A review by mauricekofi
Last Argument of Kings by Joe Abercrombie

adventurous challenging dark funny mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

To be honest, when I first picked up the blade itself and read that Joe Abercrombie is considered the father of modern fantasy, I thought "yet another British man who presumes more of himself". But now I understand. Abercrombie's antithesis to the classic fantasy story and hero's tale, his creation of sorely flawed characters in a sorely flawed world, with a message of meaningless and nihilistic tendencies that is the only consistent driver in his, he deserves that title. It does not make him the greatest fantasy author I've read yet (Jemisin still takes the cake for me, and I'm more partial to Peter Newman), he has clearly inspired the great many fantasy stories I grew up on and love. Bayaz, the true villain of this tale, from start to finish, who acts a wise wizard like Merlin of old when he's really an ambitious and dangerous snake; Logen the great brute who in any other story would have seen his redemption realized, only to arrive at the end of his beginning; Jezal, a man who's character improved only to be punished for his vanity and aspirations later on, trapped in his own lackluster dreams; Collem West, his friend, a lesson of how the common man soars and suffers at the whims of his "betters", only for them to be the idiotic fools themselves; Ferro, a woman who had the counsel of the true wise man of this tragic tale, Yulwei, only to squander it for something as small as revenge. Abercrombie is indeed a master of his craft, a teller of stories where all you gain is the pointlessness of life, and yet are no less satisfied for having read the tale.