Sean Barrs 's Reviews > The Blade Itself

Joe Abercrombie certainly knows how to write some disturbingly likable characters. In any other book the protagonists would be the bad guys. Logan Ninefingers is a brutal warrior who goes into insane blood rages where he kills anything, and everything, near him. Yet, weirdly, he is also a wise and sensitive soul. San Dan Glocka is a torturer whose heart is pure malice, yet somehow his attitude toward life boarders on the hilarious. These two are such great characters; they make the series what it is.

A character defining opening



I love how this novel begins because it sets the tone for the rest of it. Ninefingers, as ever, is in a fight for his life, but it is clear that this is neither his first fight nor his last. He doesn’t fight with grace; he doesn’t fight with much skill either, but what he does fight with is an animalistic passion for survival and, knives, lots of knives. He knows how to win a fight and it is, most definitely, not by fighting clean or with bravery. Sometimes, the best way to win/survive a fight is by running of a cliff. In this opening we see a glimpse of his complex character.

“There are few men with more blood on their hands than me. None, that I know of. The Bloody-Nine they call me, my enemies, and there’s a lot of ’em. Always more enemies, and fewer friends. Blood gets you nothing but more blood. It follows me now, always, like my shadow, and like my shadow I can never be free of it. I should never be free of it. I’ve earned it. I’ve deserved it. I’ve sought it out. Such is my punishment.”

Indeed, he is very well written. There’s so much more to him than his outwardly barbarian appearance; he is more than a survivor and a pragmatist. He knows when his luck has run out; it’s why he has survived for so long. There’s wisdom inside him too. He’s an exceptionally good judge of character. When the plot sends him in the path of Bayaz, a powerful mage, he can see the man’s worth almost instantly; he can see exactly what he is about and how unstraightforward his intentions are. He is forced to go along with his plans, but he knows not to fully trust him. He can smell deception a mile away. After all, you have to be realistic about these things. (I just had to say it!)

A twisted world

It is clear that Ninefingers is far from a good man. He has killed countless people, and he has enjoyed it. Yet, somehow Abercrombie has made this bloodthirsty barbarian into a likable protagonist. He is simply who he is. It makes me wonder that if the protagonist is this brutal, then the antagonists must be terrible people. They must be much worse than Logan. Though, something does tell me that there are very few good men in this world. Everybody is in a shadowy place of dark and questionable morals. I love it.

“There was nothing to be gained by losing his temper. There was never anything to be gained by that.”

Indeed, Gloka is just as nasty. He enjoys inflicting pain, through torture, in the same way it was done to him. But, at the same time, he works for the government and serves his country. So he can’t be all that bad, right? Wrong. He is much, much, worse. He is one of the darkest characters in fantasy that isn’t the villain. However, he is also brilliant. His wit and attitude reminds me somewhat of Tyrion Lannister. If these two met, it would certainly lead to one incredibly interesting conversation. Say one thing of Abercrombie; say he can write disturbingly likable characters, and novels; he’s quite good at novels too. You have to be realistic about these things.

I’ve really got to stop saying that!

The First Law Trilogy
1. The Blade Itself- A bloody four stars
2. Before They Were Hanged- A gritty four stars
3. The Last Argument of Kings- A strong four stars