Review: The Trouble with Peace

The Trouble with Peace Cover Art

The Trouble with Peace by Joe Abercrombie takes everything that made A Little Hatred such a strong return to the First Law universe and sharpens it into something even more compelling. As the second instalment in the Age of Madness trilogy, it deepens the political tensions, expands the emotional stakes, and drives its characters toward choices that feel both inevitable and devastating.

One of Abercrombie’s greatest strengths has always been his ability to juggle multiple storylines without losing momentum, and that talent is on full display here. The narrative moves between political intrigue, social unrest, personal ambition, and military conflict with remarkable confidence. What could easily feel sprawling instead feels carefully orchestrated. Every thread contributes to a broader picture of a world straining under the pressure of rapid industrial and social change.

The depth of the story is particularly impressive. This is not simply a tale of kingdoms at war or rival factions competing for power. Abercrombie explores the fragility of institutions and the ways in which systems built on exploitation eventually begin to fracture. Economic inequality, class resentment, and the corrosive influence of unchecked ambition all play major roles in shaping the events of the novel. These themes give the story a weight that extends beyond its immediate conflicts.

At the heart of the novel, however, are the themes of loyalty and betrayal. Nearly every major character is forced to confront conflicting obligations. Loyalty to family, loyalty to nation, loyalty to ideals, and loyalty to personal ambition frequently pull people in opposing directions. These tensions create some of the novel’s most powerful moments because there are rarely simple moral choices.

Betrayal is equally central, and Abercrombie handles it with characteristic nuance. Some betrayals are shocking and dramatic, while others are quieter and perhaps more painful because they emerge from understandable motivations. Characters betray others out of fear, ambition, self preservation, and even misguided affection. These acts rarely feel arbitrary. Instead, they grow naturally from the personalities and circumstances involved, making their consequences all the more effective.

The character work remains exceptional. Savine dan Glokta continues to be one of the most fascinating figures in the series, balancing intelligence, ruthlessness, and vulnerability in equal measure. Leo dan Brock’s arc is equally compelling as his idealism collides with harsh realities. Orso remains one of Abercrombie’s most unexpectedly sympathetic creations, using humour and apparent laziness to mask deeper insecurities and strengths. Across the board, the cast feels layered and deeply human.

Abercrombie’s dialogue remains as sharp as ever. Conversations are filled with dry wit, tension, and unspoken motives. Even relatively quiet scenes can feel gripping because so much is happening beneath the surface. The humour provides balance to the darker elements of the story without undermining the emotional stakes.

The audiobook is once again elevated by the remarkable narration of Steven Pacey. Pacey continues to prove that he is one of the finest narrators working in fantasy audiobooks. His understanding of Abercrombie’s world and characters is evident in every scene.

His ability to differentiate such a large cast remains extraordinary. Each character feels instantly recognisable through subtle vocal shifts, and those distinctions become even more important in a story filled with political conversations and shifting alliances. Pacey ensures that listeners can follow every exchange with ease.

What makes his performance particularly impressive is his emotional range. He captures Orso’s dry humour, Savine’s steel, Leo’s frustration, and the quiet menace of other key figures with equal skill. During moments of betrayal and emotional upheaval, his delivery adds even greater impact without becoming exaggerated.

Pacing is another major strength of his narration. He allows quieter scenes to breathe while maintaining urgency during moments of conflict. This balance mirrors the structure of the novel itself, which alternates between intimate character moments and sweeping political developments.

One of the most satisfying aspects of The Trouble with Peace is how effectively it builds anticipation for the final instalment. Major events reshape the world in dramatic ways, yet the novel still feels complete in its own right. It delivers meaningful character development and substantial narrative progression while leaving enough unresolved tension to make the next book feel essential.

Overall, The Trouble with Peace is a rich, intelligent, and emotionally charged continuation of the Age of Madness trilogy. Its exploration of loyalty and betrayal gives the story tremendous emotional force, while its political depth and exceptional character work make it consistently engaging. Combined with Steven Pacey’s outstanding narration, this is an audiobook experience that is difficult to pause and even harder to forget.

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Review: A Little Hatred

A Little Hatred Cover Art

A Little Hatred by Joe Abercrombie marks a triumphant return to the world of the First Law, opening the Age of Madness trilogy with confidence, intelligence, and a keen sense of evolution. Set a generation after the events of the original trilogy, the novel explores a society on the brink of industrial change, where old powers linger uneasily alongside new ambitions and technologies.

