Fantasy Buddy Reads discussion

This is a Buddy Read for Before They Are Hanged by Joe Abercrombie starting March 1, 2023.

I can't wait to get stuck into this book. The Blade Itself has been my favourite read so far this year. Friends tell me this series gets better...

Need to finish other BR before I start this one :) so I'll be bit behind.

I got distracted with some re-reads before a new release next week but I am 35% in this now and loving it just as much as the first. Things happening are familiar but again I do not remember specifics. I love this narrator but I am trying to read as much as I can so it goes faster but I think it will not be 10+ years before I revisit this world <3

Running late too--hoping to get to this by the end of the week.

I just finished and loved it. So many questions for book 3!

(view spoiler)[Specifically will Logen meet up with Dogman & those guys? Come on, I want that more than anything else! Also who wants to prevent peace? What happened to the seed, is it still in the tower back where they started? (hide spoiler)]

Loved it, narration (what I listened to anyway) was top notch. I will go back and re-listen but I need to get through them as quickly as possible this time. Very much looking forward to the next in the series!

I'll be late as well!

Okay, I tried to wait until more people were reading... but I can't help myself... Glokta is calling me...

Started today. I really like the opening quote:

"We should forgive our enemies,
But not before they are hanged."

Very evocative of this world, methinks...

Through The Wounds of the Past 4 chapters in. Seen some of Dogman & co, West, Glokta, and Jezal. Glokta is still my favorite. He's just so fascinating as a character! Really enjoyed the conversation about him over in the Book 1 chat.

Also really liked (view spoiler)[the Dogman & co's approach to the snooty gate guards. Straightforward. Capture the general, explain to the top. No waiting, no lackeys. Boom. Also proves their worth in one move.

Seems like everyone is scattered across the map at this point--Dogman & West to the north, Glokta near the Gurkish border, and Bayaz & co off at he Old Empire, wherever that is... rather rude of the First Law books to lack a map... how dare Abercrombie... doesn't he know the First Law of Fantasy Novels, Thou Must Have A Map? (hide spoiler)]

Allies Part 1 chapter 7 (view spoiler)[So what happened to Glokta's predecessor? No body... and eaters around in other parts of the world... and can't some of those eaters take on other peoples' faces? Like the vision from Logan's past? Perhaps a breaker of the 2nd Law ate the former Superior, and is now walking around wearing someone else's face.... (hide spoiler)]

Great discussion of Glokta in the next chapter, Allies...

Part 1 done! I'm loving being back in this world. So brutal! Such amazing characters! And all of them with horrible flaws and wonderful light. I almost feel like each character is a bundle of flaws with one redeeming factor, rather than the traditional hero with a fatal flaw... (view spoiler)[Part 1 feels like a lot of set up to the brink--just before everything collapses, in the North, in the South, in the Empire... or maybe just after the tipping point, before the Fall...

I was glad to see I guessed right about the Eater, was surprised that she was Glokta's servant, but it seems obvi in retrospect.

Why does the Bank which Glokta was pursuing now back his endeavors? I can't help but think that maybe Bayaz is behind the Bank.... and I wonder if another one of his magi brothers--maybe even the mad #2, might be behind Glokta's master, the torturer superior.

Was wishing that Prince dude would die for his folly... but now I have a feeling that he'll end up driving West into a rage and West will strangle him with his bare hands....

Interesting learning about yellow-eyed girl! Demon blood! But what are "demons" anyway?

I love seeing Bayaz try and fail to school Jezal, while Logen leads naturally... (series spoilers) (view spoiler)[I can hope that Jezal learns more about kingship from Logen's example than he does from Bayaz's heavy-handed lectures (hide spoiler)].

Aw, so Jezal got hit in the face and now has a horrible scar? Couldn't happen to a nicer person... ;p (hide spoiler)]

Nirkatze wrote: "Okay, I tried to wait until more people were reading... but I can't help myself... Glokta is calling me...

Started today. I really like the opening quote:

"We should forgive our enemies,
But not ..."

Started now :D Dogman and Co (view spoiler)[ kidnapping West/Burr was a great scene.. As soon as we get the description of West's napper I was like ah nothing to worry about this is our Northern gang xD

Although Burr just shunting them off with West and the Prince probably isn't a good use of their resources.. Burr should actually talk to them about Bethod to see if he needs to use/change tactics.. (hide spoiler)]

Glokta (view spoiler)[ has a lot of work on his hands I'd imagine now... Even with his "I'm in charge now" writ I wonder how far that would take him...
All these self-important types don't like to listen (hide spoiler)]

Whoo! Emily joined in!

LOL I had the exact same reaction to the (view spoiler)[kidnapping scene. Ah good, there's our Northman crew! Yay!

I also just love it in any book when two POVs intersect...

