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The Blade Itself
- The First Law: Book One
- Narrated by: Steven Pacey
- Series: First Law, Book 1
- Length: 22 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged Audiobook
- Categories: Science Fiction & Fantasy, Fantasy
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Before They Are Hanged
- The First Law: Book Two
- Written by: Joe Abercrombie
- Narrated by: Steven Pacey
- Length: 22 hrs and 38 mins
- Unabridged
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Bitter and merciless war is coming to the frozen north. It's bloody and dangerous and the Union army, split by politics and hamstrung by incompetence, is unprepared for the slaughter that's coming. Lacking experience, training, and in some cases even weapons, the army is scarcely equipped to repel Bethod's scouts, let alone his elite forces. In the heat-ravaged south, the Gurkish are massing to assault the city of Dagoska, defended by Inquisitor Glokta.
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A rambling follow up to bridge the gap.
- By mike on 2020-04-23
Written by: Joe Abercrombie
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Last Argument of Kings
- The First Law: Book Three
- Written by: Joe Abercrombie
- Narrated by: Steven Pacey
- Length: 27 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
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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 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.
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great from start to finish
- By Bastien on 2020-08-06
Written by: Joe Abercrombie
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Best Served Cold
- Written by: Joe Abercrombie
- Narrated by: Steven Pacey
- Length: 26 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
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Performance
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Springtime in Styria. And that means war. There have been nineteen years of blood. The ruthless Grand Duke Orso is locked in a vicious struggle with the squabbling League of Eight, and between them they have bled the land white. While armies march, heads roll and cities burn, behind the scenes bankers, priests and older, darker powers play a deadly game to choose who will be king.
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I LOVE the narrator.
- By SCOTT CRUMLY on 2019-10-23
Written by: Joe Abercrombie
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The Heroes
- Written by: Joe Abercrombie
- Narrated by: Steven Pacey
- Length: 23 hrs and 5 mins
- Unabridged
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Performance
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Story
They say Black Dow's killed more men than winter, and clawed his way to the throne of the North up a hill of skulls. The King of the Union, ever a jealous neighbour, is not about to stand smiling by while he claws his way any higher. The orders have been given and the armies are toiling through the northern mud. Thousands of men are converging on a forgotten ring of stones, on a worthless hill, in an unimportant valley, and they've brought a lot of sharpened metal with them.
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Great story
- By Tim Young on 2018-09-13
Written by: Joe Abercrombie
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Red Country
- Written by: Joe Abercrombie
- Narrated by: Steven Pacey
- Length: 19 hrs and 52 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
They burned her home. They stole her brother and sister. But vengeance is following. Shy South hoped to bury her bloody past and ride away smiling, but she'll have to sharpen up some bad old ways to get her family back, and she's not a woman to flinch from what needs doing. She sets off in pursuit with only a pair of oxen and her cowardly old step father Lamb for company. But it turns out Lamb's buried a bloody past of his own. And out in the lawless Far Country the past never stays buried.
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Just Amazing
- By Thomas on 2020-11-10
Written by: Joe Abercrombie
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A Little Hatred
- Written by: Joe Abercrombie
- Narrated by: Steven Pacey
- Length: 20 hrs and 20 mins
- Unabridged
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On the blood-soaked borders of Angland, Leo dan Brock struggles to win fame on the battlefield, and defeat the marauding armies of Stour Nightfall. He hopes for help from the crown. But King Jezal's son, the feckless Prince Orso, is a man who specializes in disappointments. Savine dan Glokta - socialite, investor, and daughter of the most feared man in the Union - plans to claw her way to the top of the slag-heap of society by any means necessary. But the slums boil over with a rage that all the money in the world cannot control.
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found my new favorite author
- By Anonymous User on 2019-10-28
Written by: Joe Abercrombie
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Before They Are Hanged
- The First Law: Book Two
- Written by: Joe Abercrombie
- Narrated by: Steven Pacey
- Length: 22 hrs and 38 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
Bitter and merciless war is coming to the frozen north. It's bloody and dangerous and the Union army, split by politics and hamstrung by incompetence, is unprepared for the slaughter that's coming. Lacking experience, training, and in some cases even weapons, the army is scarcely equipped to repel Bethod's scouts, let alone his elite forces. In the heat-ravaged south, the Gurkish are massing to assault the city of Dagoska, defended by Inquisitor Glokta.