One of the most striking aspects of A Little Hatred is its depth of storytelling. Abercrombie weaves together multiple perspectives, each offering a different view of a world in transition. From the political manoeuvring of the Union to the unrest among the working classes, the narrative feels layered and deliberate. The story is not simply about grand conflicts but about the shifting structures of power, the cost of progress, and the personal compromises that accompany both. This breadth gives the novel a richness that rewards careful attention.

For readers familiar with The First Law Trilogy, the novel offers a wealth of satisfying connections. Characters from the earlier books cast long shadows, and their influence can be felt in both subtle and overt ways. The return of familiar names and the continuation of unresolved threads create a strong sense of continuity. At the same time, the story remains accessible to newcomers, as the new generation of characters takes centre stage. These callbacks are handled with care, adding depth without becoming overly reliant on nostalgia.

Characterisation, as always with Abercrombie, is a major strength. The cast is diverse and vividly realised, each individual shaped by their circumstances and personal ambitions. Whether it is Savine dan Glokta navigating the treacherous world of finance and politics, or Leo dan Brock striving to live up to an ideal of heroism, the characters feel authentic and complex. Their flaws are as prominent as their strengths, and their reactions to stress and uncertainty are recognisably human. Abercrombie has a talent for revealing the contradictions within people, allowing them to be both admirable and deeply flawed.

The world itself has evolved in interesting ways since the original trilogy. The rise of industry and the accompanying social tensions provide a fresh backdrop for the story. Factories, labour disputes, and technological innovation introduce new challenges and conflicts, giving the setting a sense of dynamism. This shift does not replace the familiar elements of the series but rather builds upon them, creating a world that feels both continuous and transformed.

The tone of the novel balances grim realism with sharp wit. Abercrombie’s trademark humour is present throughout, often emerging in the form of dry observations and ironic contrasts. This humour does not undermine the seriousness of the story but instead enhances it, providing moments of relief while also highlighting the absurdities of power and ambition.

The audiobook is elevated significantly by the narration of Steven Pacey. Pacey’s performance has long been associated with the First Law universe, and his return here is nothing short of exceptional. He brings each character to life with distinct voices and nuanced delivery, ensuring that the large cast remains clear and engaging.

Pacey’s ability to convey emotion is particularly impressive. He captures the tension, frustration, and occasional vulnerability of the characters with subtle shifts in tone and pacing. His portrayal of dialogue feels natural and immersive, drawing the listener into each interaction. The rhythm of his narration complements Abercrombie’s prose, allowing both the humour and the drama to land effectively.

Another strength of Pacey’s performance is his handling of the novel’s shifting perspectives. Moving between different characters and locations, he maintains a consistent sense of flow while giving each viewpoint its own identity. This clarity is essential in a story of this scope, and Pacey delivers it with confidence and skill.

Overall, A Little Hatred is a compelling and richly constructed novel that successfully builds on the legacy of the First Law trilogy while forging its own path. Its depth of story, strong characterisation, and evolving world make it a rewarding read. With Steven Pacey’s outstanding narration enhancing every aspect of the text, the audiobook becomes an especially immersive and satisfying experience.

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Review: Half a War

Half a War by Joe Abercrombie

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Half a War is the final instalment of the Shattered Sea trilogy.

Words are weapons

Princess Skara has seen all she loved made blood and ashes. She is left with only words. But the right words can be as deadly as any blade. She must conquer her fears and sharpen her wits to a lethal edge if she is to reclaim her birthright.

Only half a war is fought with swords

The deep-cunning Father Yarvi has walked a long road from crippled slave to king’s minister. He has made allies of old foes and stitched together an uneasy peace. But now the ruthless Grandmother Wexen has raised the greatest army since the elves made war on God, and put Bright Yilling at its head – a man who worships no god but Death.

Sometimes one must fight evil with evil

Some – like Thorn Bathu and the sword-bearer Raith – are born to fight, perhaps to die. Others – like Brand the smith and Koll the wood-carver – would rather stand in the light. But when Mother War spreads her iron wings, she may cast the whole Shattered Sea into darkness.

Abercrombie follows his established method for the Shattered Sea and introduces us to new point of view characters for this third volume. To my mind this time they're not quite as strong as in previous entries. The almost caricatured naivety of Skara is just plain annoying but she does develop thankfully. This is only exacerbated by the the stereotypes that are Raith (cock sure warrior) and Koll (cocky minister in training). Again they do receive development but for me it was too late as I'd already made my decision on them. Maybe I'm being unfair to Abercrombie and these characters because the protagonists in the other books were, and are, so strong but hey-ho.

Right, on to the story, as the title and synopsis say "only half a war is fought with swords". The other half is fought with politics, so much politics, all the politics. Don't misunderstand it wasn't boring, there was just so much of it. Mind you there was enough fighting for even the most blood thirsty reader to get their fill.

