Thursday 18 June 2009

FANTASY REVIEW: Best Served Cold - Joe Abercrombie


BOOK BLURB:

Springtime in Styria. And that means war. There have been nineteen years of blood. The ruthless Grand Duke Orso is locked in a vicious struggle with the squabbling League of Eight, and between them they have bled the land white. While armies march, heads roll and cities burn, behind the scenes bankers, priests and older, darker powers play a deadly game to choose who will be king. War may be hell but for Monza Murcatto, the Snake of Talins, the most feared and famous mercenary in Duke Orso's employ, it's a damn good way of making money too. Her victories have made her popular - a shade too popular for her employer's taste. Betrayed, thrown down a mountain and left for dead, Murcatto's reward is a broken body and a burning hunger for vengeance. Whatever the cost, seven men must die. Her allies include Styria's least reliable drunkard, Styria's most treacherous poisoner, a mass-murderer obsessed with numbers and a Northman who just wants to do the right thing. Her enemies number the better half of the nation. And that's all before the most dangerous man in the world is dispatched to hunt her down and finish the job Duke Orso started... Springtime in Styria. And that means revenge.


REVIEW:

Having made a name for himself in recent years with his First Law trilogy, Joe takes his world in a new direction with this new offering that blends fantasy with the classic Dumas tale, The Count of Monte Cristo. Well blended, excellently executed this tale really has to be a must own tale and demonstrates how well Joe’s writing has developed from his initial creation. A must own and definitely a book that we recommend that you put enough finances to one side to own. Add to the mix a character for every situation and for all readers appreciation and taste and you really can’t beat this for an epic adventure.

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