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First Law World #7
Sharp Ends
The Union army may be full of bastards, but there's only one who thinks he can save the day single-handed when the Gurkish come calling: the incomparable Colonel Sand dan Glokta.
Curnden Craw and his dozen are out to recover a mysterious item from beyond the Crinna. Only one small problem: no one seems to know what the item is.
Shevedieh, the self-styled best thief in Styria, lurches from disaster to catastrophe alongside her best friend and greatest enemy, Javre, Lioness of Hoskopp.
And after years of bloodshed, the idealistic chieftain Bethod is desperate to bring peace to the North. There's only one obstacle left - his own lunatic champion, the most feared man in the North: the Bloody-Nine . . .
Sharp Ends combines previously published, award-winning tales with exclusive new short stories. Violence explodes, treachery abounds, and the words are as deadly as the weapons in this rogue's gallery of side-shows, back-stories, and sharp endings from the world of the First Law.
'Joe Abercrombie is doing some terrific work' George R. R. Martin
'Delightfully twisted and evil' Guardian
'Joe Abercrombie has written the finest epic fantasy in recent memory.' Junot Diaz, Pulitzer Prize Winner, on Red Country
'Joe Abercrombie is probably the brightest star among the new generation of British fantasy writers ...' The Times
304 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 26, 2016
1459 people are currently reading
21575 people want to read
About the author
Joe Abercrombie
94 books34.9k followersJoe Abercrombie was educated at Lancaster Royal Grammar School and Manchester University, where he studied psychology. He moved into television production before taking up a career as a freelance film editor. During a break between jobs he began writing The Blade Itself in 2002, completing it in 2004. It was published by Gollancz in 2006 and was followed by two other books in The First Law trilogy, Before They Are Hanged and Last Argument of Kings. He currently lives and works in London with his wife and daughter. In early 2008 Joe Abercrombie was one of the contributors to the BBC Worlds of Fantasy series, alongside other contributors such as Michael Moorcock, Terry Pratchett and China Mieville.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,121 reviews
July 18, 2022
3.5/5 Stars
Sharp Ends, the ultimate collection of tales from The First Law World by Joe Abercrombie, is a great dessert to provide insights and background for most of the previously established characters in the past six novels.
Picture: My complete collection of Joe Abercrombie’s The First Law World
Generally speaking, I am not a fan of short stories. Whether the short story is on its own or compiled into a collection, I will almost always prefer reading novels. However, there’s simply no way I’m missing any stories in The First Law World. The First Law World is one of my favorite series of all time, especially The First Law Trilogy which sparked my love for reading grimdark fantasy novels.
And unlike most collections of short stories, there seems to be a sense of continuity structure in Sharp Ends that enhanced my reading experience. The separate stories were told in chronological order, and in the center of Sharp Ends, a superb female duo that goes by the name of Javre and Shev made their appearances several times as if they were the main characters of this collection.
Picture: Sharp Ends by Raymond Swanland
Below is my mini spoiler-free review on each story contained in this collection.
A Beautiful Bastard (Kadir, Spring 566, nine years before the events in The Blade Itself): 4.5/5 stars
Told from Salem Lew’s POV, this was a wonderful short story to start off the collection by letting us see a glimpse of Sand dan Glokta’s life before he became the crippled torturer we know. Some other characters from the series also appeared here in their much younger days. West, Tunny, and Valimir specifically. I am ranking this as the second best short story in this collection. I mean, come on... it’s Sand dan Glokta's younger days! It's our beloved torturer here!
Small Kindnesses (Westport, Autumn 573, two years before the events in The Blade Itself): 4/5 Stars
Small Kindnesses is the first short story in the collection depicting the encounter between Javre, the Lioness of Hoskopp, and Shevedieh, the thief who tries to find redemption. This is the beginning of the duo I mentioned earlier, and it's very well written and fun to read.
Picture: Small Kindnesses by Raymond Swanland
The Fool Jobs (East of the Crinna, Autumn 574, one year before the events in The Blade Itself): 3/5 stars
A decent short story in a day of Curnden Craw, one of the main characters from The Heroes. Together with his crew, Curnden Craw has been sent on a mission to recover a ‘thing.' It is good to see the faces of Craw and his crew once again here, but there is nothing too memorable about the story itself.
Skipping Town (The Near Country, Summer 575, same year with the events in The Blade Itself): 3/5 stars
Skipping Town is the second story featuring the female duo, Javre and Shev, on another day of bad luck and disaster. Like the first short story, it was entertaining to read and filled with actions. However, I did find the story way too short for my liking.
Hell (Dagoska, Spring 576, same year with the events in Before They Are Hanged): 3.5/5 stars
I seriously didn’t expect to see Temple, one of the main characters in Red Country, in this story. Hell is a short story that takes place during the time of the events told in Before They Are Hanged, specifically on the siege of Dagoska. It was a great addition to Temple’s character to see how hellish the siege was through his POV back when he was young.
Picture: Hell by Raymond Swanland
Two’s Company (Somewhere in the North, Summer 576, same year with the events in Before They Are Hanged): 4/5 stars
Two's Company is the third story in the collection that features the female duo again. One of the better short stories in Sharp Ends. It was hilarious, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading the duo's encounter with Cracknut Whirrun, which you will know if you have read The Heroes.
Picture: Two’s Company by Tommy Arnold
Wrong Place, Wrong Time (Styria, 580, same year with the events in Best Served Cold): 3.5/5 stars
Looking at the repercussion of Monza’s vengeance in Styria through the perspective of three random people was a nice touch; the highlight, of course, is to see a bit more of Bremer dan Gorst here.
Some Desperado (The Near Country, Summer 584, same year with the events in The Heroes): 1.5/5 stars
Meh.. just meh. I am already not a fan of Western stories. And Shy South, the most boring main character that Abercrombie has ever created has returned as the main character here. I sincerely hope in the future Abercrombie doesn’t visit this setting or characters on the Western side anymore. Unless, of course, the story is something to do with Lamb.
Yesterday (Near Barden, Autumn 584, same year with the events in The Heroes): 3.5/5 stars
Taking place closely before the war happened in The Heroes, and in a way that is similar to it, Abercrombie did a great job in showing the merciless effect of war on both sides. Also, we have more insight into Gorst’s personality, which is always a plus in my book.
Three’s a Crowd (Talins, Autumn 587, three years after the events in The Heroes): 4/5 stars
The fourth story in Sharp Ends with the duo of Javre and Shev as the main characters. This time, the narrative took a different approach from their previous stories. The previous three stories were all hilarious and fun to read, but here we finally get the emotional factors. Abercrombie showcased the duo’s feelings after their journey together over the past 14 years. Also, this story can be said as a little epilogue to Best Served Cold, and we get to see some of the familiar faces from the stand-alone trilogies making an appearance here.
Freedom (Averstock, Summer 590, same years with the events in Red Country): 3/5 stars
Abercrombie's prose remains great as always, and I enjoyed reading the experimentation in the storytelling direction. However, I did not care too much about the plot, which is basically a retelling of Averstock liberation in propaganda and exaggeration about Nicomo Cosca.
Picture: Freedom by Raymond Swanland
Tough Times All Over (Sipani, Spring 592, two years after the events in Red Country): 3.5/5 stars
Chronologically, this is the farthest story in the Tales from The First Law world. This is the fifth and also the last story featuring the main duo of Sharp Ends. The story takes place two years after the end of Red Country in Sipani. It contained a beautiful flow to the narrative imbued with Abercrombie's trademark consecutive shifting point of view, but I felt it's also a bit anticlimactic end to Javre and Shev's story.
Made a Monster (Carleon, Summer 570, five years before the events in The Blade Itself): 5/5 stars
One of the best short stories I have read. Told from Bethod’s POV about his relationship with Logen and how he tried to gain peace. Made a Monster is an exceptional story to close Sharp Ends. In my opinion, it is definitely the best title out of the collection. It is thrilling, bittersweet, and gory. Lastly, plenty of the beloved catchphrases from Logen Ninefingers/The Bloody Nine also exist here. Overall, it is exactly how a short story in The First Law World should be written. Brilliant. Enough said.
Picture: Made a Monster by Raymond Swanland
Sharp Ends: 46/65 Stars
Like all collections of short stories, there will be some bad ones, good ones, and great ones. Sharp Ends is not an exception. However, it does not change the fact that this is a must-read for all fans of The First Law World and Joe Abercrombie's books. I still cannot believe that I won’t have any more books from this world to read until maybe 2019. I have read every book Abercrombie has written for the past ten years in The First Law World in less than a year. Excluding the short stories in this collection, which are not a fair comparison to the main novels, none of the other six main novels received anything less than 4 stars rating from me. Not to mention that five of them are included in my list of favorite books. Until the new trilogy surfaces, here is one last philosophical quote to end my journey so far in The First Law World.
You can find this and the rest of my reviews at Novel Notions | I also have a Booktube channel
Special thanks to my Patrons on Patreon for giving me extra support towards my passion for reading and reviewing!
My Patrons: Alfred, Andrew, Andrew W, Amanda, Annabeth, Diana, Dylan, Edward, Elias, Ellen, Ellis, Gary, Hamad, Helen, Jimmy Nutts, Joie, Luis, Lufi, Melinda, Meryl, Mike, Miracle, Nanette, Neeraja, Nicholas, Reno, Samuel, Sarah, Sarah, Scott, Shawna, Xero, Wendy, Wick, Zoe.
Sharp Ends, the ultimate collection of tales from The First Law World by Joe Abercrombie, is a great dessert to provide insights and background for most of the previously established characters in the past six novels.
Picture: My complete collection of Joe Abercrombie’s The First Law World
Generally speaking, I am not a fan of short stories. Whether the short story is on its own or compiled into a collection, I will almost always prefer reading novels. However, there’s simply no way I’m missing any stories in The First Law World. The First Law World is one of my favorite series of all time, especially The First Law Trilogy which sparked my love for reading grimdark fantasy novels.
And unlike most collections of short stories, there seems to be a sense of continuity structure in Sharp Ends that enhanced my reading experience. The separate stories were told in chronological order, and in the center of Sharp Ends, a superb female duo that goes by the name of Javre and Shev made their appearances several times as if they were the main characters of this collection.
Picture: Sharp Ends by Raymond Swanland
Below is my mini spoiler-free review on each story contained in this collection.
A Beautiful Bastard (Kadir, Spring 566, nine years before the events in The Blade Itself): 4.5/5 stars
Told from Salem Lew’s POV, this was a wonderful short story to start off the collection by letting us see a glimpse of Sand dan Glokta’s life before he became the crippled torturer we know. Some other characters from the series also appeared here in their much younger days. West, Tunny, and Valimir specifically. I am ranking this as the second best short story in this collection. I mean, come on... it’s Sand dan Glokta's younger days! It's our beloved torturer here!
Small Kindnesses (Westport, Autumn 573, two years before the events in The Blade Itself): 4/5 Stars
Small Kindnesses is the first short story in the collection depicting the encounter between Javre, the Lioness of Hoskopp, and Shevedieh, the thief who tries to find redemption. This is the beginning of the duo I mentioned earlier, and it's very well written and fun to read.
“Kindness always brings kindness in the long run.”
Picture: Small Kindnesses by Raymond Swanland
The Fool Jobs (East of the Crinna, Autumn 574, one year before the events in The Blade Itself): 3/5 stars
A decent short story in a day of Curnden Craw, one of the main characters from The Heroes. Together with his crew, Curnden Craw has been sent on a mission to recover a ‘thing.' It is good to see the faces of Craw and his crew once again here, but there is nothing too memorable about the story itself.
Skipping Town (The Near Country, Summer 575, same year with the events in The Blade Itself): 3/5 stars
Skipping Town is the second story featuring the female duo, Javre and Shev, on another day of bad luck and disaster. Like the first short story, it was entertaining to read and filled with actions. However, I did find the story way too short for my liking.
Hell (Dagoska, Spring 576, same year with the events in Before They Are Hanged): 3.5/5 stars
I seriously didn’t expect to see Temple, one of the main characters in Red Country, in this story. Hell is a short story that takes place during the time of the events told in Before They Are Hanged, specifically on the siege of Dagoska. It was a great addition to Temple’s character to see how hellish the siege was through his POV back when he was young.
Picture: Hell by Raymond Swanland
Two’s Company (Somewhere in the North, Summer 576, same year with the events in Before They Are Hanged): 4/5 stars
Two's Company is the third story in the collection that features the female duo again. One of the better short stories in Sharp Ends. It was hilarious, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading the duo's encounter with Cracknut Whirrun, which you will know if you have read The Heroes.
Picture: Two’s Company by Tommy Arnold
Wrong Place, Wrong Time (Styria, 580, same year with the events in Best Served Cold): 3.5/5 stars
Looking at the repercussion of Monza’s vengeance in Styria through the perspective of three random people was a nice touch; the highlight, of course, is to see a bit more of Bremer dan Gorst here.
Some Desperado (The Near Country, Summer 584, same year with the events in The Heroes): 1.5/5 stars
Meh.. just meh. I am already not a fan of Western stories. And Shy South, the most boring main character that Abercrombie has ever created has returned as the main character here. I sincerely hope in the future Abercrombie doesn’t visit this setting or characters on the Western side anymore. Unless, of course, the story is something to do with Lamb.
Yesterday (Near Barden, Autumn 584, same year with the events in The Heroes): 3.5/5 stars
Taking place closely before the war happened in The Heroes, and in a way that is similar to it, Abercrombie did a great job in showing the merciless effect of war on both sides. Also, we have more insight into Gorst’s personality, which is always a plus in my book.
