Book Review - Before They Are Hanged by Joe Abercrombie

 

Books read in 2020  -  No 7.

Hi Folks

Hope you're all well in these crazy times.  My approach?  I like to visit other worlds.  That's why I read. Especially Sci-fi and Fantasy. 

Sadly I started Joe Abercrombie's second book in his First Law Trilogy, "Before They Are Hanged" way back on 23rd July.  That means it has took about 2 months and 2 weeks to read.  I was wanting to be on book 10 of books I read in 2020 by now, or more besides.

I think this has been due to job searching , starting an online admin business course and a bit of a reading slump.  Also why I faltered near the beginning of the book is because Bayaz, the first of the Magi, a wizard type gives some back story.  This is about demons living with men in the past and one of the demons betraying his kind, sending them to the underworld.  This was too similar to the back story of David Gemmells "Winter Warriors".  Which I read earlier this year.

Well I got over that, as a lot of these low fantasy, grimdark books have similar themes and I carried on with the book.  The first quarter of the book starts slow.  Again fleshing out the characters in book one and getting them used to their new settings and situations.

Bayaz, the first of the Magi has taken Logen "Ninefingers", Ferro, the feral woman and Jezal on the quest to find a magical stone called the "Seed".  This is to rid the world of evil Eaters.  They go through different countries and it's here we see more of Joe Abercrombie's world.  Very impressive it is too with his great prose and detail.

Glokta the tortured broken torturer, has been sent South to the city of Dagoska to find a traitor and hold off a siege by the Gurkish Empire.  It's an interesting city showing the Union people at the top and the dark skinned natives at the bottom in the slums. There is some parallel with our world and race issues.  Again Glokta is a favourite and flawed character where you see his true inner thoughts.

Major West and the rest of Nine-fingers old gang of Nothern men including Dogman, Dow and Threetrees are up North fighting the tyrant Bethod and they go through some growth too.

After the first quarter, setting up the above situations, the action kicks in with gusto.  There is a lot more action than "The Blade Itself ".  From the siege of Dagoska to a big battle up North and it is all detailed and gruesome.   I think the action Joe writes is on par with David Gemmell.

Overall - a great second book from Joe Abercrombie which delves deeper into his world.  It still has great character work and more action.  Plus it also delves into the politics of the world and back stabbing politicians and Lords.  I'm just annoyed it took so long to read when it is a great read.

Score  -   9/10