Fantasy Book Club Series discussion

ok-the dissatisfaction with how things are going should REALLY be getting taken into consideration soon! After all, Shivers is supposed to be ebcoming a better man, right?
But, no. It's time to turn her spiteful gaze to Ganmark.


I do really like how every 'victim' is handled a little bit differently.

Visserine! so far i think this was my favorite chapter (still not fully finished so that might still change).

I liked the setup, I loved Cosca 'going for dinner'.
Of course Shivers and Monza being tortured is a lot less fun, but somehow that made it realistic though. You can't go for 7 kills, and not end up with another scar of your own (somehow in my mind this make sense).

This is where Shivers starts going all Bloody Nine like right? Losing an eye seems to have made him see things a lot different.

Yes this is the one. Definitely gave some Bloody Nine vibe when he was fighting in blind rage.

And when he cuddled the torturer when he snaps out of his funk.

This was one of those chapters that made me think, wow Shivers is really a realistic and dynamic character. And Ambercrombie has really gone and written something no other author does.

This was a lot bleaker than the previous sections, although there were a couple light moments with "coming to dinner." The duel and its conclusion were fun. I'm still not sure what to think about the assassin. I guess we're setting up the main lieutenant to the antagonist, and I'm sure Abercrombie has a plan, but right now he feels like a D&D character who wandered into the wrong book - just a little bit too over-the-top both in terms of power and characterization even for an author who seems to delight in over-the-top, quirky characters.

Was really sad to see Cosca go. He's probably my favorite of the group. :-(

Eric wrote: " I'm still not sure what to think about the assassin."

You are aware by now that he is an Eater? He also serves to remind us (or me at least)that there is magic in this world - apart from his scenes there is no other magic referenced. If I hadn't read First Law I would probably feel the same as you, this character feels out of place. But given that Eaters feature quite a bit in the previous books I think he rightly belongs to this Universe.

You are aware by now that he is an Eater? He also serves to remind us (or me at least)that there is magic in this world - apart ..."

I suspected as much, but it hasn't been stated outright, yet. I largely trust Abercrombie not to play the Magic of the Month Club game with us, but I'm not done with the book, yet. My reaction is just a snapshot of my thoughts at the end of the section.

What he did with Bayaz at the end of the third book was amazing, but that didn't mean I had no questions about how he achieved his remarkable act of kingmaking when I was still early in that book. "All will be explained" is not the same as "all has been explained." I'm content to wait, but I'm allowed to wonder, aren't I? :-)

Eric wrote: "I suspected as much, but it hasn't been stated outright, yet."

I don't think it actually ever gets stated outright. But he did stop for a bite to polish off those assassins that came for Shivers and Monza. And yes you are most definitely allowed to wonder, and there is still a lot to wonder about when it comes to Shenkt. I wonder if he'll pop up again in later books.

I don't think it actually ever gets stated outright. But he did stop for a bite to polish off those assassins that came for Shivers and Monza ..."

Yep. I just got to that bit in the next section.

At this point I feel like this book is a Quentin Tarantino movie. A bit too violent for me. I'll finish the book just to see what happens, but I'm not sure I'm willing to read any more Abercrombie after this.

It is very dark and violent. This is probably one of the darkest. Though The Heroes is probably the most violent. Red Country still has violence but not as frequent. Still dark but not as many cringe worthy moments.