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A rambling follow up to bridge the gap.
- By mike on 2020-04-23
Written by: Joe Abercrombie
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Last Argument of Kings
- The First Law: Book Three
- Written by: Joe Abercrombie
- Narrated by: Steven Pacey
- Length: 27 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
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 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.
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great from start to finish
- By Bastien on 2020-08-06
Written by: Joe Abercrombie
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Best Served Cold
- Written by: Joe Abercrombie
- Narrated by: Steven Pacey
- Length: 26 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
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Performance
-
Story
Springtime in Styria. And that means war. There have been nineteen years of blood. The ruthless Grand Duke Orso is locked in a vicious struggle with the squabbling League of Eight, and between them they have bled the land white. While armies march, heads roll and cities burn, behind the scenes bankers, priests and older, darker powers play a deadly game to choose who will be king.
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I LOVE the narrator.
- By SCOTT CRUMLY on 2019-10-23
Written by: Joe Abercrombie
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The Heroes
- Written by: Joe Abercrombie
- Narrated by: Steven Pacey
- Length: 23 hrs and 5 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
They say Black Dow's killed more men than winter, and clawed his way to the throne of the North up a hill of skulls. The King of the Union, ever a jealous neighbour, is not about to stand smiling by while he claws his way any higher. The orders have been given and the armies are toiling through the northern mud. Thousands of men are converging on a forgotten ring of stones, on a worthless hill, in an unimportant valley, and they've brought a lot of sharpened metal with them.
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Great story
- By Tim Young on 2018-09-13
Written by: Joe Abercrombie
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Red Country
- Written by: Joe Abercrombie
- Narrated by: Steven Pacey
- Length: 19 hrs and 52 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
They burned her home. They stole her brother and sister. But vengeance is following. Shy South hoped to bury her bloody past and ride away smiling, but she'll have to sharpen up some bad old ways to get her family back, and she's not a woman to flinch from what needs doing. She sets off in pursuit with only a pair of oxen and her cowardly old step father Lamb for company. But it turns out Lamb's buried a bloody past of his own. And out in the lawless Far Country the past never stays buried.
-
-
Just Amazing
- By Thomas on 2020-11-10
Written by: Joe Abercrombie
-
A Little Hatred
- Written by: Joe Abercrombie
- Narrated by: Steven Pacey
- Length: 20 hrs and 20 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
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Performance
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Story
On the blood-soaked borders of Angland, Leo dan Brock struggles to win fame on the battlefield, and defeat the marauding armies of Stour Nightfall. He hopes for help from the crown. But King Jezal's son, the feckless Prince Orso, is a man who specializes in disappointments. Savine dan Glokta - socialite, investor, and daughter of the most feared man in the Union - plans to claw her way to the top of the slag-heap of society by any means necessary. But the slums boil over with a rage that all the money in the world cannot control.
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found my new favorite author
- By Anonymous User on 2019-10-28
Written by: Joe Abercrombie
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The Trouble with Peace
- Written by: Joe Abercrombie
- Narrated by: Steven Pacey
- Length: 21 hrs and 57 mins
- Unabridged
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Savine dan Glokta, once Adua's most powerful investor, finds her judgement, fortune and reputation in tatters. But she still has all her ambitions, and no scruple will be permitted to stand in her way. For heroes like Leo dan Brock and Stour Nightfall, only happy with swords drawn, peace is an ordeal to end as soon as possible. But grievances must be nursed, power seized, and allies gathered first, while Rikke must master the power of the Long Eye...before it kills her.