Three’s a Crowd (Talins, Autumn 587, three years after the events in The Heroes): 4/5 stars
The fourth story in Sharp Ends with the duo of Javre and Shev as the main characters. This time, the narrative took a different approach from their previous stories. The previous three stories were all hilarious and fun to read, but here we finally get the emotional factors. Abercrombie showcased the duo’s feelings after their journey together over the past 14 years. Also, this story can be said as a little epilogue to Best Served Cold, and we get to see some of the familiar faces from the stand-alone trilogies making an appearance here.
Freedom (Averstock, Summer 590, same years with the events in Red Country): 3/5 stars
Abercrombie's prose remains great as always, and I enjoyed reading the experimentation in the storytelling direction. However, I did not care too much about the plot, which is basically a retelling of Averstock liberation in propaganda and exaggeration about Nicomo Cosca.
Picture: Freedom by Raymond Swanland
Tough Times All Over (Sipani, Spring 592, two years after the events in Red Country): 3.5/5 stars
Chronologically, this is the farthest story in the Tales from The First Law world. This is the fifth and also the last story featuring the main duo of Sharp Ends. The story takes place two years after the end of Red Country in Sipani. It contained a beautiful flow to the narrative imbued with Abercrombie's trademark consecutive shifting point of view, but I felt it's also a bit anticlimactic end to Javre and Shev's story.
Made a Monster (Carleon, Summer 570, five years before the events in The Blade Itself): 5/5 stars
One of the best short stories I have read. Told from Bethod’s POV about his relationship with Logen and how he tried to gain peace. Made a Monster is an exceptional story to close Sharp Ends. In my opinion, it is definitely the best title out of the collection. It is thrilling, bittersweet, and gory. Lastly, plenty of the beloved catchphrases from Logen Ninefingers/The Bloody Nine also exist here. Overall, it is exactly how a short story in The First Law World should be written. Brilliant. Enough said.
“Within reach of his hand, the Bloody-Nine was master.”
Picture: Made a Monster by Raymond Swanland
Sharp Ends: 46/65 Stars
Like all collections of short stories, there will be some bad ones, good ones, and great ones. Sharp Ends is not an exception. However, it does not change the fact that this is a must-read for all fans of The First Law World and Joe Abercrombie's books. I still cannot believe that I won’t have any more books from this world to read until maybe 2019. I have read every book Abercrombie has written for the past ten years in The First Law World in less than a year. Excluding the short stories in this collection, which are not a fair comparison to the main novels, none of the other six main novels received anything less than 4 stars rating from me. Not to mention that five of them are included in my list of favorite books. Until the new trilogy surfaces, here is one last philosophical quote to end my journey so far in The First Law World.
“But it is easy to speak of the past, impossible to go there.”
You can find this and the rest of my reviews at Novel Notions | I also have a Booktube channel
Special thanks to my Patrons on Patreon for giving me extra support towards my passion for reading and reviewing!
My Patrons: Alfred, Andrew, Andrew W, Amanda, Annabeth, Diana, Dylan, Edward, Elias, Ellen, Ellis, Gary, Hamad, Helen, Jimmy Nutts, Joie, Luis, Lufi, Melinda, Meryl, Mike, Miracle, Nanette, Neeraja, Nicholas, Reno, Samuel, Sarah, Sarah, Scott, Shawna, Xero, Wendy, Wick, Zoe.
June 22, 2016
This was a great collection of twisted short stories. It’s Abercrombie at his best. I’ve reviewed each one individually:
A Beautiful Bastard- 5/5- I feel like I’ve been waiting for this story for a long time. If you’ve read The First Law Trilogy then you’ll know what an ugly bastard Glockta is. He was captured by the enemy and tortured to the point of ruination. As a result, he reaps vengeance on the world, but still serves his country. This story is a glimpse of the Glockta we often hear about; it is a few pages about the man before he was destroyed, and it was delightful.
We hear what Glockta has lost, but to see it is another thing entirely. In his youth he was spectacular. He was a war-hero and a natural leader; he was man full of shinning potential:
“But Glockta was an utter bastard. A beautiful, spiteful, masterful, horrible bastard, simultaneously the best and worse man in the union. He was a tower of self-centred self-obsession. An impenetrable fortress of arrogance……"
So he’s lost so much, but his ability to trudge through the mud, through the piss and shit of life, speaks a great deal about his character. This was the best story in here, and probably the best sixteen pages Abercrombie has written. Well, at least for me. This book is worth a purchase for this story alone.
Small Kindnesses- 4/5- This was a fairly good one; it focuses on a desperate thief trying to survive in this cut-throat world. She gets royally fucked over, but a kindness she did saved her life. This is no glorious deed, an act of selfless sacrifice, but a moment of pity for a fellow survivor. It comes back on her at just the right moment, and, Abercrombie again, demonstrates how brutal his characters can be. This is no fun swords and sorcery, but cold bitter grim-dark in all its gruesomeness.
The Fool Jobs- 2/5- This was very much standard fair. A few warriors engage in some banter then they go kill some people. That’s pretty much it.
Skipping Town-4/5- I’m really starting to like Javre; she’d be perfect for the bloody-nine:
“The Lioness of Hocksopp never uses the back door! “
She appeared in Small Kindnesses and this is the sequel to that story. I really enjoyed this story, a tough female warrior is being haunted by her past; she has left some ancient religious order/ warrior culture and is being hunted for her abandonment. It’s a fun read, but I can’t help but feel that this character is worthy of her own novel.
Hell- 4/5- A city under siege is a terrible place: it is hell. For Temple, Dagoska has always been his home. Now it’s a death trap. And the best thing about this story is seeing it from a fresh perspective. For those of you that don’t know, this siege happened during Before They Were Hanged and it was brutal. Only the brilliance of Glockta got them through it, and now we get to see the full effects of it on those that live there.
Two’s Company-4/5- This was funny, ironic and very, very, witty. Everything I like bout Abercrombie’s style is in this one. He makes a rivalry between two warriors, one of them Javre again, terribly humorous. He essentially repeated the same situation twice, and in doing so showed the silly nature of this world. Everyone has enemies, sometimes it’s a good idea to team up with them and kill bigger enemies.
Wrong Place, Wrong Time-3/5- A whole lot of shit has gone down during the course of Abercrombie’s novels, and this story is a glimpse of its effects on the little man. It really isn’t a good place to be for the physically weak.
Some Desperado- 4/5- This is an action packed story that is, in essence, an encounter between an outlaw and some bounty hunters. This is told from the point of view of Shy, one of the main characters of Red Country. The events of this short story appear to have happened before Red Country by her mention of Lamb as a coward, which we know is far from true. He was just holding in a demonic rage.
Yesterday Near a Village Called Barden- 3/5- This, again, showed the effects of war on the little man. And whist it did depict a few familiar characters, it didn’t have a great deal going for it.
Three’s a Crowd-3/5- You can only push someone so far, this was a severe case of poetic justice…..
Freedom- 2/5- Abercrombie clearly had fun writing this, but I sure didn’t have fun reading it. It’s the weakest one in here, but that’s just because I hate Nicoma Cosca.
Tough Times All Over- 4/5- This is a very amusing tale that doesn’t showcase one rogue but around twelve. We see a mysterious package change hands as each subsequent owner is swindled, robbed, mugged and distorted for it. This takes place in Sippani one of the cities ruled by the Snake of Talins, the protagonist of Best Served Cold. The author included a couple of familiar faces from his previous books who personify the meaning of Rogue.
Made a Monster-4/5- This was very revealing. We hear a lot about King Behtod from Logen’s perspective, we hear of a man who betrayed his most loyal dog, but we never hear the full truth of it. Logen is a mad man, there’s no other way to describe his actions. He is a blood-letter, a man made to create death. He destroys Bethod’s peace for no reason, and plunges the North back into war. If I was King, I’d want him dead too. He is too dangerous, too explosive, to have at your side. Logen is far from the victim in all of this. Bethod woke him into the bloody haze of battle-fury, but Logen’s the one who refuses to wake up from it.
^This guy (Manu Bennet) would make the perfect Bloody-nine!
This was a great reminder of Abercrombie style, this, along with the rest of the first law world books, are so much better than his recent Shattered Sea trilogy.
A Beautiful Bastard- 5/5- I feel like I’ve been waiting for this story for a long time. If you’ve read The First Law Trilogy then you’ll know what an ugly bastard Glockta is. He was captured by the enemy and tortured to the point of ruination. As a result, he reaps vengeance on the world, but still serves his country. This story is a glimpse of the Glockta we often hear about; it is a few pages about the man before he was destroyed, and it was delightful.
We hear what Glockta has lost, but to see it is another thing entirely. In his youth he was spectacular. He was a war-hero and a natural leader; he was man full of shinning potential:
“But Glockta was an utter bastard. A beautiful, spiteful, masterful, horrible bastard, simultaneously the best and worse man in the union. He was a tower of self-centred self-obsession. An impenetrable fortress of arrogance……"
So he’s lost so much, but his ability to trudge through the mud, through the piss and shit of life, speaks a great deal about his character. This was the best story in here, and probably the best sixteen pages Abercrombie has written. Well, at least for me. This book is worth a purchase for this story alone.
Small Kindnesses- 4/5- This was a fairly good one; it focuses on a desperate thief trying to survive in this cut-throat world. She gets royally fucked over, but a kindness she did saved her life. This is no glorious deed, an act of selfless sacrifice, but a moment of pity for a fellow survivor. It comes back on her at just the right moment, and, Abercrombie again, demonstrates how brutal his characters can be. This is no fun swords and sorcery, but cold bitter grim-dark in all its gruesomeness.
The Fool Jobs- 2/5- This was very much standard fair. A few warriors engage in some banter then they go kill some people. That’s pretty much it.
Skipping Town-4/5- I’m really starting to like Javre; she’d be perfect for the bloody-nine:
“The Lioness of Hocksopp never uses the back door! “
She appeared in Small Kindnesses and this is the sequel to that story. I really enjoyed this story, a tough female warrior is being haunted by her past; she has left some ancient religious order/ warrior culture and is being hunted for her abandonment. It’s a fun read, but I can’t help but feel that this character is worthy of her own novel.
Hell- 4/5- A city under siege is a terrible place: it is hell. For Temple, Dagoska has always been his home. Now it’s a death trap. And the best thing about this story is seeing it from a fresh perspective. For those of you that don’t know, this siege happened during Before They Were Hanged and it was brutal. Only the brilliance of Glockta got them through it, and now we get to see the full effects of it on those that live there.
Two’s Company-4/5- This was funny, ironic and very, very, witty. Everything I like bout Abercrombie’s style is in this one. He makes a rivalry between two warriors, one of them Javre again, terribly humorous. He essentially repeated the same situation twice, and in doing so showed the silly nature of this world. Everyone has enemies, sometimes it’s a good idea to team up with them and kill bigger enemies.
Wrong Place, Wrong Time-3/5- A whole lot of shit has gone down during the course of Abercrombie’s novels, and this story is a glimpse of its effects on the little man. It really isn’t a good place to be for the physically weak.
Some Desperado- 4/5- This is an action packed story that is, in essence, an encounter between an outlaw and some bounty hunters. This is told from the point of view of Shy, one of the main characters of Red Country. The events of this short story appear to have happened before Red Country by her mention of Lamb as a coward, which we know is far from true. He was just holding in a demonic rage.
Yesterday Near a Village Called Barden- 3/5- This, again, showed the effects of war on the little man. And whist it did depict a few familiar characters, it didn’t have a great deal going for it.
Three’s a Crowd-3/5- You can only push someone so far, this was a severe case of poetic justice…..
Freedom- 2/5- Abercrombie clearly had fun writing this, but I sure didn’t have fun reading it. It’s the weakest one in here, but that’s just because I hate Nicoma Cosca.
Tough Times All Over- 4/5- This is a very amusing tale that doesn’t showcase one rogue but around twelve. We see a mysterious package change hands as each subsequent owner is swindled, robbed, mugged and distorted for it. This takes place in Sippani one of the cities ruled by the Snake of Talins, the protagonist of Best Served Cold. The author included a couple of familiar faces from his previous books who personify the meaning of Rogue.
Made a Monster-4/5- This was very revealing. We hear a lot about King Behtod from Logen’s perspective, we hear of a man who betrayed his most loyal dog, but we never hear the full truth of it. Logen is a mad man, there’s no other way to describe his actions. He is a blood-letter, a man made to create death. He destroys Bethod’s peace for no reason, and plunges the North back into war. If I was King, I’d want him dead too. He is too dangerous, too explosive, to have at your side. Logen is far from the victim in all of this. Bethod woke him into the bloody haze of battle-fury, but Logen’s the one who refuses to wake up from it.
^This guy (Manu Bennet) would make the perfect Bloody-nine!
This was a great reminder of Abercrombie style, this, along with the rest of the first law world books, are so much better than his recent Shattered Sea trilogy.
July 31, 2017
4/5
Buddy read with my lovely friend; Petrik
So my phone kinda deleted all the notes I had written down to write this review. Clearly the world hates me right now.
Also I see a lot of people starting their First Law journey with this Anthology or one of the standalones.. Why do they do this? Please read the series in order so you actually know what's going on.
I'm going to do my review a little differently then I was going to: All novellas in this book apart from Made a Monster, gets a solid rating of four stars. I really enjoyed all stories in this book, except for Hell & Some Desperado, both of them novellas were shit as fuck. Seriously they both get a 0, especially Some Desperado, I think Shy South is my most loathed female character ever... Except Monza of course, she's on her own level of hate.
My rating for Made a Monster is 100/5.
I was only here for this story and it did not disappoint. The Bloody Nine is a rude prick but his my rude prick and I love him with every inch of my black heart, like I'm prepared to carve his name into my face. (Well maybe not.. but I love him a lot) one of my ultimate fictional characters, some nights I lay awake wishing I was him. When I get into confrontations in real life I think to myself "what would Logen do?" The answer is simple.. He would bite someone's nose off then headbutt them until there was nothing left except a whole bunch of brain splatter and gore... I love my psychotic angel baby 😍. One day I hope to achieve my own list of bloody murders just like The Bloody Nine.
