The Trouble with Peace

The Age of Madness #2

by Joe Abercrombie

Conspiracy. Betrayal. Rebellion.
Peace is just another kind of battlefield...

Savine dan Glokta, once Adua’s most powerful investor, finds her judgement, fortune and reputation in tatters. But she still has all her ambitions, and no scruple will be permitted to stand in her way.

For heroes like Leo dan Brock and Stour Nightfall, only happy with swords drawn, peace is an ordeal to end as soon as possible. But grievances must be nursed, power seized and allies gathered first, while Rikke must master the power of the Long Eye . . . before it kills her.

The Breakers still lurk in the shadows, plotting to free the common man from his shackles, while noblemen bicker for their own advantage. Orso struggles to find a safe path through the maze of knives that is politics, only for his enemies, and his debts, to multiply.

The old ways are swept aside, and the old leaders with them, but those who would seize the reins of power will find no alliance, no friendship, and no peace, lasts forever.

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Audiobook, Epic Fantasy, Dark Fantasy, High Fantasy, Adult

536 pages, Paperback

First published September 15, 2020

About the author

Joe 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.

Reviews

[Petrik · Rating 5 out of 5]

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ARC provided by the publisher—Gollancz—in exchange for an honest review.

Incredibly mesmeric and brilliant. The trouble with reading Abercrombie’s newest book is that there’s no more new Abercrombie book to read.

“He’d seen victories enough, and they were like the false summits of a great fell. You struggle towards ‘em, sure you’ve made the top, then the moment you get there you see another just beyond. No fight was ever the last. No victory was ever for good.”

Conspiracy. Betrayal. Rebellion. Peace is just another kind of battlefield. Politics, backstabbing, betrayals, and treasons have their viciousness highlighted further during times of peace. Let’s look back to what our favorite Inquisitor loved to say: “life is the misery we endure between disappointments.” The same quotation, unfortunately, applies to this momentary—and relative—state of calmness; peace doesn’t last forever. The Trouble With Peace is the second book in the Age of Madness trilogy by Joe Abercrombie, the story continues immediately from where A Little Hatred ended, and the themes in the novel revolved around ambitions, bravery, glory, war, peace, and legacy. This is a sequel that’s heavily focused on politics, scheming, manipulation, and rebellion. Most of the pages in this novel were spent on planning, sharp dialogues, and attaining the courage to get things done. Of course, these were done in Abercrombie’s trademark grim, humorous, and bloody storytelling.

“There comes a point… when talking about a better world is simply not enough. There comes a time… when men of conscience, principle and courage must dare the unthinkable… and fight for a better world.”

I’m starting to become more and more invested with the new characters of this trilogy. That shouldn’t come as a surprise, characterizations have always been one of Abercrombie’s main forte as a writer, and his characterizations of many characters throughout the eight novels (so far) in The First Law World is exemplary to the genre. I’ve read quite a lot of grimdark fantasy novels, and seriously, though many were good, so few can match Abercrombie’s skill in making me genuinely care towards the fate of the morally grey characters. Rikke, Leo dan Brock, Orso, Savine, Broad, Viki, and Clover are back as the key characters, and their character’s development was nothing short of outstanding. It was highly delightful seeing each and every one of them doing their best to survive, or in some rare cases, fight for a better world. Whether they achieved it or not, well, this is an Abercrombie book. Some will succeed, some will fail. You have to be realistic about this.

“My scripture teacher used to say that those who strive and fail are as blessed as those who succeed.”

I know that it’s none of my business, and I’ve said this in my review of A Little Hatred, but it genuinely makes me sad when I see/heard readers read this trilogy without reading the previous six books in the universe first. At the very least, please take some time to read The First Law trilogy first; in my opinion, it’s a must-read before you read this trilogy. Not only The First Law trilogy is one of the best grimdark trilogy series of all time, but finishing the trilogy—even better if you include Best Served Cold and The Heroes as well—prior to reading the Age of Madness would benefit your reading experience of both A Little Hatred and The Trouble With Peace so much. Readers would be missing on so many delicious character backgrounds, impactful dialogues, and intricate world-building contexts if they decided not to read the previous books first. There’s no rush, take your time, buy the new books on release day to support the author, but these new books aren’t going anywhere. True, the main story is centered on the new characters, but many important side characters in this trilogy were major characters in the previous books that still play a role in enhancing the story and the rich universe that Abercrombie has built for the past fourteen years.

“We’re all like children, Rikke. The older you get, the more you realize the grown-ups won’t suddenly walk in and set things right. You want things right, you have to put ‘em right yourself.”
“With your bones and your brains, eh?”
“And your heart, Rikke. And your heart.”

Politicking, conspiracy, engaging dialogues, and superb characterizations weren’t the only great things that this book has to offer. It’s not another volume in The First Law World if it were to miss its wonderfully vicious action sequences, and by the dead did Abercrombie delivered spectacularly. There’s a possibility, in an epic fantasy novel, that when the POV suddenly changes to non-main characters, the particular chapter could end up being boring or less interesting, this isn’t the case with Abercrombie. If you’ve read Last Argument of Kings and beyond, you should know by now that a chapter where Abercrombie starts using non-main characters POV to tell his story IS the chapter where things descent into chaos, madness, and brutal violence. I love how this has started to become a standard to expect in The First Law World, and Abercrombie’s depiction of destruction and fatalities in one scene through the eyes of many characters were magnificent.

“A man is measured by his enemies. Worthy ones can be more missed than friends… Magic fades from the world but, in truth, most problem have always been better solved with a few sharp words. Or a little sharp steel.”

For example, there was a chapter in this book where we see an event occurred from the perspective of one character at first. The narrative then immediately proceeds to rewind and show the same scene again, but this time from the eyes of a different character in the same location. This was repeated several times within this one chapter, and each rewind and reenaction brought a new compelling, vivid, and cinematic reading experience. There’s a chapter titled Little People that exhibits this clever narrative structure again. The explosive last quarter in The Trouble With Peace was Abercrombie’s action sequences at his best; crushing, merciless, chaotic, and intense. Can injustice be vanquished? Can the characters survive the terrifying ordeal they faced? I’ll let you find out for yourself.

“I must confess I have always had some sympathy with villains. Heroism makes fine entertainment but sooner or later someone has to get things done.”
“Well-written villains, maybe. You wouldn’t believe Wetterlant in a book! How the hell does a man end up like that?”
“Being given everything he wants all his life. Being asked for nothing in return.”

Same with practically everyone in the world, the year 2020 has been one hell of a difficult year, maybe even the worst year ever for some people. It’s good to know that, at the very least, literature managed to uphold one law in grimdark fantasy escapism, and that is Joe Abercrombie still remains as one of the greatest modern fantasy writers. I have no doubt that when The Trouble With Peace invades the library of Abercrombie’s fans, it will—once again and unsurprisingly—satisfy their craving for an excellent grim, dark novel. The Trouble With Peace is that it doesn't last. The Trouble With Peace is that it’s Abercrombie's newest book, which means that we have to wait again for his next book to be published. I’ve read everything in The First Law World, that’s eight full novels and one collection of short stories, and I can’t get enough of this series. The Trouble With Peace is a marvelous sequel by a grimdark fantasy novelist at the top of his craft; Abercrombie might truly end up becoming THE best grimdark novelist of all time. I can’t wait to find out how this trilogy concludes; the third and last book of the Age of Madness trilogy has been written, and it’s currently scheduled to be released on September 2021. Follow the wisdom of crowds; be wise, and invest your time and money on this series.

“An investor must know an opportunity when she sees it, must judge the risks and rewards in an instant, and if one outweighs the other pounce upon it, commit without delay, without regret, without sentiment.”

