Best Served Cold SPOILER THREAD

[Werthead]

SPOILER ALERT

Yeah, what the title said.

So what did people think of it?

[Sheep the Evicted]

Fuck Abercrombie. I can just imagine the bastard sitting in front of his computer saying "Dark! You thought THAT was a downer! I'll show YOU!" when people started complaining about the conclusion to TFL.

Shivers moral decay is probably the most painfully depressing thing i have ever read. And while i can certainly see him sliding that way after what happened to him in the cells, i'm not sure i can buy that a veteran of so many wars can leave the North so unaware of himself.

Its also depressing how Abercrombie can churn out more Magnificent Bastards in one book then most authors can in their whole career. Cosca is perhaps more magnificent then Glokta. Friendly is perhaps more epic then the Logens Band in their entirety.

And Shenkt, holy shit. Everyone of his scenes made the Bloody Nine incidents look like the temper tantrum of a prepubescent retard. I don't think even the Eaters where that fast and deadly - the guy was casually bullet timing. Looks like that nuke wasn't Bayaz first successful experimentation with Euz's laws.

Too much Duex Ex Machina though.

Still, its the best revenge novel i have ever read. The Count of Monte Cristo included.

[Lies And Perfidy]

I basically freaked the fuck out during the big Shenkt reveal at the end. Uh...Shivers saddened the hell out of me, but when you get right down it, he got what was coming to him in the bluntest sense. He took money to kill people, he went back to the old shit, and he paid for it. Just a damn shame to see it happen. I loved seeing his perspective of the various other Northmen, though.

I enjoyed it a great deal. More thoughts later probably, as a couple friends and I have had significant disagreements over the book that I'm curious for thoughts on.

[Sheep the Evicted]

And another thing - i really appreciated Abercrombie's portrayal of Monza. Now there's a woman i can realistically see clawing her way to the top of man's world, none of that Girl Powah shit. I actually want to read about the character she was based on just to see how close her life story was.

[ErikConrad]

I loved it! I thought it was a good mix between awesome and dark/painful/gritty. Great great action scenes! Poor poor Shivers, though - he is basically ended a madman, and also poor poor Monza! Both had moments where happiness was within reach, but not only did they miss the opportunities, they consciously declined. Ouch. Seems Joe tried very hard not to have a happy ending for his MCs...

The story was not super original or anything, the setup is pretty clear from the start. But I thought it was written very well. Also I thought it was a nice touch that the story of tFL sort of continued - the struggle between Bayaz and the Prophet has far reaching consequences indeed!

I love all the eaters, they are just awesome. Maybe I’m just a sicko, but the scene where Shenkt cut of the woman's leg was just brilliant :D Well, at least I'm not as sick as Joe who had to have come up with that at some point... dude...

It did drag at some points, its a big book. Maybe because the setup of the 7 sites to visit is so clear, you always know where the story will roughly be heading. But, though sometimes noticeable, this was no deal breaker. Also, some of the minor plot twists (like Greylocks) were a bit odd, just like similar stuff in tFL actually. Also, how did Orso manage to send a huge fleet to help out Jezal in LAOK when he was so sorely pressed in Styria?

Finally, just the fact that it ia a standalone is such a relief! After reading a lot of series lately, it always finished a book with that "I wanna continue reading! AAAARGH!!!"-feeling. But with BSC you know the end will be the end, and such a good end it proved to be!

This led me to the conclusion: Joe Abercrombie is a master of wrapping up. Maybe other authors write massive series because they do not know how/where to end, but Joe got this nailed. The end of BSC, just as the end of LAOK, was harsh brutal and painful, but always true to the story. SO true to the story, in fact, that with both endings it took me several sleepless nights to in fact recognize that the ending was just as it should be.

And thus frggn ACE!

[Poobah]

I didn't read any of it yet.

Damn you Joe Abercrombie, and damn Orbit too. I have exams for the next two weeks and the book is right there in the shop begging me to pick it up.

Bastards.

-Poobs

;)

[Werthead]

I didn't read any of it yet.

Damn you Joe Abercrombie, and damn Orbit too. I have exams for the next two weeks and the book is right there in the shop begging me to pick it up.

