Review by Booklist Review
In this brutal fantasy that cuts keen and refuses to soothe the sting, the world has entered an age of progress: power and profit are gained with investment or force; or lost, with one moment of weakness. In the North, war rages between the Northmen and the Union's far provinces, and young warrior Leo dan Brock is inspired by old legends to fight. His gifted friend Rikke foresaw the war but not in time to save her home. Meanwhile, in the Union's burgeoning industrial cities, dissatisfied workers organize and rebel, imperiling Savine dan Glokta, a beautiful socialite and ruthless investor. Prince Orso, dissolute heir and Savine's secret lover, longs to do something right by ending the rebellion. Abercrombie unerringly juggles a large cast of multifaceted, morally ambiguous characters, each embroiled in their own complicated story; each suffers a crushing blow to their sense of self, their relationships, or their worldview. Taken together, this unflinching depiction of human nature becomes slow-motion tragedy on a grand scale, shot through with moments of humor, excitement, and hope. For Abercrombie fans, there are nods to his First Law series, but this first volume in a new trilogy is an excellent starting point for new readers.--Krista Hutley Copyright 2010 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Abercrombie expands the First Law fantasy universe with a new epic saga of war and power set in a world where the industrial age is rising. Rikke's Long Eye, a somewhat reliable prophet, foresees a battle in the North, but she doesn't expect Northern warrior Stour Nightfall and his men to come looking for her. Luckily, she escapes, reuniting with her father, the Dogman; a friend, hotheaded Leo dan Brock; and Leo's mother, Lady Governor. Together they fight for glory against superior Northern forces. Far away, Prince Orso is hungering for a cause, and when the Northern attacks worsen, he finds it. Without the funds for an expedition, he persuades Savine dan Glokta, his lover, to invest in his army so he can support the Dogman and the others. Meanwhile, rumblings of rebellion emerge as workers suffer. Business-savvy Savine sees an opportunity in the unrest--but when she travels to the industrial city Valbeck, revolutionaries seize control of the city, destroying factories and taking hostages. Orso and his new army are ordered to Valbeck to put down the insurrection, leaving the Dogman, Leo, and Lady Governor stranded and forced to make difficult choices. This isn't a bad starting point for new readers, but returning fans will get the most out of it, as these characters are the heirs and descendants of the previous books' protagonists. With expert craft, Abercrombie lays the groundwork for another thrilling trilogy. Agent: Robert Kirby, United Agents (U.K.). (Sept.)
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
First entry in a new trilogy set in the world of, and as a direct if long-awaited sequel to, the First Law trilogy (Last Argument of Kings, 2008, etc.).There's nothing distinctive about the backdrop, being a fantasy-standard medieval Europe with magic and a developing industrial revolution. Nor the plot, which proves elusive and possibly unfathomable. The Northmen are invading the Union. (Again. It's what they do.) The Union may or may not be imperiled: Abercrombie spurns maps, so it's never clear which territories are part of it or where they lie in relation to one another. What matters are the details. Every scene features one or more memorably well-developed, convincingly lifelike characters. A desperate fugitive from pursuing Northmen, Rikke may have the second sight; tough hillwoman Isern is determined to help her survive long enough to find out. Battling the Northmen is reckless fighter Leo dan Brock. His mortal enemy is Stour Nightfall, whose father engages surly, insubordinate ex-warrior Jonas Clover to teach Stour how not be a total jerk. It's a thankless task. Savine dan Glokta, daughter of the feared chief inquisitor, nurtures a ruthless ambition to control large chunks of industry. Dissolute philanderer Prince Orso, Savine's secret lover, experiences vague urges to reform and do something useful while his father, High King Jezal, shows no interest in the looming conflict. Despite summary executions, the Breakers, an angry, Luddite-like group of dissidents and union organizers, are a growing force. Various mages may or may not be meddlesome. Some familiar faces return along with assorted offspring. It's a sprawling, often jarringly inchoate yarn with what seems like hundreds of moving parts, crafted by an author evidently keeping plenty of cards up his sleeve, so even fans of the previous trilogy will need their wits and memories intact.Readers susceptible to Abercrombie's undoubted charms will become rapidly immersed. Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
