Μια στάλα μίσος

The Age of Madness #1

by Joe Abercrombie, Δήμητρα Αγγελάκη (translator)

Οι καμινάδες της βιομηχανίας υψώνονται πάνω από την Άντουα και ο κόσμος κοχλάζει από νέες ευκαιρίες. Αλλά οι παλιές κακίες είναι ακόμη βαθιά ριζωμένες.

Στα αιματοβαμμένα σύνορα της Άνγκλαντ, ο Λίο νταν Μπροκ παλεύει να κερδίσει δόξα στο πεδίο της μάχης,ενάντια στους επιδρομείς του Στάουερ Σούρουπου. Ελπίζει σε βοήθεια από το Στέμμα. Αλλά ο γιος του βασιλιά Τζέζαλ, o άβουλος Πρίγκιπας Όρσο, είναι ένας άντρας που ειδικεύεται στις απογοητεύσεις.

Η Σαβίν νταν Γκλόκτα -κοσμική κυρία, επενδύτρια και κόρη του άντρα που όλη η Ένωση τρέμει- σχεδιάζει να σκαρφαλώσει στην κορυφή των σκουπιδιών της κοινωνίας με κάθε κόστος. Αλλά οι φτωχογειτονιές βράζουν από μια οργή που όλα τα χρήματα του κόσμου δεν μπορούν να ελέγξουν.

Η εποχή των μηχανών ανατέλλει, αλλά η εποχή της μαγείας αρνείται να πεθάνει. Με τη βοήθεια της τρελής χωριάτισσας Ίσερν-ι-Φάιλ, η Ρίκε παλεύει να ελέγξει την ευλογία, ή την κατάρα, του Μακρινού Βλέμματος. Προς το παρόν, ρίχνει φευγαλέες ματιές στο μέλλον. Όσο, όμως, το χέρι του Πρώτου των Μάγων κινεί τα νήματα, το μέλλον δε θα αλλάξει τόσο εύκολα…

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

672 pages, Paperback

First published September 17, 2019

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.

Grim, dark, fun, and glorious; A Little Hatred is irrefutably worth the wait.

Let me begin by saying that although this is a new series in the First Law World and you can technically start your journey into this world here, it’s quite mandatory to read at least The First Law trilogy in order to fully appreciate the intricacies of this book; even better if you’ve also read Best Served Cold and The Heroes. Reading A Little Hatred without knowledge of the previous books would be a similar experience to reading Pierce Brown’s Iron Gold without reading his previous three books or reading Robin Hobb’s Tawny Man trilogy without reading Farseer trilogy first. Do yourself a favor and make sure you read The First Law trilogy first before you start A Little Hatred, I even binge reread the entire trilogy to make sure that I can start this book with refreshed information. Make some time for it, not only it’s a brilliant trilogy, but you’ll also be doing a huge disservice to the book and most of all your reading experience if you don’t do it. On to the actual review now.

“Nothing like being wanted, is there? Wanted by someone you want. Always seems like magic, that something can feel so good but cost nothing.”

Red Country was first published on October 2012; it’s been seven years since Abercrombie released a novel within his First Law World series. A Little Hatred is the first book in The Age of Madness trilogy by Joe Abercrombie; chronologically this is the eight—seventh if you exclude Sharp Ends anthology—installment in his First Law World series. Honestly, A Little Hatred and Dark Age by Pierce Brown—which I’ll read after I post this review—are two of my most anticipated books of the year; to say that I’m excited about reading these books are a huge understatement. It gladdens me wholeheartedly to say that A Little Hatred successfully exceeded my high expectations, to say the least.

The story in A Little Hatred takes place roughly 30 years after the end of Last Argument of Kings, that’s 15 years after the end of Red Country. Many years have passed and with it, the world has entered a new age: the industrial revolution, it’s a time of innovations, progress, technologies, and commerce. Despite the arrival of a new age, fans of the series have nothing to be scared of, everything that’s familiar and awesome about First Law World was evidently easy to find in this book. Times have changed, but money, politics, power, and bloody war remained as the central driving themes of the story; told in his trademarked gritty, at times humorous, and dark storytelling style, Abercrombie once again tells a compelling story that shows how good or bad are most of the times decided merely by different perspectives and which side you stand on.

“Believe it or not, we all want what’s best. The root o’ the world’s ills is that no one can agree on what it is.”

Abercrombie is pretty well known for his well-realized and memorable characters, there’s no shortage of them in the series so far: Logen Ninefingers, Sand dan Glokta, Jezal dan Luthar, Bayaz, Collem West, Nicomo Cosca, Caul Shivers, Dogman, Black Dow, The Feared, Bremer dan Gorst, and Monza Murcatto to name a few. In A Little Hatred, we follow the perspectives of a new cast of memorable characters. One way or another, almost all of the perspective characters were related to characters that have appeared before in the series. Familiar faces and names do appear quite a lot; there are so much depth and complexity in the background of the characters and world-building that’s impossible to appreciate if you jump into this immediately. For example, even after three decades have passed in the world, the legend of the Bloody-Nine’s glory still triumphed in the North; many warriors admire his deeds and try their best to follow his footsteps. Also, without entering spoiler territory, for those of you who’ve read the first trilogy, you should know by now who the main despicable villain of this series is. He’s back again, and rest assured he brings havoc, treachery, and maximum manipulations with his arrival.

“Now all a man’s worth is how much work can be squeezed from him. We’re husks to be scraped out and tossed away. We’re cogs in the big machine.”

The new cast of characters was fantastic to read. In A Little Hatred, we mostly follow the perspectives of seven characters: Rikke, Leo, Savine, Orso, Vic, Broad, and Clover. Every single POV was imbued with a distinctive voice that captivated me. I honestly have a hard time deciding which new perspective I loved most within this book. Almost halfway through the book, I became addicted to reading every storyline, and I think I have to settle with saying that I love reading every new perspective equally. Each character’s internal struggles, different motivations, and their characterizations were extremely well-written; seeing how their paths connect with one another was truly delightful.

"She had long ago learned that at least half of everything is presentation. Seem a victim, soon become one. Seem in charge, people fall over themselves to obey."

Superbly written and incredibly vivid battle scenes are one of Abercrombie’s strongest strength as an author, and A Little Hatred doesn’t disappoint. The two big action sequences in A Little Hatred were simply jaw-dropping. Abercrombie used the same storytelling style he implemented previously in one or two chapters in Last Argument of Kings and The Heroes to create a chain of events with a seamless perspective’s transition that portrayed mayhem, destruction, and madness towards every participant in a conflict. The poor tend to pay the biggest price of war, and this was showed magnificently. Say one thing for Abercrombie, say he writes some of the best duel scenes in fantasy. The monstrous rage, the noise of clashing steels, the crushing impacts, and the bloody deathblows delivered; everything about the pulse-pounding duel featured in A Little Hatred reached a super palpable quality that made my reading experience totally engaging and immersive.

“Why folk insisted on singing about great warriors all the time, Rikke couldn’t have said. Why not sing about really good fishermen, or bakers, or roofers, or some other folk who actually left the world a better place, rather than heaping up corpses and setting fire to things? Was that behavior to encourage?”

I can vouch with temerity that Abercrombie has crafted another amazing book; expect great things from him and he shall deliver. Fans of grimdark fantasy and The First Law trilogy will have an utterly terrific time reading this must-read book, I’m sure of it. Abercrombie has created a ground-breaking impact with The First Law trilogy; a lot of modern grimdark fantasy series have been inspired by it. Based on the experience from the reading the first book of this trilogy alone, I don’t think it’s a stretch to claim that The Age of Madness will strengthen that notion. Fueled by furious action sequences, profound passages, compelling narratives, and characters that get under your skin; A Little Hatred is a bloody brilliant and breathtaking book. This absolutely stunning return to Abercrombie’s beloved First Law World once again established himself as the reigning lord of grimdark fantasy. A new age for grimdark is here, and it is called The Age of Madness. Read it.

Official release date: 17th September 2019

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

[Robin Hobb · Rating 5 out of 5]

First, the usual caveats. I received an advance copy of this book, free, from the publishers. And I consider Joe Abercrombie a friend. I do not think that affects my review of this book.

Joe Abercrombie continues to do what he does best. He sets up a very large chess board, with multiple pieces. Often several pieces are in motion at the same time, and as always, the pieces are all the same color. It is truly up to the reader to decide which faction they will cheer for, as the characters continue to defy the 'good' or 'bad' labels. This is a tale of brute force and subtle magic set in a world on the cusp of an industrial revolution.

Buckle your seat belts for this one.

A few things I will tell you up front. If you've never read any of Abercrombie's books, you can still jump right into his world with this one. There is just enough back story for each setting to make it real; never a mind-numbing re-chewing of events from a previous book. There are numerous characters. Some get a chance to reveal their point of view. Others keep their thoughts to themselves and let us judge for ourselves what they are pondering. Now, if you have read Joe's other books set in this world, you are in for a richer experience as familiar names, rivalries, hatreds and alliances are renewed, evolve and dissolve in this volume.