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Abercrombie Has Done it Again
- By Garrett Erskine on 2020-09-19
Written by: Joe Abercrombie
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The Wisdom of Crowds
- Written by: Joe Abercrombie
- Narrated by: Steven Pacey
- Length: 23 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
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Some say that to change the world you must first burn it down. Now that belief will be tested in the crucible of revolution: The Breakers and Burners have seized the levers of power, the smoke of riots has replaced the smog of industry, and all must submit to the wisdom of crowds. With nothing left to lose, Citizen Brock is determined to become a new hero for the new age, while Citizeness Savine must turn her talents from profit to survival before she can claw her way to redemption.
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Unforgivable
- By Anonymous User on 2021-09-26
Written by: Joe Abercrombie
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Sharp Ends
- Stories from the World of the First Law
- Written by: Joe Abercrombie
- Narrated by: Steven Pacey
- Length: 11 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
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The Union army may be full of bastards, but there's only one who thinks he can save the day single-handed when the Gurkish come calling: the incomparable Colonel Sand dan Glokta. Curnden Craw and his dozen are out to recover a mysterious item from beyond the Crinna. Only one small problem: No one seems to know what the item is.
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It Just Keeps Getting Better
- By Anonymous User on 2022-03-29
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The Lies of Locke Lamora
- Written by: Scott Lynch
- Narrated by: Michael Page
- Length: 21 hrs and 59 mins
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They say that the Thorn of Camorr can beat anyone in a fight. They say he steals from the rich and gives to the poor. They say he's part man, part myth, and mostly street-corner rumor. And they are wrong on every count. Only averagely tall, slender, and god-awful with a sword, Locke Lamora is the fabled Thorn, and the greatest weapons at his disposal are his wit and cunning. He steals from the rich - they're the only ones worth stealing from - but the poor can go steal for themselves.
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Twists and Turns.
- By Enn on 2019-01-28
Written by: Scott Lynch
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The Republic of Thieves
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- Narrated by: Michael Page
- Length: 23 hrs and 43 mins
- Unabridged
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He's back! The long-awaited return of the most exciting new commercial fantasy writer of the 21st century.... After their adventures on the high seas, Locke and Jean are brought back to earth with a thump. Jean is mourning the loss of his lover and Locke must live with the fallout of crossing the all-powerful magical assassins, the Bonds Magi. It is a fallout that will pit both men against Locke's own long lost love. Sabetha is Locke's childhood sweetheart, the love of Locke's life and now it is time for them to meet again.
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Loving the series
- By Austin on 2020-06-03
Written by: Scott Lynch
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Red Seas Under Red Skies
- Written by: Scott Lynch
- Narrated by: Michael Page
- Length: 25 hrs and 34 mins
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Escaping from the attentions of the Bondsmagi Locke Lamora, the estwhile Thorn of Camorr and Jean Tannen have fled their home city. Taking ship they arrive in the city state of Tal Varrar where they are soon planning their most spectacular heist yet; they will take the luxurious gaming house, The Sinspire, for all of its countless riches.No-one has ever taken even a single coin from the Sinspire that wasn't won on the tables or in the other games of chance on offer there.
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Slower start, but then a new wonderful setting
- By Sivan Altinakar on 2021-02-18
Written by: Scott Lynch
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The First Law 1
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- Narrated by: David Nathan
- Length: 10 hrs and 24 mins
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Eine Welt voller Intrigen, Machtkämpfe und Abgründe - lassen Sie sich mitreißen von dieser aufregenden Fantasy-Saga von Joe Abercrombie...
Written by: Joe Abercrombie
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The Shadow of the Gods
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- Narrated by: Colin Mace
- Length: 18 hrs and 14 mins
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After the old gods warred and drove themselves to extinction, the cataclysm of their fall shattered the land of Vigrio. Now, power-hungry jarls carve out petty kingdoms, and monsters stalk the shadow-haunted woods and mountains. A world where the bones of the dead gods still hold great power, promising fame, and fortune for those brave - or desperate - enough to seek them out. As whispers of war echo over the plains and across the fjords, fate follows the footsteps of three people. All three will shape the fate of the world, as it once more teeters on the edge of chaos.
