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Sharp Ends
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as good as the main trilogy
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Characters drive the story. The Narrator rocks!
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Fantastic story and narration
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as good as the main trilogy
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Overall
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Stupendous, but be warned.
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Just what fantasy needs.
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Fantastic Sequel to The Cycle of Arawn!
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Skyward
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If you like Ender's Game or Sanderson check it out
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original and entertaining
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Tedious
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Ayrion has been training to fight since he was old enough to walk. As far back as he can remember he’s always had one dream - to be the youngest warrior of his clan. Unfortunately, Ayrion learns the hard way that being the best isn't always a good thing. After a tragic accident rips away his dreams and leaves him without a home, Ayrion heads south to the capital city of Aramoor in hopes of starting a new life. That journey will test him in ways he had never expected, forcing him to use every ounce of his training just to stay alive.
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Should be classified as Young Adult
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Holy Sister
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In this third book in the thrilling and epic Book of the Ancestor trilogy from international best-selling author Mark Lawrence, powerful novice Nona Grey must fight to survive in "a fantastic world in which religion and politics are dark and sharp as swords, with magic and might held in the hands of wonderful and dangerous women".
Publisher's Summary
Sharp Ends is the ultimate collection of award-winning tales and exclusive new short stories from the master of grimdark fantasy, Joe Abercrombie.
Violence explodes, treachery abounds, and the words are as deadly as the weapons in this rogue's gallery of sideshows, backstories, and sharp endings from the world of the First Law.
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.
Shevedieh, the self-styled best thief in Styria, lurches from disaster to catastrophe alongside her best friend and greatest enemy, Javre, Lioness of Hoskopp.
And after years of bloodshed, idealistic chieftain Bethod is desperate to bring peace to the North. There's only one obstacle left - his own lunatic champion, the most feared man in the North: the Bloody-Nine….
For more from Joe Abercrombie, check out:
The First Law Trilogy
The Blade Itself
Before They Are Hanged
Last Argument of Kings
Standalone Novels in the First Law World
Best Served Cold
The Heroes
Red Country
More from the same
What members say
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- Lore
- SAN JOSE, CA, United States
- 07-20-16
Fun stories but not enough content to be great
Having enjoyed all 6 existing books in Abercrombie's First Law series I find myself always craving for more. That is why I picked up Sharp Ends despite the fact that I tend to not like collections of short stories. Add on that Steven Pacey narrated this audiobook and there was no way I could resist it. The Abercrombie/Pacey combo is one of the best that I have ever listened to and the two of them just bring out the best in each other. Pacey's narration of these characters is just superb and I highly recommend that you give the entire series a listen even if you have already read it. To my delight many of my favorite characters from the prior books do make an appearance in these short stories including, but not limited to, Glokta, Logen, Dogman, Bethod, Whirrun, and Nicomo Cosca. However, in the end, the short story format left me wanting more and feeling unsatisfied as favorite characters appeared and were gone before I knew it.
Most of the stories with the characters mentioned above are short and are over way too quickly. That would be fine if some of them didn't feel incomplete at the same time. Spending time with Glokta before he was captured was quite entertaining but when the events are interrupted by an attack the story abruptly ends. I kept expecting a return to flush out what happens next but it never happened. Get used to it. There is one particular story thread that goes on for quite a while but it is the exception and not the rule in this collection. Most of the stories end quickly and a few times you are left hanging without a real resolution. So if you want to spend a little time with some old friends then go ahead and give this one a chance, but you should go in knowing that it will be over way before you want it to be.
Two interesting side notes. One, Joe Abercrombie reads a portion of one of the stories and while he isn't Steven Pacey he does a decent job as a narrator, and two, there is a mini interview at the end in which Abercrombie and Pacey answer a few questions about their respective creative processes. I did find the interview to be enjoyable and entertaining and I do hope that these two collaborate on additional full length stories in the future. However, this is all we get for now so I end this with an appropriate quote from the First Law series - "A man lost in the desert must take such water as he is offered."
18 of 19 people found this review helpful
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- Damon
- San Francisco, CA, United States
- 05-07-16
A Great Return To The World We Love
Steven Pacey reading Joe Abercrombie may just be my favorite audible flavor. Something about that combination is just so compelling. Joe is of course a premiere - if not the preeminent- fantasy author, so much credit must be given him, but Pacey brings life to the material in a way that is hard to fathom. Michael Page is quite talented, but to me, Pacey is Abercrombie. And this collection of short stories is like cool cucumber water to a man fresh from the wastes. It's only a cup, but it's worth the price at twice the cost. For those nervous about the short story aspect of the endeavor, as I was, I suggest you keep your expectations low and dive in. There's more here than one would expect from a collection of short stories, which I generally disfavor.
8 of 9 people found this review helpful
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- Valerie
- HEATH, OH, United States
- 06-02-16
Left wanting more
Seems like most people are thrilled with this but for me this is not what Joe Abercrombie is about. I love the epic flavour of The First Law books (journey/battle/journey/battle) with the great character portrayal and development throughout the tale.
So I suppose the stories are OK, and OK for Joe Abercrombie equates with good for most other authors. I just wanted more.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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- Amazon Customer
- 05-13-16
Deleted scenes
The book was pretty much what was edited out of his books with a story woven throughout it. This reminds me of Neil Gaimens Trigger warnings. It's like the publisher rush the author to put something out. To shut them up the author gives them the trash sitting on their desks.
3 of 4 people found this review helpful
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- Ty
- Tampa, FL
- 05-09-16
Tying up loose ends with Sharp Ends
Another fantastic audiobook from Joe Abercrombie and Steven Pacey. This collection of short stories expands upon and gives back story to other First Law books (all of them if I am not mistaken). If you love the First Law books, you must own this as well. Really excellent.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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- Bruno
- North Shore City, New Zealand
- 05-08-16
Brilliant!
A collection of short stories of some of our favorite characters. Really enjoyed the different perspective this brought. Recommend for all fans
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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- Nick
- 05-06-16
Delivers again
Another great book composite of short stories of all your old favorite characters and some new ones. Give it a go
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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- Angela
- El Dorado Hills, CA, United States
- 05-05-16
Just when I thought I was out......
Mr Ambercrombie pulls me back in. I usually do not listen to short stories, but I had to give this one a go. Wow, it was awesome. Even though the stories are like 35-55 min long each they feel longer and leave you satisfied. If you enjoy any of Mr. Abercrombie other books than this is a must. A+ Joe good Job.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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- M. Murphy
- boston
- 04-28-16
excellent
Great stories. Great reader. Highly recommend. I have been a big gan of Ambercrombie since the First Law Trilogy and these stories do not disappoint.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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- Spartan2715
- 02-13-19
So Good
It’s settled. Best series of all time and best narrator of all time... its all just that good. New characters are introduced that are some of the best in the series. We see some old ones as well. If you’ve made it this far in the series don’t hesitate and buy this one as well.