I’m finally ready to give my review of the last of the series in Joe Abercrombie’s final book in the First Law Series. Like the first two, I couldn’t put it down.
Picture this: It’s a cold winter night, I’m wrapped in my favorite blanket with a pot of oolong tea, ready to see how Abercrombie wraps up this masterpiece. Five hours later, I’m still there, but the tea is cold and forgotten because I simply couldn’t stop reading. This book does that to you.
You know how in most fantasy series, the finale gives you exactly what you expect? The hero triumphs, good conquers evil, and everyone gets their happily ever after? Well, Abercrombie looked at those tropes, laughed, and then proceeded to shatter them into a million pieces. And somehow, impossibly, it works better than any conventional ending could have.
Let’s talk about Glokta, who continues to be the most fascinating character I’ve encountered since I first discovered fantasy through my grandmother’s translated copies of classic wuxia novels. His journey in this book… oh my goodness. Every scene with him is like watching a master class in character writing. The way his sardonic wit masks layers upon layers of complexity – it’s absolutely brilliant.
And Logen Ninefingers? That final duel scene had me holding my breath so long I actually got lightheaded. Abercrombie writes combat sequences that make you feel every hit, every dodge, every desperate gambit. It’s visceral in a way that reminds me of the best martial arts movies I grew up watching, but somehow even more intense because you’re so invested in these characters.
The thing about this book that really got to me is how it handles expectations. Just when you think you know where the story is going, Abercrombie pulls the rug out from under you. Then he shows you there was never a rug in the first place. Then he makes you question why you ever expected a rug. It’s that kind of book.
I have to talk about the ending, without spoiling it of course. It’s the kind of ending that will make you angry. It will make you want to throw the book across the room (I didn’t, but I definitely considered it). And then, after you’ve had time to process it, you’ll realize it’s absolutely perfect. Because life isn’t about neat endings and tidy resolutions – it’s messy and complicated and sometimes deeply unfair. Just like this book.
The way Abercrombie weaves together all the plot threads is masterful. Remember all those seemingly disconnected elements from the first two books? They all come together here in ways that will make you want to immediately reread the entire trilogy just to catch all the subtle hints you missed the first time around.
This book also has some of the best dialogue I’ve ever read in fantasy. The banter is sharp enough to cut, the serious moments hit hard, and even in the darkest scenes, there’s often a streak of pitch-black humor that makes you feel guilty for laughing – but laugh you will.
Last Argument of Kings isn’t just a great conclusion to a trilogy – it’s a statement about what fantasy can be when an author isn’t afraid to push boundaries and challenge readers’ expectations. It’s like that time my mom made me try durian – I wasn’t sure if I loved it or hated it at first, but I couldn’t stop thinking about it, and now I can’t imagine my life without having experienced it.
If you’ve read the first two books, you absolutely need to finish the trilogy. If you haven’t started yet, what are you waiting for? Just make sure you’re emotionally prepared for what’s coming. And maybe keep some comfort food nearby – you’re going to need it.
For me, this book cements The First Law trilogy as one of the best fantasy series I’ve ever read. It’s not always an easy read, but the best things in life rarely are.
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