy, and it really blows me away how Abercrombie continues to develop truly unique characters, who have a healthy dose of "grey" to their moral compass, and feel extremely entertaining.
I've heard some people say this series isn't quite as good as the first trilogy, but so far after two books I thoroughly disagree. The first trilogy was a 5/5, this one is somehow a 6/5.
Rating: really liked it
Full Video Review Here: https://youtu.be/dgR-1B4PR4U
Spoiler Talk Here: https://youtu.be/_fRMqPV_Lvo
I read a copy of The Trouble With Peace via ARC provided by the publisher (Hachette Book Group/Orbit U.S.) for an honest review.
It's difficult for anyone to take my First Law reviews at face value because they know that I am a huge Joe Abercrombie fan. What they might not know is that I can be extremely objective when I put on the "book review goggles." And that's what were going to do here.
The Trouble With Peace picks up not long after the end of A Little Hatred and continues to develop this next generation of First Law characters Abercrombie formed there. What is different this go around versus what we saw last time is those characters take the spotlight. The classic characters that remain are very much tertiary characters this go around and it feels like the torch has been sufficiently passed without ever disrespecting those beloved characters.
But if you think you had the story direction figured out for this new trilogy in A Little Hatred, I'm here to tell you to throw those expectations out of the window. This book has the usual levels of shock, death, gore, explicit content, and "oh my god!" twists, but it's some of the POV character decisions this time that are surprising. It's nothing new in a Joe Abercrombie book to say you can't distinguish who is good or who is bad, but this go around the characters are so grey you might need to turn on an extra light while you read.
Rikke, Leo, and Savine have crazy character arcs this go around that I certainly didn't expect to see go the way that they did. Whereas Clover, Vick, and Broad continue to evolve from the characters that were established before. And, if you even have to ask, the body count is high.
Some Easter eggs for longtime First Law fans will be noticeable early. For the "should I read the standalone books?" crowd, Best Served Cold is almost required reading for this one to fully grasp who some of these characters are. But in the end, if A Little Hatred wasn't really your bag, this probably won't be the book to change your mind. If you're all in on this world Joe has created, it'll feel like putting back on that favorite pair of faded blue jeans.
Rating: really liked it
4.5 Stars ⭐️ Loved it!
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
Rating: really liked it
SchemingThe fantasy world that Joe Abercrombie created going back to the First Law trilogy is astounding in its depth and detail of history, society, politics and culture. The diverse array of characters come alive through dialogue, conveying a vivid sense of mood, thought, ambitions, fears and opportunities. Even with hard-fought position and power, there is a fragility in a world where trust and loyalty and rare. Their world is gradually becoming industrialised and gives us thought about greed, and for every wealthy person, there are hundreds of poor.
The main characters from the first book
A Little Hatred (part of the
Age of Madness Trilogy), return in
The Trouble with Peace, with a journey ahead of them that will see their growth into adulthood and the positions they were fated to become. Some are uneasy with their new standing and commitments, like Orso, who is King but apprehensive in the duties and requirements of the office, or Leo dan Brock, leader of Angland, also uneasy with the weight of responsibility. Both were previously carefree characters who enjoyed drinking, laughing and fighting. Savine dan Glokta, daughter of Sand dan Glokta (famous from the First Law Trilogy), is a brilliant character and has fallen from grace and reputation. She is pregnant with a bastard child, yet her enduring determination drives her forward. Rikke is another brilliantly drawn mystical character with new power to see images of the future through a talent called, The Long Eye. Rikke gives the narrative another dimension of impending doom and menace and that exciting touch of supernatural.
In a world where power is fragile and neighbouring lands maintain an uneasy peace, forces seek to recapture ground lost to the Union in previous battles. The fighting leader of the North, Stour Nightfall, continues his preparation and plotting to reclaim land from the Union. The conspiracies and scheming are deftly built from outside the Union lands and close to home. There is one thing for sure there is always a
Trouble with Peace in this world, and the politics and its machinations will eventually succumb to the ferocity of battle and the inevitable destruction ahead. The power of Abercrombie's battle scenes is outstanding and an explicit aspect of what makes these books so enthralling and visual.
I would highly recommend this epic fantasy and series. I would be surprised if any fantasy fans didn't get completely enthralled in the storyline and invested in fascinating and compelling characters. Abercrombie is one of the top fantasy authors today, and I am still bewildered why this hasn't been dramatised for TV or film. Maybe it's underway, and I just haven't heard about it, but if not, Why Not?
