I think my average book rating is about 3.25. There are few that make it into the 4+ range, but this is unequivocally one of those. Solid 5 stars, period. Too much SF and fantasy ends up grim and dystopian. I was glad to finally see a “dark” fantasy that just blew me away. Abercrombie has an absolute gift for story-telling. This is what Game of Thrones should have been. George R. R. Martin’s tedious stories ramble over the same weary countryside, while Abercrombie brings us something new, fresh, and invigorating. Life is not rainbows and unicorn farts in his created world, but his characters are human, complex, and engaging, no matter how dark or troubled they may be.
My only gripe is that the story ended too abruptly. Yes, it’s the first in a trilogy, but I expected at least some of the plot threads to be wrapped up. I guess I’ll have to read the next in the series now.
Steven Vickers Books 
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