Bastards.

-Poobs

;)

That's Gollancz you should be damning, unless you're in America, in which case you can damn Orbit :)

[Sheep the Evicted]

minor plot twists (like Greylocks) were a bit odd

Oh dear. I know i read this book too fast because i don't remember this at all.

Also, how did Orso manage to send a huge fleet to help out Jezal in LAOK when he was so sorely pressed in Styria?

My impression was that Orso wasn't pressed at all. All his enemies didn't have enough strength to actually threaten him while Monza was around. At least thats what i think.

Damn you Joe Abercrombie, and damn Orbit too. I have exams for the next two weeks and the book is right there in the shop begging me to pick it up.

Got the book on Friday. Finished the book early Sunday. Sat four of my biology A level units on Monday. Hows that for addiction ?

[ErikConrad]

Oh dear. I know i read this book too fast because i don't remember this at all.

My impression was that Orso wasn't pressed at all. All his enemies didn't have enough strength to actually threaten him while Monza was around. At least thats what i think.

Got the book on Friday. Finished the book early Sunday. Sat four of my biology A level units on Monday. Hows that for addiction ?

Nice :)

Well maybe he was not pressed. Still seems like a loosing deal, get into a war Orso is not sure he'll help win just for the help of the Union and V&B... But well, that's life I guess - bad call :) Wonder what will happen to the Jewel Queeny now ;)

As for the plottwist, I will pick up my regular copy this weekend, will check for differences with the ARC.

Gogo people! Buy, read and postpostpost :D

[The Evil Hat]

I went through this with my eyes closed, finger jammed onto the 'page down' button, as i haven't gotten this yet. all i've got say is, ship faster Book Depository, damn it! And there's no way in hell that i was waiting two more months to get a worse cover.

[Joe Abercrombie]

So what did people think of it?

I thought it was fucking ACE.

I can just imagine the bastard sitting in front of his computer saying "Dark! You thought THAT was a downer! I'll show YOU!" when people started complaining about the conclusion to TFL.

I'm surprised. I thought the ending was a bit more upbeat than The First Law. But then I didn't think the First Law was THAT black and some people seem to think it was the most evil ending evah (those that don't think it was the shittest ending evah, of course).

I actually want to read about the character she was based on just to see how close her life story was.

She's not based on anyone, particularly. Onorata Rodiana is definitely in the ballpark, though.

[Isis]

I'm surprised. I thought the ending was a bit more upbeat than The First Law. But then I didn't think the First Law was THAT black...

I thought so too. I don't go much on fluffy bunnies overtly nice endings anyhow.

[Chirios]

Comments:

Awesome, but seriously Joe, I think you should have at least one Threetrees and one Yulwei per book, 'cause if your characters are gonna be this dark then you need some "good" characters to balance it out.

Also, who the f*ck was Shenk? I was thinking he might be a Levelled up Malacus Quai, but then you've never said whether or not magicians need to eat their victims in order to take their forms

Finally, bring back Logen!!!

[Sheep the Evicted]

I'm surprised. I thought the ending was a bit more upbeat than The First Law. But then I didn't think the First Law was THAT black and some people seem to think it was the most evil ending evah (those that don't think it was the shittest ending evah, of course).

Yeah, i never had a problem with TFL either. I was actually one of the few who thought most of the characters ended up better. And i never really had a problem with the ending to this one either. Monza, and probably Styria by extension, ended up much better.

The problem was Shivers, his moral decay was as depressing as it came; he was pretty much the only character in the book who was not completely morally repugnant and he ended it as the worst of the bunch.

There are too many Ork pimps. Where on earth are all the ork pacifists, ork philanthropists, hell i can't the ork lovers ?

She's not based on anyone, particularly. Onorata Rodiana is definitely in the ballpark, though.

Thanks, ill make sure to check her out.

[ErikConrad]

I'm surprised. I thought the ending was a bit more upbeat than The First Law. But then I didn't think the First Law was THAT black and some people seem to think it was the most evil ending evah (those that don't think it was the shittest ending evah, of course).