Say one thing for Logen, say he is the ultimate character that goes into berserker mode... Because you gotta be realistic about these things.
Ps. Hopefully I can find my real notes and write the actual review I wanted.
Pss. If I don't, thats cool too. I don't really care because I feel this review is sufficient enough.
Buddy read with my lovely friend; Petrik
So my phone kinda deleted all the notes I had written down to write this review. Clearly the world hates me right now.
Also I see a lot of people starting their First Law journey with this Anthology or one of the standalones.. Why do they do this? Please read the series in order so you actually know what's going on.
I'm going to do my review a little differently then I was going to: All novellas in this book apart from Made a Monster, gets a solid rating of four stars. I really enjoyed all stories in this book, except for Hell & Some Desperado, both of them novellas were shit as fuck. Seriously they both get a 0, especially Some Desperado, I think Shy South is my most loathed female character ever... Except Monza of course, she's on her own level of hate.
My rating for Made a Monster is 100/5.
I was only here for this story and it did not disappoint. The Bloody Nine is a rude prick but his my rude prick and I love him with every inch of my black heart, like I'm prepared to carve his name into my face. (Well maybe not.. but I love him a lot) one of my ultimate fictional characters, some nights I lay awake wishing I was him. When I get into confrontations in real life I think to myself "what would Logen do?" The answer is simple.. He would bite someone's nose off then headbutt them until there was nothing left except a whole bunch of brain splatter and gore... I love my psychotic angel baby 😍. One day I hope to achieve my own list of bloody murders just like The Bloody Nine.
Say one thing for Logen, say he is the ultimate character that goes into berserker mode... Because you gotta be realistic about these things.
Ps. Hopefully I can find my real notes and write the actual review I wanted.
Pss. If I don't, thats cool too. I don't really care because I feel this review is sufficient enough.
December 14, 2022
Even better than I expected. Loved meeting the old characters and find out new sides to the known events. I wish all short-stories collections were that good.
October 11, 2021
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Best Served Cold ★★★★ 1/2
The Heroes ★★★
Red Country ★★★ 1/2
Sharp Ends ★★ 1/2
As you can see from my ratings, this is my least favorite of Abercrombie books (Including The First Law Trilogy too). I want to start this review with a disclaimer that I am not a big fan of anthologies, they just don’t work for me because those stories often end before I can even get into them. I saw reviews before reading this one that it does not add much to the story and I even considered skipping them. But I decided against it in the end because I wanted to read everything before I jump into the Age of Madness trilogy.
I am not gonna review each story individually, It was a mix of good stories and stories that I did not care about. The book introduces two main new characters -Javre & Shev- who have more than one story in the anthology and the rest are for characters we already met in the previous books. To me, Javre and Shev stories were the most interesting and I would have preferred if this book was a full novel of their own.
The writing is good because Abercrombie knows what he is doing. The more books of his I read, the more I am convinced that his high success is due to the dialogues, whether these are external or internal monologues. There is always a pinch of sarcasm among all the darkness which I like!
The characters are good as usual, I still find myself caring about some of them and less about the others. My favorite story was the one featuring Javre and Shev and Whirrun because it was hilarious!
Summary: I wasn’t the biggest fan of this anthology just like I am not a fan of other anthologies, I believe I will try to evade those in the future because I have tried a bunch of those and it is always the same for me. Abercrombie is a good writer but his abilities are better shown in his full novels! I am looking forward to The Age of Madness trilogy which I will be starting prior to book 3 release!
“It is easy to speak of the past, impossible to go there.”
Best Served Cold ★★★★ 1/2
The Heroes ★★★
Red Country ★★★ 1/2
Sharp Ends ★★ 1/2
As you can see from my ratings, this is my least favorite of Abercrombie books (Including The First Law Trilogy too). I want to start this review with a disclaimer that I am not a big fan of anthologies, they just don’t work for me because those stories often end before I can even get into them. I saw reviews before reading this one that it does not add much to the story and I even considered skipping them. But I decided against it in the end because I wanted to read everything before I jump into the Age of Madness trilogy.
I am not gonna review each story individually, It was a mix of good stories and stories that I did not care about. The book introduces two main new characters -Javre & Shev- who have more than one story in the anthology and the rest are for characters we already met in the previous books. To me, Javre and Shev stories were the most interesting and I would have preferred if this book was a full novel of their own.
The writing is good because Abercrombie knows what he is doing. The more books of his I read, the more I am convinced that his high success is due to the dialogues, whether these are external or internal monologues. There is always a pinch of sarcasm among all the darkness which I like!
The characters are good as usual, I still find myself caring about some of them and less about the others. My favorite story was the one featuring Javre and Shev and Whirrun because it was hilarious!
“There’s always good men on both sides of a good fight.”
Summary: I wasn’t the biggest fan of this anthology just like I am not a fan of other anthologies, I believe I will try to evade those in the future because I have tried a bunch of those and it is always the same for me. Abercrombie is a good writer but his abilities are better shown in his full novels! I am looking forward to The Age of Madness trilogy which I will be starting prior to book 3 release!
January 30, 2025
Нова чудесна порция превъзходни истории от Джо.
Срещнах се със стари любимци, появиха се и нови, непознати ми до сега.
Джавра, Лъвицата от Хоскоп официално измести от сърцето ми като най-любима героиня Змията на Талинс. :) Не би било зле да видим цяла книга за нея. Е, и на още една за Монцкаро Муркато не бих се намръщил де.
Надявам се един ден да видя сериал по творенията на Джо, ще е просто епично!!!
От преводача научих, че зайците ръсят бибенки и че разстоянието, което имат някои хора между двата си предни зъба се казва портичка. 😄
Цитати:
"Настъпи продължителна, зловеща тишина. По-грозна от отрочето на мъж и овца, както обичат да казват планинците."
"Изненадата е като девствеността. Можеш да я използваш само веднъж и обикновено това се превръща в смазващо разочарование." 😉
"Какво би могло да напише недостойното ми перо за това голямо сърце, този добър приятел, това величествено лице, този безстрашен изследовател, горд държавник, безподобен фехтовач, съвършен любовник, понякога морски капитан, известен скулптор любител, бележит познавач на вината, шампион по плуване на къси разстояния и воин поет, прочутия наемник Никомо Коска?"
Демек селяндура Б.Б. ряпа да яде! 🤣
Срещнах се със стари любимци, появиха се и нови, непознати ми до сега.
Джавра, Лъвицата от Хоскоп официално измести от сърцето ми като най-любима героиня Змията на Талинс. :) Не би било зле да видим цяла книга за нея. Е, и на още една за Монцкаро Муркато не бих се намръщил де.
Надявам се един ден да видя сериал по творенията на Джо, ще е просто епично!!!
От преводача научих, че зайците ръсят бибенки и че разстоянието, което имат някои хора между двата си предни зъба се казва портичка. 😄
Цитати:
"Настъпи продължителна, зловеща тишина. По-грозна от отрочето на мъж и овца, както обичат да казват планинците."
"Изненадата е като девствеността. Можеш да я използваш само веднъж и обикновено това се превръща в смазващо разочарование." 😉
"Какво би могло да напише недостойното ми перо за това голямо сърце, този добър приятел, това величествено лице, този безстрашен изследовател, горд държавник, безподобен фехтовач, съвършен любовник, понякога морски капитан, известен скулптор любител, бележит познавач на вината, шампион по плуване на къси разстояния и воин поет, прочутия наемник Никомо Коска?"
Демек селяндура Б.Б. ряпа да яде! 🤣
Want to read
January 28, 2016I NEED MORE GLOKTA!!!!!
July 18, 2016
I remember reading one of my friends' reviews for a short story collection where they updated the review as they read each story. Seems like a cool format and I good way to keep track of each story, so here we are.
A Beautiful Bastard: 5 Stars.
Really strong short story. The malicious "practice sessions" led by Glokta and cheered on by his sycophants while a military campaign was conducted (poorly) in the background created a real sense of unease and tension. The characters really stole the show however as Abercrombie once again displayed his genius at characterization. It was really interesting to see the cynical cripple Glokta I had become familiar with from The First Law as he had been before his torture: a charismatic lothario, master swordsman and massive knobhead. His conducting of the bloodthirsty circus around the duels made for compelling reading. Tunny from The Heroes also had a very interesting cameo that gave an interesting look at the formation of his character. I was also extremely happy to see West make an appearance. He was one of my favourite characters in The First Law and he had a really strong turn here, especially in how his honour and integrity contrasted to dramatically to the vicious spectators at the duel and his sparring with Glokta made for some really tense scenes.
Small Kindnesses: 3.5 Stars.
Enjoyable story and Shev a funny and likeable main character. The thievery mission was pretty cool and the confrontation at the end was great. Javre, the deadly and mysterious warrior, Carcolf the charming rogue and Mason the reluctant gang enforcer stood out as really strong secondary characters.
The Fool Jobs: 3.5 Stars.
Read this one before actually. A fun read. It did a nice job of establishing Curnden Craw and his crew from The Heroes. Not really necessary as they're set up very well in that book (the prologue was awesome) but cool if you're a fan. The development of Cracknut Whirrun (who was a standout character in The Heroes) and his relationship with the rest of the band throughout the story was probably the highlight.
Skipping Town: 3 Stars
The return of Shev and Javre. Plenty of action and sharp dialogue plus some background on Javre. Didn't really add much to the collection though.
Hell: 2 Stars.
Some backstory on Temple from Red Country set amidst the events of Before They Are Hanged. Didn't much care about Temple in Red Country and didn't really care here either. Also thought the sacrifice of the priest was really wrung out for all the drama it was worth.
Two's company: 4 Stars.
Shev and Javre seem to be the thread holding this collection together with their frequent appearances. This was another fun short story that was made all the better by the appearance of none other than Cracknut Whirrun. His sparring with Javre made for some really amusing scenes, Shev provide top bantz as the narrator and there was yet more exciting action.
Wrong Place, Wrong time: 3 Stars.
This short story in this collection of short stories was itself a collection of 3 short stories. Are you still following me? Feel free to read over that sentence a few times to wrap your head around it. Anyway these stories depicted the lives of 3 average people caught in the crossfire of Monza's revenge in Best Served Cold. Had the latter portions of that book not already driven the horror's inflicted on the world by Monza's quest for revenge then this would have been a far more impactful and shocking read. As it is it is (the fuck did I just type) just an awkward, belated addition to a beautifully handled story arc (in Best Served Cold the reader gradually goes from excited that the "hero" is taking her revenge, to uneasy at how it is being accomplished, to horrified as the brutal realities of the situation became apparent).
Some Desperado: 3 Stars.
Backstory on Shy from Red Country. As with Temple in his story I didn't care much for the character in that book and I still don't care much here. Shy is really just another iteration of Abercrombie's beloved "tough, stubborn warrior woman" trope that is so jarringly inconsistent with his otherwise gritty, realistic world. Shy's best parts in Red Country revolved around her developing (or unraveling) relationship with "Lamb" who wasn't present here.
Yesterday, near a village called Barden: 5 Stars.
A slice of what made The Heroes one of my all-time favourite reads. Abercrombie has a genius for depicting both sides of a war in a sympathetic and engaging manner. One of my favourite characters from The Heroes, Bremer, also had a great turn here. Overall this was a brilliantly written tale that showed both sides of the build-up to a raid and told a tense, compelling story filled with stupidity, genius, cowardice, heroism and dumb luck.
Three’s a Crowd: 5 Stars.
‘Got himself demoted again,’ said Forest. ‘Over a goose and a whore, would you believe.’
‘She was worth it,’ said Tunny. ‘And the whore wasn’t bad, either.
The strongest Shev/Javre story in the collection. This one takes place much later on than the others and a lot has apparently happened in that time. The other stories following this duo were fun and exciting but lacked any real depth. This story however really delves into the relationships between Javre and Shev and Shev and Carcolf (the enigmantic con-woman who makes her return after appearing previously in the first story). We see how Shev and Javre had drifted apart over the years but how deep their ties of friendship still run. Shev's relationship with Carcolf was also brilliantly written. The last scene, where Shev comes to realize Carcolf has been lying to her and manipulating her all along, was really powerful with a great ending. Also as you saw in the quote above Tunny and friends have a brief, and hilarious camo.
Freedom!: 3 Stars.
What can my unworthy pen set down upon the subject of that great heart, that good friend, that magnificent presence, that dauntless explorer, proud statesman, peerless swordsman, accomplished lover, occasional sea captain, amateur sculptor of renown, noted connoisseur, champion short-distance swimmer and warrior poet, the famous soldier of fortune, Nicomo Cosca?
This was a short story presented as the (dramatic and flamboyant) account written by a historian of one of Nicomo Cosca's campaign. It was amusing in places, and Cosca's post script at the end provided a beautiful punch-line but the style definitely dragged, even with the short length of the piece. I'm pretty sure the events covered were actually part of Temple's story in Red Country but I've forgotten that whole section. Had I remembered it better this account might have been more interesting.
Tough Times All Over: 3 Stars.
This was a short story with an interesting concept as we followed a package through the perspective of the people who received it/stole it/killed for it in turn. However the lack of time to develop any of the characters ultimately limited the story. Shev, Jevediah and Carcolf returned but both were very disappointing. After the drama and revelation in their previous story it was jarring to see them all return almost exactly to their previous roles. I honestly had to double check that this story was chronological as it would have made far more sense before their last story. The highlight of this story was easily a quick POV from Friendly, everyone's favourite the anti-social mathematical savant and enforcer. I also liked the brief POV of the pickpocket girl. Would like to see more from her.
Made A Monster: 4 Stars.
