All of them brought their own personalities and stories to the first book and they’re all back for the second with the addition of some new characters too (or some that were in the previous book but have been more fleshed out now). This doesn't go to plan as they are turned in as spies and Monza and Shivers are locked up in the dungeons of Duke Salier's palace.

The trilogy centers on the fortunes of a variety of characters as they navigate through these and other conflicts. Some skilled craftsmen and so forth, still employed by the Guild of Spicers, but mostly servants who work in the Upper City and the Citadel. The narrator does a great job with the dialogue and infusing different character into each of the voices, especially Glokta. Then the ancient stony gods will rise from the forgotten debris and rub the dust of a thousand years from their eyes, and finally Thor with his giant hammer will jump up and smash the Gothic cathedrals. In the heat-ravaged south, the Gurkish are massing to assault the city of Dagoska, defended by Inquisitor Glokta.

Another hung from the ceiling by his wrists, knees brushing the floor, head hanging limp, back whipped raw. A remarkably cold individual, he causes numerous problems for Glokta when he presents him with the demands of his mysterious masters.

As with all of the other story threads I was always eager to find out what happened to them next and was always saddened anytime someone was sent back to the mud. The series is followed by the three standalone novels in which some minor characters from the trilogy play important roles.At a celebration banquet, Bayaz is challenged to prove who he is by entering the House of the Maker. It grew louder as he dragged his aching leg through the Upper City, and reached a furious pitch as they emerged into a wide square, packed from one edge to the other with a bewildering throng. Judging by this series so far listening to an audiobook with the names Abercrombie and Pacey on it is one of those all too rare occasions.

In other stories, you’ll have a group of great friends but there isn’t really much depth to them other than personalities that help progress the story plots (the bad one, the good one etc). The story ends on a low note for all groups involved: Dagoska is lost to the Gurkish, an intrigue sees both heirs to the throne killed and an innocent man is blamed for political reasons, the quest for the Seed is an abject failure, and Bethod remains at large in the North.

The tall windows offered a spectacular view over the dusty brown expanse of the city, and the sparkling bay beyond. Book two follows Bayaz, Logen, Jezal, and Ferro on their quest to the edge of the world for a powerful artifact. The Union appears to be in a state of near-perpetual war, constantly maneuvered into seemingly useless conflicts by a dysfunctional government and an uncompromisingly proud foreign policy. The books have now been published in close to 30 languages, and sold somewhere in the region of 3-4 million books. The First Law is the title of the original trilogy in the series, but is also used to refer to the series as a whole.

The King’s regiments are fully committed in Angland, so you can expect little help should the Gurkish attack.

The old man was a caricature of decrepitude, shrunken into his great robes of state like a withered plum in its furry skin. It was once the seat of the native King, but now it serves as Dagoska’s administrative centre, and accommodates some of the most important citizens.