704 pages
English language
Published Nov. 6, 2009
The end is coming.
Logen Ninefingers might only have one more fight in him - but it's going to be a big one. Battle rages across the North, the King of the Northmen still stands firm, and there's only one man who can stop him. His oldest friend, and his oldest enemy. It's past time for the Bloody-Nine to come home.
With too many masters and too little time, Superior Glokta is fighting a different kind of war. A secret struggle in which no one is safe, and no one can be trusted. His days with a sword are far behind him. It's a good thing blackmail, threats and torture still work well enough.
Jezal dan Luthar has decided that winning glory is far too painful and turned his back on soldiering for a simple life with the woman he loves. But love can be painful too, and glory has …
The end is coming.
Logen Ninefingers might only have one more fight in him - but it's going to be a big one. Battle rages across the North, the King of the Northmen still stands firm, and there's only one man who can stop him. His oldest friend, and his oldest enemy. It's past time for the Bloody-Nine to come home.
With too many masters and too little time, Superior Glokta is fighting a different kind of war. A secret struggle in which no one is safe, and no one can be trusted. His days with a sword are far behind him. It's a good thing blackmail, threats and torture still work well enough.
Jezal dan Luthar has decided that winning glory is far too painful and turned his back on soldiering for a simple life with the woman he loves. But love can be painful too, and glory has a nasty habit of creeping up on a man when he least expects it.
While the King of the Union lies on his deathbed, the peasants' revolt and the nobles scramble to steal his crown. No one believes that the shadow of war is falling across the very heart of the Union. The First of the Magi has a plan to save the world, as he always does. But there are risks. There is no risk more terrible, after all, than breaking the First Law.
This exceeded my expectations. There was never a dull moment and it was hard to put down at times. A lot of grim action that kept me turning the pages.
This series is really exceptional. It's pretty much captivating reading about terrible people. In the first two books, you might have liked some of the PoV characters, but here they really all turn out to be awful. No winners in the end, no good feelings, I feel people need to be warned.
At the same time, entirely worth it. The writing, the characters, so very very good. Just so good. I want more!