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- Narrated by: Colin Mace
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Lik-Rifa, the dragon god of legend, has been freed from her eternal prison. Now she plots a new age of blood and conquest. As Orka continues the hunt for her missing son, the Bloodsworn sweep south in a desperate race to save one of their own - and Varg takes the first steps on the path of vengeance. Elvar has sworn to fulfil her blood oath and rescue a prisoner from the clutches of Lik-Rifa and her dragonborn followers, but first she must persuade the Battle-Grim to follow her. Yet even the might of the Bloodsworn and Battle-Grim cannot stand alone against a dragon god.
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Red Sister
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From the international best-selling author of the Broken Empire Trilogy comes the first in a brilliant new breakout fantasy series. A searing novel set in a brand-new world, this series follows a young girl who enters a convent where girls are selected to train in religion, combat, or magic. Nona is selected to learn combat and finds herself at the center of an epic battle for empire on the outer reaches of a dying universe.
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A great book with a great voice
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Roshar is a world of stone and storms. Uncanny tempests of incredible power sweep across the rocky terrain so frequently that they have shaped ecology and civilization alike. Animals hide in shells, trees pull in branches, and grass retracts into the soilless ground. Cities are built only where the topography offers shelter. It has been centuries since the fall of the 10 consecrated orders known as the Knights Radiant, but their Shardblades and Shardplate remain: mystical swords and suits of armor.
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My name is Kvothe. You may have heard of me. So begins a tale told from his own point of view - a story unequaled in fantasy literature. Now in The Wise Man’s Fear, Day Two of The Kingkiller Chronicle, Kvothe takes his first steps on the path of the hero and learns how difficult life can be when a man becomes a legend in his own time.
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Incredible narrator but Book 1 is better.
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Written by: Patrick Rothfuss
Publisher's Summary
Inquisitor Glokta, a crippled and bitter relic of the last war, former fencing champion turned torturer, is trapped in a twisted and broken body - not that he allows it to distract him from his daily routine of torturing smugglers.
Nobleman, dashing officer and would-be fencing champion Captain Jezal dan Luthar is living a life of ease by cheating his friends at cards. Vain and shallow, the biggest blot on his horizon is having to get out of bed in the morning to train with obsessive and boring old men. And Logen Ninefingers, an infamous warrior with a bloody past, is about to wake up with plans to settle a blood feud with Bethod, the new King of the Northmen, once and for all - ideally by running away from it.
But as he's discovering, old habits die hard....especially when Bayaz gets involved. An old man with a terrible temper and a pathetic assistant, he could be the First of the Magi, he could be a spectacular fraud, but whatever he is, he's about to make the lives of Glokta, Jezal, and Logen a whole lot more difficult....
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What listeners say about The Blade Itself
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Amazon Customer
- 2020-04-11
A slow burn, but a good one
I've gone through a lot of the fantasy series, and was hoping to come across another good one that could keep me going for a while. The book, and the other 2 in the series, are slow but good. The narrator is amazing and makes a serious contribution to the enjoyment of the book/series; probably the best narrator i have yet to come across. As a standalone book, this one would not likely do, but if you're looking for a new series, and you like the fantasy realms, this is a solid choice.
5 people found this helpful
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- Jay Squanson
- 2020-12-15
F*** is book awesome!
This is my favorite fantasy novel series ever. I've read got's five times. This is just as good if not better and Joe is consistently putting out new books! I'm so excited for you to come into this series with fresh eyes.. I'm jealous in fact. I cant say how much enjoyment I've gotten out of these books and recommend it to anyone who will listen. just... great .. that is all.
3 people found this helpful
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- Yannick Jean
- 2019-09-27
Stop reading, buy it already !
A very fine book. A masterpiece of a performance, if allowed I would give far more than 5 star to the narrator.
Not to say, the story isn’t worth your time its a wonderful bit of storytelling. Truly something not to be missed !
3 people found this helpful
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- Ryan Gallaher
- 2018-10-25
Fantastic performance, character driven
The narrator was awesome. Voices for characters drew me right into the story. The story... the majority of the book.. is completely character driven but the characters are very interesting. There is also a quite interesting deeper story that is slowly, slowly teased out to the reader.