I want to thank Orion Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy in return for an honest review.
Rating: really liked it
I received an uncorrected proof copy of The Trouble with Peace in exchange for an honest review. I would like to thank both Joe Abercrombie and Gollancz.
Following on from the dramatic events that concluded A Little Hatred, we return to the First Law world whilst it is enjoying a period of relatively peaceful times. Although Abercrombie is the master of defying our expectations and misleading the reader, even for him, everything remaining peaceful for a whole book would have been a step too far. Orso with his newfound power and responsibilities has to now deal with the Union's politics and becomes aware that not all is rosy on his advising councils. The Breakers and Burners are still rubbing their wounds but their need for change and revolution is still a flame that has not been extinguished. Also, with characters such as the Young Lion, the Great Wolf, Gunnar Broad, Vick dan Teufel, Clover, Savine dan Glokta, and Caul Shivers frequenting the pages the drama was inevitable.
There are so many standout moments throughout The Trouble with Peace that it is incredible that Abercrombie was able to fit them all within a 500-page book. The only negative thing about receiving an early copy of this novel is that I can't discuss these scenes with anyone yet, and I'm not mean-spirited enough to spoil these awesome events. Calling them spectacular is not an over-exaggeration. Furthermore, when I believed that it couldn't get any better, the last three chapters are delivered. Abercrombie really knows how to end a novel. In A Trouble with Peace, he absolutely nails it.
For me, Abercrombie's greatest gift to his readers is his characters. We follow the same point of views as A Little Hatred. All flawed, all likeable, often frustratingly so as many shouldn't be at all. My favourite perspective to follow was that of Orso. Throughout The Trouble with Peace, he is really developing into something special. Rikke's sections deserve a special mention too, especially the dreamlike Long Eye segments when they occur. If I force myself to be overtly critical then I would say my least favourite viewpoint was that of Vick's. Truthfully though, that isn't really a negative in a company so fine as her perspective presents some great moments too, including one with an assassin. In addition to the 7-or so points of view, which sometimes change mid-chapter, certain extremely important events are presented through the eyes of many different side characters or very minor players to give a fully 360-degree immersive experience of these happenings. It's deftly done.
The author writes war and battle scenes unlike anyone else I've read. They are marvellous, intense, sometimes tragic, and extremely gritty. Often injected with completely unheroic actions, hopelessness, and humour too. The Trouble with Peace has many humorous scenes in general but to find something that happens amusing when it's shadowed by chaos and death definitely plays with the emotions. I even chuckled when reading the kindly included Dramatis Personae. An example is as follows:
Downside - one of Clover's warriors, with a bad habit of killing men on his own side.
The cover of my copy of The Trouble with Peace features the words conspiracy, betrayal and rebellion and this is a great summary of what the book is about. The story completely exceeded my high expectations and I enjoyed it even more than A Little Hatred. It features stunning dialogue and wit and has memorable characters who leap off the page to attack your emotions. It's a story that I know will stay with me for a long time. To conclude, I'll simply say that The Trouble with Peace is a masterwork of grimdark fantasy by an author who is one of the finest that the genre has to offer.
Rating: really liked it
Instead of reviewing i will simply describe some of the povs
Orso: my beloved 🤧 i want good things for him he’s trying his best
Rikke: in her girlboss era we love to see it
Savine: smart person making the world’s most idiotic decisions
Leo: the most homophobic gay sub I’ve ever seen
Broad: fighting makes him horny? also ptsd. Why does he have dedicated pov chapters?
Vick: still not compelling in the slightest why is she still here
Clover: i love this guy!
Rating: really liked it
What to say about this book and series? I'm beginning to run out of words to describe the excellence of these stories and this author. Joe Abercrombie's First Law trilogy, for those who are unaware, is my second favorite fantasy series of all-time only behind Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn by Tad Williams. But I have to say that after reading the second book in Abercrombie's follow-up series THE TROUBLE WITH PEACE, it is going to be really difficult to choose which one belongs in that #2 slot.
This book picked up not too long after the events that concluded A Little Hatred. There is much turmoil and dissent as The Union struggles to maintain its tenuous hold on power. Plots of overthrow continue to brew in seclusion from the outlaw group The Breakers and many like them. The Union finds itself threatened not only from these outside groups but also from within as there are some who do not agree with the harsh method of rule that King Orso has instituted among the Open Council. In order to maintain his slipping grip he has decided that benevolence is not exactly the way to go.