The characters are memorable. Even with a large cast, I never had to fumble back to recall who was who, and what was going on.

A Little Hatred is not a gentle book. Characters are shown at their best and their worst, and the full spectrum of what some are capable of can be appalling. This is a vivid and jolting tale. The fantasy elements of the book are subtle, the magic scarce and yet utterly essential to the plot.

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

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An absolutely fantastic book that starts this new series off with a bang

I was a little skeptical going into this book. Not only did I think the three standalone books were a lower quality than the original trilogy, but I’ve never been a big fan of books that jump time to start a new series in a previously explored world. It usually feels needless to me, and I typically wish the author would just move on to a new series than rehash something old.

Oh do I love it when I’m wrong. This book was every bit as good as the original series, and potentially even better. From the first chapter to the last, this book had me mesmerized and ravenous to read more.

A Little Hatred is more character driven/focused than the previous books, and has a heavy dosage of political machinations that I absolutely love in fantasy books when done right. The inner monologues of these characters make them really come to life, and the spins that this story took were both unpredictable and fantastic.

While you shouldn’t read this book before reading all the books that led up to this (yes, including the standalones), this book is starting this new series off in an amazing fashion, and I desperately hope the follow up books continue the brilliance of this one. If you loved the original trilogy, I virtually guarantee you will love this one just as much.

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

Fanfreakingtastic!



Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

***SPOILER FREE REVIEW***


‘War? It’s a fight so big almost no one comes out of it well’

First of all, this is not fantasy as we know it. In fact, this is barely fantasy at all. Undoubtedly epic, with more than a hint of magic, this is a high fantasy world with a low fantasy feel. It's a sign of the times- even the big hitters are pursuing influence though finance and banking instead of sorcery… The First Law world is, for all intents and purposes, our world. As a result, the book reads a bit more like historical fiction. A lot more like history. If nothing else, the author must have done some serious research into the Industrial and French revolutions to so evocatively and effectively depict this kind of terror, these sorts of turbulent times. It’s nothing less than a deconstruction of humanity. And because of that, it’s the very best kind of story telling. This is history in action, bloody and indifferent. It’s a clear eyed look at who people really are and what they really do, in wealth or poverty, in revolution, in war. Revealed here are the dangers of idealised Progress, especially when it’s really just about Profit, and action for and by the People, especially when it’s just about Power. Look around, fellow readers, at the world we live in now; this isn’t just a book about the past. Fear not though, if this all sounds a bit serious, this is pure Abercrombie. Plots within plots, brutal violence, death and destruction, surprises, and a gold thread of humour to balance the grim.

The author isn’t the only one who has been looking at the past for inspiration, the narrative is steeped in the supposed glory days of what came before. The events detailed in the First Law Trilogy form more than just the backdrop for this book, they inform the actions and attitudes of all the players. Perhaps you could begin your reading journey here but I highly recommend you don’t. Not only are there characters from past books playing significant roles (no, I’m not telling who), many of the issues in play come directly from the other books in the series. Or at least, the memory of them or their legend. Everyone’s favourite psychopath, Logen Ninefingers, figures heavily in the hero worship of this new age of young warriors, exerting the kind of influence that changes the course of the future. If this is a book about what the past has to teach us, it’s clear to me that many of the characters have learned all the wrong lessons.

And what characters they are. Since there’s only limited information in the blurb, I’m not going to spoil any surprises, but at least one of the new introductions is heading towards my favourites list already. Maybe even two. Every flaw, every bit of self-delusion, every failed attempt at virtue is on show, the good in people repeatedly shoved aside by circumstance or self-interest. It’s the kind of real that has you chuckling darkly to yourself in recognition. And if you’re not? Well, perhaps you should take another look… It’s not all gritty inhumanity. Mostly, but not all. Even Abercrombie leaves some room for hope. Except now I’m remembering the overarching pattern of the first trilogy and wondering whether he’s playing on my innate optimism? I wouldn’t put it past him.

Anyway, this book is exceptional. Indisputably, spectacularly, criminally good. Clever, funny, and packed with cutting commentary, it’s well worth the wait.


ARC via publisher

[John Gwynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The wiser a man is, the more he stands ready to be educated.”

I'm useless at updating what I have read on Goodreads, as my sons constantly tell me. But here's an attempt to rectify that slightly.

I finished A Little Hatred over a year ago and of course, loved it. Joe Abercrombie is a master at what he does. From the humour, to characters, to plot. He is such a distinct writer, and someone that I know will always put out books I will love and devour. One of my favourite authors, and A Little Hatred shows me once again why he is. If you haven't already, you should dive into his works, starting with The Blade Itself.

[Nicholas Eames · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yep, this was as awesome as I'd hoped it would be. Witty, bloody, and fun. Phenomenal characters abound, and it sets the stage for even grander things to come.

[James Tivendale · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advanced review copy of A Little Hatred in exchange for an honest review. I would like to thank Joe Abercrombie and Gollancz.

This first novel in The Age of Madness series is set a generation after The First Law trilogy. We are reintroduced to this world as it is in a bit of a crisis. It's a new age that features the introduction of machinery, a potential revolution, brutal hard labour, and the fear and hatred of progression. It's reaching a boiling point and that could soon equate to absolute turmoil. Here, once again, Abercrombie showcases why he is still one of the finest Grimdark/ Dark Fantasy writers of all time. The author's world-building and characterisation are as impressive, detailed and unique as ever and the humour presented is amazing and typical Abercrombie.

Point of veiw characters Orso, Savine, and Rikke are the children of Jezal, Glotka, and The Dogman respectively. Some of the old favourite players are featured here but they don't take over the mainstage. The new ensemble is well worth reading about and they organically take other the reins that steer this narrative. Abercrombie still creates bastards you love to hate and that you hate that you love. The author is a genius at creating characters that I actually care about however horrible they may be. My two absolute favourites follow were the so-called awful alcohol-addicted King-in-Waiting Orso who deep down wishes to be a good person and a leader - and also arguably the novel's finest character the sex-addicted entrepreneur Savine Glotka. There a quite a few point of view players throughout and in addition to the aforementioned, Leo, the perfect hero and Broad the formidable warrior with a harsh past are great to follow. Their scenes were stunning to visualise and were the most memorable.

Some of the players may seem two-dimensional initially until Abercrombie deftly expands on their thoughts, emotions and agendas and massages the depth of their personalities into our minds. As mentioned, we see some old legends from the past such as Glotka, The Dogman and Bayaz but the new characters are not in the shadows of their predecessors at all. They truly own the narrative.

I had a brilliant time reading this and returning to Abercrombie's world. Although I haven't completed all of The First Law books and even though you probably could start reading here, I think some prior knowledge of at least one or two of the original trilogy is truly beneficial. A Little Hatred does read like the typical first book in a fantasy epic which may build up to truly monumental and stunning moments but it doesn't really work as a standalone. I believe Abercrombie has completed the remaining two books though and I can't wait for the next entry and to lose myself here again. Bravo. When I have finished all The First Law books I will return to this and the rating may be increased to 5-stars.

PS. This is a more casual review than normal as I finished the novel a little while ago but haven't had the internet for a few weeks. Today is the first time I've been able to get around to reviewing it.

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Instability
Joe Abercrombie has written an outstanding, earth-shattering book. A Little Hatred, is the first book of his new trilogy The Age of Madness, which is based in the world he created for The First Law trilogy. The lands of The Union and its neighbouring empires reverberate with the past echoes of battles, courageous exploits and heroic characters. Characters such as Logan Ninefingers, Dogman, Black Dow, The Feared, Jezal dan Luther and Sand dan Glokta, are still mentioned in revered tones, and after 30 years, some are still alive.


This is a novel that is structured along multiple threads and points of view, which provide a wide variety of fascinating story arcs. Abercrombie manages to create a new array of unforgettable characters who all equally contribute to an adventurous story. He creates diverse complex characters, where some you will favour, but he doesn’t make it easy, as each person conveys traits that portray what is good and bad in humanity, what is virtuous, and what is corrupt.

The Union has fought the toughest wars for years and it has cost a lot of money and even though there has been peace for a long time, the debt of war is substantial. In current times an industrial change is underway where machines have the capacity to outwork and outperform real people. The nature of jobs will also change and we only have to reflect how our own industrial revolution affected the lives of so many. With increased industrialisation comes the movement of people from rural areas to cities and for some comes increased wealth, while for many others comes poverty, hardship and resentment. Something will give and society feels like a tinderbox waiting for the spark to ignite a revolution.