3 people found this helpful
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- Bobby Holt
- 2020-12-10
A Masterful Performance
An incredible book, read by an outstanding narrator. Mr. Pacey breathes life into Mr. Abercrombie's characters, lending memorable voices to unforgettable characters.
1 person found this helpful
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- Faye Gamache
- 2018-07-01
Good stuff!
This is a storm you will read or listen to over and over. I love the characters.
1 person found this helpful
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- Anonymous User
- 2018-04-18
The Blade Itself
The only thing I can really say about this one is, bravo to all involved! I supplement my reading of the physical book with the audiobook and everything flowed together beautifully. Mr. Pacey truly brings all characters to life with his vocal range and expression. Definitely a solid listen and I'll be purchasing the other audiobooks in this series because they're just that good!
1 person found this helpful
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- Corey
- 2018-03-19
Great performance, Great book
Steven Pacey does a fantastic job bring all the characters to life, most notable Logan and his transformation to the bloody nine.
A must for fantasy fans.
1 person found this helpful
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- Alexander
- 2022-08-12
Excellent
A bit slow at the beginning, but it gets better towards the middle. performance is fantastic.
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- Amazon Customer
- 2022-07-30
phenomenal story with great voice work
As an intro to the series I'm spoiled by this performance by steven pacey.... his voice for the characters is now my head cannon. I couldn't stop listening.
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- Jefferson
- 2013-01-30
Violent, Ironic, and Absorbing Epic Fantasy Noir
In Joe Abercrombie's The Blade Itself (2006), swords, knives, axes, maces, spears, staves, bows, crossbows, tongs, chisels, lumber, fists, feet, arms, legs, teeth, and magical force all are put to bloody use during scenes of cinematic graphic violence ranging in scale from arrests and interrogations to ambushes and skirmishes (full scale battles are sure to come in the second or third novels in Abercrombie's epic fantasy noir First Law trilogy). But good as Abercrombie is with a blade, he really excels at character development, irony, and humor.
The Blade Itself focuses on the troubles of the Union: the king is senile, his callow sons are unfit to lead after him, squabbling factions weaken the government, the over-taxed peasants are restive, the Northmen have invaded from the north, and the Gurkhul Empire is preparing to attack from the south. Into this situation Joe Abercrombie introduces three main point of view characters, each of whom is darkly delightful to follow.
--Logen Ninefingers, the most feared warrior of the North, is a killer who has come to regret his bloodthirsty youthful exploits. Surprisingly for a "barbarian," he is philosophical and open-minded--but look out if his Mr. Hyde berserker alter-ego the Bloody Nine surfaces! Acting on advice from spirits, Logen heads south to meet a mage who's seeking him. What will he make of civilization and it of him?
--Sand dan Glokta sourly remembers his glory days as the champion swordsman and star noble of the Union, which ended during the last war against the Gurkhul Empire when he was captured and tortured for two years. Now thirty-five, he is an ostracized, cynical cripple, limping around in constant pain as an Inquisitor for the Inquisition. Glokta regularly asks himself why he's doing what he does, even as he tortures confessions out of small fry "traitors" like plump merchants. Will he ever uncover the true enemies of the state?
--And Captain Jezal dan Luthar is a vain, snobbish, and lazily ambitious nobleman, expert in winning his fellow officers' money in cards and leading them in drunken debauchery. Does he have the desire required to train seriously enough to win the Union's annual swordsmanship competition? Will he ever fall in love or mature?
Abercrombie writes interesting supporting characters, too, among them Major Callem West, a farmer's son who rose through the ranks by dint of hard work and courage; Ardee West, Callem's intelligent and frustrated sister, who chafes at being limited to a woman's role; the Dogman, the scout for a band of Northern outlaws who believe their chief, Logen, is dead; Ferro, a black-skinned, yellow-eyed, snarling female ex-slave criminal warrior who lives for revenge; and Bayaz, the centuries-old, legendary First of the Magi who thinks that world affairs could use a little wizardly aid again. The Blade Itself is great fun when its characters--each with different cultures, backgrounds, personalities, prejudices, and agendas--spend time together.