Official release date: 15th September 2020

You can pre-order the book from: Amazon UK | Amazon US | Book Depository (Free shipping)

The quotes in this review were taken from an ARC and are subject to change upon publication.

You can find this and the rest of my reviews at Novel Notions

Special thanks to my Patrons on Patreon for giving me extra support towards my passion for reading and reviewing!

My Patrons: Alfred, Alya, Annabeth, Devin, Hamad, Jimmy Nutts, Joie, Mike, Miracle, Nicholas, Zoe.

[Matt's Fantasy Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Check out my new youtube channel where I show my instant reactions to reading fantasy books seconds after I finish the book.

A truly wonderful follow-up in what is turning into one of the greatest fantasy series of all time

I'm running out of words to describe how much I love Joe Abercrombie's books. Every time a new one is released, it seems he clicks a little higher on my "favorite fantasy author" list, and this book was no exception. This book did what is exceptionally rare in a fantasy trilogy, it didn't fall for any of the traps that middle books typically have. It was full of action, gave solid developments across the board, delivered resolutions to some others, and left the reader extremely excited for the final book.

I absolutely love Abercrombie's telling of a "revolution" type story here, and it's probably the best I've read in the fantasy genre. It's so well done, and feels simultaneously real and joyfully ridiculous.

The cast of characters in this series are turning out to be every bit as good as the cast in the first trilogy, and it really blows me away how Abercrombie continues to develop truly unique characters, who have a healthy dose of "grey" to their moral compass, and feel extremely entertaining.

I've heard some people say this series isn't quite as good as the first trilogy, but so far after two books I thoroughly disagree. The first trilogy was a 5/5, this one is somehow a 6/5.

[Mike's Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full Video Review Here: https://youtu.be/dgR-1B4PR4U
Spoiler Talk Here: https://youtu.be/_fRMqPV_Lvo

I read a copy of The Trouble With Peace via ARC provided by the publisher (Hachette Book Group/Orbit U.S.) for an honest review.

It's difficult for anyone to take my First Law reviews at face value because they know that I am a huge Joe Abercrombie fan. What they might not know is that I can be extremely objective when I put on the "book review goggles." And that's what were going to do here.

The Trouble With Peace picks up not long after the end of A Little Hatred and continues to develop this next generation of First Law characters Abercrombie formed there. What is different this go around versus what we saw last time is those characters take the spotlight. The classic characters that remain are very much tertiary characters this go around and it feels like the torch has been sufficiently passed without ever disrespecting those beloved characters.

But if you think you had the story direction figured out for this new trilogy in A Little Hatred, I'm here to tell you to throw those expectations out of the window. This book has the usual levels of shock, death, gore, explicit content, and "oh my god!" twists, but it's some of the POV character decisions this time that are surprising. It's nothing new in a Joe Abercrombie book to say you can't distinguish who is good or who is bad, but this go around the characters are so grey you might need to turn on an extra light while you read.

Rikke, Leo, and Savine have crazy character arcs this go around that I certainly didn't expect to see go the way that they did. Whereas Clover, Vick, and Broad continue to evolve from the characters that were established before. And, if you even have to ask, the body count is high.

Some Easter eggs for longtime First Law fans will be noticeable early. For the "should I read the standalone books?" crowd, Best Served Cold is almost required reading for this one to fully grasp who some of these characters are. But in the end, if A Little Hatred wasn't really your bag, this probably won't be the book to change your mind. If you're all in on this world Joe has created, it'll feel like putting back on that favorite pair of faded blue jeans.

[Melissa ♥ Dog/Wolf Lover ♥ Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars ⭐️ Loved it!

Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾

[James Tivendale · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an uncorrected proof copy of The Trouble with Peace in exchange for an honest review. I would like to thank both Joe Abercrombie and Gollancz.

Following on from the dramatic events that concluded A Little Hatred, we return to the First Law world whilst it is enjoying a period of relatively peaceful times. Although Abercrombie is the master of defying our expectations and misleading the reader, even for him, everything remaining peaceful for a whole book would have been a step too far. Orso with his newfound power and responsibilities has to now deal with the Union's politics and becomes aware that not all is rosy on his advising councils. The Breakers and Burners are still rubbing their wounds but their need for change and revolution is still a flame that has not been extinguished. Also, with characters such as the Young Lion, the Great Wolf, Gunnar Broad, Vick dan Teufel, Clover, Savine dan Glokta, and Caul Shivers frequenting the pages the drama was inevitable.

There are so many standout moments throughout The Trouble with Peace that it is incredible that Abercrombie was able to fit them all within a 500-page book. The only negative thing about receiving an early copy of this novel is that I can't discuss these scenes with anyone yet, and I'm not mean-spirited enough to spoil these awesome events. Calling them spectacular is not an over-exaggeration. Furthermore, when I believed that it couldn't get any better, the last three chapters are delivered. Abercrombie really knows how to end a novel. In A Trouble with Peace, he absolutely nails it.

For me, Abercrombie's greatest gift to his readers is his characters. We follow the same point of views as A Little Hatred. All flawed, all likeable, often frustratingly so as many shouldn't be at all. My favourite perspective to follow was that of Orso. Throughout The Trouble with Peace, he is really developing into something special. Rikke's sections deserve a special mention too, especially the dreamlike Long Eye segments when they occur. If I force myself to be overtly critical then I would say my least favourite viewpoint was that of Vick's. Truthfully though, that isn't really a negative in a company so fine as her perspective presents some great moments too, including one with an assassin. In addition to the 7-or so points of view, which sometimes change mid-chapter, certain extremely important events are presented through the eyes of many different side characters or very minor players to give a fully 360-degree immersive experience of these happenings. It's deftly done.

The author writes war and battle scenes unlike anyone else I've read. They are marvellous, intense, sometimes tragic, and extremely gritty. Often injected with completely unheroic actions, hopelessness, and humour too. The Trouble with Peace has many humorous scenes in general but to find something that happens amusing when it's shadowed by chaos and death definitely plays with the emotions. I even chuckled when reading the kindly included Dramatis Personae. An example is as follows:

Downside - one of Clover's warriors, with a bad habit of killing men on his own side.

The cover of my copy of The Trouble with Peace features the words conspiracy, betrayal and rebellion and this is a great summary of what the book is about. The story completely exceeded my high expectations and I enjoyed it even more than A Little Hatred. It features stunning dialogue and wit and has memorable characters who leap off the page to attack your emotions. It's a story that I know will stay with me for a long time. To conclude, I'll simply say that The Trouble with Peace is a masterwork of grimdark fantasy by an author who is one of the finest that the genre has to offer.

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Scheming
The fantasy world that Joe Abercrombie created going back to the First Law trilogy is astounding in its depth and detail of history, society, politics and culture. The diverse array of characters come alive through dialogue, conveying a vivid sense of mood, thought, ambitions, fears and opportunities. Even with hard-fought position and power, there is a fragility in a world where trust and loyalty and rare. Their world is gradually becoming industrialised and gives us thought about greed, and for every wealthy person, there are hundreds of poor.

The main characters from the first book A Little Hatred (part of the Age of Madness Trilogy), return in The Trouble with Peace, with a journey ahead of them that will see their growth into adulthood and the positions they were fated to become. Some are uneasy with their new standing and commitments, like Orso, who is King but apprehensive in the duties and requirements of the office, or Leo dan Brock, leader of Angland, also uneasy with the weight of responsibility. Both were previously carefree characters who enjoyed drinking, laughing and fighting. Savine dan Glokta, daughter of Sand dan Glokta (famous from the First Law Trilogy), is a brilliant character and has fallen from grace and reputation. She is pregnant with a bastard child, yet her enduring determination drives her forward. Rikke is another brilliantly drawn mystical character with new power to see images of the future through a talent called, The Long Eye. Rikke gives the narrative another dimension of impending doom and menace and that exciting touch of supernatural.

