Fantasy Book Club discussion

Post here if you are reading Best Served Cold byJoe Abercrombie.
No spoilers please, in this thread.

I'm in. :D

Read the whole First Law Trilogy but haven't done this one.

Abercrombie is pretty popular on these boards - I'm surprised more haven't posted to this thread yet.

I read this one a few months ago. I liked it, but not as much as the First Law trilogy.

I read this when it came out. IMO it's Abercrombie's best book to date. It's also his bleakest IMO.

Agree with Greta. Not nearly as as First law trilogy in my opinion.

I have read this so looking forward to everyones views on the completed thread.

Have the book. Looking forward to the read.

I have this one waiting on my Kindle. Good reason to start reading it! A lot of people have recommend it to me.

I really need to read this. It was the first ebook I ever bought, before I had a smartphone or an ereader. I need to stop procrastinating.

Only concern is I'm not sure I want to read something lauded as being 'bleak' right now. I'm prefer to lift myself up with my reading, not beat myself down with it.

I have just started Best Served Cold and so far absolutely loving it. I enjoyed all the First Law, but this is improving the world tenfold for me. I really like what Abercrombie is doing for fantasy, he is definitely a game changer.

Jon wrote: "I really need to read this. It was the first ebook I ever bought, before I had a smartphone or an ereader. I need to stop procrastinating.

Only concern is I'm not sure I want to read something..."

I'm about 25% finished and it is pretty dark and violent, but I really like the characters. They all have a lot of personality and it's nice to see some glimpses of humor in an otherwise bleak setting.

Probably get to this one latter this month, or maybe next month.

Mr. Abercrombie is a master at his craft. Loving it!

I am about two-thirds of the way in and am loving it. Abercrombie really knows what he's doing. the characterization is top-notch, particularly the slowly unfolding characterization and increasing ambiguity of Monza's character and the shifting characterization of Shivers. plenty of static characters as well but it is nice to see at least one solidly dynamic character whose persona may change because of these events. probably the only thing I haven't appreciated so far is the return of one particular character from the trilogy (Abercrombie seems bent on mistreating her), otherwise have also really enjoyed the connectivity between this book and the prior trilogy through several supporting characters, cameos, and even people who are just mentioned (The Cripple!)

love the politics percolating in the background: Orso vs. the League of Eight in Styria of course, and behind that the Union & Orso, and behind that the tensions between the Union and the Empire. nice.

action is really well done.

by the time I finish this book, I expect to be satisfied and depressed, much like my reaction to the last book in the First Law trilogy. not looking forward to being depressed so much, but it is nice to know that I will not be left hanging because the author has shown he does like to resolve things, although often counter to reader expectations.

you are here to talk about Best Served Cold or you are here to trash the author because his characters swear a lot? a bit confused by your goal in posting to this thread.

Actually, Mark, I realized I posted my comment in the wrong thread, and had already moved it to the First Law Trilogy discussion thread. My apologies for my oversight, but I had already corrected it by the time you made your comment.

ah!

love this book Shivers in particular such a well developed and realistic character

Started this last week and it is amazing so far.

Excellent book; Joe Abercrombie really knows his stuff.

Great book. Well written, exciting and gritty. Like his First Law triology the character are gray and it's easy to put yourself into their shoes.

Best Served Cold was my first Ambercrombie book and I loved it. Tried to read First Law and I just didn't get it. Dropped it about 25% in.