Perfect, perfect, perfect! I don't know how the man does it. The author's background in screen editing clearly helped with his impeccable sense of pacing and effective storytelling, but there is so much more than that to his books. I want to literarily have Joe Abercrombie's babies.

Every character - every single one of them - love 'em! Even the ones that I hate! Brilliant, vivid characterization throughout. They all have distinct voices and accents in my head. I must question how everyone turns out so smart; with no inkling of formal education available to most, somehow every person possesses unusual self-awareness and none of them waste a beat of sardonic repartee. But that's the fun of it all!

The plot - to die for! Twists and surprises aplenty for all readers. Part two of a trilogy, but still the book contains a complete plot of its very own. I would not recommend reading this without first visiting the prior novel, and ideally the prior seven, but you could do so and still come away satisfied. Romance, war, betrayal, magic, murder, civic unrest, unchecked capitalism, things going kabloom - this book has it all.

Abercrombie is not afraid to poke fun at his own profession along the way. These moments tickle me. From the text:

"We have destroyed a dozen presses," grated Glokta, "but they build new ones, and smaller all the time. Now any fool can write, and print, and air their opinions."

And:

"Not much of a reader myself," said Leo, leaning close, "but he sounds a bit overwrought."
Savine shrugged. "That's what people consider good writing these days."

Next time, Joe, just put it in my veins.