The First Law: SPOILER TALK - A Little Hatred by Joe Abercrombie 

Love this book, RIP Jezeal, the one true King of the Union.

Hi from Uruguay! Great channel, this is my first comment, I finished the book on saturday and I had to listen the spoiler free review asap. It was an amazing ride. First, about the book itself, I'm awed. I love Joe, with all my heart. The mirror episodes between Orso and Savine were a highlight (both Fencing with Father were EXTASIC). I'm really troubled about this. They might be my favourite characters in the book, and I find myself rooting for their romance, but they're half brothers and I knew it all along!! I feel dirty, damn it Joe! Clover what a S.O.B. I loved him, but hated him for what he did to Wonderful. But most of his chapters were a delight, when he killed that guy from Nightfall's entourage and used his body to escape batlle, man! He's practical, that I can't deny. Rikke was great, probably the funniest new character a side Orso (love their getting together at the end, even though I don't think it's gonna go much further). She's too good for this world, I hope that doesn't come back to bite her on the ass. Vick and Broad were nice additions, the former specially. The latter was kind of a Logen rip-off yeah, but different enough I think. I think we needed a pov from the Breakers, a side Vick which wasn't from the Breakers after all. Nightfall was not a POV, and I really didn't like him much until that last chapter (WOW!). Well, maybe the chapter when Leo goes to see him while he recovers was a turning point too. "Our heroes" Glokta and Jezal were amazing. I loved seeing them again, I hated Jezal dying so "normally", probably poisoned I agree. I feel so bad for the guy, I like to think that he could've been a great king if it wasn't for Bayaz. I also think we are probably not gonna see Logen again (BTW, he's probably 60 now, if not older). I agree with you, he retired in the sunset. Great seeing the Dogman, Shivers (personal favorite!), Calder, Scale (amazing last chapter, wasn't expecting that), Wonderful, Pike, even Tunny. And now, damn, another post for the theories.

Did anyone notice anything about Superior Pike knowing something about the Weaver? Not suggesting he IS the Weaver, but he was quite quick to get Vick out of the room when the Breaker prisoner started to talk about the Weaver.

It kind of feels like Byaz is steering the nation towards abolishing the monarchy. Monarchies rarely last long after industrialization, right?

Finally got around to reading this and I am not disappointed at all I LOVED this book mind blown🤯 definitely need a theories episode

One thing I love about this book are all the parallels to the French Revolution. Heavy taxation to pay for massive war debts helping to drive and speed up social and economic changes and rapid industrialization all leading to peasants being driven off their land and into overcrowded cities. There's even a foreign queen (Terez/Marie Antoinette) who is hated by the public and is from a country (Styria/Austria) recently at war with The Union/France. Makes me wonder who will be the Napoleon Bonaparte of this story!

I. love this book. I got it a week ago and I've listened to it twice already

Ladies and Gentlemen introducing the world's greatest Book reviewer. Mike!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think the Bald Weaver is Shenkt/Casamir from Best Served Cold. He's a persistent enemy of Bayaz who's willing to fight on any side so long as he can get at his old enemy. Rikke's prophecy of 'a purse that never emptied' could mean he will work with Savine later since she's filthy rich, besides she's already working with three eaters at this point (maybe) Styria gets mentioned a lot in this book having kicked the Union's ass in what three wars? It only makes sense they'll play a role in this new trilogy.

