I loved all 10 of the books in this universe. I really hope we get a continuation especially with how the last book, The Wisdom of Crowds, ended. I definitely need to see some revenge for a certain someone lol
I'm listening to the series at the moment. I'm on The Heroes right now and enjoying the series more and more with each book. I didn't expect to like it this much and was a bit sceptical that "grimdark" would be for me, but the way he makes the characters feel so real and lightens the mood with humour is great. I think the only aspect I have struggled with are the torture scenes in the first trilogy. They felt a bit too real for my liking 😅, but well worth getting through.
My gut reaction after I completed each of them, was Best Served Cold was the best. In hindsight I’d maybe put it in a tie with the Heroes. Red Country was alright but I don’t think on par with the other two
BSC was my favorite, too! The last half of Heroes was pretty awesome and would have been my favorite but the first half was not quite as good. Red Country was by FAR my least favorite of any of his books so far
Thankyou for doing this, I've just finished the first trilogy (last night actually) and wasn't sure whether to keep going due to character change but will definitely keep an eye out for them now. P.s Fitz is also my favourite but I loved Glokta too
What a great timing with the video! I’ve been hearing these amazing twists in the series. I’ve now finished the first book, but did not find any twists there? Everything seemed to be pretty obvious and straight forward. Will they start coming later, or did I completely miss something?
I’m currently working my way through the Malazan series and stormlight. While also taking breaks to start some Berserk. What are some new/newer fantasy series that I can get on board with? First law is also on my list.
I am half half on this people love this series and crazy about it but for me it’s not that deep, I am new to fantasy but still I don’t find this series that mind blowing as people on RU-vid make it out to be but again I would kill and die for my favorite book so let me not judge. First law is over hyped but i love some Jazel Dan Luthar
Nice shoutout to the audiobooks, Steven Pacey is sooooo so so good Makes basically all of my favorite characters stand out even more (especially Cosca)
I've read First Law, but still watched the video! I like First Law okay, but I'm not a huge grimdark fan, so I'm not as high on the series as most people; however, you did such an excellent sales job on the series in this video that it's making me want to reread the series again haha 😂
I love all the First Law books!!! They were my first foray into Grimdark and I haven’t looked back! Started reading this after I completed the Dark Tower because I didn’t think I was ready for an epic series (wot or malazan). Don’t regret that decision in the least
I just finished Gardens of the Moon last night, and was on the fence on whether to read book two of First Law or Malazan next. I think this sold me. Plus, I think I need a bit of a breather before I read Deadhouse Gates. Great video!
Weird yet perfect timing, I just read the first few chapters of The Blade Itself last night. Who would have thought a guy simply trying to walk down stairs could be one of the most engaging things I've read this year.
YES!!! I remember feeling like that too. Oh you are in for a treat. If you are able, I would HIGHLY RECOMMEND listening to the audio book - it is ‘read’ by the God of narration that is Stephen Pacey!
I’ve only read one thing by him, and that was a short story in the collection ‘Rogues’. That alone impressed me greatly. I remember trying The Blade Itself years ago and couldn’t get past 50 pages. I’m definitely willing to give him another try, always fun listening to you ramble on your opinions 👍🏾
My husband doesn't read and I wanted to get him into fantasy and so I started reading the First Law trilogy outloud to him. We finished the 1st and 2nd book and I was amazed how he started seeking me out to read more!! But then we fell out of reading with the 3rd book because I started working nights and it's been about half a year. I'm not working nights anymore and have been wanting to get back into reading but I personally felt that middle book syndrome with the 2nd book pretty hard even though I love the characters. Watching this video helps me feel like I finally want to read the 3rd book The Last Argument of Kings because I know how picky you are with endings, Matt 😂! Thanks for putting this out!!
@@amyroze My husband too doesn't read (he's disabled) and I set him up with the audio books version on the ipad with earphones. It was good hearing him chuckling to himself! Unfortunately he doesn't have the ability to hold on to information as well as he should any more (bloody MS) so unless he sits there and listens to the whole book, all in one go, he loses track of what is going on - I've told him he's not the only one, it could be age too! But he did enjoy the story.
I have only done the first trilogy and none of his other books yet. I was pretty stunned by his character work. Eventually I will need to get back to his other stuff.
I've read the first book twice and both times had zero desire to continue the series. It just felt like there wasn't a plot, and the promise of the plot to come felt underwhelming.
Excellent video, Matt! This is one of my favorite series (especially the first trilogy.) The twist you are talking about is one of if not my favorite single twist of all time and so unique. I also understand why it would not satisfy some readers. I am 100% with you on the audiobook. I read eyes only first then on a reread did them audio and Pacy crushed it. He actually elevates the books in my opinion. He doesn't read the books so much as acts them like a play. With all the different accents and the brilliant choice to do Glokta's internal thoughts without the lisp and spoken words with the lisp..so f'ing good. I almost want to do another re read, but I think I will finish the last half of Malazan first. So many good books, so little time. Cheers!
Completely agree with your thoughts on Best Served Cold - fun and fast-paced, but not nearly as thought-provoking or unpredictable plot-wise as the rest of his books. Tonally it was a little off for me too, whimsical absurdist moments (the musician criminal tryouts, morveer, cosca) interspersed with super dark, heavy moments (eg the hammer torture scene). The OG trilogy struck a much better tonal balance imo.
I've been wanting to read this one for a while but I kept hearing that it is fully character driven and for me plot/story is king so I'm unsure if it's a good fit for me
@@MattsFantasyBookReviews I am also generally a plot/story guy first, but have been LOVING realm of the elderlings based on your previous breakdown video. I recently read the Blade Itself and outside of Jezal's pov thought it was a complete snoozefest. Is it worth continuing on or is the series probably not for me?
I started watching your channel like 6 months ago and started the First Law series based off one of your ranking videos. I JUST finished the 9th/currently final book last night! Wanted to thank you for introducing me to the First Law world & these characters (Glokta, Cosca, Logan, Orso, Jezal, Calder, Rikke, Savine, Gorst). So good. Got several of my friends to pick up the series now too. Thanks again Matt!!!
Can't wait for the next trilogy, cause after how wisdom of Crowds ended, there is another generation coming. A certain meddling person isn't done meddling
@@MattsFantasyBookReviews it won't be until like 2029 at the earliest cause we have the devils coming in 25, and then the next two. So I anticipate another trilogy starting the end of the decade
FYI Matt, saying that Logen has a split personality is absolutely a spoiler for TBI. It doesn’t happen till far into the book, and was super shocking for me when it happened
I just heard what you said about the Heroes - I drew my own map!!!! I so agree with you. BUT this is my favourite Abercrombie book! I’ve listened to the series twice and the second time round elevated it for me.
