60 pages • 2 hours read
Joe AbercrombieThe Blade Itself
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2006A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
The Blade Itself follows Logen Ninefingers, a warrior battling creatures called Shanka, as he meets Bayaz, a powerful Magus. Meanwhile, in Adua, Inquisitor Glokta uncovers corruption, and nobleman Jezal trains for a fencing Contest. Characters from different lands converge, setting the stage for war and intrigue. This book features references to suicide, domestic abuse, and enslavement.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Joe Abercrombie's The Blade Itself captivates readers with its gritty world-building and complex characters. Praise highlights Abercrombie’s dark humor and vivid action sequences. Criticisms note a convoluted plot and uneven pacing at times. Overall, the book offers an engaging, albeit uneven, entry into the grimdark fantasy genre.
Who Should Read The Blade Itself?
A reader who enjoys The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie likely appreciates dark, gritty fantasy with morally complex characters and intricate plots. Fans of George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series or Glen Cook's The Black Company will find the grim realism and brutal world-building particularly compelling.