This short story provided an insight into the relationship between Logen and Bethod. Like "Wrong place, wrong time" this story would have been an incredible revelation except it's central thrust (that Logen, or at least his alter-ego the Bloody Nine is actually a massive dickhead) was already covered pretty thoroughly in the last book of the trilogy. Bethod's conversation with his young sons and wife were really nicely done, they really developed Bethod as a sympathetic character while outlining his plans for the North.
A Beautiful Bastard: 5 Stars.
Really strong short story. The malicious "practice sessions" led by Glokta and cheered on by his sycophants while a military campaign was conducted (poorly) in the background created a real sense of unease and tension. The characters really stole the show however as Abercrombie once again displayed his genius at characterization. It was really interesting to see the cynical cripple Glokta I had become familiar with from The First Law as he had been before his torture: a charismatic lothario, master swordsman and massive knobhead. His conducting of the bloodthirsty circus around the duels made for compelling reading. Tunny from The Heroes also had a very interesting cameo that gave an interesting look at the formation of his character. I was also extremely happy to see West make an appearance. He was one of my favourite characters in The First Law and he had a really strong turn here, especially in how his honour and integrity contrasted to dramatically to the vicious spectators at the duel and his sparring with Glokta made for some really tense scenes.
Small Kindnesses: 3.5 Stars.
Enjoyable story and Shev a funny and likeable main character. The thievery mission was pretty cool and the confrontation at the end was great. Javre, the deadly and mysterious warrior, Carcolf the charming rogue and Mason the reluctant gang enforcer stood out as really strong secondary characters.
The Fool Jobs: 3.5 Stars.
Read this one before actually. A fun read. It did a nice job of establishing Curnden Craw and his crew from The Heroes. Not really necessary as they're set up very well in that book (the prologue was awesome) but cool if you're a fan. The development of Cracknut Whirrun (who was a standout character in The Heroes) and his relationship with the rest of the band throughout the story was probably the highlight.
Skipping Town: 3 Stars
The return of Shev and Javre. Plenty of action and sharp dialogue plus some background on Javre. Didn't really add much to the collection though.
Hell: 2 Stars.
Some backstory on Temple from Red Country set amidst the events of Before They Are Hanged. Didn't much care about Temple in Red Country and didn't really care here either. Also thought the sacrifice of the priest was really wrung out for all the drama it was worth.
Two's company: 4 Stars.
Shev and Javre seem to be the thread holding this collection together with their frequent appearances. This was another fun short story that was made all the better by the appearance of none other than Cracknut Whirrun. His sparring with Javre made for some really amusing scenes, Shev provide top bantz as the narrator and there was yet more exciting action.
Wrong Place, Wrong time: 3 Stars.
This short story in this collection of short stories was itself a collection of 3 short stories. Are you still following me? Feel free to read over that sentence a few times to wrap your head around it. Anyway these stories depicted the lives of 3 average people caught in the crossfire of Monza's revenge in Best Served Cold. Had the latter portions of that book not already driven the horror's inflicted on the world by Monza's quest for revenge then this would have been a far more impactful and shocking read. As it is it is (the fuck did I just type) just an awkward, belated addition to a beautifully handled story arc (in Best Served Cold the reader gradually goes from excited that the "hero" is taking her revenge, to uneasy at how it is being accomplished, to horrified as the brutal realities of the situation became apparent).
Some Desperado: 3 Stars.
Backstory on Shy from Red Country. As with Temple in his story I didn't care much for the character in that book and I still don't care much here. Shy is really just another iteration of Abercrombie's beloved "tough, stubborn warrior woman" trope that is so jarringly inconsistent with his otherwise gritty, realistic world. Shy's best parts in Red Country revolved around her developing (or unraveling) relationship with "Lamb" who wasn't present here.
Yesterday, near a village called Barden: 5 Stars.
A slice of what made The Heroes one of my all-time favourite reads. Abercrombie has a genius for depicting both sides of a war in a sympathetic and engaging manner. One of my favourite characters from The Heroes, Bremer, also had a great turn here. Overall this was a brilliantly written tale that showed both sides of the build-up to a raid and told a tense, compelling story filled with stupidity, genius, cowardice, heroism and dumb luck.
Three’s a Crowd: 5 Stars.
‘Got himself demoted again,’ said Forest. ‘Over a goose and a whore, would you believe.’
‘She was worth it,’ said Tunny. ‘And the whore wasn’t bad, either.
The strongest Shev/Javre story in the collection. This one takes place much later on than the others and a lot has apparently happened in that time. The other stories following this duo were fun and exciting but lacked any real depth. This story however really delves into the relationships between Javre and Shev and Shev and Carcolf (the enigmantic con-woman who makes her return after appearing previously in the first story). We see how Shev and Javre had drifted apart over the years but how deep their ties of friendship still run. Shev's relationship with Carcolf was also brilliantly written. The last scene, where Shev comes to realize Carcolf has been lying to her and manipulating her all along, was really powerful with a great ending. Also as you saw in the quote above Tunny and friends have a brief, and hilarious camo.
Freedom!: 3 Stars.
What can my unworthy pen set down upon the subject of that great heart, that good friend, that magnificent presence, that dauntless explorer, proud statesman, peerless swordsman, accomplished lover, occasional sea captain, amateur sculptor of renown, noted connoisseur, champion short-distance swimmer and warrior poet, the famous soldier of fortune, Nicomo Cosca?
This was a short story presented as the (dramatic and flamboyant) account written by a historian of one of Nicomo Cosca's campaign. It was amusing in places, and Cosca's post script at the end provided a beautiful punch-line but the style definitely dragged, even with the short length of the piece. I'm pretty sure the events covered were actually part of Temple's story in Red Country but I've forgotten that whole section. Had I remembered it better this account might have been more interesting.
Tough Times All Over: 3 Stars.
This was a short story with an interesting concept as we followed a package through the perspective of the people who received it/stole it/killed for it in turn. However the lack of time to develop any of the characters ultimately limited the story. Shev, Jevediah and Carcolf returned but both were very disappointing. After the drama and revelation in their previous story it was jarring to see them all return almost exactly to their previous roles. I honestly had to double check that this story was chronological as it would have made far more sense before their last story. The highlight of this story was easily a quick POV from Friendly, everyone's favourite the anti-social mathematical savant and enforcer. I also liked the brief POV of the pickpocket girl. Would like to see more from her.
Made A Monster: 4 Stars.
This short story provided an insight into the relationship between Logen and Bethod. Like "Wrong place, wrong time" this story would have been an incredible revelation except it's central thrust (that Logen, or at least his alter-ego the Bloody Nine is actually a massive dickhead) was already covered pretty thoroughly in the last book of the trilogy. Bethod's conversation with his young sons and wife were really nicely done, they really developed Bethod as a sympathetic character while outlining his plans for the North.
July 24, 2022
I now have a YouTube channel that I run with my brother, called 'The Brothers Gwynne'. Check it out - The Brothers Gwynne
“The greater a man's power swells, the smaller his good qualities shrivel”
So, Sharp Ends is a compilation of short stories set in the world of the First Law by Joe Abercrombie, and he even narrates one of these stories (Freedom) in the audiobook format. Many of these are with some of our favourite characters, but from a different perspective, so that we get to view characters such as Glokta and Logen from another character's eyes.
But, we are also introduced to quite a few new figures, including the main string of stories which take place in Sharp Ends, forming about half of the stories in this collection. Whilst these were enjoyable and fleshed out more of the world, I just wanted more from characters I already knew, so that I was just hoping the story would wrap-up and I could again accompany or follow my favourites.
“His ability was exceeded only by his belief in his own ability.”
There are some stories that were good, but ones that a few months on have not really stuck with me. They were enjoyable at the time, but did not have anything particularly memorable in my opinion. And then there were a few that were absolutely BRILLIANT! The first and last story were two of these.
Sharp Ends is a very entertaining set of short stories that really flesh out the world, displaying the brutal and quirky world Joe Abercrombie has cultivated across his six previous books, and then builds on even further in his latest trilogy. If you are a fan of The First Law, you need to read this.
4.25/5 STARS
“The greater a man's power swells, the smaller his good qualities shrivel”
So, Sharp Ends is a compilation of short stories set in the world of the First Law by Joe Abercrombie, and he even narrates one of these stories (Freedom) in the audiobook format. Many of these are with some of our favourite characters, but from a different perspective, so that we get to view characters such as Glokta and Logen from another character's eyes.
But, we are also introduced to quite a few new figures, including the main string of stories which take place in Sharp Ends, forming about half of the stories in this collection. Whilst these were enjoyable and fleshed out more of the world, I just wanted more from characters I already knew, so that I was just hoping the story would wrap-up and I could again accompany or follow my favourites.
“His ability was exceeded only by his belief in his own ability.”
There are some stories that were good, but ones that a few months on have not really stuck with me. They were enjoyable at the time, but did not have anything particularly memorable in my opinion. And then there were a few that were absolutely BRILLIANT! The first and last story were two of these.
Sharp Ends is a very entertaining set of short stories that really flesh out the world, displaying the brutal and quirky world Joe Abercrombie has cultivated across his six previous books, and then builds on even further in his latest trilogy. If you are a fan of The First Law, you need to read this.
4.25/5 STARS
February 19, 2019
It sure was refreshing to be back in the World of the First Law. While I didn't give all of these stories a high star rating, I have missed Abercrombie's writing style. His stories are always filled with dark humor, bloody scenes, and great characterization. I laughed out loud or cringed countless times reading this. There are a wide variety of characters. The new characters added a fresh view into this unforgiving world and the old characters made me reminisce of the books already read. I have listed a mini review of each story below. Enjoy!
A Beautiful Bastard – 3 stars
This was a glimpse at a young Colonel Glokta in his prime. Admired by women, envied by men, hated by all. The story is told by a colleague of Glokta’s in the king’s army, Salem Rews. Rews goes about describing Glokta in a very bipolar sort of way. He praises him in one sentence and then cursing him in the very next breath. Glokta is a very easy man to hate. That was true for the main trilogy and probably holds more weight for this story and the younger Glokta. Oh, and I do so love to hate truly evil characters.
Small Kindnesses – 4 stars
Shev is a retired thief who now runs a smoke house in the city of Westport. Her reputation puts her in a no win situation with the town bully and his gang, but a small kindness she displays will come back to help her in a big way.
Well written characters and great plot are what make this short story stand out. I would like to read more about Shev and what happens to her after the events of this tale.
The Fool’s Job – 4 stars
Craw and his crew are deep in the north-country. On a job to steal an item that they have no idea what it looks like. Sound impossible? Don’t ever count them out, but don’t count it as a done deal just yet either.
This was an entertaining story with plenty of banter, humor, and bloodshed. Joe Abercrombie is a master at dialogue when it comes to character interactions. It was also fun spending time with some characters from the original trilogy like Craw and Wonderful.
Skipping Town – 3.5 stars
Shev and her partner Javre are coming back from a job to meet their employer at a local tavern. But if they think the job didn’t go as planned, they’re in for a big surprise. The night is about to get a lot worse.
Well, I asked for more Shev and Abercrombie did not disappoint. A little quicker than I had anticipated, but still appreciated. This shortie is a one scene, bloody, and brutal gem. Great detail in the fight scenes as usual. With some humor mixed in for fun.
Hell – 2 stars
Temple is an acolyte and unlucky enough to be in Dagoska when the Gurkish sack the city. Other than that there isn’t really much to say about this shortie. There is an encounter with the infamous Eaters, but that is very anticlimactic. Maybe this story is a prelude to another one later. We will see.
Two’s Company – 3.5 stars
Another story featuring Shev and Javre. These two are starting to steal the show. In this installment we find the two ladies traveling through the North country when they cross paths with Whirrun of Bligh. What ensues is a nasty fist fight, a lot of dead people, and a pact that seems like it will last all of 5 minutes.
These two characters are the highlight of this collection of short stories so far. Abercrombie certainly makes it a point that they stand out of the crowd so far.
Wrong Place, Wrong Time – 2.5 stars
Three distinct stories about three different people. All being in the wrong place at the wrong time. They take place in a bank, a brothel, and a battle. So, you can guess my favorite of the three was the battle. The dialogue leading up to the battle and the ending was what sold me. Sometimes you discover not getting what you want can be the very thing that saves your life in the end.
Some Desperado – 3 stars
I got to spend time with a familiar character in this one. All of you that have read Red Country will remember Shy South. Well, she is a little down on her luck in this story. Chased into an abandoned town by her previous partners in crime, Shy has to make a final stand. She would rather go down swinging her sword than swinging from a rope.
Yesterday, Near a Village Called Barden – 4 stars
This was an interesting story that reminded me a little of The Heroes. The story zig zags through Multiple POV’s during a surprise raid by Northmen on the Union army. The action takes place in a farmer’s field as he and his family take cover in their house. Abercrombie weaves through multiple characters to give a panoramic view of the brutality of battle, and to show how the smallest detail can change the outcome of any battle.
I loved stories with multiple POV changes during battle or action scenes. Abercrombie excels at stuff like this, and it’s a big reason why The Heroes is probably my favorite book by him.
Three’s A Crowd – 4 stars
Shev and Javre are on a mission to rescue the woman Shev is in love with. The mission doesn’t exactly go as planned, and they are in for a big surprise at the end of their goal. Nothing is as it seems, and they soon find out their luck may have finally ran out.
It’s been fun getting to know these two characters throughout this book. I hope Abercrombie has decided to include them in his new trilogy. They are definitely characters I would enjoy reading more about.
Freedom – 2.5 stars
An overly dramatic and embellished tale of Nicomo Cosca and his 500 soldiers rescuing the town of Averstock from rebels. The story was told in 1st person by Cosca’s servant, Spillion Sworbreck. The drama and embellishment were funny at times, but didn’t have the effect on me that was intended. I love Nicomo Cosca in the main trilogy and Best Served Cold. I believe this would have appealed more to me if it was from his POV.
