Fantasy Buddy Reads discussion

October 5th.

I'll be here, assuming the release date is finalized and not a placeholder

I'm in

in - abercrombie released the cover blurb

(view spoiler)["“The chimneys of industry rise over Adua and the world seethes with new opportunities. But old scores run deep as ever.

On the blood-soaked borders of Angland, Leo dan Brock struggles to win fame on the battlefield, and defeat the marauding armies of Stour Nightfall. He hopes for help from the crown. But King Jezal’s son, the feckless Prince Orso, is a man who specialises in disappointments.

Savine dan Glokta – socialite, investor, and daughter of the most feared man in the Union – plans to claw her way to the top of the slag-heap of society by any means necessary. But the slums boil over with a rage that all the money in the world cannot control.

The age of the machine dawns, but the age of magic refuses to die. With the help of the mad hillwoman Isern-i-Phail, Rikke struggles to control the blessing, or the curse, of the Long Eye. Glimpsing the future is one thing, but with the guiding hand of the First of the Magi still pulling the strings, changing it will be quite another…” (hide spoiler)]

Thanks for posting! I'm really excited now! :)

Am I messing things up or is (spoiler for the original trilogy)(view spoiler)[ Savine dan Glokta the half sister of Prince Orso? That could be interesting! (hide spoiler)]

I'll put it in spoiler tags ..not sure if it is indeed a spoiler. been awhile since i read the original trilogy!

The part I mentioned wasn't exactly mentioned in the blurb, but I guess who became King is indeed a spoiler...

Sir Anni wrote: "Thanks for posting! I'm really excited now! :)

Am I messing things up or is (spoiler for the original trilogy)[spoilers removed]"

That's my question... (view spoiler)[is this the child Glokta raised, that isn't his own, or did he and what's-her-name have a child, and this is THAT child... (hide spoiler)]

That blurb, in general, makes very little sense to me... I'm having trouble remembering nations and things I should be able to parse from it...

Timelord Iain (Eeyawn) wrote: "Sir Anni wrote: "Thanks for posting! I'm really excited now! :)

Am I messing things up or is (spoiler for the original trilogy)[spoilers removed]"

That's my question... [spoilers removed]

That ..."

I thought it was mentioned somewhere (view spoiler)[ that Glokta have to pee like a woman because the torturer cut off everything down there... So I thought it was save to assume she Isn't his daughter... (hide spoiler)]

Sir Anni wrote: "Timelord Iain (Eeyawn) wrote: "Sir Anni wrote: "Thanks for posting! I'm really excited now! :)

Am I messing things up or is (spoiler for the original trilogy)[spoilers removed]"

That's my questi..."

See... forgot stuff... I thought something like that might have happened... (view spoiler)[sterility, at least, from damage done (hide spoiler)]

I don't even remember that (view spoiler)[Glokta's wife was pregnant at the end? Granted I remember she was allegedly promiscuous? (hide spoiler)]

Barry wrote: "I don't even remember that [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[her pregnancy with Jezal's baby was half the reason she agreed to marry Glokta... along with their shared cynical views of the world... (hide spoiler)]

Timelord Iain (Eeyawn) wrote: "Barry wrote: "I don't even remember that [spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"Ah yes, I remember (view spoiler)[that she was supposed to marry Jezal before being intervened. So, I guess that baby is the main character for the new series then... (hide spoiler)]

https://www.joeabercrombie.com/2018/1...

From his blog. He has answered few questions in comment section.

For some reason, I thought one of them older characters was going to be (view spoiler)[what's-her-name, that ended the trilogy heading back to Ghurkul to kill Eaters... but Abercrombie says all 7 POVs are new characters... no reason one of the POVs can't be an acolyte of hers or something, maybe, I guess... we'll see (hide spoiler)]

Manju wrote: "https://www.joeabercrombie.com/2018/1...

From his blog. He has answered few questions in comment section."

Thanks for this.
I was sooooo relieved when he said it's going to be as adult as ever. Slightly worried he'll go the route of the Half-the-Whatever trilogy.

There's another thread for Sept 17th, are you guys waiting until October or gonna join that one?

My schedule is too full for September so I will wait.

Silvana wrote: "My schedule is too full for September so I will wait."

So is mine!!

So glad we set a second start day to October 5th (got my copy of Little Hatred already). I'm almost halfway done with my reread of Heroes, so I should even have enough time to reread Red Country before we get to this.

I also got my copy and am TRYING so damn hard not to finish before we even started our BR LOL

LOL. Well, there is another BR starting today if you can't hold back :) I won't blame you.

But this is the original thread! Exclamation point!

Haha yeah well, let's see how I could cope with the other three BRs I still have this month.

I'm in for this date. :) Still waiting for my copy to arrive, so excited to see it! :D

Just received my copy, ready to go.