In a world where power is fragile and neighbouring lands maintain an uneasy peace, forces seek to recapture ground lost to the Union in previous battles. The fighting leader of the North, Stour Nightfall, continues his preparation and plotting to reclaim land from the Union. The conspiracies and scheming are deftly built from outside the Union lands and close to home. There is one thing for sure there is always a Trouble with Peace in this world, and the politics and its machinations will eventually succumb to the ferocity of battle and the inevitable destruction ahead. The power of Abercrombie's battle scenes is outstanding and an explicit aspect of what makes these books so enthralling and visual.

I would highly recommend this epic fantasy and series. I would be surprised if any fantasy fans didn't get completely enthralled in the storyline and invested in fascinating and compelling characters. Abercrombie is one of the top fantasy authors today, and I am still bewildered why this hasn't been dramatised for TV or film. Maybe it's underway, and I just haven't heard about it, but if not, Why Not?

I want to thank Orion Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy in return for an honest review.

[Lena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author that never disappoints. Loved it unconditionally and can't wait to read the last book of the series - hope someone will finally kill Bayaz.

[mina reads™️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Instead of reviewing i will simply describe some of the povs

Orso: my beloved 🤧 i want good things for him he’s trying his best

Rikke: in her girlboss era we love to see it

Savine: smart person making the world’s most idiotic decisions

Leo: the most homophobic gay sub I’ve ever seen

Broad: fighting makes him horny? also ptsd. Why does he have dedicated pov chapters?

Vick: still not compelling in the slightest why is she still here

Clover: i love this guy!

[Nick Borrelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

What to say about this book and series? I'm beginning to run out of words to describe the excellence of these stories and this author. Joe Abercrombie's First Law trilogy, for those who are unaware, is my second favorite fantasy series of all-time only behind Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn by Tad Williams. But I have to say that after reading the second book in Abercrombie's follow-up series THE TROUBLE WITH PEACE, it is going to be really difficult to choose which one belongs in that #2 slot.


This book picked up not too long after the events that concluded A Little Hatred. There is much turmoil and dissent as The Union struggles to maintain its tenuous hold on power. Plots of overthrow continue to brew in seclusion from the outlaw group The Breakers and many like them. The Union finds itself threatened not only from these outside groups but also from within as there are some who do not agree with the harsh method of rule that King Orso has instituted among the Open Council. In order to maintain his slipping grip he has decided that benevolence is not exactly the way to go.


There are also whispers that the Great Wolf of the North Stour Nightfall is plotting his own attack to reclaim Union taken land. Taking a cue from his predecessor Bethod, Nightfall believes he can succeed in this endeavor and his arrogance and ruthlessness knows no bounds. He only knows one way to lead: by crushing his opponents and anyone in his own ranks who may disagree with his unusually cruel methods. The time is quickly approaching were talk is cheap and words will eventually necessitate action. The only question is whether or not Nightfall has the wits and the manpower to outwit a very formidable foe to the south in The Union and its allies.


Meanwhile, Savine dan Glokta, daughter of the famed inquisitor Sand Dan Glokta, has ambitions of her own. Savine has identified a path through an advantageous marriage and also her own hard-earned connections, that will enable her to gain back her tarnished reputation and climb to the highest rungs of Union investments once again. One can't help but feel that when all is said and done, Savine will use whoever and whatever she needs to win against those who would try to test her and bring her down.


This is definitely a different book from the first one. There is a great deal more political maneuvering and back-stabbing in THE TROUBLE WITH PEACE that I found an enjoyable change of pace. I've said before that Joe Abercrombie doesn't get enough credit for how well he writes political stuff because his dialogue and characters are so brilliantly done. But in this book that part of his craft really shines and we get to see just how multi-layered and unpredictable the plots between the different factions in the story are. There is no way to tell who is 100% on one side or the other because these characters can switch allegiance with every considerable bribe or threat, and often do.


That's not to say that this book suffers from middle book syndrome at all. Yes there is absolutely a sense of chess pieces moving and being set up for the finale, but this book had plenty of action and intrigue to more than stand on its own as a terrifically entertaining story. In all honesty, I think I liked this book slightly more than A Little Hatred. I think part of this was the fact that the new characters and descendants of the main players from First Law have already been introduced and we are more familiar with their personalities and motivations in this one.


I can't review a Joe Abercrombie book without touching on the extraordinary dialogue. There is simply nobody better in my opinion at writing dialogue than this guy. And this book is no exception I'm happy to say. I know that when I read an Abercrombie book there are always going to be a number of scenes that will blow me away with how effortless and witty the conversations are. I could quote some of them but there are just too many to pick from. Abercrombie has a knack for conveying a character's mood without needing to describe it explicitly, but rather, just by the way the words are delivered. You can almost see the facial expression of each character in your mind as you are reading. It's something that is extremely hard to do and can't be taught, Joe just has it.


This is even more brilliantly handled via the use of one character in particular, Rikke. Possessed with a talent called The Long Eye, which enables her to see flashes of the future, this book utilizes those flashes to create a foreboding series of events that may or may not come to pass. Not even Rikke fully knows. These flashes are ambiguous enough that it is somewhat tough to piece together what might happen, yet shed a tiny glimpse at enough specifics that they almost force you to try and figure it all out. The problem is you can't really do it and I think this is part of the plan so that when book 3 delivers the ultimate climax, we will all be shaking our heads saying, "Oh yeah! how did I miss that?" This was an element that really raised the book to another level in my opinion. Just an added dimension to wrap your head around and think about between reading sessions.


I don't give out perfect ratings very often, but I feel like this one most certainly deserves it. When a book makes you think about it at the dinner table, while mowing the lawn, in the shower (sorry for that image), then that's a bloody fantastic book. There aren't many that can engender that type of obsession from me. But when one does, it is truly worthy of recognition and that simply can't be denied. I don't think I have the patience to wait for book 3 of this series because what I just read was a reading experience the likes of which don't come around very often. And the cliffhanger was just too much to take. I just hope that time moves quickly so that I can read the ending of this series as soon as possible. I recommend starting with the First Law trilogy before diving into this one. You will get so much more out of the story knowing the history and background from those books. But you need to do it because Joe Abercrombie is in top form right now and continues to pump out tremendous books to happily devour.

[William Gwynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

SO EXCITED THAT WE GOT TO INTERVIEW JOE ABERCROMBIE! Check it out here - JOE ABERCROMBIE INTERVIEW

I now have a YouTube channel that I run with my brother, called 'The Brothers Gwynne'. Check it out - The Brothers Gwynne

“Surprise makes brave men cowards, strong men weak, wise men fools.”

I believed that The Age of Madness could not live up to the original trilogy, but I was wrong. There are so many genius character moments, as well as some of the most memorable set pieces that I have ever had the pleasure to read. Joe Abercrombie really is a master of his craft and he proved so again in The Trouble With Peace.

As I do not want to repeat what I have said in my reviews for every single other Joe Abercrombie work, I will keep this bit short. He is a king of prose. He utilises basically every word to further the characterisation, tone and atmosphere, with a great diversity that enforces how varied his characters are. If you want a more expansive evaluation of his prose, you can read one of my earlier reviews to find out my thoughts :).

“A man is measured by his enemies. Worthy ones can be more missed than friends.”