My favorite new pov characters in order from favorite to least: 1. Orso- Jezals son true and true. I already feel bad for Orso cause I feel like there's no chance of a happy ending for Orso in this trilogy like his dad. But I like Orso I loved Jezal in the original but I feel like Orso could probably accomplish much more than Jezal could've... If it wasnt for that bald fool. 2. Rikke- I didn't like her at first but I'm really enjoyed her post circle battle. Especially once she got to Adua and she meets the first of the Magi. And I love the pairing of her and Orso. Kinda opposites in their own way but also I think they both feel like outsiders. Hope stuff happens there. 3. Clover- Funny as heck. And unpredictable. Looking forward to seeing what else he'll do. I like a character that speaks his mind. And it was truly a shock to see him kill Wonderful. 4. Leo- Didn't like him at first. Thought he was gonna be a bit one note. But there really is a lot of depth to him. Again I dont think theres much of a happy ending for him in this series. But I'm looking forward to his character progression. I think itd be cool if he became an antagonist to the crown. Because he so desperately wants to be the hero. 5. Savine- Being honest was kind of dissapointed with Savine. I know theres still two books left after this one so hopefully she'll move up. She just seemed kinda standard and unlikable honestly. Shes Jezals daughter and was raised by Glokta. Thought that wouldve made a charismatic kinda evil socialite. But I couldnt find the charm sadly. 6. Vic- We dont get too much about her this book but i really like her. She's really conflicted which is interesting. I love the way she was introduced. I can't tell yet what side she's ultimately going to fall on. But shes really interesting. Would be higher if there were more chapters with her. 7. Gunnar- I wasnt too much of a fan of Gunnar. I know there's ALOT of people thay like him and the type of character he is. But I already have Shivers for that. And Shivers is freaking awesome. He's still my favorite badass in literature (sorry bloody 9 fans). But I found Gunnars chapters kinda boring honestly. Though he was interesting to see from others POVs. I also really liked the "Young Wolf" yeah hes crazy and evil. But he's so crazy and I just feel like hes gonna be so unpredictable in the next two books which I'm excited for. And I cant wait to see how he'll interact with all the other characters.

Honestly man, you are the best reviewer and I really appreciate all your videos. This book blew me away and I think exceeds the original trilogy. Although I realize that the original trilogy as well as the standalones are what gives the readers that emotional impact. Abercrombie is phenomenal and I really wish he was more popular. One thing that I really appreciated was Clover killing Magweer and how that foreshadowed the killing of Wonderful (still the most shocking point in the whole book for me). Wow what an incredible book. Exactly like you described it, the red wedding of this series. Can't wait to read the next book

Awesome video. Awesome series, probably the best. About the weaver situation, Id recommend to reread the page where Vick and Malmer talk about the weaver, there are some heavy hints in how it was written.

Replying to your previous reply on your non spoiler discussion video so as to avoid spoilers. The ending definitely felt pretty abrupt to me, such a huge cliffhanger. Saying that though, i have a pretty wild theory. All i'll say is that it wouldn't be the first time a character has appeared to be in two places at once. Maybe something to do with a certain man with different coloured eyes. Could Joe be trying to pull the wool over our eyes maybe? probably not, probably i'm just grasping at straws. No idea what this little theory of mind could entail mind you. I feel like Jezal has been done so dirty though. Especially how he is left at the end of the original trilogy, i really really felt for the guy, one of the more subtlety tragic endings to a character arch in fantasy for me. And yes, i'm 90% sure your correct in thinking eaters typically have perfect teeth, i'm sure he mentioned that a few times in the original trilogy. Something is definitely up with Zuri, i found the timing of her little adventure to be very suspect as well.

I think it's safe to say Dogman is a good guy.

Looking forward to the theory video! Hope you include something about what's happening in the south - Khalul, Ferro, maybe Shenkt (who might be the old Casamir)?

His Highness Crown Prince Orso is quickly becoming one of my favourite characters in this entire series. I think he’s supposed to be pretty unlikable at first but as you get to know him throughout the story you realize that he’s a genuinely good person even if he sometimes makes dumb decisions. I loved the bit where Leo and Orso both realize that the other isn’t so bad, even if they both thought each other were douches before they met. Same with Savine and Rikke. Not that they disliked each other but I liked how they got along when they did eventually meet.

In the First Law trilogy, wasn't there a "Weaver" or a "Tanner" leading a false revolt that Bayaz masterminded to make Giselle popluar with the poeple? Wasn't Yaro Sulfur This character? You have probably thought of this already. Sorry if I misspell characters names. I'm listening to the books.

This book was so great I absolutely love it I can't wait to read the next two books in the trilogy 😃🤠😊🙂

Now that you mentioned Zuri, she could be an agent of Khalul. Yoru tried to approach Savine during an event. Strange when it happened when Zuri was not around and he disappeared when Zuri came back. Also Leo could be bi, he described jurand as almost pretty. I feel bad for jurand.