“ ‘Every man with a say in how he’s governed. Every man with a vote.’ ‘So no more king?’ ‘Every man’ll be a king!’ Broad might’ve called it treason once, but his patriotic feelings had taken quite the kicking the last couple of years. Now it just sounded like daydreams.”

With the cost of industrialisation, innovation, and serious debt, the Union is ill-equipped to fight another war. Please let there be another war!

To add to the precarious position of the Union, the North under the leadership of Stour Nightfall, the Great Wolf, have started attacking the northern border of Angland. A border defended by Lady Finree and her son Leo, the Young Lion, who may have the courage but not the wit to battle the seasoned warrior, Nightfall. Other characters providing a unique POV and storyline include Dogman’s daughter, Rikke, gifted with the Long Eye, Savine dan Glokta, the highly intelligent and ruthless daughter of the chief inquisitor, and Prince Orso, heir to the throne of The Union’s empire, Broad, Clover and Vic. It was wonderful to read each enthralling and entertaining narrative with equal fascination.

There is no reason why this book can’t be read without any previous experience of Joe Abercrombie’s First Law world. However, knowing how he writes his trilogies you need to start this trilogy with this book. Also, if you have the chance of reading the First Law trilogy before this, take the opportunity – not only will you adore it but you’ll meet wonderful characters that only get a mention in this book.

I would highly recommend this book and this fantasy world and characters Joe Abercrombie has created, stand with the best ever imagined. I'd like to thank Orion Publishing Group and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC version in return for an honest review.

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

It's been more than six year since I read "Red Country", and I waited for him to release "Wisdom of Crowds" so I can read them back to back. And my patience paid off because this book was just fantastic to kick things off. A new cast of characters was introduced and there were also special appearances by some of the best from the First Law world.

In true Abercrombie fashion this book sets the stage for what is coming next as we here were get acquainted with these new heroes and villains. For now am not sure who is good and evil, and I think this author just does it the best. No one shows their true colors, everyone being on their best behaviors with a hidden knife somewhere on them. So I know I am going to keep switching sides until I settle for one.

While First Law trilogy did not have many females in the lead, here we have two very strong ladies, Rikke and Savine who are the daughters of Dogman and Glokta respectively. And they both took after their fathers, strong, and savage. Then there is Vit, though her role was smaller as compared to other two here but I have high hopes for her in this series. I have a hunch that she is going to be crucial in next two books. As for men, they are no different than the others in other first law world books.

Its a classic Joe Abercrombie in every way.

[MagretFume · Rating 5 out of 5]

2024 re-read.
This is my first re-read of the AOM trilogy, and I should probably add that the First Law is one of my favourite series of all time. 

I loved the AOM trilogy when I first read it, but maybe not as much as the original one or the standalone, mostly because I wasn't as invested in this new cast of characters. 

But this re-read is changing that. With more perspective than the first time around, I'm able to pick up on so much more, the humour, the foreshadowing, the fantastic and the very original story. 

The characters are fantastically written and offer so much internal conflict, the story is full of action and the ending left me breathless. 
This only confirms my love for Abercrombie. 

[Nick Borrelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

10/10

For those who hold Joe Abercrombie's First Law trilogy in the utmost esteem like I do, you will be very pleased to know that this book is the start of a new series set in that same world. In fact, some of the main characters in A LITTLE HATRED are the children or other family members of characters from First Law. The setting is also a very familiar one, with the action taking place some years after the turbulent events of the first series. All of this makes for a wonderful transition and extension of that particular story arc while giving us something very new to chew on.

Welcome back to Angland, where much has changed in the past 30 or so years, and yet in some cases much has not changed. The Union still struggles to maintain stability in a land where marauders and enemy armies continually nip at its heels and test its tenuous rule. There's also quite a bit of back-biting and double-dealing from within which doesn't help matters.

This is a land where power speaks and the best way to gain power is by eliminating your enemies (possibly using underhanded methods if necessary). As with the previous series, there are threats to The Union from outside its borders, the only thing different is the leaders who have now taken up the mantle. The population is growing increasingly bitter and discontented as refugees fleeing from other lands flood into Union territory seeking a reprieve from the corruption and brutality of their own feckless rulers.

Ultimately the refugee infusion causes an untenable situation as extreme resentment creeps in and very disparate cultures are forced into a situation where they are competing for the already limited resources provided by an uncaring government only concerned with its own greed and power. The Union faces potential invasion as a growing army masses to the north and is preparing for war. Can The Union prevail when forces from both outside and inside its ranks are slowly eating away at it like a parasite? Or will the past few decades of relative peace result in it being too soft and ill-prepared for the onslaught that may be about to be unleashed from the north?

A LITTLE HATRED has all of the violence, brutality, world-building and witty humor that we have come to expect from the Lord of Grimdark himself, Joe Abercrombie. I'm avoiding spoilers here for those who haven't read the First Law trilogy, but if you haven't read those yet, what is wrong with you? What I will say is that for those who may have been afraid that Abercrombie was getting a little soft after releasing a YA series a few years ago, rest assured that the master is back and better than ever!

What I found especially gratifying in this book is the way that we were allowed to be connected again to some very familiar characters through their children. For instance there's Savine dan Glokta, daughter of my favorite character in any Fantasy series, hated torturer and inquisitor Sand dan Glokta. Savine has all of the guile and wit of her father but with a tenacity and cunning of her own that makes her a very worthy adversary to those who would cross her. Then there's Rikke, daughter of the battle-tested friend of Logen Ninefingers, Dogman. Rikke has the ability to see the future through a gift called The Long Eye. What she sees in her latest visions are truly horrifying indeed, and could have implications beyond imagining.

These characters plus a multitude of others really make up the strength of this phenomenal story. Abercrombie has always been my favorite author when it comes to writing incredible dialogue, and A LITTLE HATRED shows him in top form once again where that is concerned. I mean the guy can flat-out write brilliant dialogue and his characters are always fleshed out to an amazing degree.

I'm so glad that I was able to revisit this world again and get immersed in such a wonderful book that doesn't rehash any old ground, but rather expands on the past history to give us an entirely new and engaging story to enjoy. A LITTLE HATRED is a can't miss book filled with violence, treachery, suspense, humor, adventure, and that special storytelling knack that can only come from one of the best writers in the genre.

If you want an amazing read that won't disappoint, pick this one up and read it cover to cover. The more I read Joe Abercrombie's books, the higher he moves up in the pantheon of the best of the best in Fantasy. Well done Lord Grimdark! If this first book is any indication of what is to come, then I eagerly anticipate the next installment with much enthusiasm indeed.

Just a quick note, if you are wondering whether you can jump right into this book without reading his First Law trilogy I would say yes and no. Yes it is a totally self-contained story and you can absolutely read this book and enjoy it on its own merits. However, if you truly want to get the best reading experience from A LITTLE HATRED, I highly recommend reading the First Law trilogy. It will give you a much deeper understanding of events and circumstances while also providing valuable insight into the characters.

[Myke Cole · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Little Hatred would be a remarkable book in ANY genre. Fantasy fans are beyond fortunate that Joe chose this one.

Abercrombie returns to the world of The First Law without missing a beat, displaying the same incredible empathy, evocative prose, and intensely relatable characters, all navigating one of the most intricate and well-constructed plot mazes I’ve ever had the pleasure to navigate.

Seriously. This book is so good, it makes me want to give up writing. That is the highest compliment I can pay a work, and I reserve it for writers operating at the level of a James Clavell. Joe has earned his place among the masters who transcend genre, and I sincerely hope the wider literary community honors him in the same manner as it has fantasy novelists like Tolkien, Lewis, or Martin.

[Lena · Rating 5 out of 5]

The new generation of inglorious bastards! Loved every single page of it and can't wait to read the rest of the trilogy. As usual characters are very well written and the intrigues are very realistic, like you're reading some sort of an alternative history not a fantasy. And I love that this world is changing and growing like a real one. Former enemies became allies or poor refugees, old ways facing great challenges and the chaos seems eternal but live goes on. Bayaz is still annoying as hell though.

[Holly Hearts Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Wars may be won by the clever, but battles have to be fought by the brave.”

I’m confident in saying this is Joe Abercrombie’s best work.

[Krell75 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lo chiamano progresso:
Campi verdi sostituiti da ferro e pietra, cieli azzurri nascosti dal fumo asfissiante, strade e case cosparse di fuliggine nera.
Corpi in vendita per un tozzo di pane. Tra fango e ingranaggi, vagano stracci.
Al vertice c'è sua maestà: il re del mondo, il dio Denaro.

Dimenticate il solito fantasy, Joe racconta altro.

"Che posto è quello? Una scuola per maghi?"
"Non esattamente. E' una banca"

"Mi hanno affamata a morte, schiaffeggiata, pisciato addosso, bersagliata di frecce, inseguita con i cani, minacciata di essere scopata da un maiale, ho dormito sotto un impiccato, sono quasi finita in un crepaccio, ho ucciso un ragazzino e mi sono cagata addosso, quindi, capisci, speriamo che la prossima settimana vada meglio, diciamo così."