The perspectives that we are introduced to in A Little Hatred shine here. I really enjoyed A Little Hatred, and really loved some of the characters. But not all of them. In this second instalment, I thought everyone had numerous moments where they could shine, with Leo, Rikke and Orso sticking out in my mind. They are absolutely fantastic. The contrast between Orso and Leo when they meet is absolutely hilarious, and Rikke operating in the north and rising more into the role of leadership was executed brilliantly.

“Everyone should forgive themselves, Vick.” He gave her wrist another squeeze then let her go, looking out towards the lake again. “After all… no one else will.”

Joe Abercrombie has succeeded in crafting some of the greatest action sequences that I have ever read. In The Trouble With Peace he adds to that ever expanding list. The culmination was SO AWESOME! Another battle, but so different to what has come before. There were so many surprises and so many little moments that showed the brutality of the conflict, the nativity of some of our characters, and the scale that this story has risen to. Absolutely fantastic!

The Trouble With Peace does not really take us to new lands, but it builds on what has already been presented in the First Law world. One of the many advantages of the incredible characters is that it means that the settings are fresh as we see it through different eyes.

“Winning teaches you nothing,” said Tunny. “You see what a man really is when he loses.”

The Trouble of Peace is amongst my favourite Joe Abercrombie works, and that is very high praise indeed! It succeeds in every arena and sets up the final instalment fantastically.

5/5 STARS

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, goddamn. I’m reeling.


{update 27/09}
I'm supposed to have written a review for this by now but I just don't know where to start....

[Nicholas Eames · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phenomenal, though Abercrombie always is. This was my first time listening to a First Law audiobook, however, and I think I'm hooked. Steven Pacey's narration is absolutely incredible.

[Holly Hearts Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

"If you want to change the world, sometimes you have to burn it down."

I just let out a breath I didn't realize I had been holding..
Personal rating: 3.5

[Edward Gwynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love The First Law and it was so much fun to rank the books in this world... do you agree with my list? FIRST LAW RANKING

My brother and I were lucky enough to interview JOE ABERCROMBIE!. Check it out! Joe Abercrombie INTERVIEW

I loved this book so much and I couldn't be more hyped for Wisdom of Crowds if I changed my name to Ed Tenways, started carrying knives and tattooed runes around my eyes.

[Geek Furioso · Rating 5 out of 5]

Joe Abercrombie sigue demostrando con cada libro que escribe que no sólo es el rey del grimdark, es posiblemente uno de los pocos autores que entiende de verdad lo que significa el grimdark.

No sé si estaré diciendo una barbaridad o no, pero la trilogía de La Era de la Locura me parece incluso mejor que la de La Primera Ley. Abercrombie sigue tocando las teclas que le han hecho famoso, sobre todo la de definir el horror de la guerra y el caos de la batalla, pero también sigue con aquellas con las que empezó a trastear en Un Poco de Odio: la ruina del capitalismo, la opresión despiadada a las clases trabajadoras, los horrores ocultos de la Revolución Industrial... Pero sin duda, la que más me gusta es el mensaje más fuerte que resuena en este libro: "la masculinidad tóxica te va a joder la vida, a tí y a todos tus seres queridos"

Me estoy conteniendo mucho, MUCHO, porque escribir más sería lanzar spoilers no solo de este libro sino de todos los anteriores. Pero a cada libro que escribe quiero un poco más a este hombre. Con muchísimas ganas de leer La Sabiduría de la Multitud.

[MagretFume · Rating 5 out of 5]

2024 reread
I loved this series the first time around, and I love it even more the second.
I find the reread gives me a better perspective on the motivation of the characters and I can appreciate them more, especially the ones I overlooked the first time.
Everything is brilliant from the humour to the battles, and I can't wait to start book 3, again!

[Krell75 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Il potere e l'impossibilità di agire.
Tradimenti futuri e tresche passate.
Il peso delle scelte compiute.
Gli ideali che muovono il mondo.

"Devo confessare che ho sempre nutrito una certa simpatia per i cattivi. L'eroismo produce dell'intrattenimento gradevole, ma prima o poi qualcuno deve pur fare qualcosa".

"Se ci fossero delle regole, non sarebbe magia".

"Il problema della Pace", secondo atto della trilogia l'Età della Follia, di Joe Abercrombie si conferma una lettura di alto livello.
La storia riprende esattamente dal finale del precedente e pone al centro della narrazione i tanti eventi che annunciano l'atteso "Grande Cambiamento".
Un inizio che si prende il suo tempo per portare avanti le linee narrative dei numerosi personaggi coinvolti, ancora una volta, trascinano il lettore nelle dinamiche politiche che affliggono il mondo dell'Unione, tra idee di ribellione e tradimenti, false speranze e desideri mancati.

Siamo al cospetto di un grimdark all'ennesima potenza, esaltato da una scrittura che trasuda crudo realismo contornato da black humor e da personaggi di difficile connotazione morale. Abercrombie si diletta nel mettere alla prova le emozioni del lettore, i suoi personaggi sono sempre sul limite del baratro e pur empatizzando con loro risulta faticoso accettare le loro azioni. Sono persone spezzate, da esperienze vissute e costumi sociali, nere nell'animo, tuttavia brillano di luce propria grazie all'abilità dello scrittore. Si, tranquilli, c'è anche qualcuno di buon cuore.

Ritengo questi primi due romanzi l'opera della maturità di Abercrombie, anche se ripresentano dinamiche già collaudate che ricordano i suoi ottimi lavori precedenti e non spiccano per innovazione. Lo stile e alcune scene rispecchiano modalità già viste ma più raffinate.
Da Abercrombie non mi aspetto altro. Questo non va a suo sfavore, specie se a leggere questa trilogia è un nuovo lettore che non conosce il suo stile e non sa di cosa trattano le storie narrate nel suo mondo. Ottimo punto di inizio per poi recuperare i lavori precedenti.

Aggiungo che probabilmente Abercrombie è lo scrittore che riesce a descrivere una battaglia nel modo più coinvolgente, con scene che si concatenano in una staffetta di più punti di vista. Una tecnica narrativa meravigliosa già vista in "the Heroes" che trasporta il lettore nel bel mezzo dell'azione con un risultato unico e affascinante.

[Em Lost In Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5*

[Велислав Върбанов · Rating 5 out of 5]

„— От трийсет години се опитвам да върна тази мечта към живот. Стремя се към нея с всеки свой дъх. Почти успяхме, Детелина. Остава ни още една победа.
Детелината имаше своите съмнения по този повод. Беше виждал достатъчно много победи и те бяха като измамни върхове преди голям упадък. Бориш се да ги постигнеш, убеден си, че си достигнал върха, но в мига, когато се изкатериш на него, просто виждаш следващия връх отвъд. Никоя битка никога не беше последна...“


„Неприятната страна на мира“ е великолепна втора част от трилогията „Ерата на безумието“... Мисля че книгата дори е по-силна от Малка омраза, която също ми беше направила страхотно впечатление! Джо Абъркромби се е фокусирал върху интригите в мирно време в Съюза, които водят до зараждането на гражданска война между крал Орсо и част от лордовете. Северняците също са въвлечени в конфликта между южняците, а пък и в градовете Уестпорт и Сипани има любопитни събития. Сюжетната линия с работническите въстания е останала по-слабо засегната в тази част, обаче и за нея разбираме доста интересни неща... Според мен, Вик дан Тюфел и Джонас Детелината са гениално изградените персонажи в тази част, въпреки че при Абъркромби всички герои са превъзходни, както винаги!