Great review. I'm almost done with book 2 the troublewith peace. I 100% agree with you that I think Zuri is an eater. There is something definitely off about her and her brothers and I can't wait to see where that thread goes by the end of the series.

Just finished this morning. Happy to finally watch. Say one thing for Joe Abercrombie, say he gets substantially better with each offering. Broad? Awesome. Learning to add heart to stories? Awesome. Couldn't be more thrilled to crack The Trouble With Peace.

To comment on becoming the thing that you hate: Vik mentions in a conversation that she, maybe unwillingly, joined the side of the Union because it was the only way to survive, and thrive. I think it is a matter of survival. Her and Glokta chose to work in their respective ways because they saw that is was the only thing they understood and could be good at. Otherwise they would be dead or be nobody.

All his books are so good

I like how Bayaz is basically just chillin playing Crusader Kings 3

RIP Jezal, Fuck Bayaz. Look at Jezal’s first chapters to his last chapter in LAOK is absolutely heartbreaking. What a character Jezal was. Am I the only one who noticed that Broad almost fought a man with “a star shaped scar on his cheek and a chunk out of his ear”. The bloody nine will return no doubt!!!!!!!

Cool shirt. Cool band. Cool book. Cool author. Cool review. Cool shit all around.

About the theories/prophecies, I think the Weaver has to be Bayaz, though I agree that it seems too obvious ("I saw a Weaver with a purse that never emptied"?). I also think we already saw the first part of the "Eaters" prophecies, the Wolf ate the Sun (Stour burnt Uffrith), the Lion ate the Wolf (Leo beat Stour), next comes: the Lamb eat the Lion (somehow in book 2 Orso will stop a rebellion "lead" by Leo), and the Owl eat the Lamb (Owl might be Bayaz?, Orso will try to set free from his influence but fail, like his father before him? Maybe but not sure). Obviously the woman with the golden wire is Monza (another favorite of mine, hoping Jappo is confirmed to be Shiver's son in the second or third book). Might "the Owl" be someone from Styria? And the great door to an empty room, perhaps it's a portal to the "Other World"? (I don't remember the name of the place, where Euz trapped the Demons in the Old Times). I'm baffled about the one of the white horse prancing in the broken tower. That I have no clue. Prophecies a side, I agree about Zuri, there's something odd about her (and Joe always describes eaters as having great teeth and smooth skin). Or maybe only her brothers? But there's something about them, no doubt. I'm also guessing Pike is gonna become a very important character in the following books, I don't know if he has anything to do with what Risinau did in Valbeck, nor with the Weaver. But he's gotta have a grudge with Glokta. And that's an itch he will surely scratch.

So the Young Lamb is Orso, and he will eat he Young Lion but how? Just wearing him down with battles or politics? The Owl is Bayaz, it seems. Rikke said she saw a tower fall. Could a fight between Bayaz and his ex be in the future? I want more of the Young Wolf.

Wacky theory: Queen Terez had Jezal murdered, not Bayaz. The implication in the book is that Bayaz did it I know but we also know that "Good planning does not prevent accidents, it allows for them" - Bayaz. So he is ready for Orso to be king even if it wasn't his plan to do it so early. I know this is way out there but hey, Abercrombie is the master of subverting expectations.