Personaggi viscerali e pieni di difetti, dialoghi arguti e mai banali, temi sociali e sprazzi di vita quotidiana in un'ambientazione che evolve sotto gli occhi del lettore. Un romanzo corale con frequenti cambi di prospettiva e di solida preparazione ai successivi.

Sono trascorsi una ventina d'anni dalle vicende di "The Heroes" e una trentina da quelle narrate nella prima trilogia e il mondo, pur nei suoi radicali cambiamenti, porta con se i soliti vecchi problemi. Siamo entrati nell'era del carbone e delle fabbriche, e mentre i ricchi se la godono tra sfarzo e frivolezze, il popolo soffre di stenti tra cataste di immondizia, povertà e malattie.
I soprusi sulla popolazione da parte dei più abbienti, sempre alla ricerca del maggior profitto, si accentuano con il progredire dello sviluppo tecnologico.
I tempi sono maturi, gli animi saturi.
E' giunta l'ora di cambiare.

"I ricchi sono troppo ciechi per vedere e i poveri sono troppo affamati per non agire"

Una coralità di personaggi di ogni risma ed estrazione sociale: dal principe ereditario all'agente in incognito dell'inquisizione, dalla cinica imprenditrice al reduce di guerra in povertà.
Persone con diverse prospettive e ideali che affrontano la vita con mezzi diversi, tutti seguendo il proprio senso di giustizia.
Abercrombie riesce nuovamente ad incollarmi al testo e stavolta non si limita delineando solo buoni personaggi ma anche fornendo una storia su più fronti.
I suoi personaggi, come al solito, non sono alla ricerca della nostra simpatia, tutti abbastanza grigi da evitare di tifare per loro. Dobbiamo limitarci a seguire gli eventi ed entrare nelle loro vite spezzate e nelle loro menti. Joe ci riesce, come sempre.

"Gustarsi ogni boccone lo fa sembrare più grande"

Esattamente quello che ho fatto, riuscendo in questo modo a gustarmi ogni scena senza la fretta di giungere al termine o cercare di immaginarmi dove volesse andare a parare la storia principale.
Ho lasciato che Joe mi accompagnasse nelle vite di questi personaggi seguendo ogni storia narrata con stile fluido e con quel pizzico di ironia che, sempre al momento giusto, smorza la brutalità delle vicende narrate senza peli sulla lingua.
Arrivo quasi a preferirlo alla prima trilogia che in fondo peccava in trama e temi trattati, focalizzandosi solo sui personaggi.
Ammetto che un paio di dinamiche erano già state mostrate nei romanzi precedenti ma Joe questa volta si è spinto a porre l'attenzione anche su binari tematici che fanno riflettere, ed è una novità non da poco nei suoi lavori.
Limitarsi a giudicarlo solo in base ai precedenti romanzi non gli rende giustizia. Il voto è da intendersi in rapporto alla totalità delle mie letture e confermo l'alto livello del romanzo.

Continuo a confermare Abercrombie sul podio, un gradino sotto al maestro Erikson, ancora i migliori rappresentanti di un genere che non mi stancherà mai.

-----------------------------------------
They call it progress:
Green fields replaced by iron and stone, blue skies hidden by suffocating smoke, streets and houses covered in black soot.
Bodies for sale for a loaf of bread. Among mud and gears, rags wander.
At the top is his majesty: the king of the world, the god of Money.

Forget the usual fantasy, Joe tells something else.

"What place is that? A school for wizards?"
"Not exactly. It's a bank"

"I've been starved to death, slapped, pissed on, shot with arrows, chased with dogs, threatened to be fucked by a pig, slept under a hanged man, almost walked into a crevasse, killed a little boy and shit myself on, so, you know, let's hope next week goes better, shall we say."

Visceral characters full of flaws, witty and never banal dialogues, social themes and flashes of everyday life in a setting that evolves before the reader's eyes. A choral novel with frequent changes of perspective and solid preparation for the next ones.

Twenty years have passed since the events of "The Heroes" and thirty from those narrated in the first trilogy and the world, despite its radical changes, brings with it the same old problems. We have entered the era of coal and factories, and while the rich enjoy it amidst glitz and frivolity, the common people suffer hardship amid piles of rubbish, poverty and disease.
The abuses of the population by the wealthiest, always in search of the greatest profit, are accentuated with the progress of technological development.
Times are ripe, souls are saturated.
The time has come for a change.

"The rich are too blind to see and the poor are too hungry not to act"

A chorus of characters from all walks of life and social backgrounds: from the crown prince to the undercover agent of the inquisition, from the cynical businesswoman to the poverty-stricken war veteran.
People with different perspectives and ideals who approach life with different means, all following their own sense of justice.
Abercrombie manages to glue me to the text again and this time it doesn't limit itself by outlining only good characters but also by providing a story on several fronts.
His characters, as usual, are not looking for our sympathy, all gray enough to avoid rooting for them. We have to just follow the events and enter their broken lives and minds. Joe succeeds, as always.

"Savoring every bite makes it seem bigger"

Exactly what I did, thus managing to enjoy every scene without the rush to get to the end or try to imagine where the main story was going with this.
I let Joe accompany me in the lives of these characters, following each story narrated with a fluid style and with that pinch of irony which, always at the right moment, dampens the brutality of the events narrated outspokenly.
I almost prefer it to the first trilogy which basically lacked plot and themes, focusing only on the characters.
I admit that a couple of dynamics had already been shown in previous novels but this time Joe has gone so far as to focus attention also on thematic tracks that make us think, and it is not just a novelty in his works.
Just judging him based on his previous novels doesn't do him justice. The vote is to be understood in relation to the totality of my readings and I confirm the high level of the novel.

I continue to confirm Abercrombie on the podium, one step below Maestro Erikson, still the best representatives of a genre that will never tire me.

[William Gwynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

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

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

“When one man knowingly kills another, they call it murder! When society causes the deaths of thousands, they shrug and call it a fact of life.”

A Little Hatred is the first instalment in the Age of Madness trilogy, which is a continuation of the First Law. The world is evolving, in terms of technology and also arising powers, and as the reader we are thrust into the volatile political situation across the Union that appears to be coming to a culmination after decades of conflict.

Joe Abercrombie is best known for his characters, and they are my favourite part of his works. The perspectives in A Little Hatred are all entirely new characters who we as the reader are meeting for the first time, but many of the supporting cast number are those who occupied key roles in the previous trilogy and the following standalone stories. There are a great mix of perspectives here, from Leo the Young Lion, to Rikke, to Prince Orso, who were my three favourite characters to follow, but there were a few more perspectives beyond this. Whilst I was not perhaps as attached to them as those of the first trilogy, they were still magnificent, and this is the only the first of the trilogy.

“Guilt is a luxury reserved for those still breathing and with no unbearable pain, cold or hunger demanding all their fickle attention.”

I really enjoyed the different factions, especially when you see the divisions that have healed, or more likely, opened since we last have been privy to the going-ons in these lands. Abercrombie does politics brilliantly, with the nuances of the characters and slightly different cultures lending themselves really well to how these lands interact with each other, with them ending in conflict more often than not.

“The wiser a man is, the more he stands ready to be educated.”

A Little Hatred is a great introduction to the latest trilogy by Joe Abercrombie, which you can read before any of the other books in the world. However, I would strongly recommend reading the backlog, with The First Law Trilogy, as some of the same characters feature, and many of figures allude to the happenings of the past. As always with Abercrombie, this is an accomplished, efficient and enjoyable read with great moments and great characters.

4.75/5 STARS

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

“A Little Hatred” is a stupendous bawdy gritty violent grimdark fantasy. Everything you know you want in a swordplaying industrial fantasy.

Abercrombie has created a complex multi-faceted world that was developed in six previous books, the First Law trilogy and three additional novels. Be brave and step inside this world even if you are unfamiliar-with the earlier novels. There is no reason not to begin this new trilogy with A Little Hatred. The downside is that even after 500 or so pages you will want so much more.

The world here is half sword and axe battles ala Braveheart, but still a burgeoning industrial world in the major city with smokestacks, child labor, and violent union organizing. There is very little magic except for a seer who can sometimes see the future but it comes in epileptic fits. Accept the slight incongruity cause it works.

For Abercrombie, the fights are not just on the battlefield although the battles are wonderfully set out and the duels to the death are terrific. The struggles include palace intrigue, business maneuvers, and more. So battle exists on several different levels.

Like many modern novels, Abercrombie tells his story through six or seven alternating points of view. This can be frustrating because as soon as you want to desperately know how Rilke is faring as she flees through the countryside teeming with enemies, but you are whisked into the city where Savine is involved in her sophisticated maneuvers.