There are also whispers that the Great Wolf of the North Stour Nightfall is plotting his own attack to reclaim Union taken land. Taking a cue from his predecessor Bethod, Nightfall believes he can succeed in this endeavor and his arrogance and ruthlessness knows no bounds. He only knows one way to lead: by crushing his opponents and anyone in his own ranks who may disagree with his unusually cruel methods. The time is quickly approaching were talk is cheap and words will eventually necessitate action. The only question is whether or not Nightfall has the wits and the manpower to outwit a very formidable foe to the south in The Union and its allies.
Meanwhile, Savine dan Glokta, daughter of the famed inquisitor Sand Dan Glokta, has ambitions of her own. Savine has identified a path through an advantageous marriage and also her own hard-earned connections, that will enable her to gain back her tarnished reputation and climb to the highest rungs of Union investments once again. One can't help but feel that when all is said and done, Savine will use whoever and whatever she needs to win against those who would try to test her and bring her down.
This is definitely a different book from the first one. There is a great deal more political maneuvering and back-stabbing in THE TROUBLE WITH PEACE that I found an enjoyable change of pace. I've said before that Joe Abercrombie doesn't get enough credit for how well he writes political stuff because his dialogue and characters are so brilliantly done. But in this book that part of his craft really shines and we get to see just how multi-layered and unpredictable the plots between the different factions in the story are. There is no way to tell who is 100% on one side or the other because these characters can switch allegiance with every considerable bribe or threat, and often do.
That's not to say that this book suffers from middle book syndrome at all. Yes there is absolutely a sense of chess pieces moving and being set up for the finale, but this book had plenty of action and intrigue to more than stand on its own as a terrifically entertaining story. In all honesty, I think I liked this book slightly more than A Little Hatred. I think part of this was the fact that the new characters and descendants of the main players from First Law have already been introduced and we are more familiar with their personalities and motivations in this one.
I can't review a Joe Abercrombie book without touching on the extraordinary dialogue. There is simply nobody better in my opinion at writing dialogue than this guy. And this book is no exception I'm happy to say. I know that when I read an Abercrombie book there are always going to be a number of scenes that will blow me away with how effortless and witty the conversations are. I could quote some of them but there are just too many to pick from. Abercrombie has a knack for conveying a character's mood without needing to describe it explicitly, but rather, just by the way the words are delivered. You can almost see the facial expression of each character in your mind as you are reading. It's something that is extremely hard to do and can't be taught, Joe just has it.
This is even more brilliantly handled via the use of one character in particular, Rikke. Possessed with a talent called The Long Eye, which enables her to see flashes of the future, this book utilizes those flashes to create a foreboding series of events that may or may not come to pass. Not even Rikke fully knows. These flashes are ambiguous enough that it is somewhat tough to piece together what might happen, yet shed a tiny glimpse at enough specifics that they almost force you to try and figure it all out. The problem is you can't really do it and I think this is part of the plan so that when book 3 delivers the ultimate climax, we will all be shaking our heads saying, "Oh yeah! how did I miss that?" This was an element that really raised the book to another level in my opinion. Just an added dimension to wrap your head around and think about between reading sessions.
I don't give out perfect ratings very often, but I feel like this one most certainly deserves it. When a book makes you think about it at the dinner table, while mowing the lawn, in the shower (sorry for that image), then that's a bloody fantastic book. There aren't many that can engender that type of obsession from me. But when one does, it is truly worthy of recognition and that simply can't be denied. I don't think I have the patience to wait for book 3 of this series because what I just read was a reading experience the likes of which don't come around very often. And the cliffhanger was just too much to take. I just hope that time moves quickly so that I can read the ending of this series as soon as possible. I recommend starting with the First Law trilogy before diving into this one. You will get so much more out of the story knowing the history and background from those books. But you need to do it because Joe Abercrombie is in top form right now and continues to pump out tremendous books to happily devour.
Rating: really liked it
SO EXCITED THAT WE GOT TO INTERVIEW JOE ABERCROMBIE! Check it out here - JOE ABERCROMBIE INTERVIEW
I now have a YouTube channel that I run with my brother, called 'The Brothers Gwynne'. Check it out - The Brothers Gwynne “Surprise makes brave men cowards, strong men weak, wise men fools.”I believed that The Age of Madness could not live up to the original trilogy, but I was wrong. There are so many genius character moments, as well as some of the most memorable set pieces that I have ever had the pleasure to read. Joe Abercrombie really is a master of his craft and he proved so again in The Trouble With Peace.