Tough Times All Over – 4.5 stars
This was my favorite in this collection. The story takes place in Sipani and revolves around a package no less. It seems everyone in Sipani is out looking for this package, and the resulting chaos leads to some very humorous and entertaining scenarios. This has a large cast of characters for a short story. Some are familiar and others are new, but they all play a vital role to the outcome.
Made A Monster – 4 stars
Finally, a backstory describing the events that led to Bethod and the Bloody-Nine becoming enemies. The story was told from Bethod’s POV, and it was easy to see this was the best choice. Logen had a lot harder time keeping the Bloody-Nine in check when he was younger, as compared to an older Logen in the main trilogy. I’m not sure Abercrombie could have communicated a comprehensive story from his POV.
This is the sort of short stories I was expecting when I first opened this book. It was certainly refreshing and anything with Logen Ninefingers is always going to be bloody and amusing.
There you have it. I don't believe there is much more I can say about the stories. But if your a fan of grimdark or Abercrombie I would strongly urge you to give this a read. I would suggest reading the main trilogy and standalone books first if you haven't already. It will greatly diminish the value of the stories if are not familiar with this world and some of the characters.
Actual Rating: 3.5 stars ***
A Beautiful Bastard – 3 stars
This was a glimpse at a young Colonel Glokta in his prime. Admired by women, envied by men, hated by all. The story is told by a colleague of Glokta’s in the king’s army, Salem Rews. Rews goes about describing Glokta in a very bipolar sort of way. He praises him in one sentence and then cursing him in the very next breath. Glokta is a very easy man to hate. That was true for the main trilogy and probably holds more weight for this story and the younger Glokta. Oh, and I do so love to hate truly evil characters.
“One would have thought, with all the good fortune showered upon him, he would have to be the most pleasant man alive. But Glokta was an utter bastard. A beautiful, spiteful, masterful, horrible bastard, simultaneously the best and worst man in the Union.”
Small Kindnesses – 4 stars
Shev is a retired thief who now runs a smoke house in the city of Westport. Her reputation puts her in a no win situation with the town bully and his gang, but a small kindness she displays will come back to help her in a big way.
Well written characters and great plot are what make this short story stand out. I would like to read more about Shev and what happens to her after the events of this tale.
“Cleverness, caution and plans will only get a thief so far. Then luck’s a treacherous bitch and won’t always play along, so boldness will have to take you the rest of the way.”
The Fool’s Job – 4 stars
Craw and his crew are deep in the north-country. On a job to steal an item that they have no idea what it looks like. Sound impossible? Don’t ever count them out, but don’t count it as a done deal just yet either.
This was an entertaining story with plenty of banter, humor, and bloodshed. Joe Abercrombie is a master at dialogue when it comes to character interactions. It was also fun spending time with some characters from the original trilogy like Craw and Wonderful.
“In bloody days, swords were worth more than gods. They certainly had ‘em outnumbered.”
Skipping Town – 3.5 stars
Shev and her partner Javre are coming back from a job to meet their employer at a local tavern. But if they think the job didn’t go as planned, they’re in for a big surprise. The night is about to get a lot worse.
Well, I asked for more Shev and Abercrombie did not disappoint. A little quicker than I had anticipated, but still appreciated. This shortie is a one scene, bloody, and brutal gem. Great detail in the fight scenes as usual. With some humor mixed in for fun.
“It would appear…that the scum who double-crossed us have been double-crossed by some other scum.”
Hell – 2 stars
Temple is an acolyte and unlucky enough to be in Dagoska when the Gurkish sack the city. Other than that there isn’t really much to say about this shortie. There is an encounter with the infamous Eaters, but that is very anticlimactic. Maybe this story is a prelude to another one later. We will see.
“I am powerful in ways you can only dream, yet I am still a prisoner of what I have done. I can never escape the cell I have made for myself. Things are what they are.”
Two’s Company – 3.5 stars
Another story featuring Shev and Javre. These two are starting to steal the show. In this installment we find the two ladies traveling through the North country when they cross paths with Whirrun of Bligh. What ensues is a nasty fist fight, a lot of dead people, and a pact that seems like it will last all of 5 minutes.
These two characters are the highlight of this collection of short stories so far. Abercrombie certainly makes it a point that they stand out of the crowd so far.
“The greater a man’s power swells, the smaller his good qualities shrivel.”
Wrong Place, Wrong Time – 2.5 stars
Three distinct stories about three different people. All being in the wrong place at the wrong time. They take place in a bank, a brothel, and a battle. So, you can guess my favorite of the three was the battle. The dialogue leading up to the battle and the ending was what sold me. Sometimes you discover not getting what you want can be the very thing that saves your life in the end.
“I’d rather fight a brave idiot than a clever coward. Far, far rather.”
Some Desperado – 3 stars
I got to spend time with a familiar character in this one. All of you that have read Red Country will remember Shy South. Well, she is a little down on her luck in this story. Chased into an abandoned town by her previous partners in crime, Shy has to make a final stand. She would rather go down swinging her sword than swinging from a rope.
“Takes a lifetime of hard work to make a man. Only takes a few moments to end one.”
Yesterday, Near a Village Called Barden – 4 stars
This was an interesting story that reminded me a little of The Heroes. The story zig zags through Multiple POV’s during a surprise raid by Northmen on the Union army. The action takes place in a farmer’s field as he and his family take cover in their house. Abercrombie weaves through multiple characters to give a panoramic view of the brutality of battle, and to show how the smallest detail can change the outcome of any battle.
I loved stories with multiple POV changes during battle or action scenes. Abercrombie excels at stuff like this, and it’s a big reason why The Heroes is probably my favorite book by him.
“It was like old Threetress always said – a sword’s a shitty thing to give a man. Shitty for him, and shitty for everyone around him.”
Three’s A Crowd – 4 stars
Shev and Javre are on a mission to rescue the woman Shev is in love with. The mission doesn’t exactly go as planned, and they are in for a big surprise at the end of their goal. Nothing is as it seems, and they soon find out their luck may have finally ran out.
It’s been fun getting to know these two characters throughout this book. I hope Abercrombie has decided to include them in his new trilogy. They are definitely characters I would enjoy reading more about.
“Better to rob the righteous,” muttered Shev as she slipped the oars silently through the rowlocks. “Evil people tend to be suspicious and vengeful.”
Freedom – 2.5 stars
An overly dramatic and embellished tale of Nicomo Cosca and his 500 soldiers rescuing the town of Averstock from rebels. The story was told in 1st person by Cosca’s servant, Spillion Sworbreck. The drama and embellishment were funny at times, but didn’t have the effect on me that was intended. I love Nicomo Cosca in the main trilogy and Best Served Cold. I believe this would have appealed more to me if it was from his POV.
“What can my unworthy pen set down upon the subject of that great heart, that good friend, that magnificent presence, accomplished lover, occasional sea captain, amateur sculptor of renown, noted connoisseur, champion short-distance swimmer and warrior poet, the famous soldier of fortune, Nicomo Cosca?”
Tough Times All Over – 4.5 stars
This was my favorite in this collection. The story takes place in Sipani and revolves around a package no less. It seems everyone in Sipani is out looking for this package, and the resulting chaos leads to some very humorous and entertaining scenarios. This has a large cast of characters for a short story. Some are familiar and others are new, but they all play a vital role to the outcome.
“Did you see two Northmen drinking on your way in?”
“I saw two Northmen. One was reading a book.”
“Really? A book?”
Friendly shrugged. “There are readers everywhere.”
Made A Monster – 4 stars
Finally, a backstory describing the events that led to Bethod and the Bloody-Nine becoming enemies. The story was told from Bethod’s POV, and it was easy to see this was the best choice. Logen had a lot harder time keeping the Bloody-Nine in check when he was younger, as compared to an older Logen in the main trilogy. I’m not sure Abercrombie could have communicated a comprehensive story from his POV.
This is the sort of short stories I was expecting when I first opened this book. It was certainly refreshing and anything with Logen Ninefingers is always going to be bloody and amusing.
“Some men will break a thing just because they can….but war is a leader’s last resort. Fight a war, you’ve lost already.”
There you have it. I don't believe there is much more I can say about the stories. But if your a fan of grimdark or Abercrombie I would strongly urge you to give this a read. I would suggest reading the main trilogy and standalone books first if you haven't already. It will greatly diminish the value of the stories if are not familiar with this world and some of the characters.
Actual Rating: 3.5 stars ***
September 12, 2017
This is a book about Shev and Javre, plus nostalgic episodes from other stories in First Law Universe.
I think this book is mainly for telling the hilarious stories of Shev and Javre, but because the length is not long enough for novel length book, then book added some chapters of previous First Law stories. The additions have various quality but mainly are for comic relief or showing some characterization of a few characters. My personal favorites of course the appearance of Corporal Tunny.
Maybe Shev and Javre are prepared by the author on this novel for their appearance on next First Law novel(s). I can only hope, but usually my hope is destroyed by an unexpected surprise. We'll see.
PS: After reading Shev & Javre stories, I am encouraged to try other partners stories with different sexual orientation, like Savage Season.
I think this book is mainly for telling the hilarious stories of Shev and Javre, but because the length is not long enough for novel length book, then book added some chapters of previous First Law stories. The additions have various quality but mainly are for comic relief or showing some characterization of a few characters. My personal favorites of course the appearance of Corporal Tunny.
Maybe Shev and Javre are prepared by the author on this novel for their appearance on next First Law novel(s). I can only hope, but usually my hope is destroyed by an unexpected surprise. We'll see.
PS: After reading Shev & Javre stories, I am encouraged to try other partners stories with different sexual orientation, like Savage Season.
July 30, 2021
For those of you who just can't get enough First Law, Joe Abercrombie brings us something a little bit different. A collection of short stories with some very sharp endings. But how did it measure up to the other entries in the series?
"He who prepares for peace, prepares for defeat"
First off, I'm a big fan of short stories. I find them a perfect change of pace when you've been reading one of those huge doorstop novels that you could literally knock someone out with. I'm an even bigger fan of Joe Abercrombie. The guy has single handedly got me back into reading fantasy literature. He's bloody fantastic! So I was very excited when I heard about Sharp Ends.
The stories themselves are in chronological order, except for the very last entry which is set before the Blade Itself. They feature a host of favourite characters from the series and two entirety new protagonists, in Shev and Javre. These two provide a running narrative throughout the collection as they appear in four or five of the stories and are both very entertaining. Particularly Javre, who comes across as a bit of a female Logen Ninefingers. Talk about my perfect woman!
The stories involving these two are some of the standouts, the best one being "Two's Company," which sees the return of fan favourite Whirrun Cracknut from the Heroes. The chemistry between Javre and himself in this one is absolutely magic. So funny and literally had me laughing out loud. That's a LOL if you're down with the kids.
"But it is easy to speak of the past, impossible to go there. I am powerful in ways you can only dream, yet I am still a prisoner of what I have done"
There's also some other excellent additions, including a "Beautiful Bastard" where we see a young Sand Dan Glokta before his life altering torture and "Yesterday near a village called Barden" where we get reacquainted with Bremer dan Gorst. Who doesn't love a bit more Gorst? However, Abercrombie really does save the best till last in "Made a Monster" which gives us huge insight into the character of Logen from the POV of Bethod. That one is pretty mind-blowing and one every fan needs to read. You'll never see your favourite character the same way again. Brilliant stuff!
The only one I didn't really like personally was "Freedom" which is a fictionalised account of the acts of Nicomo Cosca's in Red Country. I can see what Joe was going for here, but for me personally I didn't like what he did to Cosca's character at all in that novel. But all the other entries were enjoyable.
"In bloody days, swords were worth more than gods"
So how did this one measure up to the novels? For me personally, if I was ranking them this would have to go at the bottom. That doesn't mean it's a bad book. Any book by Abercrombie is better than most by other authors out there. His writing is on point as always. It flows tremendously with his crisp description, great wit and world famous character development. It's just not near as satisfying as one of his full novels.
So this is the first novel from Lord Grimdark that I haven't awarded full marks to. Room for improvement Joe! Must try harder. Still a solid four out of five and all fans should definitely give it a try.
August 31, 2023
I love the world
April 25, 2016
3 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2016/04/25/...
The full title of this anthology is actually Sharp Ends: Stories from the World of the First Law, so fans of Joe Abercrombie’s novels set in this universe should be in for a treat. All thirteen tales in here are set in the Circle of the World, spanning a period that starts about a decade before the beginning of The Blade Itself and ends a few years after Red Country, and some feature locations and characters that have appeared before in his novels. Most of the stories in here have also been previously published in other places, but here they all are for the first time, collected together in this neat and convenient little package, along with some new content besides.
I must confess here though, that these types of anthologies aren’t typically in my scope but of course I had to make an exception for Sharp Ends because Abercrombie is one of my favorite authors! When I pick up a collection of short stories, I usually go for those that are made up of standalones and original tales rather than the ones containing shorts/novellas which tie into an existing series’ “universe”. In general, if I’m going to spend time with characters I already know and in worlds I love, I want my stories with a bit more meat. This, I believe, was my main issue with Sharp Ends. Even though I’ve read all of Abercrombie’s novels, which should have put me in a pretty good position to appreciate this anthology (whose stories are all new to me), I didn’t enjoy it as much as I had expected. The truth was many of the stories in here left me feeling like there should have been more to them.
To its credit, I really enjoyed how the book was structured, with the stories more or less organized chronologically, so that all together they created something very close to a narrative. If it’s possible for this anthology to have “main protagonists”, they would most definitely be Shevedieh and Javre, the thief-and-warrior duo who star in many of the stories and when they do they’re always the highlights. Their escapades, chronicled in tales such as “Small Kindnesses”, “Skipping Town”, “Two’s Company”, “Three’s a Crowd” and “Tough Times All Over”, create a kind of thread to hold on to as other stories are interspersed throughout the anthology. The two of them are a lot of fun to read about. My favorite is “Two’s Company”, a free short that was originally published at Tor.com featuring our two heroines trekking through the barren north and encountering the Northman Cracknut Whirrun in the middle of a narrow rope bridge. This one’s got everything—action, violence, humor, sex, you name it—and I was not surprised to find out afterwards that Abercrombie had meant for this story to form the spine around which all the other stories are arranged.
