i consider this book, along with best served cold and the heroes, the best first law book i've read as of today.
probably you can pick a little hatred and read it as your first joe abercrombie book, but you would be losing so much and i can't stress enough how much is worth it to read the original trilogy as well as the standalones. i'm captivated by this world, the characters (both the ones who where already familiar and the newly introduced), and the writing style.

there is not a single dull moment in this book. the plot is very well paced, always with an ace up the sleeve. i can't say which plotline i liked most, leo and rikke in the north with the union fighting against the northmen, or orso and savine in the capital of the kingdom watching the uprising of the working class against the poor conditions they face.

i can't compare first law with anything else i've read. it is unique, dark, harsh, bloody, full of conflict and complex characters and very, very real. one of the best things about abercrombie are his morally ambiguous characters, always masterfully written, and the main four povs are so different and interesting i can't choose my favorite.
one of the most easy 5-star ratings i've given, i can't wait to start the next one.