„Един мъж може да бъде оценен според враговете си. Достойните от тях може да са по-ценни от приятелите — въздъхна Баяз и после сви рамене. — Магията изчезва от света, но в действителност повечето проблеми винаги са били решавани по-добре с няколко умни думи. Или малко остра стомана.“


„— Добре е да осигуриш на хората разбираема история със злодеи, които да освиркват, и герои, които да насърчават. — Вик присви очи и погледна към морето. — От опит знам, че това означава да ги създадеш.“


„Думите са силно нещо, но една картина може да заобиколи разума и да говори направо на езика на сърцето.“


„Не го познавах добре, но ми се искаше да го бях познавал. На Север не останаха много хора, за които да можеш да кажеш това.“


„Той наблюдаваше как Зури магически изважда пакетите един след друг от бездънната си чанта. Савин бе донесла подаръци за всички. И това не бяха просто някакви стари боклуци. А от онези неща, които един скъп приятел би подарил при специален случай. Само за миг тя успя да превърне гневното и подозрително отношение в объркано възхищение.“


„— Значи искаш да ти върна услугата — отвърна тя. — Кое ще е следващото място, което ще посетиш, Млад лъв?
Нямаше смисъл да се опитва да я лъже. Винаги е бил като отворена книга за нея. А и честността също може да бъде един вид оръжие.“


„Другите гледаха по различен начин на свещените си задължения. Работилницата му беше изгорена от хора, които някога беше наричал свои приятели и съседи, в чиито очи гореше огънят на вярата. Казват, че вярата е праведна, но за Муслан само съмнението е божествено. От съмнението произтичат любопитството, знанието и напредъкът. Вярата води само до невежество и упадък.“


„Шило Витари не обича да бъде поставяна в неловко положение, но харесва хората, които умеят да го правят. Тя се води от принципа, че от най-лошите ти врагове стават най-добрите приятели.Дойде, за да приемеш предложението ѝ за работа ли?
— Не — отвърна Вик. — Тук съм си добре.
— Въпреки че всичките ти дни са тежки?
— Да кажем прилично нещастни.“


„— Победата не те учи на нищо — отбеляза Тъни. — Разбираш какъв наистина е един мъж, когато губи.“


„— Честно казано, бих предпочел да оставя всичко това зад гърба си. Какъв е смисълът от смяната на поколенията, ако отново подемаме враждите на тези преди нас?
— Много се радвам да чуя да казваш това. — Джаппо сви изтънчено устни, свали капака на един фенер, доближи го до лулата си и издуха облак кафяв дим. — Враговете са като мебелите, нали? По-добре сам да ги избереш, отколкото да ги наследяваш.“


„— Получих анонимна информация. Но по време на посещението си в Сипани се срещнах с крал Джаппо от Стирия.
— Вие… — Матстрингър изглеждаше така, сякаш щеше да си глътне езика. — Това е безпрецедентно нарушение на протокола…
— Държавната измяна е по-важна — обади се Пайк със стържещ глас.
— Срещата трябваше да е неофициална — обясни Орсо. — Извън протокола. — Повечето старци изглеждаха като ударени от гръм. Не беше ясно дали причината беше новината за надвисналия бунт, или откритието, че Орсо е способен сам да уреди нещо.“


— Някога виждал ли си такава въоръжена армия?
— Виждал съм няколко и те бяха горе-долу като тази — сви рамене Детелината. — Много мъже се появяват с оръжията си. Нали в това е смисълът на цялата работа.
Стаур му хвърли смразяващ поглед:
— Имам предвид, някога виждал ли си толкова голяма армия?
— Признавам, че тази е най-голямата.
Като се изключи армията, с която Бетод беше тръгнал на война срещу Съюза. Или тази, с която Съюзът беше тръгнал на война срещу Дау Черния. Но се съмняваше, че Стаур иска да чуе това, и след като го беше видял да уморява от глад в клетка няколко нещастници един след друг, бе станал доста чувствителен към онова, което той очакваше да чуе. Детелината предположи, че точно тук се крие смисълът на цялото упражнение.
— Ще покажем нещичко на онези копелдаци от Съюза — изръмжа Стаур. — Този път на тяхна земя. Никога не сме се били с тях в Мидърланд, нали?
— Не. — Детелината не си направи труда да спомене, че обикновено мъжете се сражават по-ожесточено, когато са на свой терен.
Съмняваше се, че Стаур би искал да чуе и това.“


„Добрата лъжа не се състои толкова в това какво казваш, а как го казваш. Беше удивително колко далеч може да стигнеш, ако вървиш право напред и изглеждаш така, сякаш имаш пълно основание да си там.“


„— Има едно нещо в теб, на което се възхищавам, инквизитор Тюфел. Човек, преминал през лагерите, може да понесе много.
Вик не отвърна нищо и момчето се изгуби зад билото на хълма — черна фигура на фона на тъмното небе.
— Разбирам страхливците — тихо продължи Пайк. — Някога и аз бях един от тях. В края на краищата кой сред нас не е имал своя момент на слабост? Не може всичко да е мрак. Трябва да проявяваме и малко милосърдие. — Той се наведе настрани и ѝ прошепна: — Стига никой да не го види.“


„— Войските на Камарата на лордовете изглеждат малко объркани — каза някой.
Орсо се засмя толкова силно, че изкара шери през носа и му се наложи да остави лакея да го попие, докато продължаваше да се кикоти безпомощно.
Хоф го погледна така, сякаш си е изгубил ума. Може би наистина беше така.
— Ваше Величество?
— О, нали знаеш, добрата стара Камара на лордовете. Винаги можеш да разчиташ на тях да са в пълно разногласие помежду си, вероломни и некомпетентни.“


„Брод вече се беше отдалечил и се отправяше към Стофенбек, който сега изглеждаше като неясен призрачен град през праха от маршируващи мъже.
— Ние какво да правим? — чу да вика след него Банерман.
— Каквото искате — отвърна той, без дори да забави крачка.
Каза си, че го прави от чувство за лоялност. Каза си, че един добър мъж трябва да се бие. Същите неща, които си казваше, когато заминаваше за Стирия. Но знаеше, че битката не е място за добри мъже.“


„Бойният им дух беше съсипан. Нужно им беше нещо, за да повярват. Някой, който да им даде кураж. Форест нямаше представа как беше станало така, но изглежда, че този някой трябваше да бъде той.
— Кралят разчита на нас, момчета!
Преди години, когато го бяха произвели в сержант, си мислеше, че офицерите са тези, които знаят всички отговори. Когато беше станал офицер, си представяше, че генералите са тези, които вероятно знаят всички отговори. Когато крал Орсо го беше произвел в генерал, си мислеше, че Висшият съвет знае всички отговори. Сега, като лорд маршал, най-накрая знаеше с абсолютна сигурност, че никой не знае отговорите.
Дори по-лошо. Отговори нямаше.
Най-доброто, което човек можеше да направи, беше да се преструва, че ги знае. Никога да не показва страх. Никога да не показва, че се съмнява. Командването беше хитрост. Трябваше, доколкото можеш, да създадеш в хората си дълбоката илюзия, че знаеш какво правиш. Да я разпространиш и да се надяваш на най-доброто.“


„Детелината видя знамето с черния вълк на краля на северняците да подскача над тълпата и да танцува сред безумния хаос от копия, оръжия и строшени дръжки, над бурното море от глави и шлемове. Разбира се, Стаур се беше хвърлил в средата на битката. Изграждаше легендата за себе си най-отпред — там, където се създаваха утрешните песни. Без съмнение Големия вълк беше храбрец. Но между храбростта и глупостта никога не е имало голяма разлика.“

[La Crosse County Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ah, Father Grimdark, you bless us with another entry in the world of the First Law trilogy. This series takes place after his first trilogy and after all the standalone books. Joe Abercrombie brings a vast cast together of returning characters and their progeny as well as new characters in this series. This is the second book of the new trilogy, and I kept putting off reading this book for some reason even though I really enjoyed the first book.