Shunting them off with West mightn't've been the best use of resources, but it's definitely the best for keeping West alive, ne? (hide spoiler)]

re: Glokta--(view spoiler)[So true about self-important types not listening... but I just rub my hands in glee for the opportunity to see Glokta make them listen... (hide spoiler)]

I finished this one a while ago, but I've been meaning to go back and type up my notes and thoughts more properly... giving a start here...

Part 2 Chapter 28 So This Is Pain (view spoiler)[I love that Bayaz and Logen are basically lecturing Jezal about the same thing--basics of leadership, but Jezal takes to Logen's style of teaching more than Bayaz's... It gives me hope that Jezal will learn from Logen's example rather than arrogant Bayaz's... (hide spoiler)]

Going very interesting :) Honestly what a idiots sitting in Dagoska?! I like Glokta even more :) I'm curious, will he find anyone sensible and friendly there? Definitely not easy situation. West is in no funny situation too... What we will learn about Logen, Bayaz and Jezal?

Monika, I'm not sure if anyone in this series can be described as sensible and friendly... Maybe one or the other haha

Nirkatze wrote: "I finished this one a while ago, but I've been meaning to go back and type up my notes and thoughts more properly... giving a start here...

Part 2 Chapter 28 So This Is Pain [spoilers removed]"

Re this and the series spoiler for Jezal you mentioned on The Blade Itself (view spoiler)[ Bayaz had Jezal's role picked for him for a while it seems like? I kind of thought him making Jezal win the tourny was spur of the moment because Logen said he wouldn't win, but I think Bayaz wanted Jezal there? And then he's been lecturing him on kings and leadership too... I'm just not sure how much is Bayaz's planning and how much is going with what he has if that makes sense.. (hide spoiler)]

Through Chapter 36 "Luck"... Let's see if I can remember the things I wanted to talk about while listening...
Oh one aside! The narrator pronounces grimace as GRIM-ace (I say and hear grim-UHS). I've literally never heard it pronounced that way, but to not put my foot in my mouth over false accusations of incorrect pronunciation... Apparently grimace has only recently shifted pronunciations in the past century or so to put the stress on the second syllable.. And some people still say GRIM-ace.. Wondering if its a Brit-English thing? But grimace is said sooo many times in this book I can't help but notice the weird-to-me pronunciation every time I hear it lol

Okay on to book thoughts ^^(view spoiler)[ I loved seeing Logen trying to make their party have some comradery.. Cooking at the pot, trying to get them all to tell stories. Him and Farro start to have somewhat of an understanding.. Although Farro won't ever trust anybody...
Jezal getting a pretty severe injury seems the best thing that could happen to him.. He's starting to actually think about things other than himself?? Is this a permanent change in his perception? Was he only an ass because of his limited experiences? At least he's opening to change now, and he does seem genuinely grateful to Farro and Logen for caring for him...

Ah and we get a bit of Logen's backstory. Seems he was more prone to go all Bloody Nine when he was younger, but it was still the entire shift in personality.. Seems like he loses some memory when that happens too.. Honestly terrifying because Logen seems so reasonable..

I wonder exactly what Bayaz has in mind for his very specific collection of people... What does the "seed" do??

Meanwhile, Glokta seemed to be trying his best to hold Dagoska against the Gurkish and then is told to just abandon the city... I also wonder why the bank would back Glokta... Bayaz does seem likely....

Yeah am not feeling bad at all by West killing the prince. What a shit. But West has some serious anger problems... Similar to Logen?? (hide spoiler)]

Tonari no Emily wrote: "Nirkatze wrote: "I finished this one a while ago, but I've been meaning to go back and type up my notes and thoughts more properly... giving a start here...

Part 2 Chapter 28 So This Is Pain [spoi..."

re: End of series spoilers--(view spoiler)[Oh, it's definitely all planned. Bayaz is setting Jezal up for everything.... trying to remake the Kingdom all over again, since it's fallen out of shape with his original plans... (hide spoiler)]

re: Grimace--OMG! I had the same thoughts too when listening! I started noticing how many times the word was said thanks to that... there's a lot of grimACE-ing going on....

Tonari no Emily wrote: "Through Chapter 36 "Luck"... Let's see if I can remember the things I wanted to talk about while listening...
Oh one aside! The narrator pronounces grimace as GRIM-ace (I say and hear grim-UHS). I..."

re: Book thoughts--(view spoiler)[I LOVE how Jezal seems to be changing due to his injury... but I also have to wonder--like how Logen talks with him to keep his spirits up and says something like "give it a week after you're healed"--if it will last. Is this just brush-with-death brain readjustment?

I do love how Logen is working so hard to turn his current group into a proper family like his old Crew... and it seems so strange that he doesn't know what happened to his Crew, or thinks they're gone to the mud, when we know what happened...

