The Blade Itself: Book One

If you prefer a series that leaves you thoroughly satisfied at the end, don't read this. If you prefer a series where characters get redeemed in any meaningful way, don't read this. If you prefer a series where the world is revealed to you through clever exposure and not through (despite being well thought out) exposition dumps, don't read this. If you like books that leave you miserable after reading but where a full month after you're done you think to yourself 'some of that stuff was quite neat and despite everything I liked that character', then read this.

A great character-driven series of books. Abercrombie creates a fantastically engaging cast and pretty much lets them loose to diverge and cross paths. Darkly entertaining and one of the wittiest writers I've come across. The Blade Itself is fun and interesting of itself, but it pages the way for the rest of his books, which go from strength to strength.

This is a great introduction to the series, and would have warranted five stars had the ending not felt slightly rushed. This was a shame, and somewhat surprising, given how well developed the rest of the book is. Still, I won't dwell on the single negative point when this tale contains some of the most engaging characters I've come across in many a book.