This is not a sequel Abercrombie is not writing a series. So, what I’m saying is, if you haven’t read the First Law but like the sound of this book, give it a try, you don’t need to have read the others. The events they were involved with in the trilogy have no bearing on the story at hand, and their treatment here actually sheds more light on their part of the trilogy rather than the reverse. Abercrombie had mentioned on his website that a few of the minor characters make appearances in my opinion, it’s more than a few, and their roles are more than appearances. If you have read the First Law, you will encounter so many of the minor characters from that series that this book starts feeling like a sequel. The novel is meant to be a stand-alone book–you definitely don’t need to have read the First Law to understand or enjoy Best Served Cold. I had high hopes for this book–it was possibly my most-anticipated book of 2009–and Abercrombie delivered everything I wanted and more. Abercrombie’s voice has become polished and sharp as a mercenary’s blade, and he moves the story between the various narrators with utmost confidence in the characters and his story. All the elements that made the First Law so enjoyable (the wit, the superbly rendered action, the cynical realism about humanity, the different voices for different narrators, and, yes, the frat-boy language) are in place, but the rough edges have been sanded down to a finish smoother than a sun-bleached skull.

In fact, Best Served Cold is a testament to how much Abercrombie has grown as a writer since he smashed onto the fantasy scene two years ago. Check out my interview with Joe Abercrombie.

The heroes book joe abercrombie