Saturday, November 13, 2021

 There's Something Brewing




The Trouble With Peace

In The Trouble With Peace by Joe Abercrombie, we continue the events of The Age of Madness saga, which are set thirty years after the events of the First Law Trilogy.

Here’s a little taster of what’s in store for you:


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Unrest worms into every layer of society.

The Breakers lurk in the shadows, plotting to free the common man from his shackles, while yesterday's heroes nurse grievances and noblemen bicker for their own advantage.

The King of the Union struggles to find a safe path through the maze of knives that is politics, only to see his enemies, and his debts, multiply.

The old ways are being swept aside, but those who would seize the reins of power will find no alliance, no friendship, and no peace, lasts forever
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Yes, the Union is decaying under the weight of corruption, greed, neglect, and good old-fashioned ambition. In fact, it’s on the verge of collapse, and it seems there’s nothing a court full of bickering lords or last-minute marriage alliances can do about it. Even Bayaz, First Mage and founder of the Union doesn’t seem all that bothered, choosing now – of all times – to set off on another adventure to goodness knows where, leaving a floundering King Orso at the mercy of his own shortcomings, and of course, those who would take advantage.

And take they do!

Now, I’m not going to reveal anything about the plot. I’ll let you find out all about that yourselves. Believe me; you’ll be glad I did, because what we have – as always – is an immensely entertaining adventure that truly portrays the cutthroat nature of civil war. Manipulators and deceivers abound. Friends turn on their closest allies. Personal convictions and hard won principles evaporate like a wet fart in the wind.

And THAT’s what’s so appealing about Joe Abercrombie’s efforts.

This novel is cinematic in scope, covering a lot of ground from different points of view. But it never feels rushed. You don’t get lost in a cast of villains and heroes and heroines who each thread their unique perspective into the overall tapestry of the story arc. What I particularly enjoyed was the way Abercrombie keeps it real.

Yes, real life fantasy played out on a field of blood!

It’s all about the people. There’s a realistic grittiness to the characters. Their hopes and dreams. Their frailties, shortcomings and moral ambiguity. You can relate to their individual dilemmas as if they’re your neighbors. A feat that injects fresh intensity – an energy, if you like – into the storyline, and keeps you involved down to the very end.

And what an ending it is.

Talk about saving the very best twists for last. I don’t often get caught by the ‘unexpected’ so when I do, I’m totally delighted. (You’ll see)
The Trouble With Peace, a superb way to lose yourself for a few days, while Abercrombie sets things up very nicely for the final book in this series.

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