With the exception of “Two’s Company” though, none of the other tales really resonated with me on their own. Individually, I don’t think the rest of Shev and Javre’s stories would have jumped out at me either, and only when the five were taken together did they make an impression because I was able to form a connection with the two characters as soon as I determined them to be the heart of this anthology. From their first meeting to their final story together more than a dozen years later, their relationship has weathered through countless adventures, challenges and hardships. In the end, it was a very beautiful and heartfelt moment to see how the two friends have come to be where they are and how they’ve been good for each other.
Alas, other tales were not so memorable, and there were more of these than I would have liked. Just days after finishing this book, I could barely remember much of what happened in “The Fool Jobs” and “Hell”, for example, and there were stories like “Freedom” or “Wrong Place, Wrong Time” which were interesting but ended in a way that I felt were neither here nor there. Most disappointing were the stories that featured some of my favorite characters in the First Law world, like Sand dan Glokta (in “A Beautiful Bastard”), and of course Shy, who was the protagonist of my favorite Joe Abercrombie book ever, Red Country. I was probably most let down by her story “Some Desperado” especially since it was the one I was most looking forward to, but unfortunately it lacked substance and I just didn’t find it all that compelling.
Still, I have to stress that the majority of the stories in here were decent to good. Among my other favorites were “Yesterday, Near a Village Called Barden” and the unsettling closer “Made a Monster”. Like I said, I’m not an experienced anthology reader so my mixed feelings on this book ultimately came down to personal taste and my too-high expectations because it was Joe A. In fact, reading this book only managed to further sharpen my desire to read another full-length Abercrombie novel (perhaps, even one about the dynamic duo of Shev and Javre? One can dream, I guess…)
Because it would also help immensely to have a bit of knowledge about this world before diving into Sharp Ends, newcomers to Abercrombie’s work will probably want to start with the novels as well, and a great place for that would be the First Law trilogy which I highly recommend. But for those who are already familiar with all those books, if you’re also the type of reader who enjoys checking out all the novellas and/or short stories that are companion to a favorite series, then you’ll definitely love this collection and want it to complete your bookshelf.
The full title of this anthology is actually Sharp Ends: Stories from the World of the First Law, so fans of Joe Abercrombie’s novels set in this universe should be in for a treat. All thirteen tales in here are set in the Circle of the World, spanning a period that starts about a decade before the beginning of The Blade Itself and ends a few years after Red Country, and some feature locations and characters that have appeared before in his novels. Most of the stories in here have also been previously published in other places, but here they all are for the first time, collected together in this neat and convenient little package, along with some new content besides.
I must confess here though, that these types of anthologies aren’t typically in my scope but of course I had to make an exception for Sharp Ends because Abercrombie is one of my favorite authors! When I pick up a collection of short stories, I usually go for those that are made up of standalones and original tales rather than the ones containing shorts/novellas which tie into an existing series’ “universe”. In general, if I’m going to spend time with characters I already know and in worlds I love, I want my stories with a bit more meat. This, I believe, was my main issue with Sharp Ends. Even though I’ve read all of Abercrombie’s novels, which should have put me in a pretty good position to appreciate this anthology (whose stories are all new to me), I didn’t enjoy it as much as I had expected. The truth was many of the stories in here left me feeling like there should have been more to them.
To its credit, I really enjoyed how the book was structured, with the stories more or less organized chronologically, so that all together they created something very close to a narrative. If it’s possible for this anthology to have “main protagonists”, they would most definitely be Shevedieh and Javre, the thief-and-warrior duo who star in many of the stories and when they do they’re always the highlights. Their escapades, chronicled in tales such as “Small Kindnesses”, “Skipping Town”, “Two’s Company”, “Three’s a Crowd” and “Tough Times All Over”, create a kind of thread to hold on to as other stories are interspersed throughout the anthology. The two of them are a lot of fun to read about. My favorite is “Two’s Company”, a free short that was originally published at Tor.com featuring our two heroines trekking through the barren north and encountering the Northman Cracknut Whirrun in the middle of a narrow rope bridge. This one’s got everything—action, violence, humor, sex, you name it—and I was not surprised to find out afterwards that Abercrombie had meant for this story to form the spine around which all the other stories are arranged.
With the exception of “Two’s Company” though, none of the other tales really resonated with me on their own. Individually, I don’t think the rest of Shev and Javre’s stories would have jumped out at me either, and only when the five were taken together did they make an impression because I was able to form a connection with the two characters as soon as I determined them to be the heart of this anthology. From their first meeting to their final story together more than a dozen years later, their relationship has weathered through countless adventures, challenges and hardships. In the end, it was a very beautiful and heartfelt moment to see how the two friends have come to be where they are and how they’ve been good for each other.
Alas, other tales were not so memorable, and there were more of these than I would have liked. Just days after finishing this book, I could barely remember much of what happened in “The Fool Jobs” and “Hell”, for example, and there were stories like “Freedom” or “Wrong Place, Wrong Time” which were interesting but ended in a way that I felt were neither here nor there. Most disappointing were the stories that featured some of my favorite characters in the First Law world, like Sand dan Glokta (in “A Beautiful Bastard”), and of course Shy, who was the protagonist of my favorite Joe Abercrombie book ever, Red Country. I was probably most let down by her story “Some Desperado” especially since it was the one I was most looking forward to, but unfortunately it lacked substance and I just didn’t find it all that compelling.
Still, I have to stress that the majority of the stories in here were decent to good. Among my other favorites were “Yesterday, Near a Village Called Barden” and the unsettling closer “Made a Monster”. Like I said, I’m not an experienced anthology reader so my mixed feelings on this book ultimately came down to personal taste and my too-high expectations because it was Joe A. In fact, reading this book only managed to further sharpen my desire to read another full-length Abercrombie novel (perhaps, even one about the dynamic duo of Shev and Javre? One can dream, I guess…)
Because it would also help immensely to have a bit of knowledge about this world before diving into Sharp Ends, newcomers to Abercrombie’s work will probably want to start with the novels as well, and a great place for that would be the First Law trilogy which I highly recommend. But for those who are already familiar with all those books, if you’re also the type of reader who enjoys checking out all the novellas and/or short stories that are companion to a favorite series, then you’ll definitely love this collection and want it to complete your bookshelf.
November 16, 2021
Sharp Ends revisits stories from the world of the First Law series. It's packed with a variety of tales from ones that have only been mentioned to some that no one knew happened. A slew of characters from The First Law series appear such as Sand dan Glokta, Curnden Craw, Whirrun of Bligh, Temple, Shy, Bremer dan Gorst, Nicomo Cosca, and many others. The book also includes varying stories about new characters Shevedieh the best thief in Styria and Javre the Lioness of Hoskopp.
The stories vary for me in quality. Some I had no interest in like Nicomo Cosca's story. That man drives me nuts. Unfortunately Joe Abercrombie clearly loves him as he's appeared in more of his First Law books than anyone. My personal favorite stories were Glokta's, Bethod's, and Shev and Javre's short story series.
Glokta's tale shows him at his peak from the eyes of Salem Rews. Glokta was very similar to Jezal dan Luthar in The Blade Itself except he had strong personal motivation. Glokta was an unbearable personality, but he was quite capable. This tale depicts the events directly prior to the battle in which Glokta was captured by the Gurkish.
Bethod's tale depicted Bethod and his thought process. I think this was the first point of view from Bethod and he's clearly an intriguing man. It was interesting to witness his absolute fear of Logen Ninefingers and truth be told it makes perfect sense. A man with a murderous split personality that takes over from time to time is a difficult man to deal with.
Shev and Javre's short story adventures were the highlight for me. The two women form an unlikely yet effective team that travels around the circle of the world. Their stories don't merely show different perspectives on events the books described, they are their own separate tales although they come across familiar characters like Shylo Vitari, Whirrun of Bligh, and Monza Murcatto. These two ladies had four of the 13 short stories in the book be completely about them. Javre was easily the more interesting of the two. She's a brute of a woman with big appetites. She seems like she'd be the perfect woman for Logen even when he's the crazy blood thirsty Bloody Nine.
Sharp Ends is a book that's truly meant for people who love the First Law world. I've enjoyed much of the First Law world, but not so much as to reread all of the books written. I imagine if I was more familiar with each book in the series that this book would have greater meaning for me.
The stories vary for me in quality. Some I had no interest in like Nicomo Cosca's story. That man drives me nuts. Unfortunately Joe Abercrombie clearly loves him as he's appeared in more of his First Law books than anyone. My personal favorite stories were Glokta's, Bethod's, and Shev and Javre's short story series.
Glokta's tale shows him at his peak from the eyes of Salem Rews. Glokta was very similar to Jezal dan Luthar in The Blade Itself except he had strong personal motivation. Glokta was an unbearable personality, but he was quite capable. This tale depicts the events directly prior to the battle in which Glokta was captured by the Gurkish.
Bethod's tale depicted Bethod and his thought process. I think this was the first point of view from Bethod and he's clearly an intriguing man. It was interesting to witness his absolute fear of Logen Ninefingers and truth be told it makes perfect sense. A man with a murderous split personality that takes over from time to time is a difficult man to deal with.
Shev and Javre's short story adventures were the highlight for me. The two women form an unlikely yet effective team that travels around the circle of the world. Their stories don't merely show different perspectives on events the books described, they are their own separate tales although they come across familiar characters like Shylo Vitari, Whirrun of Bligh, and Monza Murcatto. These two ladies had four of the 13 short stories in the book be completely about them. Javre was easily the more interesting of the two. She's a brute of a woman with big appetites. She seems like she'd be the perfect woman for Logen even when he's the crazy blood thirsty Bloody Nine.
Sharp Ends is a book that's truly meant for people who love the First Law world. I've enjoyed much of the First Law world, but not so much as to reread all of the books written. I imagine if I was more familiar with each book in the series that this book would have greater meaning for me.
December 17, 2020
Brilliant book, as always by Abercrombie. Great writing and all of the staples of Joe's narrative. Loved it. Can't wait to dive in to the Age of Madness!
November 22, 2016
(Actualización: la colección ya está disponible en español y se titula Filos mortales).
Reseña de todas las historias y de la colección en general en mi blog: Click aquí.
One of my most anticipated reads of 2016 and it didn't disappoint! Joe Abercrombie returns to his dark, brutal and gritty world with thirteen stories that revisit some key moments narrated in his different books, providing detailed background for our old favourites characters: Logen Ninefingers, Glokta, Temple, Shy South, Curnden Craw, Nicomo Cosca, Bremer dan Gorst and more.
But this is much more than a book that provides "fan service" to Abercrombie's acolytes like me because there are five stories that introduced some new (and extremely awesome) characters that will surely play an important role in the second First Law trilogy that Joe's already working on.
If you want to read a brutal story with well rounded characters, then Abercrombie is your pick; there isn't another fantasy author that can write and develop so many different (and despicable) characters and make every single one of them interesting and believable. If you are easily offended with violence, then don't read it because Joe is one sick motherfuck*r that writes shocking stories full of dark humour and violence.
Just a little warning: even though Goodreads lists this book as a standalone novel, I highly recommend to follow the publication order of Abercrombie's works because several of the stories of this collection contain glimpses and references to key events of his previous books, making them a hundred times more enjoyable.
My ratings and brief a comment for each story:
A Beautiful Bastard - ★★★★: awesome story in which we get to know Sand dan Glokta before his ehm... accident. He is so different from the cynic inquisitor we get to know in The First Law trilogy, and knowing how his encounter with the Gurkish ended up, it is impossible not to pity him.
Small Kindness - ★★★★: the story that introduced Javre and Shevedieh. It's really funny and an awesome presentation for the new characters of this collection.
The Fools Job - ★★★★: Curnden Craw and his crew has to recover some magical thingy, the problem is that they don't know how the fuck the thingy looks like. Craw was one of my favourite characters from The Heroes, and seeing him teamed up again with Cracknut Whirrum mutilating people was excellent.
Skipping Town - ★★★: the second story of Javre and Shev. I didn't like this one very much because It felt like a filler, but still it's very short and action packed so you won't lose much time reading it.
Hell - ★★★: this is the backstory of Temple, the coward lawyer introduced in Red Country. It wasn't one of my favourites, but we get to know certain Gurkish that likes to devour people who is really interesting...
Two's Company - ★★★★★: my favourite story of this collection. Whirrun fighting Javre on a flimsy bridge in the middle of nowhere. This story had me laughing out loud all along, it was brilliant.
Wrong Place, Wrong Time - ★★★★.5: A story told from the POV of different "innocents" that are caught in the middle of Monza Murcatto's revenge in Best Served Cold. This one was awesome because it provides a different perspective of the events, told from the point of view of common people with their one hopes and dreams. It is one of the finest examples of Joe's characterisation skills.
Some Desperado - ★★★★: the backstory of Shy South. It wasn't really great and I was about to rate it with three stars, but it had some nice twists full of dark humour at the end that was a lot of fun.
Yesterday, Near a Village Called Barden - ★★★★.5: another of my favourites. This is like an abridged version of The Heroes (my favourite book by Joe Abercrombie) with Bremer dan Gorst as the main character. Gorst is another awesome character, if you've already read The Heroes you'll know why ;)
Three's a Crowd - ★★★★: another story of Javre and Shev. It wasn't as exciting as the other ones but it was ok.