With rich irony, Luthar and Glokta see the powerful mage Bayaz as an "old lunatic" or an "old fraud." The caustic thoughts of Luthar and Glokta often hilariously contradict what they say, especially when kowtowing to superiors. Logen has some great lines, too, as when Bayaz explains to him that civilized people enjoy the theater, and he says, "Stories? Some people have too much time on their hands." There are plenty of funny similes, as when Bayaz sends an obnoxious Northern prince packing with "a face as red as a slapped arse." There are plenty of pointedly comical situations, too, as when Bayaz leads his gormless apprentice and Logen into a theatrical supply shop to buy gaudy costumes with which to convincingly play their real roles. Even the action scenes have funny touches, as when Ferro and Logen are being chased over city roof tops by persistent Inquisition "Practicals," and they crash through a roof and land in a bed in a room and Logen thinks, "In bed with a woman again, at last."
Stephen Pacey reads the novel masterfully, turning a four star work into a five star one through his use of different voices and accents for the characters from different cultures and backgrounds. He gives Glokta a gap-toothed lisp, Bayaz a John Geilgud-esque sly grandeur, Logen a Northern England accent, Ferro a feral attitude, and so on, each choice entertainingly enhancing Abercrombie's characterizations.
The Blade Itself does have plenty of typical features of the epic fantasy genre, such as the identity-less, Orc-like Shanka overrunning the far north, the evil Prophet sending evil cannibal mages on evil missions, and the varied group of people preparing to go on a vital and dangerous quest led by an old wizard. But Abercrombie gives the genre a fresh spin with his anti-hero heroes, unpredictable plot developments, irony, and entertaining imagination.
46 people found this helpful
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Overall
- Steven
- 2010-09-17
Steven Pacey is magnificient.
I've listened to many audio books and in my opinion Steven Pacey is in a league of his own. The characters come to life in his voice. But even a good narrator must have something with which to work. The Blade Itself lends a wonderful story to a magnificient voice. If one loves fantasy one must own this title.
32 people found this helpful
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- Eugene
- 2010-08-05
Great Book
I have listened to a ton of Fantasy based novels from George RR Martian to Jim Butcher. This author in this series is as good as any of them. You will not be disappointed with this book! The reader is great and the story line is well thought out. I have to say that I am especially impressed with the characters as each one of them has there positive as well as negative attributes.
42 people found this helpful
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- David
- 2010-11-09
Thrilling ordeal
Abercrombie uses this book to assemble his cast of characters, and a fascinating and irresistible crew they are. Flawed, idiosyncratic, dangerous and often quite funny when they least mean to be, they have been dragged kicking and screaming into his tale and, by the end of the book, he has them all moving reluctantly in the same direction. The wonder is that, while we know the "real" story has not even begun yet, he has already ushered us through a harrowing and thrilling ordeal filled with brilliant detail. Simultaneously, along the way, he has introduced us to a fully imagined world which is remarkably convincing. And as several other reviewers have remarked, not the least of the attraction is that the characters we meet are complex and unlikely heroes.
I bought this audiobook because I so enjoyed "Best Served Cold," by the same author. I was slightly apprehensive because a part of the attraction of that book was the narrator, Michael Page, who did a superb job. I was a bit sad that he was not the narrator for this one as well. To my amazement I found that Steven Pacey was at least Page's equal and perhaps even a demi-shade better. This is a wonderful marriage of great writing and great reading.
I am going to have to delay reading the second and third books in this series because I am loathe to have the whole thing end. Anticipation will heighten the experience, I think. In any event, Abercrombie is now among my very favorite authors of this genre.
27 people found this helpful
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- Lauri
- 2010-09-05
Great Potential, but Book One Doesn't Stand Alone
Book one is well written, has interesting characters and is very well read. It serves to build the characters, twine them together and set the stage for a great epic resolution. Just as the reader is prepared for great battles and great twists of fate that will surely bring all the characters together again - book one ends leaving only questions and no resolutions.