All thoughout it’s grim, dark, violent, and bawdy. These characters, both men and women, are lustful at opportune and inopportune times.

Once you get going with this one, you’ll find it impossible to put down.

[Geek Furioso · Rating 5 out of 5]

Recibí un ARC de parte de la Editorial Lee Runas a cambio de una reseña honesta

Últimamente he notado que tenía un bloqueo lector. Los últimos meses han sido para mí agónicos, entre muchas responsabilidades entre el trabajo, los estudios y otros malestares en mi vida personal. Sin embargo, los escasos ratos que tenía en los que podía sentarme y aprovechar para leer me dí cuenta de que no me apetecía hacerlo. Quería hacer cualquier cosa salvo leer. No sabía por qué. Empezaba cualquier libro y perdía rápidamente el interés. La única excepción había sido Magnus Chase y los Dioses de Asgard, pero leerlo en directo me ayudaba a seguir adelante con el mismo. En cualquier caso, lo que quiero decir es que, por algún motivo desconocido, no había libro que pudiera engancharme a seguir leyendo sin parar.

Hasta que regresó Joe Abercrombie.

Un Poco de Odio es el regreso por todo lo alto de Abercrombie al mundo de la Primera Ley, donde por fin aquello que medio empezó en Tierras Rojas con las máquinas de Curnsbick por fin ha culminado en el surgimiento de la Revolución Industrial en la Unión. Esto ya de por sí me parece la mejor de las decisiones, ya que adoro los mundos en evolución, y Abercrombie ha logrado plasmar con muchísimo tino la crueldad y miseria de la era industrial: la ruina de la clase obrera, la contaminación masiva en pos de la producción, la enfermedad, la muerte y el dolor.

Sin embargo, también en muchas cosas, he notado a Abercrombie volviendo a campos en los que se notaba cómodo, como si no se atreviera del todo a salir del cascarón: hay otra guerra más en el Norte, y aunque estaba bien para caracterizar a los personajes de Rikke y Leo se me acababa de antojar un obstáculo al desarrollo de lo que veo podría acabar siendo la trama central de la trilogía: el progreso industrial y la revolución obrera. Oh, porque sí, no podía faltar una revolución obrera. Y permitidme decir que es mucho más escalofriante de lo que jamás os podríais haber imaginado. Sigo con los pelos como escarpias.

Por último, quiero mencionar a los personajes. Como es habitual con Abercrombie, sus personajes son su punto fuerte. Todos están excelentemente caracterizados, y acabas preocupándote más o menos por todos. Sin embargo, de nuevo, con algunos he notado que Joe estaba volviendo a hacer los personajes con los que se siente cómodo. El príncipe Orso es una versión más deprimida de Jezal dan Luthar, mientras que Leo dan Brock es también Luthar pero más gallito. Broad Gunnar es el mismo tipo de tiarrón que no quiere hacer daño pero por dentro se muere de ganas de partir cabezas que eran Logen Nuevededos y Bremen dan Gorst, y Trébol es el clásico hombre sabio que mira cómo los jóvenes quieren ser héroes de guerra y niega con la cabeza tachándoles de idiotas. Eh, ojo, cuidado, no estoy diciendo que sean malos personajes, sólo que ya están bastante vistos.

Los personajes más originales de este libro para mí han sido precisamente Rikke, la norteña hija del Sabueso que posee el don de ver el futuro con el ojo largo, y Savine dan Glokta, que tiene la falta de piedad de su padre pero la aplica al capitalismo en vez de la tortura.

No obstante, aún con todo, esto es Joe Abercrombie en su máximo esplendor. Lo que esperas de uno de sus libros está todo aquí, con una calidad excelente. Si sois fans del grimdark, este es obligatorio.

[Ed McDonald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes you get sent a book written by one of the people whose work you do your best not to rip off. I was sent an advanced reader copy by Gollancz. Here’s what I thought.

Zero spoilers.

For an author, the problem with reading the books of another author whom you kind of grew up on, is that (a) you’re really worried about whether their work will stand up, like when you try and watch The Princess Bride with someone who has never seen it before and really hope they’ll like it, and (b) if you’re writing anything of your own at the time, you have to be really careful that your characters don’t mysteriously start sounding like Abercrombie’s. As a writer one can’t help but absorb what you’re taking in. You have to be realistic about these things.

The strength of Abercrombie’s writing has always been in the depth and realisation of the characters. Those who’ve followed The First Law since its beginnings will be well aware that every key view point character is immediately recognisable. This is a really deep part of the storytelling, but when you think back on these memorable players, you know what they look like physically, how they would react to any given stimuli, even how they talk. These characters live and breathe on the page. Sometimes it’s hard to imagine that they aren’t actually memoirs.

A Little Hatred serves up quite a lot of new characters, and every character in this book stands out as clearly as a blade in the neck. Abercrombie pulls his familiar trick, of showing us the characters in their proto-form – which one could be mistaken for thinking of as one dimensional – before slowly fleshing them out. The denial, the self-loathing, the lack of self awareness, all those awful, negative, and frighteningly real feelings we all have in our moments of self-doubt come creeping in and twist your understanding of who these people are, and what they do. What’s particularly surprising is the way that you can start off enjoying the characters, while rather hoping that they get what they deserve, to really feeling for them – even a character as corrupted and morally bankrupt as Savine.

I don’t want to spoil the reveals of the familiar faces as they pop up through the book, but it’s a credit to this novel that while we get to say “Hi” to some of the old favourites, they are not running the show. A Little Hatred is a book about a new generation and they get to show their own lives, their own troubles, and yes of course all that good stuff sending people to the mud, torture, bad sex and what not.

There is a lot of shagging in this one, and since I’m pretty much sure you’ve read Abercrombie before, you’re likely also familiar with bad morning breath, trousers getting tangled up and so on. I like a good dose of romance in my reading, but I’m not exactly sure that this is dates and flowers. But then, what does one expect?

I particularly also enjoy how we’re constantly reminded and informed by all of the jaded, world-weary characters about how stabbing people in the back is the best option, and how violence never solves anything, and that nothing was ever achieved with a sword blah blah and we readers nod along feeling all smug because yeah, tell it like it is man! And then we get into the Circle and we’re baying for blood just like every Northerner and secretly hoping that someone’s going to earn their Name.

One of the curiosities about this novel however is that this is the kind of novel that you can only write when you’re already a megastar in the fantasy literature world. There’s not really an actual single plot running through the narrative. We see a lot of characters, and they all have their adventures, and while towards the end of the book they get tied together, when I turned the last page I still wasn’t entirely sure what the book is about. The stability of the Union, maybe? Although we’re never really asked to care about it. It’s more like a waltz through the First Law world, taking in a little here, a little there, and watching glorious characters make a huge mess of everything.

Of course, I’m pretty sure that there’s a current of narrative that runs beneath it all, especially as Abercrombie has finished all three installments before releasing the first. It’s testament to the depth and strength of the characters in this story that I’m already pretty keen to get my hands on the next one, even if I couldn’t actually tell you what the story is actually about. And maybe that’s kind of the point. Life rarely has squared off endings. Maybe not all stories need them too.

There are some really interesting themes running through A Little Hatred. I was at times reminded of the Levellers and other reformation groups in the 17th century (not the indie folk band). Questions about division of wealth remain suitably muddy throughout. Perhaps one of my highlights was when Rikke picks up what is essentially a copy of The Daily Mail, or the reflection of Brexiteer attitudes from the mouth of one of the principal cast. There’s some interesting feelings for the reader as they see some of the rich made poor, some of the poor made rich, and how we feel about it in each case.

Overall, A Little Hatred shows Abercrombie at his blood-and-dirt best. Characters that come to life on the page, bloody showdowns in the Circle, backstabbing, intrigue, loving and hating and dying all rolled into one infinitely digestible package. You will love to hate and then hate to love these people, characters who are once flawed and perfect. With A Little Hatred, Abercrombie proves that he’s still the one to beat.

