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

Great Debut Fantasy Series!

A great fantasy book with a superb twist at the end. Incredibly detailed character development, and quite a philosophically thought provoking suggestion about who makes and motors the world, and influences the direction of 'human' endeavour!

I do think Joe Abercrombie must really like:
(1) The word 'grimaced' ... I would love to know how many times this word is used in the trilogy - my guess is 60+!? :-)

(2) Sour gums ... there is no doubt as to the nature of San Dan Glokta's gums! :-)

Really enjoyable read and fantastic third book in the debut series! Would recommend to anyone who enjoys fantasy and also elements of comparison with 1984 and Animal Farm (both George Orwell).

#Fantasty
#Orwellian
#Magic
#Characters
#CharacterDevelopment

Best narrator I've ever heard

A little too much gory detail for my sensibilities but that won't affect my appreciation for this book. If I was reading instead of listening I could have skimmed over those bits, but I wouldn't want to miss one minutes of narrator Steven Pacey's performance. I'm not even sure I'd "read" this series if not for him.

great series! the last book is best of all three!

the narratation is really perfect and the story is as well. this is one of my favorite series! well worth the credit!

best audiobook

very nice narrator. the series is very nice, but the reading makes it superb. enjoyed it very much.

Great story and wonderfully narrated

My review title says enough, you will not regret listening to this book! The narration is so good, man I thought that Michael Kramer was good but Steven Pacey is right up there with him!

End of a great series

This trilogy was the most enjoyable fantasy trilogy, in recent memory, that i have read. Great mix of realism, politics, magic, and real people. The most flawed and ruthless characters are rewarded, and the most kind hearted characters are trounced on without exception. Very refreshing read if you are bored of the same old fantasy story.

Ultima Ratio Regum

I won't try to ruin or spoil anything...but beware; I can see why this series sparked so much debate!

I don't like happy endings and I was not disappointed. I laughed at the twists, the betrayals and the bleak. I'm hoping it was all set to start another book(s)/series. There's a lot of food for future work here. I haven't read the "one-off" novels yet (partially because there's a different narrator and I HATE it when they do that; Steven Pacey is perfect for this!).

If you look hard and embrace your cynicism you will see what's coming. If you are waiting for the great eagles to come along and pluck our heroes from the fire, well...the author just doesn't play that game.

Suggested album to have playing in the background? "Soul Cages" by Sting or "Black Angels" by Kronos Quartet.''

Here's the question for you..."What IS the last argument of Kings?"

You got to be realistic

What did you love best about Last Argument of Kings?

Abercrombie has twisted hero's, this book is dark, almost biblical violence and epic battles.

What about Steven Pacey’s performance did you like?

He maintains continuity of the characters, some stories I have listened to, the prefomers have changed the voices. Pacey uses the same voice for each person from start of the first book till the last chapter in the last book. Amazing!,.

Any additional comments?

I listened to this series over a period of two weeks. Very violent and dark, too much at once, I think I will take a little break from Abercrombie before I go back to the mud.

A must read!

Where does Last Argument of Kings rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This would be a somewhat limited pool of works as most of my reading in this specific genre I do for myself. Among all epic fantasy I've consumed, this is one of my favorites.

What did you like best about this story?

As rhythmically gritty as Mamet. As triumphantly tragic in the struggle of the human condition in a universe the too often teeters towards darkness as any Shakespeare I've read. As action packed as any Summer blockbuster, and often uncomfortably naked is the violence therein.

Those of us observers who felt that the ending left them

Which scene was your favorite?

There were many, but I held off from writing this review just to see what would stick with me. Ironically, it's something I didn't expect because it disappointed me as I read it, and I find I like it now for reasons that I wouldn't have expected. It's the scene when Biaz discovers his apprentice is really his former love, now undead, very powerful and seeking vengence. Particularly, it was learning, which for me was the first time, that Biaz might not only be completely full of s--t but may also be a mad meglomaniac.

That scene made me think a great deal - a great, great deal.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

There were two. The first was when Glokta was trying to propose. The second was when Glokta unexpectedly gave hope to Jezal at the end that he might find some way eventually to act as king.

Any additional comments?

Not much at all to not like about these books in my opinion. I did gently grow tired of the

Beautiful piece of work

sick, bloody thing here. action. Charters. i love this book. you just wait, the blade itself is going to be on HBO shortly.