Last Argument of Kings

The First Law: Book Three

By: Joe Abercrombie

Narrated by: Steven Pacey

Length: 27 hrs and 3 mins

Publisher's summary

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 top 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. His days with a sword are far behind him. It’s a good thing blackmail, threats, and torture still work well enough.

Jezal dan Luthar has decided that winning glory is too painful, and turned his back on soldiering for a life with the woman he loves. But love can be painful too, and glory has a nasty habit of creeping up on someone.

While the King of the Union lies on his death bed, the peasants revolt and the nobles scramble to steal his crown. No-one believes that the shadow of war is falling across the very heart of the Union. The First of the Magi has a plan to save the world. But there are risks. There is no risk more terrible, after all, than to break the First Law.

©2008 Joe Abercrombie (P)2010 Orion Publishing Group Limited

Ends Where it begins

I'll let the other reviews give you more details but this trilogy rocks. Multiple times in throughout the series it is stressed that history repeats itself. It's interesting that it ends much the same way it begins.

I also like how he portrays the characters. It show that not everybody you think is bad is bad and those that are "good" are not always so. It also addresses a lot of grey areas.

IMO Bayaz is a bad guy, Luther is good and Nine fingers is in the grey area. This is just a example of how things change from when you start the series.

The series is not one of those that wraps everything up neatly in the end but nonetheless it is enjoyable. There are two stand alone books that go with this and there is a third on the way. I plan on listening to them all.


The first is Best Served cold
http://www.audible.com/pd/ref=sr_1_5?asin=B0032ITJEA&qid=1346238801&sr=1-5

The second is The Heroes
http://www.audible.com/pd/ref=sr_1_4?asin=B004PKDGMK&qid=1346238801&sr=1-4

The third is Red Country
http://www.amazon.com/Red-Country-Joe-Abercrombie/dp/0316187216

Not at all what I expected

I loved this "trilogy" so much I was popping in my ear buds every time I had a spare 5 minutes by the time I got to the last book. The characters were well developed, the story was epic and the narration was top of the line.
In fact the narration was what made the book. I can't prove this, but I'm convinced that the narrator skipped a lot of "Said Logan", Gisele said", etc. because he was able to distinguish between the dozens of characters so well that the listener already knew who was speaking. Stephen Pacey is not so much a narrator as a story teller, I don't think a whole acting troupe each with their own specialties could have done a better job.
As to the end of the trilogy I'd have to say it was a lot more realistic than I expected, if that makes sense. It wasn't a Hollywood ending, I'll just say that.
Some people have been complaining about the ending not really being an "ending", and I don't know after reading it who could possibly deny that. The core story of the trilogy is told, but it definitely moves right into the next book (practically mid sentence). However I have to say that as far as this story goes I am satisfied and don't necessarily feel like I need to listen to the next book to get the "whole story". I think it's more of an unrelated story with the same characters.

Narrator alone is worth the listen.

still can't believe only 1 guy did all the narration. he is simply brilliant. Guy that does "the gentlemen bastards" is fantastic, and a perfect march for that series... Steven Pacey is better. great listen.

it's ok

the third book was somewhat a disappointment. it's not as good as the second one and the ending is hoped for but it's still good to hear.

Tired of the same ol fantasy story arc?

I love fantasy books, but of late the genre has grown stale as it's flooded with books and series that follow the same "hero from humble beginnings overcomes the horribly impossible" formula. I'm so glad that I gave this series a chance after putting it off for so long. It's Filled with flawed protagonist, who you find yourself loving one second only to have them do something that leaves a bitter taste in your mouth a couple pages later. Abercrombie does a great job of portraying characters trying to make the best of a situation that is far too great for them to make any real impact on. Can't recommend it enough.

Awesome

Would you consider the audio edition of Last Argument of Kings to be better than the print version?

Loved every moment of it!! Steven Pacey really brings it to life and the characters in the story really make it memorable!!

Great series!

This series is one of the best I have read or listened to. I'm disappointed that this is the last one! The story is amazing and the characters are so engaging. A great and epic tale that made my commute much more enjoyable.

One of my favorite series.

A series I can listen to more than once. Steven Pacey does a wonderful job bringing the fantastic story alive.

Amazing

Amazing story, but the voice actor is just fantastic! Never heard anything quite like it.

another great book

another great addition bt the author. every book in this series is masterfully done. and the voice narration by Pacey is a perfect match.