The Not a Book Club Club discussion

This is the fourth 105 pages or so (in my edition).

Please keep all discussion to the events and speculation from the chapter: Scars to the chapter: Cold Comfort.

No spoiler tags required.

Please do not discuss events from later chapters/books. Referring back to events from a previous section is fine.

Hmm. Either no one liked this section, or it's so good, no one paused to discuss it. Oh well. That means I'll make some comments as I go.

I really enjoy them all sitting around the fire comparing scars. We learn a bit more about each of the characters, and it just feels so real to me. Humans like to one up each other.

I read the last 80% of the book in two sittings without paying attention to the sections so didn't want to accidently put any spoilers.

Good book.

Yeah. Another great chapter. Dow gets West worked up before they attack some of Bethod's scouts. First he bites off some guy's nose, then he ends up killing the Prince when he catches him trying to rape Cathil.

Dow nicknames him furious and tells him he's starting to like him. That's a bit of a scary thought. Lol.

So we learn a bit more about the seed, and none of it good.

It seems to be radioactive, so only Ferro will be able to touch it. It also appears to function as a sort of doomsday device. Sounds a lot like a nuke to me.

Bayaz plans to use it in the south to wipe out the eaters. From the sounds of it, nothing else will be left either.

It's been a busy week and I just got through Furious. I've been reading and listening to Audible, shifting back and forth at chapter breaks. I'm *really* loving the audible version.

Just finished the section. The Bloody Nine made another appearance. Logen and Ferro celebrated their escape.

Meanwhile Glokta is a hero. The scene with the moneylender was HILARIOUS.

West is back with the Union. He finally makes a play for Cathil, but too late maybe? Or maybe he just has to wait his turn?

I really liked that the section focused heavily on Logen, Ferro and Jezal.
I agree that the comparing of scars was one of the highlights. A very intimate exchange of stories.

And again we're seeing the change in Quai. And now other members of the troop seem to notice it aswell. Wonder what's up with him.

Finally there was something happening for West and the Northmen.
And what a bitter awakening for West. He killed Ladisla for Cathil, thinking this was a huge act and that he'd made a connection, only to find out that she is not desperately longing for him as he hoped for.
But one man's loss is another Dogman's win as it seems.^^

Glokta's plot was highly anti-climactical. For now it just seemed that Abercrombie put him on a backburner for this book.
I guess he has a plan for him and just needed him occupied for this book, so except for the conversation with Yulwei there wasn't really much plot progression from Glokta towards the overall story.

Enjoyed the part with the Shanka in the old city. Logen and Ferro... who would have thought? :)

West's temper got him in trouble again, maybe, killing Ladisla. I cheered when he went over the cliff, personally.

Not much to say for this section, in a hurry to get to what comes next.

Hmmm..? Logen and Ferro. Might need to wash out my brain.. ;-)

I'm really liking this book, but I'm reading it so quickly I barely remember the notes I have when I read.

It was great that this section focused so much on the jolly band of bro's. Their reunion was wonderful. As if that Shanka action didn't happen at all, just another day in wonderland!

I liked this section. The only part I didn't like was Logen and Ferro having sex (but I did like Logen's "milk out of the bucket" line). West was awesome when he killed Ladisla and earning the name Furious. I love the parts with him and the Northmen. I can't wait to see how this ends.

I'm really enjoying this book. I agree the Logan and Ferro part was awkward but I laughed out loud after his little premature problem when he thought, "Say one thing for Logan Ninefingers say he's a lover"....hahahaha.

I really like the concept of West getting the name "Furious" because of how he fights. I'm going to start making up names for people based on deeds :-) I really like how Black Dow psyched him up before the fight. Those Northmen are totally badass - Dow walks through a super cold stream like it's nothing and then jacks up some scouts. That's hardcore.

Ladisla is a tool and I'm glad West got sick of his crap.

The Bloody Nine part was crazy. I really like how most fights in this book consist of even the most hardcore people planning things out and even then being unsure how they'd do (except when the Bloody Nine just goes crazy and kills everything in sight). The main characters of other books are always totally sure of themselves and are completely untouchable no matter the odds (case in point, I'm listening to a Star Wars book on audio right now and old Han Solo has no problem taking on lots of people in a fire fight and getting out unscathed). It just strikes me as much more realistic.

As to my last comment - it's not like you can have your awesome main character killed or hurt by a nobody but that's typically what happens in real life. Glad that even Abercrombie's peons are capable of hurting the main character.

Realism and the "no one is safe" mentality seems to be the new trend in fantasy these days. I probably prefer that in general, but sometimes everything is just too bleak.