The Fantasy Review’s brief guide to everything you should know before reading The Blade Itself, book one in Joe Abercrombie’s The First Law trilogy.
The First Law trilogy is a very popular grimdark fantasy known for its morally grey characters.The first book in this series, and world, is The Blade Itself which is a great book but might not be quite what you are expecting if you want EPIC fantasy from the first page.
Check Out: our Review of The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie.
The World of The First Law
The First Law trilogy is the first series set in Abercrombie’s grimdark fantasy world. It is recommended by nearly all readers of the series to start with The Blade Itself, rather than reading any of the standalones or the sequel trilogy (Age of Madness) first. We have a suggested reading order here if you need it!
The Blade Itself is set in a fictional world reminiscent of medieval Europe, with three main regions:
- The Union: A powerful kingdom that blends medieval England and the Holy Roman Empire.
- The North: A harsh, barbaric land inspired by Viking-era Scandinavia.
- The Gurkish Empire: A vast southern empire similar to the Ottoman Empire.
Magic and the Supernatural
Magic exists in this world but is rare and often viewed with suspicion. The most powerful practitioners are known as Magi with Bayaz, the First of the Magi, being your first introduction to magic in this world.
Don’t go into The Blade Itself expecting some Sanderson-like magic! This is a far more “realistic”, gritty world, more reminiscent of A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin.
Check Out: ‘The Blade Itself’ vs ‘A Game of Thrones’
Key Characters in The Blade Itself
The story follows several main characters. Abercrombie is known for his in-depth and varied characterisations of the inhabitants in his world. If you want to see some of the best character work in fantasy, look right here!
Some of the key characters are:
- Logen Ninefingers: A barbarian warrior from the North, trying to escape his violent past.
- Sand dan Glokta: A crippled inquisitor, once a war hero, now bitter and cynical.
- Jezal dan Luthar: A vain, self-centered nobleman training for a fencing tournament.
- Bayaz: The mysterious First of the Magi
What to Expect from The Blade Itself
While The Blade Itself may start slower than some fantasy novels, it lays essential groundwork for the rest of the series. From this first book you can expect:
- Political intrigue: The politics in The Blade Itself is complex, with many secretive people moving in the background, trying to coerce the system to what they want.
- Character-driven narrative: The characters and their responses to the events of the world are the core of the story, rather than the plot taking center stage.
- Subversion of fantasy tropes: The traditional hero’s journey is turned on its head and you shouldn’t expect any clear-cut morality.
- Gradual World-building: It is a slow drip feed of information, but after the first one or two books, you’ll go all in and never return!