My gf thought the same - she thought BSC had the happier ending (heh). But not me. Man, you totally nailed it in the last few Shivers chapters. It was a great ending, but so depressing! West dying was like schoolgirls dancing in a field of buttercups compaired to Shivers' doom. And I thought Monza's end was also depressing. Sure she got what she set out to get, but on the way she glimpsed at happiness - but for all her tough talk she was a total coward not daring to commit or open up. Sad, that was, more so because she didn't even recognize it.

or... did I just make all that stuff up and the ending was actually just mediocre?

[Poobah]

That's Gollancz you should be damning, unless you're in America, in which case you can damn Orbit :)

Orbit too :D

Sat an exam this morning, finished reading BSC just now.

I too thought that the ending was more upbeat than LAoK. I kinda got into it thinking "Fuck, I'm reading Abercrombie - everyone is going to end up worse off than they started - and he throws his main character off a cliff in chapter one, things aren't gonna be pretty." which left me pleasantly surprised.

I guessed that Shenk was an eater before he cut that woman up though; seems to be the best way to get superpowers in the circle of the world, though it seems that once you start you can't eat anything else (thinking of his thoughts with regards to the bread shop). Every time I saw that weasely little Yoru Sulfur wandering around in the background I expected somewhat more, especially when whatshername miss East Wind girlie got involved too (eaters to the left, eaters to the right, stuck in the middle with Shenk), though I understand not wanting to have anything HUGELY grand being brought into play when you're writing a fine stand-alone novel. Speaking of her, I liked the oblique reference she makes to Ferro, having killed her brother (another eater we can only assume?), it's good to see that she's off having fun :) Great to see all the old faces, also interesting that everyone's scared of our favourite Cripple, Glokta, even though he's just another tool in Bayaz' (or is it Bayaz's?) armoury.

I also loved how it started out so very clear cut - she was loyal and betrayed, time for some just vengence for her poor, innocent and useless smiling brother - and descended chapter by chapter into a world filled with bloodstained grey as we get progressive reveals, culminating in his responsibility for Caprile and planned treachery against Orso. And their incest, eww.

Loved Vitari .

-Poobs

[MinDonner]

Was the incest ever confirmed? I mean, it's not at all unlikely that it happened, but the only source for this "fact" was some malicious gossip (she never mentioned it herself IIRC, and of course he was long dead) so it could have just been a nasty rumour...

[Sheep the Evicted]

Was the incest ever confirmed?

No but there is really strong evidence for it. When Shivers confronted her with it she was like "its none of your business what i do with my brother", then there is the fact she dressed up and styled the man she was fucking to look very much like her brother. And finally even Cosca who could see through the whole betrayal bullshit - even he didn't deny it. If anything he confirmed it.

[Chirios]

And Shenkt, holy shit. Everyone of his scenes made the Bloody Nine incidents look like the temper tantrum of a prepubescent retard. I don't think even the Eaters where that fast and deadly - the guy was casually bullet timing. Looks like that nuke wasn't Bayaz first successful experimentation with Euz's laws.

Not necessarily. Remember Bayaz's words in the first law? Every wizard chooses something to specialise in. Bayaz chose "fire, force and will." Maybe Shenkt chose to use Art that improved his own body.

I'm surprised. I thought the ending was a bit more upbeat than The First Law. But then I didn't think the First Law was THAT black and some people seem to think it was the most evil ending evah (those that don't think it was the shittest ending evah, of course).

Dude, are you kidding? By the end of the First Law nearly none of the characters had got into the relationships they wanted, most of them were forced into situations that sucked for them, and the only really decent character was betrayed by his brother and left to die, and the other half-decent character was dropped off the side of a cliff.

If you don't think that's dark Joe, I'd hate to see what you'd write if you were really trying to get at the reader.#

Edit:- I forgot about the third half-decent character, although his decency (in his own words) is a tattered, flimsy thing, that could scarcely protect anyone from a slight breeze. He turns out okay, but his turning out okay leads only to more death and suffering, and no real change.

[Slick Mongoose]

Great book, thanks Joe. :)

Also, how did Orso manage to send a huge fleet to help out Jezal in LAOK

Because Valint and Balk told him to?