There are two major theaters of war. The first takes place in the north between the Union and the Northmen, who invade the Union's northern province of Angland. The second is in the south between the Union and the Gurkish Empire, who attempt to annex the Union city of Dagoska. The trilogy centers on the fortunes of a variety of characters as they navigate through these and other conflicts. The trilogy follows the stories of six point-of-view characters, whose paths often intersect. Before they are hanged takes the common tropes of classical fantasy and fills them all with twists and turns , making a journey feel anti-climactic , giving characters opportunities to grow but in reality displaying the fact that no one has truly changed but simply act like they have .

The woman who rose to greet Glokta as he entered did not seem out of place in the magnificent surroundings. Not in the slightest. The First Law series is set in an epic fantasy world at war, reminiscent of early Renaissance-era Europe and the greater Mediterranean world. The world is on the verge of an Industrial Revolution. Long ago, the world was inhabited by both Demons and Humans. Then, hundreds, or thousands, of years ago, in the Old Time, a legendary half-Demon, half-Human with great magical powers, named Euz, banished the Demons from the world. Magic still exists, which relies on connections to the Other Side, where the Demons live. However, Euz left behind the First Law: "It is forbidden to touch the Other Side direct." Beware: The audiobook for Blade Itself does not include the entire book and is missing the last 3 chapters. Audible has removed, I'm assuming to fix the issue. If you have not read the first book I would wait until they fix the audiobook before starting this one. And finally, our old friend Glokta finds himself in the South tasked with preventing the Gurkish from taking the city of Dagoska. As a war starts up on a second, much less defended front, Glokta must fight his own demons from the past as a prisoner of the Gurkish in addition to the Gurkish themselves.

It was a bad day for men, all in all, and a good one for the ground. Always the way, after a battle. Only the ground wins.” The characters in these books continue to shine as one of Abercrombie’s strongest aspects of the narrative. These feel like real people, unpredictable, volatile, with very different voices and outlooks on the world. “Morally grey” is an easy term to define this, but it is more than that.

The stones here speak to me, and I know their mute language. Also, they seem deeply to feel what I think. So a broken column of the old Roman times, an old tower of Lombardy, a weather-beaten Gothic piece of a pillar understands me well. But I am a ruin myself, wandering among ruins.” Lord Marshal Burr, leader of the King's army, a skilled commander who suffers from indigestion. Mentor to Collem West.However, Before They Are Hangedhas a whole host of characters with multiple layers to their personalities. Glokta (everybody’s favourite) has a dark sense of humour, but he’s also incredibly intelligent and uses this to his advantage. However, there are moments of weakness and thoughts he has that show his sadness and desire not to be a cripple. I am Korsten dan Vurms.’ The Lord Governor’s son spoke his own name as though it was a magic spell, offered his hand to Glokta as though it was a priceless gift. He was blond-haired and handsome, spread out carelessly in his chair, a well-tanned glow of health about him, as lithe and athletic as his father was ancient and wizened. I despise him already. Balk. Valint and Balk.’ So some old acquaintances are here before me, eh? I should have known. Those bastards are everywhere. Everywhere there’s money. He peered round at the swarming marketplace. And there’s a lot of money here. It was Korsten dan Vurms who lost patience first. ‘Superior Glokta,’ he snapped. ‘We appreciate your thoroughness in presenting yourself here, but I am sure you have urgent business to attend to. We certainly do.’

As for that comedy I mentioned, the sardonic and intimate thoughts of the likes of Glokta and Logan will keep the corners of your mouth twitching throughout. However something like two thirds of the way through the book is possibly my favourite ever "romantic encounter" scene of all-time. They aren't something I often remark upon but this is genuinely something a touch remarkable. I'll say no more but you'll see what I mean when you get to it! I take pride in never being rude to anyone on this earth, which contains a great number of unbearable villains who set upon you to recount their sufferings and even recite their poems.” These mini stories going on throughout the book made the fact that there’s not much of a vast sweeping story or twists and turns not to feel like much of a problem. Grobar, Matt (30 May 2023). "Rebecca Ferguson In Talks For Skydance Revenge Pic 'Best Served Cold'; 'Deadpool's Tim Miller Directing". Deadline . Retrieved 9 June 2023.Introduced as initially a side character in 'Before They are Hanged', Caul Shivers was a young Named Northman that originally sided with Bethod. Having heard that Dogman and his crew had Rudd Threetrees as their Chief, he and his two score of Carls join with them and the Union to fight against Bethod. He and many of the men under him seemed disillusioned by Bethod's campaign to regain Angland from the Union as well as his dealings with the Shanka and far flung Cinna troops. In the incurring battle, he helped fight against the Feared and subsequently was one of the supportive voices to make Dogman Chief of their band. Jalenhorm, Kaspa and Brint, Union officers and the drinking buddies of Jezal dan Luthar and Collem West, they often play cards together. A Little Hatred (2019) is the beginning of a new trilogy, set roughly 28 years after the events of the original trilogy. The focus is on a new cast of characters, many of whom are children of characters from the previous novels. Old ways are swept aside as the Union enters an Industrial Age, with chimneys rising all over Midderland, but that doesn't mean that the old powers have gone away, or that things have gotten any better. The slums seethe with discontent that could blow the new world wide open, even as a new generation of Northmen led by Stour Nightfall seek once again to drive the Union from Angland. Glokta grimaced and snarled his way across the square, jolted and barged and painfully shoved at every limping step. It was only when they finally emerged from the crowds at the far side that he realised they were standing in the very shadow of a vast and graceful building, rising arch upon arch, dome upon dome, high over the crowds. Delicate spires at each corner soared into the air, slender and frail.