Anything I say, anyone can feel free to correct me if I am wrong. I don't have the source material on me right now and am speculating from memory. Yeah, I need to go back and actually take notes with the prophecy stuff. I started doing my second read through and defiantly missed some of the details the first time around. - You are not off when it comes to the subject of the eaters. If she turns out to be wrapped in rags under her clothes, we know we are in trouble haha! They are normally pointed out to have perfect teeth and most of them are also described to have perfect skin (I forget if that observation was made about Shenkt). Also, there is normally some kind of detail about their eyes. It's like they get celebrity level cosmetic treatment and the rest of the world can't get their hands on any moisturizer. So, my speculations (beginning of second read-through): - My current big question -> Weaver: In one of the "long eye" sections, it mentions a weaver with.. something about the weaver's head and gold. I immediately thought that Manza might have something to do with being the weaver (due to all the wars with the Union and her head being held together with gold) but, the prophet's head is stamped on gold coins and associated with gold. I believe it says the Emporer was overthrown and the prophet went missing. Maybe he is using his eaters to infiltrate and try to overthrow the union which, might explain how the breakers got the high quality Gurkish "Sugar" (Cosca RIP). On another tangent, maybe its Shenkt (he did put the gold in Monza's head)? He has been out for revenge against his former master(s?) for a long time. Perhaps he is out to start a new world order after helping topple the Gurkish empire. But... I'd like to hear more people's thoughts on the weaver subject. - I can't help but consider this quote: “My master appreciates that we must sometimes have a little chaos if a better order is to emerge. There can be no progress without pain, no creation without destruction. That is why he has indulged this little war of yours. My master loves to see the earth plowed, from time to time.”... Maybe this time he gets more chaos than he bargained for? Or, is this all apart of another scheme? Next big question -> who is the owl? I believe the "this eats that" prophecy went: sun (eaten by)-> wolf -> lion -> lamb -> owl. I will have to go back and check to make sure that was it. We have pretty much been told who is who in that line except for the owl. Unless that is a detail I haven't gotten to yet during my second read. Perhaps, it is a detail buried in one of the other books. - What big campaign path do people think the wolf and lion combo might go on? The wildest possibility I can think of while trying to connect the "this eats that" prophecy: Wolf/Lion team up to put the Savine-Leo combo on the throne in return for Staur getting the whole north + legendary name?? With those other nobles wanting to put Brock on the throne instead of Orso after the King's death?? Savine doesn't have to be necessarily involved from the get-go but, having her be with Leo and revealed as the former King's daughter would add to their claim vs. the "unfit for King" Orso. From there, we could have an Orso - Rikke combo that has to come back (after fleeing, maybe) and try to retake the Union/North. Maybe, with the help of disgruntled workers that Orso promises some of the great changes they wanted to see? And/or help from Styria/Shankt (lol just trying to get some of them back in the picture) -> That officially makes the Brocks treasonous. The wolf could eat the sun, the lion could eat the wolf, and then the lamb could come back and eat the lion. Possibly with help from Styria, the owl somewhere in there....It leaves the chance for Clover to switch over to Rikke and take out someone important. What if Shivers has to go back to Styria just to find out Jappo Murcatto is really his kid. -> There is a lot not considered in that progression, and certainly a little too straight forward. Its a work in progress haha! I'd love to hear other thoughts.

When do we get your theories video?

They say the prophet got attack by a demon and "she" either wounded him or killed him...you got to ask yourself if the she is ferro?

The Weaver is Definitely pyke! Roose is going to get his revenge. We've already seen he's in it for the long game.

I just finished listening to this book... i absolutely loved it... i believe the prophecy was. The lion eats the wolf. The lamb eats the lion. The owl eats the lamb the sun eats the owl. Makes me wonder if orso kills leo. Bayas kills orso and juvens or eaos kills bayas... i know juvens is supposedly dead but he was also half demon so who knows. And aeos just left... so maybe we get some god like characters popping up in the upcoming books... i could be off on that prophecy though. I wasnt entirely sure the order of how it went

I think there may be more to gunnar than we think at first. I listen to the audio book version and the narrator uses the same exact voice for Gunnar as he does for logan. Steven pacey is the narrator and that is not a mistake that he would make unless he knows something. This guy has crazy unique voices for all the main characters so it's just a bit odd to me.

The Owl is quite obviously Rikke, Owls have a “long” vision so it’s a metaphor that Rikke is an “owl”

Could Zuri be the child of Logan and Ferro? Maybe she has a devil in her. I'd be saddened if there are no new character's with the related to a devil trait in this sequel trilogy. Also who is Vic the child of I must have been day dreaming during the audio book and missed it unfortunately. She reminds me of the female character married to shenkt that I can't remember the name of for the life of me. I'm Gonna have to re listen to the original series after this.

I finished it! Spoil away. =) I finished it in 2-3 days. I really liked Rikke and the self-depreciating Orso. Rikke for some reason reminded me of Merida in Disney's Brave. Savine also grew on me, didn't like her at first. Bayaz appearing beside Rikke in the ship going to Adua. So nostalgic of The first trilogy only now you know who the real bastard is.