Okay. I am 40% done. Are you worried ? Are you concerned Joe can not touch his previous books in greatness.? Dash those worries away. Okay, it touches on my favorite time period in history. That era had the most fabulous losers.

Now I know I will start on time. See you all in two weeks!

Ok, couldn't resist. I finished my Red Country re-read on Monday and hopped in and now I'm just past the half-way mark. It's great so far. I'll wait until some of you catch up before I start discussing it.

Will be a bit late since I want to finish Dragon Republic first. I can't read two epic fantasy novels at the same time.

Edit: Never mind. Apparently I could finish that book on time so now I am starting! I hope we see Glokta!

Stephen wrote: "Okay. I am 40% done. Are you worried ? Are you concerned Joe can not touch his previous books in greatness.? Dash those worries away. Okay, it touches on my favorite time period in history. That er..."

What time period? The Industrial Revolution?

19%
So Savine is (view spoiler)[sleeping with her own half brother, correct?

And I don't believe Glokta did not know. He would know, wouldn't he? But why he did not stop them? (hide spoiler)]

I did not expect there are so many POV characters. (view spoiler)[seven as of now. (hide spoiler)]

Fascinating read so far.

Yes, the Industrial Revolution and the Luddites. Among a host of other groups that at one time or another rose up in that time.

I think I understand why people getting carried away with this book since I am experiencing it myself.

I am now at 72%. Yes, I only slept for three hours because....well you know. 'One more chapter' is my spell.

Can I just say I love all POV characters here? And they are so different, distinct. I mean, I don't like some of them - I want to smack Leo on the head - but soooo damn entertaining, each and every one.

One of the highlights so far would be that (view spoiler)[Riot chapter. Wonderfully written, so intense.

How do you call the fast changing POV in one chapter, making it like a 360 scoop in a certain area... it's rather cinematic. (hide spoiler)]

I'm 87% in myself and would've finished yesterday, but I've had a few outings scheduled instead.

I'm really enjoying all the characters as well. (view spoiler)[For some strange reason I feel most connected to/most enjoy Orso. I loved the scenes with him and his dad and Savine and Glotka with the fencing. I've been enjoying that past characters have no just disappeared (hide spoiler)](view spoiler)[Not sure how I felt about the fast-changing perspective chapter, I think I mostly wanted him to get back to the main POVs but it felt reminiscent of that short story he did in Rogues a few years back. (hide spoiler)].

The book is feeling a lot like the Blade Itself where nothing too huge happened but is setting us up nicely for the next two. My main concern is I've gone through this one so fast I'm going to be annoyed/sad when it ends.

That darn wedding! I might find an excuse not to go, you know hahaha

Glad I read this during the weekend.

(view spoiler)[And for the fast-changing POV one, you are right, indeed it was like Tough Times all Over. It was deliciously disorienting. (hide spoiler)]

I finished and like you I am bummed it's over. Oh dear now my expectations would be stellar for the next ones.

Small confusion still(view spoiler)[as I mentioned before, SURELY Glokta knew about the affair? Or Savine was just too clever? But...we are talking about Glokta here. (hide spoiler)]

(view spoiler)[Yes I am completely astonished that Glotka didn't almost engineer the romance himself or didn't know about it. (hide spoiler)]

Rob wrote: "[spoilers removed]"

Yes and that fencing scene (view spoiler)[Savine thought her father sometimes looked/treated her like an enemy at times.

So it might be that Glokta knew, but let it happen since he was still jealous with Jezal and took it out on Savine.
I would be sad if that's the case since I want him to love Savine as his own daughter, you know... (hide spoiler)]

By the way Rob, since you did the complete reread, do you think reading Red Country is advisable before this book?

Red Country is not important to A Little Hatred. However, please read it just because it is good.

Stephen wrote: "Red Country is not important to A Little Hatred. However, please read it just because it is good."

I'll second Stephen. Not important for the book though (view spoiler)[Dab Sweet and Logan are mentioned and both are in Red Country (hide spoiler)]. It's a fun read.

Hmm. You know what, when Rikke said something about (view spoiler)[lion being eaten by a lamb, for a second I thought the Lamb was meant to be Logen. (hide spoiler)]

I believe (view spoiler)[Temple (hide spoiler)] also got a mention.

Silvana wrote: "Hmm. You know what, when Rikke said something about [spoilers removed]

I believe [spoilers removed] also got a mention."

Didn't see the (view spoiler)[Temple reference (hide spoiler)]

Just finished. I rather like that the (view spoiler)[4 principle characters all kinda like one and other. (hide spoiler)] And am extremely miffed (view spoiler)[Jezal went out that way. (hide spoiler)]

I'm hoping that (view spoiler)[Some of older characters get a POV again, Calder in particular (hide spoiler)].