We follow a vast array of character POVs returning from the first book of the series. A people’s rebellion quelled, a truce between the kingdoms to the north, and the death of the king are where we left off after the first as well as an end to an illicit romance. We follow the aftermath with some political maneuvering with a council of Lords displeased with new king, Orso, and the power behind him. Rikke finds herself at a loss when her father dies, leaving no one to run the kingdom with the rest of the north breathing down their neck.

Savine elopes with Leo, who is now considered a hero among nobles and commoners alike. He blatantly gets manipulated to being at odds with Orso, and plots with other lords to overthrow the current administration while trying to keep it a secret to his loved ones until it is too late. Husband and wife plot treason by trying to recruit allies in the north and in surrounding kingdoms. Orso and his limited allies must once again try to prevent a rebellion. Except this time, they are not going to be an ill-equipped rabble like the last rebellion that he put down.



I must confess, I forgot some of the characters and POVs we followed from the first book. That probably partly contributed to how slow the first part of the book felt for me with all the POVs jumping around such as with Broad, Clover, and Vick. There are these rare chapters that the author injects into scenes full of tension where it follows many random POVs of background characters.

They interconnect with each other to truly explore all perspectives of an event each with their own unique personality somehow conveyed across sometimes less than a page before going onto the next character. The author had two of these interspersed in the book, and the first one is what jump-started the story for me.



The characters and their development are really what makes the author’s novels great. Orso was a wastrel in the first novel, but is forced to mature and think of others. I didn’t like his POV in the first novel as much, but I enjoyed it in this novel. Savine was probably my favorite POV in the first novel, but I did not like her in this one with what direction her POV went.

Rikke had some confusing chapters at first with the mysticism surrounding her, but she ended up being my favorite POV with how she evolved as a character. Vick took a while to get into, but again I enjoyed her POV as it was a fascinating character study. Broad and Clover were just kind of there for me with Broad’s POV being boring in a lot of places.



I’m writing this POV separately to show just how much I hated the character, Leo dan Brock. The author really did do his best in making me hate this character. Oh boy, could I ever explain this character with colorful language. Just as a disclaimer, I am writing this after reading the final book, so some vitriol is a result of that bleeding through, and I will most likely rant about him even more in that review.



Leo is the classical hero trope in fantasy stories who is pretty much worshipped after beating Stour Nightfall in a duel (though the general public doesn’t know how Leo needed help as he was being completely overwhelmed in the fight). Leo is pompous with a huge ego with a splash of homophobia (even though it is obvious to the reader that he lusts after his male friend) and mixed with some casual racism.

He believes in his glory too much and consistently sabotages himself later on with his swelled-up pride. Even though I loathe the character, I appreciate how much of a well-written character and how Joe Abercrombie dissects and warps the trope of him especially in the last book. The reader in the end is supposed to hate him as a lot of his moments are leeched from the people supporting him such as his mother, his friends, Rikke, and even Savine.



The prose was wonderful, and you could definitely tell how much of a better writer Joe Abercrombie became with this trilogy. The chapter amidst the big battle was done so well by capturing the scope of the battle with POVs of background characters that let you see all of their struggles. Each of his characters were unique and flawed. He plays with tropes and subverts them. The ending though of this book was so terrific for me that it made me want to pick up the last book immediately (which I did of course).

Some of the ending shocked me while the others parts I saw coming but made me feel giddy. If you have read enough Joe Abercrombie though, then you know that a good ending that fulfills your wishes and expectations just means that the final ending of the series is going to be grandiose and stick with you for weeks to follow. It most likely won’t be a happy ending for most characters. Here is to hoping I am wrong.



Overall, I really enjoyed this book, especially the last half. This series can be enjoyed without reading the standalone novels and even the original trilogy, but you miss out on Easter eggs and supporting characters fleshed out in prior novels. I recommend this book to grimdark fantasy lovers and low-fantasy lovers. Be warned that if you are looking for the Bloody Nine to make his appearance in this series then you will be disappointed so far.



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[Deborah Obida · Rating 4 out of 5]

“A bank with a reputation for mercy is like a whore with a reputation for chastity—one fears they won’t get the job done.

The Trouble with Peace is a great sequel to A Little Hatred, this picked up six months after the incident of the first book with our protagonists trying to get used to their new roles. Orso is now king, Rikke's long eye is driving her crazy, Leo don't fancy peacetime and Savine is suffering from PTSD after the events at Velbeck.

If I’ve learned one thing, it’s that there’s rarely any need to wade into the bitter ocean for your vengeance. It’ll wash up on the shore soon enough.”

Things was going surprisingly well but like the title suggests the peace didn't last. The breakers are now more resilient than before, Orso's hold on the nobles isn't strong enough, given how he spent his youth, it's no surprise.
Stour Nightfall is not contented with being the king of the North, he still wants the protectorate. I love how Rikke handled everything with him.

“Enemies are like furniture, aren’t they? Better chosen for oneself than inherited.”

After reading eight books across three series by Joe Abercrombie he is yet to disappoint me, apart from Red Country, that's one dislike in eight books, that's how good he is. He still improves in his work, the stories and characters, no one writes Grimdark like him. The world building is awesome same goes for the writing.

The book is written in third person multiple POV of the main characters, at first I didn't enjoy the POV of the characters in the north at first but that changed when Rikke stopped been the pitiable girl to the strong woman in the world of men, now that's a turnover.

Orso is another character that I enjoyed his development, he was from indecisive to a strong king in a time of war, he's way smarter than people give him credit for.

Savine disappointed me in this, what exactly was she thinking will happen, can't wait for the backlash of what her decisions caused.

Leo is an arrogant idiot, like how can someone be this gullible, Savine that was supposed to help him let ambition get the better of her.

Clover is still a traitorous bastard and I dislike him, how can one person have that long trail of people he betrayed.

[Dave Edmunds · Rating 5 out of 5]

"In times of peace, the warlike man attacks himself."

By the dead! Just when I think Joe Abercrombie couldn't get any better, he hits me with "The Trouble with Peace" and completely outdoes himself. After picking up his first novel, The Blade Itself, earlier in the year I went on a massive First Law rampage and have now read all ten of his books in the series. I've been blown away by pretty much all of them and thought I'd established my favourites. However, this one throws a serious spanner in the work as its definitely one of his best. Intense, engaging and with a subtle edge, this in no way suffered from second book syndrome. Abercrombie provides one hell of a story and expands on the opening book in the Age of Madness trilogy (A Little Hatred), to set up a fantastic finale in the upcoming final book.

If you're a Joe Abercrombie fan you know exactly what to expect. There's violence, betrayal and lots of fantastic dark humour. And if you're not a fan yet, then you shouldn't even be reading this review. You need to click on that First Law link above and start right at the beginning of the series with The Blade Itself. In my honest opinion you need to read the full set in order to get anywhere near the most out of this book. That's starting with the original First Law Trilogy. Then you can come back and leave me a little thank you when you're finished!



The plot in this one is very heavy on the political intrigue, which I hugely enjoyed. The seeds were sown in the first book, where an increasingly industrialised society was becoming evermore fractious as the poor suffered at the hands of the elite. Well, in The Trouble with Peace things really start to gather momentum, as key figures align themselves and gather forces and outright war seems the only conclusion. The author uses his trademark of multiple POVs to expertly navigate the opposing sides and put the reader on a knife edge as we struggle to decide who to root for and never truly know how this one is going to work out.

"Say what you like. I never had a problem I couldn't solve with a big enough blade."