Mike, can you help me remember? Leo is my new favorite character but who is this Finree in TFL? I don't have a memory of her.

He completely glossed over my boy orso... Fuck

Finished this week! I'm glad Abercrombie's still got it, this book is up to his standards. And man, I really grew to fucking hate Leo and love Orso. Leo is such an idiot and I have a feeling in the next book he's going to be the pawn Bayaz promotes after taking out Orso. Like damn Leo, your mom was right over and over again and still, everything is someone else's fault. Great character, but I would love to punch him in the face. And that hurts, cause it was nice to have a gay (or bi) POV character, but he had to be such a jerk that it was hard for me to like him by the end of the book. I liked all the Breaker stuff, interested to see where that all goes. As well as finding out more about the south and what happened to Ferro. Obviously she succeeded at fucking up the Ghurkish.

Was anybody hoping that logan was gonna make a return for the chain of the north?

I’m just finishing my first read so I’m not sure if there is anything contradicting this in the novel but I think Savine and Orso are twins. Their birth giving Queen Terez a way to keep her quim free of giving birth and granting prick, but getting a male heir and a useful bargaining chip in the future. Given Glokta and Jezal’s mutual terrified warnings to Orso and Savine this strikes me as maybe the only secret they’ve been able to keep from Bayaz. RIP Wonderful.

Man Shivers is a better character than Logen, Shivers doesn’t deserve the walmart tag.

OK, Just finished the book and here is what I figure: The prophecy from the beginning about the Sun, Wolf, Lion, Lamb, and Owl is Stour beats the Untion, Leo beats Stour, This is obvious. Then Leo gives in and becomes the champion of the New Order, like his grandfather, backed by Isher, Hoygan etc. The now King Orso is the Lamn that will crush Leo. However, because he is the King and he still has that bad reputation for killing 200 people with 'amnesty' he will be killed by King Japo of Styria. This part is a bit of a guess since we don't know if Japo has a Charge or a Totem yet. We know his mother is the Snake of Talens but what kind of man has he become? I would have chosen Gunner Broad due to his spectacles but his totem is Bull so that doesn't work. It has to be someone with antagonism to Orso, so Styria is the logical choice if not a Leader of the Resistance. I doubt anyone we have seen in the Breakers or Burners is the Owl... If the Owl is a person from the resistance, that works for my next interpretation... The Weaver Is Bayaz, even though it is obvious, it just is what it is. Bayaz is setting up the Union to have a weak king that no one likes because he now understands Money, Power, and Corruption and he has come to the correct conclusion that a Republic is easier to corrupt and that Politicians are cheaper than Kings and easier to replace. Since Halul is defeated, he no longer needs the Union Army and resources the way he did, so he is willing to transform it into a new kind of government becuase it is more profitable to do so. Simple. I haven't picked apart her last prophecy yet but since that short story about the stolen package from a magus was most likely the key to the House of the Maker, I'm predicting that the HOTM is the Tower with the white horse on it, but I'm not yet sure who the white horse is... O, one more thing... The Queen killed the King... finally. Now that her son has been honored as a Hero she thinks he is ready to rule so she wanted to be done with Jezal. That's my prediction. Yes, I suspect that Savine will be Blamed for it as a way of Punishing Glokta for making Terez submit to Jezal in the first place.

Awesome book, still the best series so far. When RR Martin did brother/sister, it was interesting because it was a piece of a puzzle our (first) main protagonist solved. Then Abercrombie threw it in, then Hobb threw it in, then Abercrombie again, and I'm sure a lot of knock-off writers I don't know, now it's a trope. Orso had the best arc, imo. With lots of PoVs and Joe's writing efficiency, it's hard to have several good arcs in one book.

Firstly, it's spelled "Rikke" and not "Ricka" And, she says, Rikke, rhymes with pricker. So it absolutely cannot be Ricka!