Rob wrote: "Silvana wrote: "Hmm. You know what, when Rikke said something about [spoilers removed]

I believe [spoilers removed] also got a mention."

Didn't see the [spoilers removed]

Just finished. I rather..."

Jezal (view spoiler)[his death was rather predictable, at least for me - a tragic character with a tragic end.

The one death bothering me was Wonderful. That was cold, and somewhat unexpected from Clover. But then he was a very unique character. (hide spoiler)]

I am not sure thought about (view spoiler)[older characters getting their own POV chapters again, since we already we have seven (?) by now. I like seeing them from the younger characters' eyes, such as Calder, Shivers, Finree, Ardee, Glokta.

I hope we get to have Jappo's POV too later ;p (hide spoiler)]

Did you guys enjoy the dialogues as much as I did? I thought some of them were small masterpieces, like (view spoiler)[with savine and that girl enforcer, while they were riding in the carriage. They were polite, but each subtly barbed the other, establishing their own superiority while understanding their weaknesses. this was a mind orgasm for me (hide spoiler)]

I'm only 16% in, really liking it so far! I'd missed Abercrombie so much! XD can't wait to get to some of your spoilers.

About to start, and I thought I'd follow old traditions... here's the Table of Contents:

(view spoiler)[

Part 1

▪ 1. Blessings and Curses
▪ 2. Where the Fight's Hottest
▪ 3. Guilt Is a Luxury
▪ 4. Keeping Score
▪ 5. A Little Public Hanging
▪ 6. The Breakers
▪ 7. The Answer to Your Tears
▪ 8. Young Heroes
▪ 9. The Moment
▪ 10. Break What They Love
▪ 11. It Was Bad
▪ 12. A 5ea of Busineas
▪ 13. Fencing with Father
▪ 14. Fencing with Father II
▪ 15. Promises
▪ 16. A Blow for the Common Man
▪ 17. Knowing the Arrow
▪ 18. Biding Time, Wasting Time
▪ 19. The Bigger They Are
▪ 20. Questions
▪ 21. The Machinery of State
▪ 22. Sore Spots

Part 2

▪ 23. Full of Sad Stories
▪ 24. Surprises
▪ 25. The Lion and the Wolf
▪ 26. No Unnecessary Sentiment
▪ 27. Friends Like These
▪ 28. Sinking Ships
▪ 29. Welcome to the Future
▪ 30. The Little People
▪ 31. Something of Ours
▪ 32. The Man of Action
▪ 33. Ugly Business
▪ 34. In the Mirror
▪ 35. A Deal
▪ 36. The New Monument
▪ 37. All Equal
▪ 38. Young Men's Folly
▪ 39. The Party's Over
▪ 40. Eating Peas with a Sword
▪ 41. The Battle of Red Hill
▪ 42. Settle This Like Men

Part 3

▪ 43. Demands
▪ 44. Taking the Reins
▪ 45. A Fool's Weapon
▪ 46. Hopes and Hatreds
▪ 47. Where Names Are Made
▪ 48. The Poor Pay the Price
▪ 49. The New Woman
▪ 50. Lost Causes
▪ 51. The New Man
▪ 52. Two of a Kind
▪ 53. Empty Chests
▪ 54. Like Rain
▪ 55. Drinks with Mother
▪ 56. Questions
▪ 57. Civilisation
▪ 58. A Natural
▪ 59. Good Times
▪ 60. A Bit About Courage
▪ 61. Substitutes
▪ 62. No Expense Spared
▪ 63. My Kind of Bastard
▪ 64. Long Live the King

(hide spoiler)]

Timelord Iain wrote: "About to start, and I thought I'd follow old traditions... here's the Table of Contents:



Part 1

▪ 1. Blessings and Curses
▪ 2. Where the Fight's Hottest
▪ 3. Guilt Is a Luxury
▪ 4. Keeping S..."

Yay, thanks! :)

Ahhh thanks Iain! I much prefer being able to refer to chapter numbers!

Now you've done that it feels like a proper Abercrombie read to me!!

Nearly half done already, on chapter 29 in Part 2... book is flying by so fast at 2.5 to 3x speed...

There's just something about Abercrombie books, moderation... they're full of vulgarity and horrible situations, but they make it all seem so fun...

I remember getting a bit burnt out from it all last year, when we were reading the older books, but I think that was more a symptom of the other books I was reading in between, that these books themselves... this year I've been mixing it up alot more...

I'm really curious what's going on with Khalul and the Gurkhul empire... a lot seems to have happened off-page there...

Silvana wrote: "19%
So Savine..."

OH SHIT... (view spoiler)[I totally forgot that would be the case, since she's daughter of the king... (hide spoiler)]