As I do not want to repeat what I have said in my reviews for every single other Joe Abercrombie work, I will keep this bit short. He is a king of prose. He utilises basically every word to further the characterisation, tone and atmosphere, with a great diversity that enforces how varied his characters are. If you want a more expansive evaluation of his prose, you can read one of my earlier reviews to find out my thoughts :).
“A man is measured by his enemies. Worthy ones can be more missed than friends.”The perspectives that we are introduced to in A Little Hatred shine here. I really enjoyed A Little Hatred, and really loved some of the characters. But not all of them. In this second instalment, I thought everyone had numerous moments where they could shine, with Leo, Rikke and Orso sticking out in my mind. They are absolutely fantastic. The contrast between Orso and Leo when they meet is absolutely hilarious, and Rikke operating in the north and rising more into the role of leadership was executed brilliantly.
“Everyone should forgive themselves, Vick.” He gave her wrist another squeeze then let her go, looking out towards the lake again. “After all… no one else will.”Joe Abercrombie has succeeded in crafting some of the greatest action sequences that I have ever read. In The Trouble With Peace he adds to that ever expanding list. The culmination was SO AWESOME! Another battle, but so different to what has come before. There were so many surprises and so many little moments that showed the brutality of the conflict, the nativity of some of our characters, and the scale that this story has risen to. Absolutely fantastic!
The Trouble With Peace does not really take us to new lands, but it builds on what has already been presented in the First Law world. One of the many advantages of the incredible characters is that it means that the settings are fresh as we see it through different eyes.
“Winning teaches you nothing,” said Tunny. “You see what a man really is when he loses.” The Trouble of Peace is amongst my favourite Joe Abercrombie works, and that is very high praise indeed! It succeeds in every arena and sets up the final instalment fantastically.
5/5 STARS
Rating: really liked it
Well, goddamn. I’m reeling.
{update 27/09}
I'm supposed to have written a review for this by now but I just don't know where to start....
Rating: really liked it
Phenomenal, though Abercrombie always is. This was my first time listening to a First Law audiobook, however, and I think I'm hooked. Steven Pacey's narration is absolutely incredible.
Rating: really liked it
My brother and I were lucky enough to interview JOE ABERCROMBIE!. Check it out! Joe Abercrombie INTERVIEWI loved this book so much and I couldn't be more hyped for Wisdom of Crowds if I changed my name to Ed Tenways, started carrying knives and tattooed runes around my eyes.
Rating: really liked it
"If you want to change the world, sometimes you have to burn it down."I just let out a breath I didn't realize I had been holding..
Personal rating: 3.5
Rating: really liked it
Ah, Father Grimdark, you bless us with another entry in the world of the
First Law trilogy. This series takes place after his first trilogy and after all the standalone books. Joe Abercrombie brings a vast cast together of returning characters and their progeny as well as new characters in this series. This is the second book of the new trilogy, and I kept putting off reading this book for some reason even though I really enjoyed the first book.
We follow a vast array of character POVs returning from the first book of the series. A people’s rebellion quelled, a truce between the kingdoms to the north, and the death of the king are where we left off after the first as well as an end to an illicit romance. We follow the aftermath with some political maneuvering with a council of Lords displeased with new king, Orso, and the power behind him. Rikke finds herself at a loss when her father dies, leaving no one to run the kingdom with the rest of the north breathing down their neck.
Savine elopes with Leo, who is now considered a hero among nobles and commoners alike. He blatantly gets manipulated to being at odds with Orso, and plots with other lords to overthrow the current administration while trying to keep it a secret to his loved ones until it is too late. Husband and wife plot treason by trying to recruit allies in the north and in surrounding kingdoms. Orso and his limited allies must once again try to prevent a rebellion. Except this time, they are not going to be an ill-equipped rabble like the last rebellion that he put down.
I must confess, I forgot some of the characters and POVs we followed from the first book. That probably partly contributed to how slow the first part of the book felt for me with all the POVs jumping around such as with Broad, Clover, and Vick. There are these rare chapters that the author injects into scenes full of tension where it follows many random POVs of background characters.
They interconnect with each other to truly explore all perspectives of an event each with their own unique personality somehow conveyed across sometimes less than a page before going onto the next character. The author had two of these interspersed in the book, and the first one is what jump-started the story for me.