Logen is a much better leader than Bayaz...

Someone (Emily?) mentioned Jekyll/Hyde in conjunction with Logen, and that seems very apt--The Bloody Nine is almost a separate personality entirely, the way he thinks... and nice comparison with West... I really liked how when West killed the Prince, there was emphasis on how he wasn't feeling rage at all, it was just cold, and distant, and nothing... (hide spoiler)]

Nirkatze wrote: "Tonari no Emily wrote: "Nirkatze wrote: "I finished this one a while ago, but I've been meaning to go back and type up my notes and thoughts more properly... giving a start here...

Part 2 Chapter ..."

Oops I switched my stresses in the first post, but still stands! Stupid grim-ACING xD

Tonari no Emily wrote: "Nirkatze wrote: "Tonari no Emily wrote: "Nirkatze wrote: "I finished this one a while ago, but I've been meaning to go back and type up my notes and thoughts more properly... giving a start here......"

I'm sitting here, pulling a face, thinking about a giant, purple mascot to a hamburger franchise.

Gavin wrote: "Tonari no Emily wrote: "Nirkatze wrote: "Tonari no Emily wrote: "Nirkatze wrote: "I finished this one a while ago, but I've been meaning to go back and type up my notes and thoughts more properly....."

LOL I have no idea where that purple dude came from in regards to this book, but its hilarious... and terrifying...

Nirkatze wrote: "LOL I have no idea where that purple dude came from in regards to this book, but its hilarious... and terrifying..."

His name is Grimace lol

OMG I forgot all about those characters... Terrifying 😂

Finished! (view spoiler)[ I had an inkling with the emphasis on Burr's indigestion he was gonna get very sick.. Couldn't remember if he died or not. But damn GI bleeds are no joke.

I love how this book messed with your expectations, especially if you're used to more traditional fantasy. The epic journey ended in failure with the seed already gone or not there to begin with.. The city Glokta tried to defend was lost to the enemy, and behind the scenes at that... West saves a woman to "lose" her to another man and she dies anyway... And then we don't really get the epic battle scenes, just some close fighting.

Now.. who got Raynault killed? Someone was trying to blame the Gurkish... But the emissary kind of confirmed that the Emperor and the Prophet are somewhat at odds with each other. So it could be the Eaters who are working for Khalul wanted to be pinned for the death. OR it could be someone within the Union wanting the crown or the power behind the crown... The Arch Lector himself? But its got to be the power behind the bank who scares even the people that work for him... One of the magi for sure. Bayaz himself?

Man Threetrees dying was v sad.. And he didn't even get his final words in :C The next chief after him obviously had to be the Dogman though.

I just want to hit both Logen and Farro upside the head though. Talk to each other! Be a little vulnerable! I don't see either doing that though, esp. Farro... (hide spoiler)]

LOL really nice Grimdark-breakdown there... I wonder what it means, that none of that really made me bat an eye at all... callouses on my reading fingers...

Nice extra-conspiracy theories too... (view spoiler)[Was Raynault actually killed to get Glokta in position? Or was it all as the lady said--he got too greedy... and so they had to remove him?

Still feeling that Bayaz is the most likely culprit behind the bank and all its shady business... and that the Arch Lector has got to have more going for him than what's on the surface...

So true about Threetrees & Dogman... and Dogman's the last one to see it... (hide spoiler)]

Haha the first time reading it did for me! I hadn't read too much grimdark before this one...

About the bank (view spoiler)[if it was Bayez behind it would Glotka's boss have made him stop the investigation initially? I feel like the Inquisition folks would want him exposed. I don't know why the bank wanted Glotka to end his investigation into the Prince's murder but I can't wait to find out lol

I can say if Logen doesn't meet up with Dogman & the remaining in that crew in book 3 I will be majorly disappointed. (hide spoiler)]

Ann-Marie wrote: "About the bank......"

I have memories of book 3 that you do not want to know about.... LOL

re: Bank--(view spoiler)[but if Bayaz IS in charge of the bank, him wanting Glokta to stop investigation into the prince's death makes total sense.... because he obviously wants to be back pulling the strings in town, and the king is in his way... and super spoilery things: (view spoiler)[and because Bayaz is setting up Jezal to become king (hide spoiler)] but also, if Bayaz is pulling the bank's strings, would the Arch Lector know? (hide spoiler)]

Nirkatze wrote: "Ann-Marie wrote: "About the bank......"

I have memories of book 3 that you do not want to know about.... LOL"

dammit lol

Hehehe, you'll get there soon enough... flying through!

I'll back to reading it as soon as I finish The Great Hunt. Too many books on my plate lately... I really want to know more about Glokta and the rest of characters.