[Melanie (meltotheany) · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Why folk insisted on singing about great warriors all the time, Rikke couldn’t have said. Why not sing about really good fishermen, or bakers, or roofers, or some other folk who actually left the world a better place, rather than heaping up corpses and setting fire to things?”

i will forever be a character driven reader, and oh my god did joe abercrombie make me fall in love with every character he created in this book - from heroes, to villains, to... mostly all the characters are that grey area in-between. i really loved this set up, and the ending left me requesting book two from my library upon reading the last page.

also, i know this will make a few of you sad at me - but this is my first abercrombie (i know, i know)! i will most likely go back and read the previous series connecting to this world's past, but i just wanted to finally read a abercrombie and i thought picking up his most recent work was the safest bet. but this book has so many moments where you just know it would be more impactful if you knew this person (or this person's parents)! so i do also completely acknowledge that if i were familiar with all his work, i probably would have given this five stars! but also - if you pick it up on its own, and are a lover of character driven, multiple povs, adult fantasy - i think you will also really enjoy this one!

okay to quickly just let you guys know my very brief thoughts on these characters:
☆ rikke - loml. that ending, that vision, oh i am currently living on baited breath.
☆ orso - second loml. a charming + kind prince with a broken heart is always gonna win me over.
☆ broad - the actual reason i will read the previous books. his chapters were everything.
☆ savine - i love her too, and i know she is gonna be everything in the next books, but girl whewww
☆ leo -my heart does go out to him for many reasons, but we will see what the next book has in store
☆ vick - very complex character who my heart goes out to but i also do not trust whatsoever
☆ stour - dude's real bad, but i am so excited for the next book >.<

trigger + content warnings: war, uprisings, battles, violence, gore, blood, murder, death, loss of loved one, death of child, child labor, talk of child abuse, labor camps, animal death, ptsd depiction, a lot of drug use (cocaine like), threat of rape, threat of torture, torture, suicide, captivity, abduction, colorism, racism, homophobia, fatphobic comments, ableist language, dubious consent a little bit imo, incest, seizures, menstruation, vomiting, mention of cannibalism.

blog | instagram | youtube | kofi | spotify | amazon

[Mogsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2019/09/16/...

It’s been quite a few years since we had a novel set in the First Law World, and returning to it was a bit like coming home to a comfortable place—well, at least as homey and comforting as it can possibly be when it comes to a Joe Abercrombie book, but you get my meaning. And one thing is certain, A Little Hatred is in every way a story you can expect from the Lord of Grimdark, essentially told in a gritty style heavily emphasizing the bleakness of a world characterized with brutality and violence. And indeed, Abercrombie’s fans will be pleased to find these pages filled with his familiar brand of madness and chaos, in equal parts gory and comical.

But an important note before we begin: while A Little Hatred kicks off a new trilogy called The Age of Madness, in context it is actually the seventh full-length novel set in the greater First Law sequence. Although you can technically begin your adventure here, you will be missing out on many books’ worth of background information that would make reading A Little Hatred a lot more enjoyable, not to mention a lot less confusing. The First Law trilogy would be where I would start, and the bare minimum I would recommend having under your belt before you start this novel which is set roughly thirty years after the events of Last Argument of Kings. Much about the world has changed, but we do return to some familiar names and places.

Once more, we are thrown into the middle of a conflict between the North and the Union. Northmen, being Northmen, are rallying behind a new leader and setting their sights on an invasion, while in Adua, the seat of the realm, a new threat is secretly brewing in silence and gathering strength. A new generation of characters are at the helm, beginning with Rikke, daughter of the Dogman. Gifted (or cursed, depending on your perspective) with the Long Eye, a kind of second sight that allows her to glimpse the future, Rikke foresees something terrible and spends most of the beginning of the novel fleeing from the vicious Stour Nightfall and his men. Meanwhile at the border, Leo the Young Lion, the ballsy son of Finree and Harod dan Brock from The Heroes, is in the middle of the action fighting his own battle against the hordes of invading Northmen even as he dreams of the fame and glory of bringing Nightfall down himself.

At the capital, however, the situation is as lackadaisical as ever with the feckless Crown Prince Orso up to his usual self. A spoiled and pampered playboy, he’s aware that he’s a disappointment to everyone around him but is nonetheless perfectly happy to carry on with his philandering ways. That is, until his current dalliance with the beautiful and sophisticated Savine dan Glokta turns into something more and makes him realize he is not the man he wants to be. Savine is of course the daughter of the infamous Sand dan Glokta, a character whom fans of Joe Abercrombie should know very well. But while the king’s Arch Lector has a role to play in this one, it is Savine who really takes the reins and drives the story. A brilliant and shrewd entrepreneur, she sees the burgeoning dawn of new machine age as an opportunity to profit from the increased industry, but with the resulting worker rebellion causing violence to erupt across the realm, Savine quickly finds more trouble than she bargained for.

Why did I love this book? Let me count the ways. First, the characters, which are as ever on point. I can always depend on an Abercrombie novel to wow me with its cast of colorful personalities, and of course this was no exception. The individual perspectives of Savine, Orso, Leo, Rikke and others combined and intertwined to make up backbone of this fascinating narrative, and as the story progressed, all the threads became increasingly more complex and addictive. A Little Hatred is clearly this next generation’s chance to shine, and for those of us who loved the earlier books, it’s hard not to feel a rush of exhilaration and no small bit of concern for the children of some of our favorite characters as we watch them struggle to find themselves and forge their own way in this harsh and unforgiving world. Abercrombie is also known for putting his protagonists through the wringer, and so you can be sure there will be plenty of cruel emotional conflict as well as perseverance and growth through dangerous challenges.

Which brings me to the story. Rife with mayhem and moving pieces, the plot is practically brimming with action, with the Union beset on multiple fronts. From within, a revolution threatens instability and causes tensions to flare up into violent confrontation, while from without, the borders of the realm are being pummeled mercilessly by the invading forces of Stour Nightfall. Readers get to see all facets of these conflicts from multiple viewpoints, and in pure Abercrombie fashion, nothing is ever clear-cut or simple.

And so lastly, I want to talk about the world-building. This is the world of the First Law as we know it and love it, full of gritty detail and atmosphere. Needless to say, it was a joy to revisit this setting again, to witness how it has changed in so many ways and yet has remained the same in all the important respects. Abercrombie has created an undeniably living and breathing world, one whose wonders and grandeurs shine through even in all its brutality and darkness. Life is a strange and complicated business after all, with nothing ever remaining static, so you can also expect to see this kind of dynamism in A Little Hatred. One of the prime examples can be seen in the social environment, which plays a pretty big role in this novel, influencing character motivations and decisions, as well as being affected by them in turn.

So if you have been following this series and author, don’t stop now; A Little Hatred is a novel you will no doubt love and fully embrace the moment you start it because it is pure Joe Abercrombie. Sure, I haven’t loved all his First Law books, with The Heroes being first to come to mind, but I have to say this one feels solid and it speaks to me in a way that makes me feel confident for the future direction of the trilogy. Even if you haven’t read any of the previous books, I think this can easily hook you. It is simply a novel that commands your attention and keeps you compulsively turning the pages to see where it will take you. For a series starter, it has established a seriously impressive foundation, and I am looking forward to the next installment.

[Dave Edmunds · Rating 5 out of 5]

Say one thing for Joe Abercrombie, say he makes me want to undress his books and make sweet love to them. I love them that bloody much.

I started A Little Hatred, the first installment in the Age of Madness trilogy, with the attitude that more First Law can't be a bad thing.  To say it absolutely blew my expectations out of the water would be a bit of an understatement. It was absolutely fantastic.  And guess what? I'm going to tell you all about it. I'm good like that.

"When one man knowingly kills another, they call it murder! When society causes the deaths of thousands, they shrug and call it a fact of life."

First off, this is a follow on from the author's original First Law trilogy and in my opinion you at least need to read that first before starting this one.  In fact, I highly recommend the three standalone novels and short story collection too, as that will give you the maximum enjoyment out of this experience.

It's an Abercrombie novel, so it's packed with violence, dark humour and memorable characters.  We've got politics, power and brutal, bloody warfare in bucket loads. But it's noticeable, that as good as his writing always has been, it's becoming tighter and his ability to construct a plot even sharper.  As sharp as a knife and you can never have too many knives.



The Young Lion Vs the Great Wolf

A common criticism of his first novel, the Blade Itself, was that it lacked a clear narrative.  With A Little Hatred we see a clear structure that moves despite being the first part of a three book series.  Don't get me wrong, it leaves a lot of avenues open, like any good opening novel should.  It's also very character driven.  But there's a number of key events taking place that are moving the reader forward and keeping them engaged.

The story itself takes the themes and plotlines from the original and completely expands upon them while introducing a completely new set of characters.  It's a volatile time for the Union as war rages in the north and internal struggles threaten to overspill and destroy the empire from within. The First Law world has entered a new era, as the author places the reader in the midst of an industrial revolution. It's refreshing to see in a fantasy setting and gives this book a feel of historical fiction, as oppose to classical fantasy. But that's Abercrombie for you, forever smashing those tropes that are heavily associated with the genre.

"My da used to say times of peace are when the wise prepare for violence."

The author uses this setting to explore a number of themes like the class divide and how the poor suffer at the hands of the rich.  I'm not huge on things like this, I just love a good story. But it is something that Abercrombie has improved dramatically in as he develops as a writer.  So if you enjoy all that literary stuff you're in for a treat.