Freedom - ★★★★: hilarious account of the liberation of a city by Nicomo Cosca. In Red Country the despicable (yet adorable) mercenary hires a poor historian to record his "noble" deeds; this story is an extract from the historian book... and as you may expect, it isn't very accurate.
Tough Times all Over - ★★★★★: the last story of Shev and Javre in which every character steal from each other the rare magical thingy that Craw had to recover in the third story (this is only my speculation, but it could be).
Made a Monster - ★★★★★: another of my favourites. This story is very brief and doesn't add much but we get to know how Logen Ninefingers behaved when he was Bethod's champion... they called him the Bloody Nine, so you get the idea. He is really scary in the few pages of this story.
Reseña de todas las historias y de la colección en general en mi blog: Click aquí.
One of my most anticipated reads of 2016 and it didn't disappoint! Joe Abercrombie returns to his dark, brutal and gritty world with thirteen stories that revisit some key moments narrated in his different books, providing detailed background for our old favourites characters: Logen Ninefingers, Glokta, Temple, Shy South, Curnden Craw, Nicomo Cosca, Bremer dan Gorst and more.
But this is much more than a book that provides "fan service" to Abercrombie's acolytes like me because there are five stories that introduced some new (and extremely awesome) characters that will surely play an important role in the second First Law trilogy that Joe's already working on.
If you want to read a brutal story with well rounded characters, then Abercrombie is your pick; there isn't another fantasy author that can write and develop so many different (and despicable) characters and make every single one of them interesting and believable. If you are easily offended with violence, then don't read it because Joe is one sick motherfuck*r that writes shocking stories full of dark humour and violence.
Just a little warning: even though Goodreads lists this book as a standalone novel, I highly recommend to follow the publication order of Abercrombie's works because several of the stories of this collection contain glimpses and references to key events of his previous books, making them a hundred times more enjoyable.
My ratings and brief a comment for each story:
A Beautiful Bastard - ★★★★: awesome story in which we get to know Sand dan Glokta before his ehm... accident. He is so different from the cynic inquisitor we get to know in The First Law trilogy, and knowing how his encounter with the Gurkish ended up, it is impossible not to pity him.
Small Kindness - ★★★★: the story that introduced Javre and Shevedieh. It's really funny and an awesome presentation for the new characters of this collection.
The Fools Job - ★★★★: Curnden Craw and his crew has to recover some magical thingy, the problem is that they don't know how the fuck the thingy looks like. Craw was one of my favourite characters from The Heroes, and seeing him teamed up again with Cracknut Whirrum mutilating people was excellent.
Skipping Town - ★★★: the second story of Javre and Shev. I didn't like this one very much because It felt like a filler, but still it's very short and action packed so you won't lose much time reading it.
Hell - ★★★: this is the backstory of Temple, the coward lawyer introduced in Red Country. It wasn't one of my favourites, but we get to know certain Gurkish that likes to devour people who is really interesting...
Two's Company - ★★★★★: my favourite story of this collection. Whirrun fighting Javre on a flimsy bridge in the middle of nowhere. This story had me laughing out loud all along, it was brilliant.
Wrong Place, Wrong Time - ★★★★.5: A story told from the POV of different "innocents" that are caught in the middle of Monza Murcatto's revenge in Best Served Cold. This one was awesome because it provides a different perspective of the events, told from the point of view of common people with their one hopes and dreams. It is one of the finest examples of Joe's characterisation skills.
Some Desperado - ★★★★: the backstory of Shy South. It wasn't really great and I was about to rate it with three stars, but it had some nice twists full of dark humour at the end that was a lot of fun.
Yesterday, Near a Village Called Barden - ★★★★.5: another of my favourites. This is like an abridged version of The Heroes (my favourite book by Joe Abercrombie) with Bremer dan Gorst as the main character. Gorst is another awesome character, if you've already read The Heroes you'll know why ;)
Three's a Crowd - ★★★★: another story of Javre and Shev. It wasn't as exciting as the other ones but it was ok.
Freedom - ★★★★: hilarious account of the liberation of a city by Nicomo Cosca. In Red Country the despicable (yet adorable) mercenary hires a poor historian to record his "noble" deeds; this story is an extract from the historian book... and as you may expect, it isn't very accurate.
Tough Times all Over - ★★★★★: the last story of Shev and Javre in which every character steal from each other the rare magical thingy that Craw had to recover in the third story (this is only my speculation, but it could be).
Made a Monster - ★★★★★: another of my favourites. This story is very brief and doesn't add much but we get to know how Logen Ninefingers behaved when he was Bethod's champion... they called him the Bloody Nine, so you get the idea. He is really scary in the few pages of this story.
August 8, 2022
“ La suerte es una zorra traidora que no siempre sigue el juego, así que entonces hay que ponerse en manos de la audacia”.
No me lo creo. Me he terminado por fin la primera “generación” por así decirlo de La Primera Ley. Ha sido un largo viaje de dos años y medio. Los últimos libros, he de admitir que Los héroes y Tierras Rojas no han sido mis libros predilectos, sin embargo, para mí el mejor ha sido sin lugar a dudas La mejor venganza seguida de El último argumento de los reyes.
“Es un hecho que el mundo siempre nos acosa miserablemente. Incluso cuando los grandes infortunios amenazan con caer encima de tu cabeza, los pequeños aprovecharán para pincharte en los pies”.
La recopilación de relatos ha estado bien. Ha habido algunos que me han aburrido más que otros, pero bueno eran necesarios leerlos. Eso sí, una parte de mi necesitaba comparar la cronología porque necesitaba saber en que época había ocurrido cada uno de las historias. Así de maniática soy con estas cosas, no puedo evitarlo. Eso sí, los mejores relatos han sido los de Shev y Javre, los peores el de Craw o el de Shy. Ahora ya puedo ir con la consciencia tranquila a Un poco de odio, el cuando lo leeré eso está por ver.
“Había estado en la guerra y tampoco había visto allí héroes”.
No me lo creo. Me he terminado por fin la primera “generación” por así decirlo de La Primera Ley. Ha sido un largo viaje de dos años y medio. Los últimos libros, he de admitir que Los héroes y Tierras Rojas no han sido mis libros predilectos, sin embargo, para mí el mejor ha sido sin lugar a dudas La mejor venganza seguida de El último argumento de los reyes.
“Es un hecho que el mundo siempre nos acosa miserablemente. Incluso cuando los grandes infortunios amenazan con caer encima de tu cabeza, los pequeños aprovecharán para pincharte en los pies”.
La recopilación de relatos ha estado bien. Ha habido algunos que me han aburrido más que otros, pero bueno eran necesarios leerlos. Eso sí, una parte de mi necesitaba comparar la cronología porque necesitaba saber en que época había ocurrido cada uno de las historias. Así de maniática soy con estas cosas, no puedo evitarlo. Eso sí, los mejores relatos han sido los de Shev y Javre, los peores el de Craw o el de Shy. Ahora ya puedo ir con la consciencia tranquila a Un poco de odio, el cuando lo leeré eso está por ver.
“Había estado en la guerra y tampoco había visto allí héroes”.
January 30, 2025
It's Abercrombie, so it's 5 stars. I don't make the rules. Also, I need a full Javre book.
April 19, 2024
Told mostly in chronological order, Sharps Ends features thirteen dark, twisted, and bloody entertaining short stories set in the First Law World. New loveable rogues are introduced, old familiar faces are revisited in a different light, and, in true Abercrombie fashion, nothing and no one is proven to be safe from the dark and tragic irony of real life.
Unlike many other anthologies, there's a sense of continuity and narrative cohesion to this collection that makes it an utter joy to binge through. Yes, some stories are stronger than others, but come on... it's Abercrombie!
As expected, it was a true treat to get a glimpse of all my favourite (and not-so-favourite?) characters from the main novels. Though, to my huge surprise, it was actually the journey of the newly introduced Shev and Javre that compelled me the most in this collection.
In just 5 stories, I felt like I got to know this legendary duo of chaos queers just as (if not more) intimately than any of my other faves, for better or worse. The development of their dynamic was a true emotional rollercoaster, going from hysterically funny to brutally heartbreaking. And honestly, I was gobbling up all the emotional turmoil!
Aside from that absolute masterpiece of short fiction work, there were three other stories that will stay with me for a long time. Those being:
- A Beautiful Bastard: Young Glokta was A PIECE OF WORK, truly a gloriously beautiful bastard.
- Freedom: A delightfully experimental story highlighting just how much of an incorrigible pompous menace Nicomo Cosca is, and I love him for it.
- Made a Monster: Am I a monster for saying that Logen is still the GOAT after reading this?
All in all, I had a blast with this collection, and I am very glad my completionist brain decided I needed to read this before getting to the highly praised Age of Madness series. Not only do these stories add so much context to prior events and intriguing backstory to the excellent cast of characters, but they are also just undeniably fun to read. Abercrombie just never disappoints!
Unlike many other anthologies, there's a sense of continuity and narrative cohesion to this collection that makes it an utter joy to binge through. Yes, some stories are stronger than others, but come on... it's Abercrombie!
As expected, it was a true treat to get a glimpse of all my favourite (and not-so-favourite?) characters from the main novels. Though, to my huge surprise, it was actually the journey of the newly introduced Shev and Javre that compelled me the most in this collection.
In just 5 stories, I felt like I got to know this legendary duo of chaos queers just as (if not more) intimately than any of my other faves, for better or worse. The development of their dynamic was a true emotional rollercoaster, going from hysterically funny to brutally heartbreaking. And honestly, I was gobbling up all the emotional turmoil!
Aside from that absolute masterpiece of short fiction work, there were three other stories that will stay with me for a long time. Those being:
- A Beautiful Bastard: Young Glokta was A PIECE OF WORK, truly a gloriously beautiful bastard.
- Freedom: A delightfully experimental story highlighting just how much of an incorrigible pompous menace Nicomo Cosca is, and I love him for it.
- Made a Monster: Am I a monster for saying that Logen is still the GOAT after reading this?
All in all, I had a blast with this collection, and I am very glad my completionist brain decided I needed to read this before getting to the highly praised Age of Madness series. Not only do these stories add so much context to prior events and intriguing backstory to the excellent cast of characters, but they are also just undeniably fun to read. Abercrombie just never disappoints!
February 5, 2024
"Signora, sono un soldato. L'ultima cosa che voglio è combattere."
Tredici racconti ambientati nel mondo della "prima legge" in periodi diversi, con tanta azione, grandi personaggi e un'ironia travolgente.
Quasi tutti i personaggi sono vecchie conoscenze per i lettori dei romanzi precedenti, alcuni non hanno un proprio POV anche se presenti.
Ritroviamo Glokta, lo Strozzato, Gorst, Novedita, Cosca, Whirrun e tanti altri in giro per il Nord, Dagoska, Westport, Sipani, ecc
Due nuovi personaggi con il loro punto di vista a cui sono dedicati più racconti: Shev la ladra e Javre la combattente. Duetto imperdibile, follia e rutti alcolici.
Un grimdark in cui si ride a crepapelle e allo stesso tempo si vieni presi a bastonate. Personaggi folli e dannati che sopravvivono alla giornata tra furti, battaglie e inganni. Questo è il fantasy di Abercrombie, o si ama o si sta alla larga. Io ne sono incantato.
Tredici racconti ambientati nel mondo della "prima legge" in periodi diversi, con tanta azione, grandi personaggi e un'ironia travolgente.
Quasi tutti i personaggi sono vecchie conoscenze per i lettori dei romanzi precedenti, alcuni non hanno un proprio POV anche se presenti.
Ritroviamo Glokta, lo Strozzato, Gorst, Novedita, Cosca, Whirrun e tanti altri in giro per il Nord, Dagoska, Westport, Sipani, ecc
Due nuovi personaggi con il loro punto di vista a cui sono dedicati più racconti: Shev la ladra e Javre la combattente. Duetto imperdibile, follia e rutti alcolici.
Un grimdark in cui si ride a crepapelle e allo stesso tempo si vieni presi a bastonate. Personaggi folli e dannati che sopravvivono alla giornata tra furti, battaglie e inganni. Questo è il fantasy di Abercrombie, o si ama o si sta alla larga. Io ne sono incantato.
August 15, 2025
will update after reading 6 short left
13 short stories that I arranged in order based on setting for three standalone, and two bold are in Gurkish Empire...
The numbers are from Red Country Land and I will read them before Red Country
+2 stories set in Styria end of them all...
566 A Beautiful Bastard ✅ Collem West
570 Made a Monster ✅ (north) Logen Ninefingers
573 Small Kindnesses ✅ (Styria) Folk really after husk at this time in the morning? If you want to forget your troubles, why live with them till lunchtime?
574 The Fool Jobs ✅ (north) He didnt blame the man for being a hell of a coward, most men were. Craw was one himself. But he blamed him for letting it show.
575 Skipping Town 1️⃣ ✅ Javre and Shev again
575 The Blade Itself ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨
575-576 Before They Are Hanged ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨
576 Hell ✅ What mighty strength must take it, Temple wondered, to carry the burden of all these people's lives?
576 Two's Company ✅ (north) Seems like we will face Javre in the future after all, continuing Shev's story after Small Kindnesses
576-577 Last Argument of Kings ⭐⭐⭐⭐
579-80 Best Served Cold (Styria) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
580 Wrong Place, Wrong Time ✅ (Styria) BSC exact time
584 Some Desperado 2️⃣
584 Yesterday, Near a Village Called Barden 3️⃣
584 The Heroes (north) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
587 Three's a Crowd (Styria)
590 Freedom! 4️⃣
590 Red Country 5️⃣
592 Tough Times All Over (Styria)
13 short stories that I arranged in order based on setting for three standalone, and two bold are in Gurkish Empire...
The numbers are from Red Country Land and I will read them before Red Country
+2 stories set in Styria end of them all...