The writing is immense. Abercrombie's an absolute master of character driven narratives and just hits that sweet spot of description, where you're completely immersed in the story and never distracted. A massive aid to this is his amazing grasp of dialogue that is absolutely on the money. It's snarky, hilarious and so natural that you're completely drawn in by it and he tweaks it depending on the individual character, where you know exactly who's talking without having to be explicitly told. I can't think of anyone, who does this better than him.

One of my favourite things that the author does, is the battle scenes where he switches POVs rapidly, every two or three pages, to illustrate how frantic and unpredictable it is. It's one of his trademarks and if you're a fellow fan you'll know exactly what I'm talking about. So good! And while we're on the subject of battles, nobody gets the gritty level of violence and fear like the Lord of Grimdark does. Sorry John Gwynne, not even close for my money.



Right, I really could prattle on all day but this is a First Law review so you know I can't sign off without talking about the characters. In my review of A Little Hatred, I praised the quality of writing but did say the characters weren't quite as good as those in the original trilogy. Well, Mr Grimdark addresses this issue like only he can by ramping up the character development as we see significant growth in each of the main characters. Star of the show for my money is King Orso, who was something of a self-deprecating libertine in the first book. He starts to show his resolve and intelligence as he plays the political game expertly while injecting a good amount of humour in the process. Rikke, the Dogman's daughter up north, has a total character transformation that is very well executed and with fantastic results. Even Savine dan Glokta grew on me a huge amount and we see a vulnerable side to her, as she deals with the traumatic events of the first novel. Honestly, whichever point of view is in play you're going to have great fun.

"I must confess I have always had some sympathy for villains. Heroism makes fine entertainment but sooner or later someone has to get things done."

Ok, I'm running out of breath like I'm scrapping for my life within the circle. If you read A Little Hatred and enjoyed it then this is a must read. And if you're a fan of First Law but haven't started the Age of Madness trilogy then what's wrong with you? Seriously? Get on it right now before the new book the Wisdom of Crowds is out 18th of September 2021 from all good bookstores.


Joe Abercrombie

[Fabiano]

DNF Pag. 200

Ebbene sì, ho deciso di interrompere la lettura di questa trilogia. Ringrazio Joe Abercrombie per averci regalato 7 libri fantastici, capolavori nel panorama Grimdark internazionale. Purtroppo in questa nuova serie non ho ritrovato niente di quello che mi ha fatto amare questo autore, una delusione cocente e atroce. Mi dispiace tantissimo.

[Alex W · Rating 5 out of 5]

Abercrombie is a master. Incredible book.

[M. Malmierca · Rating 5 out of 5]

El problema de la paz (2020), la segunda entrega de la saga La edad de la locura de Joe Abercrombie (1976-) me ha parecido aun mejor que la primera. Una novela con más movimiento, más acción y conspiraciones que se extiende además por nuevos escenarios del Círculo del Mundo: Estiria, las Altiplanicies o Westport.

Continúa la lucha soterrada entre lo nuevo y lo antiguo. El progreso trae inventos que sin duda modificarán la sociedad en general y el arte de la guerra en particular. Van desapareciendo los viejos héroes guerreros y los más jóvenes aprenden a su pesar que el valor y el orgullo no son suficientes para arreglar el mundo. Un mundo distinto, aunque no más justo, al que todos, desde el mismísimo rey hasta el más pobre de los plebeyos tendrán que adaptarse o perecer. De todos modos, en esta segunda parte todavía prevalecen las viejas formas y los revolucionarios surgidos de esta nueva época continúan agazapados esperando su oportunidad.

“Los principios son como la ropa -Dijo Vick, alisándose la casaca-. Hay que cambiarlos según el público”.

Es de agradecer la habilidad del autor para no dar nada por sentado, para conseguir unos personajes por los que no puedes tomar partido porque todos presentan luces y sombras y que toman decisiones coherentes con su temperamento, y para mantener el suspense al no ser fácil adivinar quienes serán los vencedores. Si es que realmente hay verdaderos vencedores, porque nada ni nadie sale ileso en El problema de la paz.

“El problema de luchar por el bien, creo yo… es que cuando empieza la lucha, se acaba el bien.”

Poco más puedo añadir, el estilo sigue siendo el mismo: gran importancia en los detalles, en los pensamientos de los personajes y en los diálogos. Solamente que la magia se resiste a destacar y que quizá la gran batalla resulte demasiado extensa, incluso para tratar de convencernos del horror y la locura de la guerra. En cualquier caso, menudencias que rápidamente se olvidan ante un final cargado de incógnitas que auguran otro montón de páginas de aventuras "fantásticas".

En definitiva, haberme leído casi 1500 páginas sin parar solo puede significar una cosa: que me lo he pasado realmente bien.

Solo queda esperar hasta septiembre que parece que sale la tercera (¿y última?) parte.

[Eon Windrunner · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC provided by the publisher—Gollancz—in exchange for an honest review.

A savagely stunning sequel!

The Trouble With Peace takes place shortly after the events of A Little Hatred and its ominous conclusion. Whilst peace has been hard-won, it is a peace built on shaky foundations and the title for this second book in The Age of Madness trilogy is not coy about the direction of this story.

‘In times of peace, the warlike man attacks himself.’
Friedrich Nietzsche

I want to avoid any possible spoilers, so the plot is a no-go here, but much is at stake during this peaceful time with threats looming everywhere, both visible and hidden. Abercrombie, of course, brings his A-game with deft writing and some fantastically twisty plot points that will leave you grinning at the brilliance of it, but I’m once again doing my best impression of a broken record here. Who needs this fantastic, gripping story when you have such compelling characters?!?! And this second book is where the younger generation really starts to come into their own. Rikke, Orso, Leo, Savine, Victarine, even Stour Nightfall; all start to carve their own paths in this book, their own legends, breaking away from the shadows of their parents for good or for bad. You may think you know them already, but think again! The author caught me off guard more than once with the choices our colourful cast made and I cant wait to see how they further grow in The Wisdom of Crowds. Despite these surprising developments I was fascinated by how often these choices reinforced the feeling that history is repeating itself and wonder at how far it’s going to go.

“...great soldiers become prisoners of their own success.”

While the story is filled to the brim with cutting dialogue, crafty manoeuvring and trademark Abercrombie humour, the Lord of Grimdark has earned his title through blood, sweat and tears on-page. And it’s all here again. Bigger and bloodier than ever with a particular sequence that was as savage as they come, delivering blow after blow, after blow. When you think of assembling a dream team of writers for fight scenes, surely no-one else’s name jumps to mind faster. There is also a narrative device that I first encountered in The Heroes where the author switches POV’s from one character to another, in this case as they come into contact with one another. Abercrombie employs it perfectly once again in the midst of a tumultuous scene, which does a brilliant job of emphasizing the chaos unfolding. It’s a hell of a performance and I loved every second.

‘No plan survives contact with the enemy.’
Helmuth von Moltke

I had been putting this series off for a long time, and for no obvious reason, but I am certain I won’t make that mistake again when it comes to this author’s books. After all, I could not help but read these two books back to back, they are that good, and Joe Abercrombie’s writing never ceases to delight. Memorable characters, spellbindingly ferocious action, twists that scare a pretzel and gallows humour to die for, The Trouble with Peace mauls expectations to serve up a sublime sequel that’s even better than it’s showstopper of a predecessor. I am without doubt that like me, any Abercrombie fan will devour this story and soon after be practising their best Oliver Twist impression.

Highly recommended


***********************************************

Official release date:
• September 15th, 2020 (UK & US)

You can order the book from:
• Amazon UK
• Amazon US
• Book Depository (Free shipping)
• Bookshop (Support Local Bookstores.)

