The Blade Itself

By: Joe Abercrombie

Narrated by: Steven Pacey

The first novel in the First Law Trilogy and the debut novel from New York Times best seller Joe Abercrombie.

Logen Ninefingers, infamous barbarian, has finally run out of luck. Caught in one feud too many, he's on the verge of becoming a dead barbarian - leaving nothing behind him but bad songs, dead friends, and a lot of happy enemies.

Nobleman, dashing officer, and paragon of selfishness, Captain Jezal dan Luthar has nothing more dangerous in mind than fleecing his friends at cards and dreaming of glory in the fencing circle. But war is brewing, and on the battlefields of the frozen North they fight by altogether bloodier rules.

Inquisitor Glokta, cripple turned torturer, would like nothing better than to see Jezal come home in a box. But then Glokta hates everyone: Cutting treason out of the Union one confession at a time leaves little room for friendship. His latest trail of corpses may lead him right to the rotten heart of government, if he can stay alive long enough to follow it.

Enter the wizard, Bayaz. A bald old man with a terrible temper and a pathetic assistant, he could be the First of the Magi, he could be a spectacular fraud, but whatever he is, he's about to make the lives of Logen, Jezal, and Glokta a whole lot more difficult.

Murderous conspiracies rise to the surface, old scores are ready to be settled, and the line between hero and villain is sharp enough to draw blood.

Unpredictable, compelling, wickedly funny, and packed with unforgettable characters, The Blade Itself is noir fantasy with a real cutting edge.

©2015 Joe Abercrombie (P)2015 Hachette Audio

Critic reviews

Exhilarating.... Abercrombie's knack for wit and grit holds your attention throughout, and his eye for character means that there's heart as well as muscle." [ SFX (UK)]

A Great Trilogy!

I decided to wait until I was through the whole trilogy to write a review and now that I am I can say, A+! Great characters, a great story and always interesting. The performance was flawless as well!

Loved it!

I am always excited yet hesitant to start a new series. This book started off with action which was a nice change of pace from what I normally read. The action carried all the way through to the end. What I enjoyed most though was the characters and the way they were developed. I am having to force myself not to immediately dive into the 2nd book.

Great story and superb narrator

The story was great, but Steven Pacey is a god. It seemed that there was more than one narrator, his Glokta was spectacular.

You won't be disappointed.

Excellent narration. Gripping plot. Well developed characters. If you are looking for a well written fantasy book, I highly recommend this book.

Pretty well written, but goes nowhere

It's a really well written book. Good character development. Good humor, proper from English. However, story goes nowhere.

Not for the Faint of Heart

Any additional comments?

A man left a broken cripple after two years of brutal torture who becomes a torturer in turn, a superficial fop with a world of privileges who does nothing but complain, the deadliest warrior in the North who will kill even his closest friends when taken by a blind fury -- these are the three characters with which the book begins and with whom we are asked to identify. My first thought was: this book is not for me. I kept waiting for things to improve, for the lines between right and wrong to grow clearer. They did not, but soon I was hooked -- drawn in, fascinated, at times appalled, unable to stop -- driven forward until soon I had finished all three books in the series.

If you want something light and predictable, look elsewhere. Bloody, twisted, and dark, these books are, in the end, a meditation on the prevalence of evil. You're left wondering if anyone can ever truly escape it. It's all part of a story that remains grimly addictive, darkly humorous, unnervingly fascinating.

Throughout it all the narration of Steven Pacey is a wonder. I believe that he is the most skilled and versatile reader I have ever heard. The books are worth a listen for him alone.

Look you want this book

What made the experience of listening to The Blade Itself the most enjoyable?

People have come down on this book regarding the story and the plot but I think you can piece things together just fine. There are numerous surprises in the characters that reveal themselves in due time. The characters are like able to me too. Some have said they are not. I think they are realistically portrayed to the world they come from.

The only part you get bogged down in is the relationship between a noble and a common girl but that I suppose is necessary to make one character likeable.

The voice acting is superb and makes this a book much better to listen to than read. I eagerly await the next novel.

Fantasy fans you want this book.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Bloody nine fingers

Have you listened to any of Steven Pacey’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Nope

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Listened in the car. Took long way home.

Any additional comments?

Just enjoyable and a must read for fantasy fans

Adventure Fantasy with Depth

Joe Abercrombie writes characters and scenes that stick with you, violence that makes you cringe...good stuff, in short.

Hack and Slash fiesta!

Abercrombie is a beast! The fights are visceral, characterizations clear and brilliant; the magic, properly restrained yet cataclismic when unchained. This work is everything a great H&S could be. By the end my brain is strangely sated and desperate for more, as any berserker should feel. There is one word the narrator constantly mispronounces. Its like stubbing you toe in combat, an annoyance to be sure but otherwise a good performance. The story is a rat warren and Abercrombie jags when you're braced for a jig. Absolutley delightful.

performance 11/10

probably the best audio performance I've heard. does incredible immersive voices for all the characters. just outstanding.