566 A Beautiful Bastard ✅ Collem West
570 Made a Monster ✅ (north) Logen Ninefingers
573 Small Kindnesses ✅ (Styria) Folk really after husk at this time in the morning? If you want to forget your troubles, why live with them till lunchtime?
574 The Fool Jobs ✅ (north) He didnt blame the man for being a hell of a coward, most men were. Craw was one himself. But he blamed him for letting it show.
575 Skipping Town 1️⃣ ✅ Javre and Shev again
575 The Blade Itself ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨
575-576 Before They Are Hanged ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨
576 Hell ✅ What mighty strength must take it, Temple wondered, to carry the burden of all these people's lives?
576 Two's Company ✅ (north) Seems like we will face Javre in the future after all, continuing Shev's story after Small Kindnesses
576-577 Last Argument of Kings ⭐⭐⭐⭐
579-80 Best Served Cold (Styria) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
580 Wrong Place, Wrong Time ✅ (Styria) BSC exact time
584 Some Desperado 2️⃣
584 Yesterday, Near a Village Called Barden 3️⃣
584 The Heroes (north) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
587 Three's a Crowd (Styria)
590 Freedom! 4️⃣
590 Red Country 5️⃣
592 Tough Times All Over (Styria)
March 16, 2017
Un momento, que me limpio las salpicaduras de sangre y vísceras y vuelvo.
.
.
.
Un momeeeeeento…..
Ya. (Es que el último relato era de Logen Nuevededos. Costaba limpiárselo todo).
A ver, sigo sin ser amigo de las historias cortas porque los personajes no están suficientemente definidos para mi gusto. Tiene que tener mucha fuerza en la historia para que por sí sola salve el relato.
Pero si ya has leído el resto de libros de Abercrombie este no es sino leer alguna peripecia más de nuestros viejos conocidos. Bueno, y hay varios relatos salteados de Shev y Javre, a quienes no conocía pero me alegro de haberlo hecho.
Que a nadie se le ocurra leer este libro como iniciación con Abercrombie, pero es una agradable lectura tras leer el resto de sus libros del mundo de la Primera Ley.
Dos cosas que me llaman la atención del Sr Joe : lo malhablados y escatológicos que son a veces sus personajes y las cargas de reflexión con que nos atacan, lateralmente, sus historias de personajes fantásticos pero cercanos, heroicos pero retorcidos, medievales pero con moralidad comprensible.
Lo dicho, no os encantará pero lo disfrutaréis.
.
.
.
Un momeeeeeento…..
Ya. (Es que el último relato era de Logen Nuevededos. Costaba limpiárselo todo).
A ver, sigo sin ser amigo de las historias cortas porque los personajes no están suficientemente definidos para mi gusto. Tiene que tener mucha fuerza en la historia para que por sí sola salve el relato.
Pero si ya has leído el resto de libros de Abercrombie este no es sino leer alguna peripecia más de nuestros viejos conocidos. Bueno, y hay varios relatos salteados de Shev y Javre, a quienes no conocía pero me alegro de haberlo hecho.
Que a nadie se le ocurra leer este libro como iniciación con Abercrombie, pero es una agradable lectura tras leer el resto de sus libros del mundo de la Primera Ley.
Dos cosas que me llaman la atención del Sr Joe : lo malhablados y escatológicos que son a veces sus personajes y las cargas de reflexión con que nos atacan, lateralmente, sus historias de personajes fantásticos pero cercanos, heroicos pero retorcidos, medievales pero con moralidad comprensible.
Lo dicho, no os encantará pero lo disfrutaréis.
June 28, 2016
I hardly ever read short stories, preferring my books to be long and full. However I was willing to make an exception for this author especially when I saw that one of his stories was about Glokta! As it turned out it was worth buying the whole book just for that one short story but then there was so much more.
Writing really strong characters is one of Abercrombie's greatest strong points and his tales of Shy, Glokta and Nine Fingers were brilliant back stories. Then he introduced some new (to me anyway) characters in the form of Shev and Javre who really need a full book all of their own.
Bonus stars are due to the audio version with its brilliant narrator and the fact there was an interview with Abercrombie tagged on to the end.
And the best thing is I still have two of the First Law World series to read. Happy me!!!!!
Writing really strong characters is one of Abercrombie's greatest strong points and his tales of Shy, Glokta and Nine Fingers were brilliant back stories. Then he introduced some new (to me anyway) characters in the form of Shev and Javre who really need a full book all of their own.
Bonus stars are due to the audio version with its brilliant narrator and the fact there was an interview with Abercrombie tagged on to the end.
And the best thing is I still have two of the First Law World series to read. Happy me!!!!!
August 23, 2021
3.5 stars
-----------------------------
Buddy read with She Has a Black Belt in Self Deprecation and She's Not Afraid to Use It
-----------------------------
Buddy read with She Has a Black Belt in Self Deprecation and She's Not Afraid to Use It
July 29, 2021
I'm doing the BookTube thing now! Find me at: The Obsessive Bookseller
[Solid 5/5 stars!] This was one of the most enjoyable things I’ve ever read!
It’s a short story compilation for the First Law world, and for starters, I usually don’t have patience for short stories unless they’re for series I’m loving (this qualifies). And even then I usually prefer to read them in tandem with the series so I don’t forget details.
The book was hysterical. I laughed too many times to keep count and even felt compelled to share certain passages with other people (my mom is reading it now even though she’s only read the Blade Itself lol). That feeling of reading something I’ve loved and now need to share with others is the compulsion that caused me to start my book blog 10 years ago and there are only a small number of titles that have evoked this reaction. Sharp Ends is now among those all-time favorites. I ordered a hardcover.
I am completely rubbish at remembering character names in series these days. I read so many it’s just not worth the effort to me to retain those details beyond how long it takes me to devour a book. The problem comes when trying to revisit series after a long break or even just when discussing it with others. It’s a trade off… my brain is full. But it struck me as profound while reading this book that I was able to recall almost every single one of Abercrombie’s side characters with vivid clarity, which made the stories just as vibrant as if they’d been included in the series. It’s amazing to me because this author is clearly good enough to bypass my shitty memory and give me the rare experience of feeling truly immeshed in a series. Granted, I read these books fairly back to back compared to most, but even so, I’ve been known to forget names the instance the book gets finished (or even while I’m freaking reading it, so I have to backtrack). It’s just another piece of evidence that Abercrombie belongs on my favorites lists.
Sharp Ends is listed as book 7 even though it bounces around the timeline a lot. There are some series prequel scenes, some alternate viewpoints for memorable scenes throughout the series, an alternating set of stories following the same two characters (my personal favorite of the bunch), and there are a few that take place after the last time we’ve seen some of these characters. It definitely should be read as the 7th installment to avoid spoilers. One of the highlights in the audio format was an interview with Joe Abercrombie and audio narrator Steven Pacey. It was a total delight, and I busted a gut listening to it. The only story I didn’t care for was the satire (the writings from the bloke Costca hired to overinflate his exploits). It was fun, but I usually don’t have patience for the style. But I’ll admit to always wondering what he was writing throughout the story…
Recommendations: clearly, this is an Obsessive Bookseller favorite and I’d highly recommend it if you’ve read the first 6 books in the series. I found it wildly entertaining.
Via The Obsessive Bookseller at www.NikiHawkes.com
Other books you might like:
[Solid 5/5 stars!] This was one of the most enjoyable things I’ve ever read!
It’s a short story compilation for the First Law world, and for starters, I usually don’t have patience for short stories unless they’re for series I’m loving (this qualifies). And even then I usually prefer to read them in tandem with the series so I don’t forget details.
The book was hysterical. I laughed too many times to keep count and even felt compelled to share certain passages with other people (my mom is reading it now even though she’s only read the Blade Itself lol). That feeling of reading something I’ve loved and now need to share with others is the compulsion that caused me to start my book blog 10 years ago and there are only a small number of titles that have evoked this reaction. Sharp Ends is now among those all-time favorites. I ordered a hardcover.
I am completely rubbish at remembering character names in series these days. I read so many it’s just not worth the effort to me to retain those details beyond how long it takes me to devour a book. The problem comes when trying to revisit series after a long break or even just when discussing it with others. It’s a trade off… my brain is full. But it struck me as profound while reading this book that I was able to recall almost every single one of Abercrombie’s side characters with vivid clarity, which made the stories just as vibrant as if they’d been included in the series. It’s amazing to me because this author is clearly good enough to bypass my shitty memory and give me the rare experience of feeling truly immeshed in a series. Granted, I read these books fairly back to back compared to most, but even so, I’ve been known to forget names the instance the book gets finished (or even while I’m freaking reading it, so I have to backtrack). It’s just another piece of evidence that Abercrombie belongs on my favorites lists.
Sharp Ends is listed as book 7 even though it bounces around the timeline a lot. There are some series prequel scenes, some alternate viewpoints for memorable scenes throughout the series, an alternating set of stories following the same two characters (my personal favorite of the bunch), and there are a few that take place after the last time we’ve seen some of these characters. It definitely should be read as the 7th installment to avoid spoilers. One of the highlights in the audio format was an interview with Joe Abercrombie and audio narrator Steven Pacey. It was a total delight, and I busted a gut listening to it. The only story I didn’t care for was the satire (the writings from the bloke Costca hired to overinflate his exploits). It was fun, but I usually don’t have patience for the style. But I’ll admit to always wondering what he was writing throughout the story…
Recommendations: clearly, this is an Obsessive Bookseller favorite and I’d highly recommend it if you’ve read the first 6 books in the series. I found it wildly entertaining.
Via The Obsessive Bookseller at www.NikiHawkes.com
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December 6, 2016
Well I am going to keep this review short. Just like the stories in the book.
Overall, pretty average I have to say. It was nice being back in that world, but the stories were pretty bland. There are a couple of stories that follow on from each other, which made the book tolerable. But it certainly showed me that I am not a fan of very short stories. There was really nothing to get your teeth into and felt more like adding some scenes to sell another book.
This is NOT a book to buy to give you an idea of what the First Law world is like, you'd probably never buy the series after reading it. This is definitely a book for fans who want to re-visit the world and would buy toilet paper off Abercrombie if he was jotting notes on it whilst on the can.
It was a flat 3 Star for me.
Overall, pretty average I have to say. It was nice being back in that world, but the stories were pretty bland. There are a couple of stories that follow on from each other, which made the book tolerable. But it certainly showed me that I am not a fan of very short stories. There was really nothing to get your teeth into and felt more like adding some scenes to sell another book.
This is NOT a book to buy to give you an idea of what the First Law world is like, you'd probably never buy the series after reading it. This is definitely a book for fans who want to re-visit the world and would buy toilet paper off Abercrombie if he was jotting notes on it whilst on the can.
It was a flat 3 Star for me.
March 29, 2016
Full review at: http://thequeenofblades.blogspot.co.uk/
This book contains everything I love about Abercrombie and more. Gritty realism, vulgar language, dark humour, blood, guts, desperation. What more could you ask for? This has had the desired effect and now I feel like I need to go read everything by this author! This is a big problem for me because I've already got books waiting and books I've paused to read other books and now I can't keep up anymore! Dammit.
*I received a copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book contains everything I love about Abercrombie and more. Gritty realism, vulgar language, dark humour, blood, guts, desperation. What more could you ask for? This has had the desired effect and now I feel like I need to go read everything by this author! This is a big problem for me because I've already got books waiting and books I've paused to read other books and now I can't keep up anymore! Dammit.
*I received a copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
January 16, 2025
Where was I all this time to miss such a good author? I was looking for something like Martin and somehow stumbled on Abercrombie, so I thought to start with this collection of short stories set in the First Law world to get a general idea of the narrative universe. I so much loved Shev and Javre that I'm more than a bit disappointed they are nowhere to be found in the main story line, but the Trilogy is now definitely on my to-read list, and with a high-priority!
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Dove sono stato tutto questo tempo per perdermi un autore così bravo? Cercavo qualcosa come Martin e in qualche modo mi sono imbattuto in Abercrombie, quindi ho pensato di iniziare con questa raccolta di racconti ambientati nel mondo della Prima Legge per farmi un'idea generale dell'universo narrativo. Ho amato così tanto Shev e Javre che sono abbastanza deluso dal fatto che non si trovino da nessuna parte nella trama principale, ma la Trilogia è ora sicuramente nella mia lista di cose da leggere e con alta priorità!
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Dove sono stato tutto questo tempo per perdermi un autore così bravo? Cercavo qualcosa come Martin e in qualche modo mi sono imbattuto in Abercrombie, quindi ho pensato di iniziare con questa raccolta di racconti ambientati nel mondo della Prima Legge per farmi un'idea generale dell'universo narrativo. Ho amato così tanto Shev e Javre che sono abbastanza deluso dal fatto che non si trovino da nessuna parte nella trama principale, ma la Trilogia è ora sicuramente nella mia lista di cose da leggere e con alta priorità!
June 17, 2016
I'm having trouble rating/reviewing this book. On the one hand, yay! More Joe Abercrombie. On the other hand, I think I'm just not as satisfied by his short stories as I am his books. I totally think this is a personal issue rather than any fault of the anthology itself. I enjoyed the Shev/Javre stories the most and I think this is because they were the characters who reappeared the most throughout. The other stories felt more toss-a-way. Maybe if I had just come off reading the books, they might clue me to a particular scene with a different POV this time or a scene prior to the books (like I'm pretty sure the Bloody Nine one was). Unfortunately it's been too long since I've read his books for me to be able to put it all together myself.
However! The writing is classic Abercrombie and I do think that anyone who loves his books should give this collection a go. It feels like a trailer to a movie I really really want to see. Everything I love, but I'm just being greedy and wanting more. =)
However! The writing is classic Abercrombie and I do think that anyone who loves his books should give this collection a go. It feels like a trailer to a movie I really really want to see. Everything I love, but I'm just being greedy and wanting more. =)
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