• The quotes in this review were taken from an ARC and are subject to change upon publication.

• You can find this review and more at Novel Notions

[LolaF · Rating 5 out of 5]

El problema de la paz arranca con la cuarta parte de La era de la locura. Tienes que leerlos por orden.

Desde que lei La primera ley y sus anexos, no soy imparcial con Joe Abercrombie. Me arrastro en el barro.

Una trama donde no sabes quién resultará ganador o vencido hasta que no se resuelva la batalla. Personajes bien construidos, que se mueven entre claroscuros. Héroes o antihéroes -¡qué fácil es pasar de uno a otro!-.

Libros duros, violentos, despiadados.
Lenguas afiladas, como espadas. Guerreros rudos, curtidos y fríos como el viento del norte. Mujeres fuertes. Locura frente a cordura. Vanidad, ambición, valor, lealtad, traición, manipulación, amistad, prejuicios. Caos, guerra, sangre, barro.

Este libro se centra en las alianzas, el horror de la guerra, y el alto precio que se paga. Para mi gusto, se extiende demasiado en el caos de una batalla donde no hace brillar a sus personajes.

Temas como la opresión a las clases obreras, la lucha por mejorar sus condiciones de vida y de trabajo, los avances de la revolución industrial siguen presentes, pero tienen menos peso.

Seguimos con los personajes que aparecen en el primer libro:
Savine juega un papel protagonista, complejo, con matices, pero me gustó más en La era de la locura.

Pobre, valeroso y vanidoso Leo dan Brock. Quién te ha visto y quién te ve. ¿Hacía falta "estirarlo" tanto?

Sabías reflexiones del rey Orso.

Me he quedado con ganas de más Rikke. Disfruto con su lengua afilada. Espero tener más en la siguiente entrega, aunque "pierda su magia".


Valoración: 9/10
Lectura: septiembre 2021

[Hamad · Rating 4 out of 5]

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“You can’t change the fact the world’s full of arseholes. You can only change how you deal with them.”

The Blade Itself ★★★ 3/4
Before They Are Hanged ★★★★
The Last Argument of King ★★★★
Best Served Cold ★★★★ 1/2
The Heroes ★★★
Red Country ★★★ 1/2
Sharp Ends ★★ 1/2
A Little Hatred ★★★★
The Trouble with Peace ★★★★ 1/4

I had the same feelings toward this book as I had with the first book, I think it is very good but not perfect that it would receive 5 stars from me! I have to be completely transparent here and say that I am to blame for the most part for not enjoying this book to the max due to getting distracted and slightly finding it hard to keep up with all the characters. I decided that I will focus more when I read book three and try to absorb everything!

I love Abercrombie’s prose, the man certainly knows how to write and I keep saying this again and again but I will never get tired of saying how the dialogues are my favorite part in these stories! Abercombie writes some of the best dialogues ever and there is always wisdom hidden there between all the darkness that these books entail.

My problem is that there are many characters and I am interested in some of them more than the others. I think that’s why I kept getting into the story (I really enjoyed these parts) and out of it (Was a tiny bit bored) depending on which character we were following. There is a glossary with all the characters at the end of the book but the problem is that I read a kindle book and jumping forward and backward was not a realistic thing for me so I ended up mostly relying on my memory and I think it wasn’t the best idea. I do care about Savine and Leo and Orso and Rikke who are the main characters but the secondary characters less so. I will approach book three a bit differently and try fixing that!

“Winning teaches you nothing,” said Tunny. “You see what a man really is when he loses.”

Although this can be read without reading the original trilogy, it would be a much experience if the original books are read beforehand. I mentioned this also in my review of A Little Hatred but I feel a bit like a hypocrite because I tend to forget books and characters easily. Of course I remember characters like Glokta and Bayaz and Jezal and Shivers! But some of the less important characters were omitted from my brain by my brain!

Also as mentioned in my review of book one, I am enjoying this series because I think it has a solid storyline and Abercrombie always build up for wars and try to explore the psychology and circumstances and make them more interesting than the war itself which was the case here. The book can be slightly slow and I felt it was a bit long (I feel it is taboo to say stuff like this) but for the most part it flowed well.

Summary: I enjoyed this book as much as I did with the previous book Abercrombie wrote. He has excellent characterization and dialogue abilities, the plot is interesting and the ending was explosive again! I am glad that I caught up with this series just in time before book three is released in a couple of weeks!

[Xabi1990 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Abercrombie modo Grimdark en estado puro. Si te va el estilo o el autor, una gozada.

A mí me va uno y otro, y salvo algún pasaje en el que baja un poco-solo un poco-, el resto es genial.

Siguen personajes que ya conocíamos del libro anterior (esto es una segunda parte) y seguimos viendo a Orso, al Joven León, a Stour Ocaso, a Rikke, a Escalofríos, a Savine… a todos, y gozamos con todos.

Personalmente no me gusta mucho como narra las batallas, y por eso y por poco más le dejo en 9/10, lo cual no deja de representar una joya.

Esta review no vale para nada, la verdad. Con la primera frase ya tenéis suficiente.
Leed y disfrutad.

P.D. Si alguien dice que le gusta la Fantasía y no conoce a Abercrombie, ya le vale. Catadlo, coño.

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

Abercrombie is one of the masters of modern epic fantasy. When you finish one of his epic dramas, you will find that you are as shellshocked and battle-hardened as some of his characters. "The Trouble With Peace" is book two in The Age of Madness trilogy. It is highly recommended that you begin with book one ("A Little Hatred") to understand who all the characters are, how they are connected, and what the history of this fantasy world is. Indeed, it starts with part IV, not part I. There are even some who argue that you first need to read Abercrombie's First Law trilogy first before even attempting this trilogy.

And what is that world? It is a land where fierce warriors do battle with sword and axe and bow. There are a few witches and magicians on the edges, but they are either half-crazed or one of the ancient Magi who are merely chess players on the outside. Technology has advanced to the steaming industrial age and there are factories and slums in the cities. Cannons have started to appear in war as have cavalry. But, there is not yet electricity or indoor plumbing.

Abercrombie takes the familiar characters from "A Little Hatred" and takes each of them on a journey they could barely have contemplated at the end of the last book. Many of the main characters were just becoming adults at the end of the last book either by age or by profession and now they either have to grow into their new roles or step aside as the battle approaches.

Orso, the crown prince of the brothel and the bar, is now the king and the crown sits uneasy on his head as the nobles parry and thrust for power. Savine dan Glotka is no longer the prince's favorite and is now carrying someone's bastard child. How can she remain in the power role that has been her bread and butter? For she was the businesswoman par excellence and no one - no one - could drive a harder bargain. Leo dan Brock is no longer a free ranging warrior laughing with his friends. He is now the leader of Angland and his duties weigh on him. Like with his counterpart Orso, nobility is not what he aspired to and does not sit easy on him. He is a rowdy fighting man and is still spoiling for a fight. His counterpart, Stour Nightfall, the King of the Northmen, rules his wooden halls ruthlessly, plotting what to do next. Victarine is still crafty. And let's not forget Tricky Rikke, the witch with the fits, the witch with the all seeing eye. She is going somewhere and, when she returns, she will be barely recognizable, frightening in many ways. All of these characters have journeys to take.

The story slowly but inexorably builds to a climatic battle the likes of which will blow your bloody mind. It may take a little bit until you can follow along with these characters as there are many and the point of view is constantly shifting, but stick with it. It's so worth it. And, to tell the truth, when it ends, you sort of wonder where Abercrombie will take it from here, but we know he's got another volume in the works.