I'm trying to cut these reviews down and failing miserably. But I can't go without talking about the characters. As we come to expect from an Abercrombie novel, A Little Hatred gives us a large cast, all of whom are memorable and some absolutely brilliant.  We have Rikke, the daughter of...cough cough...I won't spoil that one for you. A northern girl with the power of the Long Eye giving her the ability to see into the future and past. Savine, a ruthless businesswoman who will do anything to get to the top.  Leo dan Brock, a reckless warrior who prefers acts of valour over established tactics.  Finally, my personal favourites Prince Orso, the vain but intelligent and highly entertaining heir to the throne and Gunnar back from the war but unable to leave it behind him as he struggles to contain the rage that bubbles within.



Rikke has a close shave

Fans of Grimdark or fantasy in general. This is the book for you. Just remember to read those previous books first. You can thank me later. The new book and final installment of the trilogy is out 19th September 2021. Can't wait for that special delivery from Lord Grimdark. You can't have too much First Law!

"Bad men are a terrible curse, no doubt, right up until you're in bad trouble and there's one on your side. Then they're the best thing ever."

[Rodrigo · Rating 5 out of 5]

SOBERBIO, MAGNIFICO. Que placer volver a leer al "king of grimdark" su ilustrísima Mr Abercrombie.
Y tenía ganas de leerle, después de su gran trilogía de la primera ley (tengo pendientes el resto del mundo círculo).
Volvemos a los escenarios del círculo del mundo eso si han pasado bastantes años de los acontecimientos vividos en la primera trilogía, siguen estando algunos de los personajes( Bayaz, Jezal, Glokta, el sabueso...) pero ya no son los personajes principales de la obra, han dejado paso a las nuevas generaciones las cuales no desentonan en absoluto (Orso (hijo de Jezal), Savine (hija de Glokta), Stour (hijo de Calder el Negro), Rikke (hija del Sabueso), Leo dan Brock....
Me han gusto mucho Savine (magnífico personaje) y Rikke, siendo ambas con el agua y el aceite.
Bueno que me lio, la sinopsis es esta: Las chimeneas de la industria se alzan sobre Adua y el mundo está lleno de nuevas oportunidades. Pero las viejas deudas tienen raíces tan profundas como siempre.
En las fronteras empapadas en sangre de Angland, Leo dan Brock lucha para ganar la fama en el campo de batalla y derrotar a los ejércitos de Stour Anochecer. Él espera la ayuda de la corona. Pero el hijo del rey Jezal, el irresponsable príncipe Orso, es un hombre que se especializa en decepcionar.
Savine dan Glokta (mundana, inversora e hija del hombre más temido de la Unión) planea abrirse camino hasta la cima de la escoria de la sociedad de cualquier forma posible. Pero los barrios bajos se llenan de una rabia que ni todo el dinero del mundo puede controlar.
La era de la máquina comienza, pero la edad de la magia se niega a morir. Con la ayuda de la loca montañesa Isern-i-Phail, Rikke lucha por controlar la bendición, o la maldición, del Ojo Largo. Vislumbrar el futuro es una cosa, pero con la mano guiadora del Primero de los Magos aún tirando de las cuerdas, cambiarlo será otra muy distinta...

Me ha encantado todo, es un crack Abercrombie, ambientación (podías respirar los vapores de las máquinas, sentir el lodo, la nieve, el frío), personajes, batallas, diálogos, hay frases impagables, míticas, llenas de sarcasmo, pullas, ironías, grandes verdades y demás.
Hay personajes secundarios también muy interesantes, Trebol por nombrar alguno, con su filosofía de vida, jajaja me ha encantado.
10/10 A mis favoritos de cabeza.
He disfrutado de cada página, lo he degustado lentamente (si, he tardado mas, jajaja).
# 3. El número 50 de tu lista de pendientes de goodreads. Reto literario lecturas pendientes 2022.

[Велислав Върбанов · Rating 5 out of 5]

„Защото можеш да си сигурен, че си успял, само след като започнат да те мразят. Затова тя посрещна кипящата им ненавист с непринудено високомерие и тръгна напред, изпънала гръб, с високо вдигната брадичка. Нека я смятат за злодей, щом така искат, никакъв проблем. И бездруго в историите винаги злодеят е най-интересният герой.“


„Малка омраза“ е чудесен роман, който поставя силно начало на нова трилогия в света на „Първия закон“! Действието в нея се пренася в една индустриална епоха, около 30 години след предишните епични събития. Джо Абъркромби умело е въвел в сюжета нови интересни персонажи от младото поколение, но също така е продължил да развива и стари култови образи... Мисля че е започнал да изгражда още по-впечатляващи героини - Савин и Риккъ ме развълнуваха изключително силно!

Авторът е обърнал внимание на сериозни обществени проблеми, които се получават покрай техническия прогрес, както и отново реалистично е представил жестокото лице на войната! Стари и нови видове омраза (кървави битки в Севера и зловещо работническо въстание в Съюза) са съчетани увлекателно в динамична, но и философска история...






„Повечето млади дами, които познаваше Савин, биха припаднали само при мисълта да посетят тази част на Адуа без военна охрана. Но човек, обитаващ самия връх на обществото, трябва да е готов от време на време да нагази в най-ниските му части.“


„Вик нямаше доверие никому. Беше го научила в лагерите заедно с това как да лъже. Лъжеше така добре, че можеше да вземе частица истина и както ковачът изковава от едничък къс самородно злато цял лист за позлата, така тя разтягаше истината дотам, че да покрие цяло поле с лъжи.“


„Но кралят я гледаше по съвсем различен начин. Имаше нещо ужасно тъжно в задължителната му усмивка.“


„Истината е, че хората обичат да плямпат за лоялност до момента, в който тя не ги вкара в капан и не осъзнаят, че са се озовали от губещата страна. Затова смятам, че „верен в разумни граници“ е повече, отколкото можеш да искаш, и повече, отколкото да очакваш от честен човек. Само глупак би карал хората да избират между лоялност и здравия разум.“


„Имаше репутация, която държеше повечето хора настрана дори и когато бяха пияни. Имаше много лоши мъже в Севера и Коул Тръпката според повечето хора беше сред най-лошите. Безсъмнено, лошите хора са проклятие. До момента, в който не загазиш сериозно и те не се окажат на твоя страна. Тогава изведнъж стават най-хубавото нещо на този свят.“


„Но в начина, по който я гледаха тези тук, имаше нещо повече от обичайната неприязън. Хладната, сдържана ярост, която струеше от тях, бе далеч по-тревожна от всеки изблик на гняв.“


„Винаги беше гледал на цивилизацията като на машина, излята от здраво желязо, всичко стабилно занитено на мястото си. Сега разбираше, че всъщност е съшита от прозирна материя, по-тънка от булчински воал. Материя, която по взаимно съгласие оставяме на мира, защото се къса така лесно. А изпод нея наднича адът.“


„Някои хора са като водата. Колкото и високо да ги издигнеш, винаги се стичаха до естественото си ниво.“


„Въстанието беше променило някои неща, но други бяха останали тревожно познати. Работниците продължаваха да работят, практиците все така държаха всички под око, големите шапки се бяха разместили, но главите под тях продължаваха да нареждат на останалите какво да се прави и как, без те самите да вършат нищо.“


„ Страхливецът е просто човек със здрав разум и подобаващо уважение към наточената стомана — махна пренебрежително с ръка Детелината. — Най-отпред и в средата на битката не е място за един истински воин.“


„— Знам това! — каза Лео. — Между другото, точно твоите истории за Кървавия Девет ме запалиха толкова по двубоите! Историите за победите му в кръга. Със съдбата на целия Север заложена на…
На лицето на бащата на Риккъ се изписа истински ужас:
— Това бяха предупреждения, момче, не окуражения!“


„И в този момент осъзна, че Изърн беше права. Какво виждаше и какво казваше, бяха две много различни неща. Нещо повече, не беше необходимо между тях да има прав път, можеше да сложи какъвто си искаше лабиринт от пътечки помежду им.“


„В този момент забеляза как я гледаше баща ѝ и колко тревожно бе лицето му.
— Какво? — сопна се тя и прегърби рамене. — Не мислеше, че мога да мразя някого, така ли?
— Внимавай, само това ще ти кажа. Мразиш ли толкова силно човек, даваш му власт върху себе си.“


„— Значи казваш, че трябва просто да забравя какво казаха? Какво направиха?
— Тези неща не се забравят никога. Аз съм затрупан от спомени. — И той описа жест около себе си, сякаш към видими само за него тълпи. — Обсаден съм от копелетата. Толкова болка и разкаяние. Приятели, врагове, някои по малко и от двете. Трупани цял, прекалено дълъг живот. Човек не избира какво да помни. Но решава какво да прави със спомените.“


„Замисли се на колко ли хора досега архилекторът бе пробутал същата лъжа. Самата мисъл, че той може да се довери напълно на някого, беше смехотворна, но тя го остави без коментар. Прецени, че и за двама им е по-добре да се преструват, че го вярват.“


„Защото властта е планина, по която така лесно може да се плъзнеш надолу. Планина, по която човек се катери със зъби и нокти не само ако иска да се изкачи по-нагоре, но дори само за да остане на нея.“


„Усмивката на Баяз беше достатъчно широка, че да бъде видяна от всички краища на площада. Явно също като обикновените хора с напредване на годините магусите също се увличаха по стара слава.“

[Gary · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was amazing. I really liked Abercrombie's last series so it seemed like a logical move to dive into this one. Wow. I had no idea it was going to be this good or I would've read it a long time ago.
It's definitely grimdark, but not the grimdark that is dark and gritty for the sake of being dark and gritty. It's more like a prototype for grimdark.