So, I just started reading this book and I can't help but drop a comment... War in the F1#$ng North again? Book 1, 2, 3, and 5 weren't enough war in the f1#$ing North, we need another one? Half of book 2 was a slogging trek across the Old Empire so he then gave us Book 6 with a , wait for it, Slogging Trek across the Old Empire again... I'm beginning to think the Joe is really running out of ideas or, at least, good ideas to lift from other sources. There is stuff to enjoy in this book so far like getting rainbow sprinkles on an ice cream cone of a flavor that you don't care for... or that you are tired of because you have already had it 4 of the 6 times you have gotten ice cream and it wasn't your favorite the first time...

Finally read it. Went from "England 1350" to "England 1850". Joe Abercrombie has agendas now. A third of the way I started skipping. SKIPPING! a Joe Abercrombie book!

I have been thinking more about this book and I have another observation that has been niggling at me and I've decided to say something. I've been getting more disappointed with the setting as it slowly is being transformed from Fantasy to Steampunk which doesn't really thrill me. I wasn't much happy with the Wild West approach of Red Country but this new 'modern' world is just not appealing. Still, that is not my biggest concern about the world at large in the 'Circle of the World', no,... I feel a disturbance in the WOKE-ness. Joe is morphing into a writer of fiction that is being sterilized of thinkgs that offend the Social Justice crowd, even if they fit right into the way the setting began. Back in the first trilogy, there was a 'strong' female character in the form of Ferro Maljin (If my spelling is off on names, it is because I listen to the audio books and don't own the text works.) Anyhow, Ferro is a badass character, sure, but she is also very one note and not at all interesting. Kind of a Rey, if you like. She even graduates to a Mary Sue of sorts in that she bends the rules of reality and becomes unstoppable. I'm not at all upset by her, she fits in with the story just fine and it doesn't detract from it. Then we get Monza in Best Served Cold and she has much more depth, thankfully and is far more interesting to read. Still quite narrow in comparrison to other characters but she has a lot going for her. In that book, she tosses 5 silver scales at Shivers for his 'services' in bed and makes the remark that he will kill a man for one, but he is complaining about sucking a Cunt for 5. I repeat this because of the working.... In Best Served Cold, the strong female character refers to her own nethers as a Cunt. This is significant only in contrast to newer works. That word is scarcely present anymore, it has evolved into Quim; though that word is more archaic in usage for us, it is less offensive as it sounds a bit more sophisticated... yet it was considered the height of derogatory vulgarity in its day. A shift in the working is one of hte things you can expect from getting Woke. As I pondered this, other things become evident... Ferro's dead compaion, one of them, she remarks was a rapist. So, such men exist, apparently. When Finri is 'rescued' from Stranger Comes Knocking in The Heroes, it is implied what would have happened to her and what must have happened to the one left behind, but it is never spoken of again. In fact, two females are captured by the most gentle and conscientious of Wild Savages it seems. In fact, the notion of such things is almost vacant from A Little Hatred; only one allusion to it when during the riot, a man and a woman are in a dark alley and Savine walks by, unable to help 'her'. But have you noticed that none of the named charactrs from POV, no matter how wild or crazy they are, have been such men? West hit his sister once, he has anger issues and grew up under an abusive father, and that was spun out with guilt for the rest of the trilogy. He killed the Crown Prince because he was about to rape a peasant girl. A white knight. It also seems that women becoming more dominating are happening in much greater frequency in the stories. In the trilogy, we had an LGBT Queen... but in A Little Hatred we still have her, plus a guy who is working on being gat and just hasn't decided to embrace it yet. In Sharp Ends, the Novella Thief character Shev was also gay. Her companion was probably bisexual though she clearly preferred men. In ALH Rikke is talking about gay relationships like they are common and normal in the North but we never see any of that in the stories but the Angland Heir is revolted by it so how common could it be? None of this was prevalent in the first trilogy but it has become common enough in the story that it stands out as being intentional and not natural. Forced, you know? When you start forcing 'Diversity' and 'Representation' and Alphabet Soup into your stories it is Woke-ness invading the art and it takes away from the story. That is my concern...

A Prophecy? Really? I thought this couldn't get any more trite and hackish. Might have to take a break from slogging through this until the trilogy, such as it is, gets completed. Not interested in another GRRM Wait.