First Law: Before They Are Hanged (spoiler free review) by Joe Abercrombie 

I finished Last Argument of Kings a few days ago and I’m still shook. Was gonna put down First Law and read something else but no chance that’s happening anymore I’m reading them ALL

West in this book 💥 Most underrated character in this triology

If this series was serialized or made into films, I would want the journey to the end of the world cut out and shown entirely in Flashback. So when we hear about Storming the Bridge at Darmium - we don't know what happened. And the Massacre at Albez - coincides with the Long Table Reacquaintance

Wonderful book. Glokta rullz 😁

Love for squirmy and grubs❤

I have just been listening to this series for the third time (about to start the final trilogy) and oh was I in heaven and how often did I laugh out loud! Stephen Pacey? Yep, god!

I just finished the first trilogy a few days ago, and it was brilliant :D I'm now putting down First Law for a bit, and I'm going to get started on Malazan again, might read the First Law stand alones between malazan 1, 2 and 3

I'm starting this series for the 1st time when aug starts! With the audio i'm very excitedddd 😊 there are 9 right? I plan on buying the physical copies and listen to the audiobooks

I thought the ending for this book was hilarious and fantastic 😂

For me first law gets rated like this: The Blade itself: 4 stars, enjoyable. Before they are hanged: 4.3 stars (if that’s allowed) Slightly better than the first, particularly because of how good Logan and West are. Last argument of kings: 5 stars, my 4th favourite book of all time, I was shook from the ending and literally had my heart skip a beat. West and Logan again just amazing characters absolutely loved them so much, this is the main book where Logan put himself up there for me as one of my favourite characters ever. Best served cold: 2 stars. Came off of the high of reading the previous book and had to put it down after 100 pages for a couple months and picked it up again while travelling and not having the best time. I didn’t care about any of the characters. The heroes: 4.5 stars. Hilariously funny book with unbelievable dialogue and banter that was so entertaining to read. Main standouts were Coulder, Bremmer Dan Gorst and Whyrrun. I started laughing uncontrollably at the line where shivers says “halves it” (you know the one 😂) and when Bremmer started writing his letter to the king calling him something like “your divine f***face”. It didn’t however give me a sudden feeling of joy or shock which is my criteria for 5 stars. Red country: 5 stars. this book is a really special one because it didn’t give me a sudden feeling of anything but I’ve thought about it for so long. I got angry, cared about the characters and I actually got nervous at times. It was so good through out that I have to give it 5 stars. Particularly because of Lamb. No spoilers. A little hatred: 3 stars. A trouble with peace 3 stars. Wisdom of crowds 2 stars. - I read these books in 3 days and just did not care or connect with anyone or anything in the story. I didn’t like the new world Joe crafted at all. Not sure why.

🤣 I swear this is like the 4th time it's happened where I'm in the middle of working on a review and get the ping that Matt's Fantasy Book Reviews beat me to the punch for the same book. I like the take of comparing the first read to the re read especially about how the ending landed for you. I got into the first law in my peak edgelord days where I graded how a book subverted my expectation especially towards something grimdark as hugely positive, so I loved how the ending of this book just snatched away what I thought might happen. On my rereads of this though it's alot of fun seeing just how many tricks Abercrombie can pull to lead up to what I think was an amazing trilogy ending, so even with the surprise gone it's still great to watch

Wow agreed about literally every thing you said here. Fantastically plotted book. Compelling characters everywhere you look. Smart and clever prose. Best audio narration ever put down on tape. Meh magic but that’s small potatoes when everything else is firing on all cylinders.

Another fantastic video! Thank you!!!

Just finished the whole trilogy. My first read of Blade Itself i didnt like much. I liked this one. Then I read the last argument of kings and it blew me away and retrospectively fell in love with the whole trilogy. Its much better to read the three books as if they were a single book since none of the three really holds up on its own

I haven't read the Age of Madness trilogy yet, but so far this is my favorite Fist Law book!

Did not think it was possible for me to be more hyped for my read of book 2 next month but you just did it!

I read this trilogy for the first time this year, and I loved them all. I think Before They Are Hanged is my favorite so far. I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the First Law series!

It's interesting that you switched first and second in rank. I've just read them for the first time and definitely felt the second was better than the first. I'm just now starting TLAoK

I just finished Before They are Hanged for the first time a couple days ago and I loved it! The end was definetly a little strange, and I think if I was reading it at a time where I couldn't immediately start the third book, I would have been a little disappointed, but I still really enjoyed it!

So excited to start first law soon! Finishing up Jade legacy and Rhythm of War first.

I’ll have to get to this. The Blade Itself wasn’t what I expected so it made me hesitant to continue. I might need to reread it though.

At first you think the magic doesn't affect the plot much but the more you read you find out how the people with magic are at the head of everything

Matt, the gimdark fanboy. In other words, for this reason, I recommended and advised you in the Yumi and the Nightmare Painter video to stop reading Brandon Sanderson, seeing the way you idealize and exalt Joe Abercrombie and Malaz. In other words, Sanderson is so opposite in style (known as hopepunk) and at odds with your favorite authors that you will never fully appreciate the virtues of Sanderson's books.

I'm currently half-way through this book and after this video I need to go finish it now!!

Click, tap, pain

Even better the fifth time.