The characters and their development are really what makes the author’s novels great. Orso was a wastrel in the first novel, but is forced to mature and think of others. I didn’t like his POV in the first novel as much, but I enjoyed it in this novel. Savine was probably my favorite POV in the first novel, but I did not like her in this one with what direction her POV went.
Rikke had some confusing chapters at first with the mysticism surrounding her, but she ended up being my favorite POV with how she evolved as a character. Vick took a while to get into, but again I enjoyed her POV as it was a fascinating character study. Broad and Clover were just kind of there for me with Broad’s POV being boring in a lot of places.
I’m writing this POV separately to show just how much I hated the character, Leo dan Brock. The author really did do his best in making me hate this character. Oh boy, could I ever explain this character with colorful language. Just as a disclaimer, I am writing this after reading the final book, so some vitriol is a result of that bleeding through, and I will most likely rant about him even more in that review.
Leo is the classical hero trope in fantasy stories who is pretty much worshipped after beating Stour Nightfall in a duel (though the general public doesn’t know how Leo needed help as he was being completely overwhelmed in the fight). Leo is pompous with a huge ego with a splash of homophobia (even though it is obvious to the reader that he lusts after his male friend) and mixed with some casual racism.
He believes in his glory too much and consistently sabotages himself later on with his swelled-up pride. Even though I loathe the character, I appreciate how much of a well-written character and how Joe Abercrombie dissects and warps the trope of him especially in the last book. The reader in the end is supposed to hate him as a lot of his moments are leeched from the people supporting him such as his mother, his friends, Rikke, and even Savine.
The prose was wonderful, and you could definitely tell how much of a better writer Joe Abercrombie became with this trilogy. The chapter amidst the big battle was done so well by capturing the scope of the battle with POVs of background characters that let you see all of their struggles. Each of his characters were unique and flawed. He plays with tropes and subverts them. The ending though of this book was so terrific for me that it made me want to pick up the last book immediately (which I did of course).
Some of the ending shocked me while the others parts I saw coming but made me feel giddy. If you have read enough Joe Abercrombie though, then you know that a good ending that fulfills your wishes and expectations just means that the final ending of the series is going to be grandiose and stick with you for weeks to follow. It most likely won’t be a happy ending for most characters. Here is to hoping I am wrong.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book, especially the last half. This series can be enjoyed without reading the standalone novels and even the original trilogy, but you miss out on Easter eggs and supporting characters fleshed out in prior novels. I recommend this book to grimdark fantasy lovers and low-fantasy lovers. Be warned that if you are looking for the Bloody Nine to make his appearance in this series then you will be disappointed so far.
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Rating: really liked it
“A bank with a reputation for mercy is like a whore with a reputation for chastity—one fears they won’t get the job done. The Trouble with Peace is a great sequel to A Little Hatred, this picked up six months after the incident of the first book with our protagonists trying to get used to their new roles. Orso is now king, Rikke's long eye is driving her crazy, Leo don't fancy peacetime and Savine is suffering from PTSD after the events at Velbeck.
If I’ve learned one thing, it’s that there’s rarely any need to wade into the bitter ocean for your vengeance. It’ll wash up on the shore soon enough.” Things was going surprisingly well but like the title suggests the peace didn't last. The breakers are now more resilient than before, Orso's hold on the nobles isn't strong enough, given how he spent his youth, it's no surprise.
Stour Nightfall is not contented with being the king of the North, he still wants the protectorate. I love how Rikke handled everything with him.
“Enemies are like furniture, aren’t they? Better chosen for oneself than inherited.” After reading eight books across three series by Joe Abercrombie he is yet to disappoint me, apart from Red Country, that's one dislike in eight books, that's how good he is. He still improves in his work, the stories and characters, no one writes Grimdark like him. The world building is awesome same goes for the writing.
The book is written in third person multiple POV of the main characters, at first I didn't enjoy the POV of the characters in the north at first but that changed when Rikke stopped been the pitiable girl to the strong woman in the world of men, now that's a turnover.
Orso is another character that I enjoyed his development, he was from indecisive to a strong king in a time of war, he's way smarter than people give him credit for.
Savine disappointed me in this, what exactly was she thinking will happen, can't wait for the backlash of what her decisions caused.
Leo is an arrogant idiot, like how can someone be this gullible, Savine that was supposed to help him let ambition get the better of her.
Clover is still a traitorous bastard and I dislike him, how can one person have that long trail of people he betrayed.