The story builds on the offspring of some of the characters from the last series most of which are gone or elderly. The world they inherited from their parents is every bit as violent and unyielding, but now magic is fading a bit. Bayaz is course exactly the same, but mechanisms and steam are starting to emerge and become more reliable than his stock in trade. Typically, I am not a fan of mixing technology and magic, but it works here. There is a dying earth sort of vibe except it is magic that is fading rather than the sun. Revolution is everywhere and more than once I wondered if the author could possibly be influenced by events that were likely current while the book was being written. It could simply be that the some ideas are archetypal and have repeated themselves in human civilization time and time again.

In any case, the people are likable (even when they are evil), the plot is compelling, the setting believable and industrial and the overall compilation excellent. Think Dickens meets steampunk meets George RR Martin. The author is a master of dialogue. I can literally tell who the speaker is by reading the dialogue which is complete with recognizable dialects and local idioms. The author was good in the last series and the supplementary books- in this series he proves his mastery of the craft of language. There were long stretches of time I simply could not put this book down. I actually finished it a couple of days ago and am currently plowing through the second one. I just didn't get this review written until now.

Overall, this book has moved close to one of the best reads ever for me. If I could rate it higher than five stars I would.
Five stars.

[James Islington · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m not going to write a long review for this, because if you’re an existing fan of the world of The First Law, it’s pretty simple – just go and get it. It’s a brilliant addition.

For those unfamiliar with Joe Abercrombie’s work, The First Law trilogy - of which this new series is a continuation, one generation down the track - is basically the epitome of ‘grimdark’: a gritty, low magic setting and a story with plenty of real-world swearing, sex scenes, and (at best) morally ambiguous characters. If you know you simply can’t enjoy books like this, then A Little Hatred’s not for you (and that’s perfectly OK, I’ll hasten to add). Otherwise, this new series would work well as an entry point to see whether it’s up your alley, or – my recommendation – you could go and try the original trilogy, starting with The Blade Itself.

And, regardless of where you start, these books are very much worth checking out. I’m someone who vastly prefers stories that have a minimum of the things I’ve mentioned above, but I can still enjoy the grittier ones if they’re exceptionally executed. A Little Hatred definitely fits into this category: it’s fantastically written, with a strong story, memorable characters and flashes of humour that do just enough to lighten the constant oppressiveness of the world.

Put simply, if I was ever going to recommend a grimdark series to anyone, it would be this one. Highly recommended.

[mina reads™️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

i must say i love Savine the girlboss, Prince Orso the ultimate malewife, Rikke the psychic, and Leo dan Brock who clearly loves cock but is too suppressed to realize it


Okay but on a more serious note this was bloody brilliant in every way, the character work in this was genius, the relationships between these people, the plot’s twists and turns, and even thematically it was very compelling. It was all so fascinating and Prince Orso is my fave. Can’t wait to read more of this series

[Lukasz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Say one thing for Joe Abercrombie, say he’s a hell of a writer. The First Law trilogy captivated me from the first page of The Blade Itself with fascinating characters, a great intrigue and thrilling unpredictability. A Little Hatred takes place 30 years after the events of Heroes.

The Northmen are invading the Union. The industrialization has been gaining momentum for a while. Business-savvy individuals make fortunes at the cost of unprivileged masses. Savine dan Glokta, the ruthless daughter of the feared chief inquisitor, controls large chunks of industry and excels at parlor games. Her secret lover, Prince Orso, doesn’t lack charm or charisma but prefers spending his life inebriated in brothels than doing something of any worth.

In the North a hotheaded warrior, Leo dan Brock (known as the young lion) tries to stop the Northmen and dreams about beating their leader, a psychopathic Stour Nightfall (knows as A Great Wolf), in the Circle. Both Stour and Leo consider Bloody-Nine as a role model, go figure. Dogman’s daughter, Rikke, gifted with Long Eye foresees troubles on all fronts and she’s right. It’s Abercrombie’s world after all and his view of life is dark. Lord Grimdark’s trademark black humor and wit make the story enjoyable and addictive but when you look past them, you’ll witness another tragedy developing right before your eyes.

While A Little Hatred is character-driven and character-focused, things do happen. Plots and subplots converge, but without strong and distinct voices of the POV characters, they would seem generic. Battles, morally ambiguous characters, twisted magic - we’ve seen it before. Abercrombie’s characterization skills, brilliant inner monologues of his characters and sparky dialogue make it unique and unforgettable. He destroys his characters with perfect timing and no scruples.


I consider Sand dan Glokta the best character in modern fantasy. His daughter, Savine, has the potential to follow in his footsteps. Like her father, she’s morally gray. She’s intelligent, manipulative, well-educated, and brilliant. She’ll do anything to get on top. Nothing and no one can stop her. Except for the harsh reality she’s never experienced before. Raised in a wealthy home, wearing clothes worth more than yearly wages of most people, she considers herself more powerful and strong than she really is. Her brutal clash with the reality will leave you dazed and confused. Fast-paced, violent scenes presenting the insurrection in the Valbeck boil with rage and are among the best I’ve read this year in any book.

Some chapters come with a heavy dose of graphic descriptions of violence, and that’s something potential readers should know. The author doesn’t hold back but you already know this, right? And I sincerely hope you don’t expect a happy romance, do you? Because if you do, I have bad news. You have to be realistic about these things.

Abercrombie juggles multiple plotlines and points of view with gusto. Each arc is thrilling and memorable. They start to overlap near the end but you need to remember A Little Hatred doesn’t work as a standalone - a lot of what happens is really just structural work for what comes later. But is this really an issue when it’s so addictive to read? I don’t think so.

A Little Hatred is full of adventure, thrills, and twists and turns. With fully realized and fascinating characters that keep the story moving, I just couldn’t put id down. If you loved First Law trilogy prepare for a feast and enter The Age of Madness.

[danny · Rating 2 out of 5]

The strengths of Abercrombie's First Law series are two-fold: 1) world-building, and 2) characters. In the case of (1), we've been in the world of First Law for some time. It's well-established. There is no more discovery and there are no more surprises. The reader is quite capable of navigating the environment without asking many questions.

So for any future novels set in this world to be interesting, all we are left with is getting to know new characters and enjoying their adventures. Unfortunately, Abercrombie has not written an engaging character since the original trilogy (which I thought was fantastic). Sure, we periodically get teased with a character we care about, but they are all retreads of people we've seen before. Curnden Craw is just the Dogman. Caul Shivers is Logen Ninefingers sans the Bloody Nine. Finree dan Brock is simply Carlot dan Eider. Savine dan Glokta is Bayaz without the immortality. Et cetera.

There are also a small host of characters where I'm not sure why we ever care what happens to them. Monza Murcatto, Bremer dan Gorst, and Prince Calder come to mind. Something about a chip on their shoulder. Something about vengeance. Sounds familiar.

After reading all the books set in the First Law world, I've learned that if you want to get to know an Abercrombie character in the post-trilogy novels, you don't need to read the full book. When you're first introduced to the character, simply ask yourself three questions: good guy or bad guy? male or female? strong or weak?

I've prepared a handy guide that explains the character. I can't confirm, but I imagine Abercrombie has a similar guide on a sticky note next to his monitor while he writes.

--Good guys--
1) Weak Male: cowardly and/or conniving, past trauma at hands of a dominate male, has one or two defining moments of bravery
2) Weak Female: submissive and dull-witted, the helpless female archetype
3) Strong Male: brave, idealistic, skilled warrior, but rather naive and of low-intellect
4) Strong Female: scheming, assertive, smarter than everyone around her, no clear weakness except perhaps past trauma at hands of a male

--Bad guys--
5) Male who wants power and/or is a sadist

The further confound things, the past several books have given us an abundance of Character #4, and Abercrombie doubles down in "A Little Hatred" and gives us several of them. It seems "Strong Female" is the character trope best suited to thrive in Abercrombie's grimdark world. The others ultimately fail--some shed their naivete, some just go "back to the mud." I'm not saying Abercrombie shouldn't write female leads, but I am saying I wish I could tell them apart.

The original First Law trilogy is one of my favorites and I have recommended to many friends and even bought copies for some of them. As far as everything after that? "The Heroes" was OK. "Best Served Cold" had its moments. But overall, it's just all getting tiresome.