A Little Hatred by Joe Abercrombie (The Age of Madness: Book 1)

‘War? The struggle is so large that nearly no one survives it well. First of all, this is not traditional fantasy. This is hardly even fantasy, to be honest. This is a high fantasy world with a low fantasy atmosphere. It is unquestionably epic and contains more than a whiff of magic. Even the powerful people today are pursuing influence through banking and finance rather than wizardry, which is a sign of the times. For all practical reasons, the world of the First Law is the world we live in. The book consequently reads a little more like historical fiction.

much more in line with history. To describe this kind of dread and these kinds of volatile times so evocatively and successfully, the author must have done extensive research on the French and Industrial Revolutions. This is a complete deconstruction of humanity. It’s the best form of storytelling because of this. This is brutal, indifferent history in action. It offers a clear-eyed view at what people actually do and who they really are, whether they are wealthy or impoverished or engaged in a revolution or war.

Here, the perils of idealised Progress—particularly when it’s actually just about Profit—as well as participation by and for the People—particularly when it’s just about Power—are exposed. This isn’t only a book about the past; look around, my fellow readers, at the world we currently inhabit. Despite the fact that it may seem a little serious, this is purely Abercrombie. Plots within plots, shocking brutality, devastation, and surprises are all present, along with a gold thread of humour to lighten the mood.

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The narrative is heavily influenced by the alleged glory years of what went before, showing that the author is not the only one who has looked to the past for inspiration. The First Law Trilogy’s events serve as more than simply the backdrop for this book; they also influence how everyone behaves and thinks. You may possibly start reading here, but I strongly advise against it. Not only are key parts being played by previous book characters (no, I’m not revealing who), but many of the problems at hand are also drawn directly from earlier books in the series.

Or, at the very least, the legend or remembrance of them. The hero worship of this new generation of young warriors is highly influenced by everyone’s favourite psychopath, Logen Ninefingers, and has the power to alter the future. If this is a book about the lessons the past can teach us, many of the characters have obviously learnt the wrong lessons.

And what personalities they have. I won’t give away any surprises because there isn’t much information in the blurb, but at least one of the new introductions is immediately moving up my list of favourites. possibly two. Every imperfection, every instance of self-delusion, and every vain attempt are on display, with the good in individuals frequently being overlooked due to circumstance or self-interest. It’s the kind of reality that causes you to chuckle secretly in recognition. What if you aren’t? Perhaps you should take another look because not everything is dreadful inhumanity.

Mostly, though not always. There’s still some hope, even with Abercrombie. But now when I think back on the original trilogy’s overall structure, I’m wondering whether he’s preying on my inherent optimism. It’s possible that he did. Anyhow, this book is outstanding. Unquestionably, astoundingly, and criminally excellent. It’s worth the wait since it’s witty, clever, and full of biting comments.