I particularly enjoyed that the grey rather than black and white morality was explored more in this book. Decisions were made and outcomes were unexpected to both the reader and the characters. Plans are made that do not go as expected, outcomes once seen as a win become more dubious as time goes on. There's a quite a bit of talk about the greater good (and by extension the lesser evil) in this book and you just know anyone who talks like that is in for a world of pain when the dust settles.

I think this is probably the weakest of the three novels in the trilogy but it is by no means a bad book. Over all I would say it's the best ending any of the characters could expect even if it's not what they deserve. Read the whole trilogy you won't be disappointed.

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Review: Half the World

Half the World by Joe Abercrombie

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Half the World is volume two of the Shattered Sea trilogy.

Sometimes a girl is touched by mother war

Thorn is such a girl. Desperate to avenge her dead father, she lives to fight. But she has been named murderer by the very man who trained her to kill.

Sometimes a woman becomes a warrior

Fate traps her in the schemes – and on the ship – of the deep-cunning minister Father Yarvi. Crossing half the world to find allies against the ruthless High King, she learns harsh lessons of blood and deceit.

Sometimes a warrior becomes a weapon

Beside her on her gruelling journey is Brand, a young warrior who hates to kill. A failure in his eyes and hers, he has one chance at redemption.

And weapons are made for one purpose

Will Thorn forever be a tool in the hands of the powerful or can she carve her own path? Is there a place beyond legend for a woman with a blade?

Continuing on from where Half a King left off Half a World, but not really, introduces us to two new point of view characters, Thorn Bathu, a woman born to fight who but is denied, and Brand, a young warrior who hates to kill. I think you cold probably jump straight into this book without ever reading Half a King but what kind of crazy person would deny themselves reading the works of Joe Abercrombie, Lord Grimdark himself.

I enjoyed this book a lot, the characters and story were again detailed and interesting with Abercrombie's usual unpredictability, savagery and humour helping to instil a feeling they were real. While I did enjoy the story it was a little, not much just the tiniest bit, jarring to have brand new point of view character take the lead (or in this case two characters) bur overall I think it worked, mainly due to their likeability.

Beyond giving this book my highest recommendation there's not a great deal left to say here so I'll let you go find a copy and read it yourself.

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Review: Half a King

Half a King by Joe Abercrombie

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Half a King is volume one of the Shattered Sea trilogy.

Prince Yarvi has vowed to regain a throne he never wanted. But first he must survive cruelty, chains, and the bitter waters of the Shattered Sea. And he must do it all with only one good hand.

The deceived will become the deceiver. Born a weakling in the eyes of his father, Yarvi is alone in a world where a strong arm and a cold heart rule. He cannot grip a shield or swing an axe, so he must sharpen his mind to a deadly edge.

The betrayed will become the betrayer. Gathering a strange fellowship of the outcast and the lost, he finds they can do more to help him become the man he needs to be than any court of nobles could.

Will the usurped become the usurper? But even with loyal friends at his side, Yarvi finds his path may end as it began—in twists, and traps, and tragedy.

Often described at Joe Abercrombie's attempt to bring the grim-dark he's famous for to a young adult audience Half a King is ultimately the story of a young man with a disfigured and almost useless hand thrust in to a world he's neither ready nor fit for. Yarvi's disability makes him singularly unfit for the role fate has decreed for him, the warrior king of a savage country. As such he must use such gifts as he has, a formidable mind, to achieve his goals.

I've read Some of Abercrombie's other books, most notably his First Law series, and this story doesn't feel like it's aimed at a younger, less mature, audience it reads like his other works. I liked the story and found it to be engaging and fun, I'd like to say unputdownable but I'm not sure that's a real word. I found the characters to be believable and more than the two dimensional caricatures we sometimes see in YA fiction (side note to authors: kids aren't stupid my dude, they can see right through lazy writing). The settings in the Shattered Sea are breathtakingly described with each country and region having a life of its own. While the plot is pretty standard "dispossessed prince must regain kingdom" fare it's handled in a way that doesn't feel old and the surprise twist worked very well.

As I'm reviewing the Audible edition of this book I should say something about Ben Elliot's narration. I found that his understated, almost quiet storytelling style worked very well for this story and I'm pleased to see he's the narrator of the other books in the trilogy. Elliot does very well in voicing the characters in the book also, each one is distinct and needs no indicators other than his voice acting to tell who's speaking.

All together I would recommend this book to any fan of Abercrombie's or indeed grim-dark fantasy. Additionally I would say this is a great introduction volume to them too.

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