Running late--about three books behind right now, but hopefully on the weekend...

We can say I'm more then bit behind... March is hardly reading month for me this year... feeling kinda tired and can't concentrate on my reading.

Monika wrote: "We can say I'm more then bit behind... March is hardly reading month for me this year... feeling kinda tired and can't concentrate on my reading."

Me too! I started well but now I am stalled on a book that is taking forever! I am going to start book 3 for this series today and just go back to my current book after.

I have 4 books to finish... hopefully I do that till end of month...

Finally started this today and am currently 75 pages in. I'm getting some serious Tyrian Lannister vibes from Glokta so far with how he's dealing with Dagoska. I'm loving it!

Tyrian with King's Landing is a good comparison--both in over their heads but beating everyone into shape anyway...

Back to reading. Glokta is more and more interesting character. This Magister woman/head of Spicers in Dagoska is a smart one. I like this dinner chats between her and Glokta. Ferro with her calling the rest of Bayaz group 'pinkies' and being so good with a bow is a whole another story. I think Logan like her..kinda...

I'm now on page 326 roughly 60% finished with the book. Unlike the first book this one has been an absolute joy to read. I'm now much more invested in each character and am seeing a nice amount of character growth for both Jezal and Ferro.

(view spoiler)[First off Jezal has gone from being a spoiled noble to being humbled after his unfortunate injury. Back in the first book you could see a few moments where Jezal's world was shocked when Logen and Bayaz reached Adua. Now however he is starting to see the group for what they are in large part thanks to Logen. He's gone from the spoiled noble to realizing that he has wronged others his entire life.

I wonder if our prince Ladisla will follow a similar growth since currently he is having to survive out in the cold with Threetrees and Co. I can see him either remaining a spoiled prince and eventually dying because of it OR he learns from this to become a powerful king one day (assuming he survives). So far unlike Jezal we have yet to see him start to accept responsibilities however so only time will tell...

Ferro has also grown on me. Originally I had little interest in her character but you can see a bond forming between her and Logen. Throughout this book Logen has been the glue keeping that entire caravan together.

Finally there's Glokta. The more that I read his chapters the more I'm convinced that either Joe Abercrombie or George R.R. Martin copied from each other. There are so many parallels between him and Tyrian Lannister so far in this book. From taking over Dagoska to how he has handled the siege so far in what looks to be a losing war. The scene that has most stood out however was when he took the ambassador captive to find the traitors. (hide spoiler)]

You know I didn't even think about making the comparison between those two characters, but they do share a lot of similarities don't they.. Good point Julian!

Julian wrote: "I'm now on page 326 roughly 60% finished with the book. Unlike the first book this one has been an absolute joy to read. I'm now much more invested in each character and am seeing a nice amount of ..."

Ditto on Emily--I didn't even think of comparing Glokta & T until you mentioned it... makes me want to reread those other books, but not until more come out. ^^

Love your comment about Logen being the "glue." And I really do like seeing Ferro's growth... and stubbornly insisting there is no growth.

Comparing Jezal & Ladisla is also interesting... similar starts, similar paths... let's see how things end up...

Getting hyped for book 3 now... don't know if I'll start this week, but almost surely on the weekend...

I just got it from the library so I'll be starting within a week or so!

So concerning Ladisla, (view spoiler)[I was wrong and he never matured the way Jezal did. It was satisfying however to see West finally lose it and be the one to kill Ladisla after having sacrificed so much as a commoner for the sake of trying to move up in life. (hide spoiler)]

Yes! It was sooooo satisfying when that happened! Though sometimes I worry at how bloodthirsty I'm getting. So often I find myself yelling at annoying characters to just DIE already!

Julian wrote: "So concerning Ladisla, [spoilers removed]"

I feel like it was deserved

Nirkatze wrote: "Yes! It was sooooo satisfying when that happened! Though sometimes I worry at how bloodthirsty I'm getting. So often I find myself yelling at annoying characters to just DIE already!"

I am right there with you on this lol

@Nirkatze I too feel like that at times. Most of the nobility in Adua deserves to be killed so far. You've got people so out of touch with reality that it shocks me at how the common folk haven't rebelled.

LOL I feel like we need a readers T-Shirt for this... something like a person reading a book ... maybe a random book quote on top, cartoon person reading a book, shaking hand at it and saying "just kill them already"... person nearby looking over with a concerned expression...

Nirkatze wrote: "LOL I feel like we need a readers T-Shirt for this... something like a person reading a book ... maybe a random book quote on top, cartoon person reading a book, shaking hand at it and saying "just..."

"Still alive"
~~Logen Nine Fingers

Ann-Marie wrote: ""Still alive"
~~Logen Nine Fingers..."

LOL THAT can go on the back of the shirt...