This book is not a waste of your time or your credit, but you'll be disappointed if you don't have book two and possibly book three to step into.
30 people found this helpful
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- Tom
- 2010-08-12
Great Listen!!
What a Great book!. The Story is very smooth. The Characters are well developed and likable. Its got all you want in a fantasy book. Blood, guts, magic, heroes and villains. its got alot of action and some good humor blended in. The narrator does a great job. cant wait to listen to the next two books. And im sure if your a Geaorge RR Martain fan..you will enjoy this too.
28 people found this helpful
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- Marlene Monacoli
- 2010-09-02
Just a great a book....
This is just a great book and an excellent begining to a promising triology. All the elements are here...excellently written, superb narration, multidimensional characters, a large world, magic, violence, romance, war, and politics. Sometimes funny, always engaging and thoroughly enjoyable…sucks you in and pins you there as you ride along with the story. Easily on par with Mistborn, A Song of Fire and Ice and The Wheel of Time. Can't wait to hear books 2 and 3.
22 people found this helpful
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- GGodman
- 2010-09-23
Great Adult Book
I'm not sure what the negative review was about, this book is certainly gritty and dark but the characters are interesting and much more believable than the norm for a fiction book. I have read fiction from everyone for many years now running the gambit from sci-fi/fantasy to thrillers and this is an entertaining story how ever definitely for adults not young readers. If you like a good story with engaging characters then you will probably like this book. If you are offended by harsh language or violence this book is not for you. The greatest endorsement I can give it is that I bought the second book instead of waiting for credits for three more days! Enough said!
10 people found this helpful
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- James
- 2010-09-18
One of the best fantasy epics ever!
Steven Pacey really makes the story and especially the characters come alive with his many voices. Joe Abercrombie is definitely a talented writer having created memorable and personally engaging people that would make me curse but also laugh out loud. I highly recommend this series. Having also just finished George R.R. Martin's master work, I was left with a fantasy-epic void, but alas, it was solidly and immensely satisfied with Abercrombie's First Law series.
10 people found this helpful
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- Anonymous User
- 2012-12-21
Unrelievedly dark and cruel.
This very well-written book was exhausting to listen to. I kept expecting a ray of hope or goodness, a character I could like, or a little contrast to the constant, sometimes egregious violence and cynicism. I never found any, except maybe in the excellence of the narrator.
I think it is a long lead-in for the next book, rather than a stand-alone novel. Unfortunately, I won't be participating in the next one. It's a little like Chinese food, where one chops, slices, dices and crushes ingredients for an hour, only to fast-fry them in 5 minutes. I've had too much of the chopping, slicing, dicing and crushing, and am no longer interested in the meal.
9 people found this helpful
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- Client d'Amazon
- 2021-06-19
Histoire incroyable
Le meilleur roman de fantasy que j'ai lu depuis longtemps. Tous les personnages sont très credibles et intéressants. Il n'y a pas de vénération des heros ici comme dans les vieilles formules fatiguées qu'on a vu plein de fois avec ce type de livre dans le passé.
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- Chairswirl
- 2021-06-09
Recommend wholeheartedly
Great start to a certainty epic story with superb voice-acting mixing action, suspense, humor, mystery, and much more... The inventive and diverse characters are well-developed. The good guys’ motivations aren’t totally good and the bad guys’ motivations aren’t totally bad. The multiple pov storytelling is really well-executed. At times it is just hilarious without ever falling into parody. If you already love fantasy or are looking for an entry into the genre I recommend this book wholeheartedly. I didn’t hesitate a second to purchase the next book in the series!
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- Anonymous User
- 2020-04-15
Grim dark fantasy with great voice acting !
The Book is a bit slow and is more of an introduction to the world, where things slowly get in motion. I did enjoy it very much, the writting is crisp, a bit grim and smart. The characters and their inner monologues a lot of fun and really set the tone. Really impressed by the actions scenes that are very vivid, usually I find those quite hard to enjoy in Books.
Steven Pacey really brings it all to life, his performance is amazing, top notch !! Probably one of the best I've heard.
overall a great novel, jumping in the sequel right away.