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A review by ryanberger
A Little Hatred by Joe Abercrombie
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
"We live in capitalism. Its power seems inescapable. So did the divine right of kings."
- Ursula K. Le Guin
Perhaps no Fantasy novel has captured this current moment in the 21st century better than Joe Abercrombie.
I've yet to read anything in the genre that attempts to fight the machine known as Capital C Capitalism, grinding an entire generation under its spokes. Entire demographics are being fed to the meat grinder, and Abercrombie illustrates this moment in all its horrifying clarity-- the mesh point where the values of the past meet the challenges of the future.
Abercrombie is an author that truly lets readers have it all. The gallows humor of his compelling protagonists, the juicy exploits of the can't-care-a-shit Northmen and their endless wars, the court politics, and-- for the first time, a feeling of deep history and world-building that could be found in something like A Song of Ice and Fire (it's closest contemporary). It is also worth mentioning that romantic drama has been added to the core ingredients, a welcome and well-crafted addition (though it does seem to borrow a beat from one of the standalone that will have readers feeling Deja Vu). Everyone should find something to love.
The first six books in this world seemed uninterested in creating a world that was self-referential with its own histories to chart and master. Everything was in the moment, and the story even mocked the very notion of mythmaking and hero-crafting. But about eight books into this world, the universe cannot help but unfurl. When King Jezal meets the next generation of Glokta, we sense the pain he cannot hope to communicate. When Stour Nightfall boasts of his win against Stranger-Come-Knocking in the circle, readers of The Heroes understand the achievement of it. The Circle of the World is not likely to end on any reader's list of favorite fantasy locations (so much so that Joe doesn't even put a map in his books), but it is a much more vibrant, living setting because it has been given room to grow.
Industry has bloomed in Adua, and with it the troubles of the future. Wage slavery, unsafe working conditions, the dignity stealing machines. The chapters surrounding the mills and smokestacks have more in common with Upton Sinclair's "The Jungle" than your nearest Fantasy comparison. The rhetoric of the working class clashes with the rich oppressors while also leaving room for the zealots who wish only to burn in a way that doesn't come off as both-sidesing this very real, very immediate conflict. Abercrombie will outline clearly where he directs his fury where other books would be vague. Another book might dress Late-Stage-Capitalism in metaphor, but A Little Hatred has little time for games.
Little, but not none. The war in the north is fun, and all the reasons to pick up an Abercrombie book still sing. Beautiful, slimy writing, bastards you love, and some of the best fight scenes in fiction are all present.
The cast of characters, while diverse and interesting, doesn't quite rise to the instant-obsession level of the first trilogy. I'm hoping more will be revealed over time, but they mostly feel a bit two-dimensional. I'm normally not a fan of dynastic storytelling, but this particular collection of kids (especially considering their parents) is quite interesting. Still, this book lacks a truly great character like Logen or Glokta. The hole they leave is palpable.
The end features a bit of a pacing slog that exists, I believe, to set up some things the latter two books probably won't have time for, and overall I feel this book fills the exact same role as The Blade Itself, where it is mostly an extended prologue for the next two books. Whereas The Blade Itself has no huge defining moment and the most magnetic characters in modern fantasy-- the start of this trilogy is much more plot dense but with characters, it's a bit hard to let into your heart completely. It would be dumb for me to dock this book a star for this reason when it is the same exact playbook for The Blade Itself. I'm certain when I finish the trilogy, I'll feel even better about going with the optimistic 5-star rating.
Overall a supernova start to a trilogy that tackles things you truly won't get elsewhere in modern Fantasy.
- Ursula K. Le Guin
Perhaps no Fantasy novel has captured this current moment in the 21st century better than Joe Abercrombie.
I've yet to read anything in the genre that attempts to fight the machine known as Capital C Capitalism, grinding an entire generation under its spokes. Entire demographics are being fed to the meat grinder, and Abercrombie illustrates this moment in all its horrifying clarity-- the mesh point where the values of the past meet the challenges of the future.
Abercrombie is an author that truly lets readers have it all. The gallows humor of his compelling protagonists, the juicy exploits of the can't-care-a-shit Northmen and their endless wars, the court politics, and-- for the first time, a feeling of deep history and world-building that could be found in something like A Song of Ice and Fire (it's closest contemporary). It is also worth mentioning that romantic drama has been added to the core ingredients, a welcome and well-crafted addition (though it does seem to borrow a beat from one of the standalone that will have readers feeling Deja Vu). Everyone should find something to love.
The first six books in this world seemed uninterested in creating a world that was self-referential with its own histories to chart and master. Everything was in the moment, and the story even mocked the very notion of mythmaking and hero-crafting. But about eight books into this world, the universe cannot help but unfurl. When King Jezal meets the next generation of Glokta, we sense the pain he cannot hope to communicate. When Stour Nightfall boasts of his win against Stranger-Come-Knocking in the circle, readers of The Heroes understand the achievement of it. The Circle of the World is not likely to end on any reader's list of favorite fantasy locations (so much so that Joe doesn't even put a map in his books), but it is a much more vibrant, living setting because it has been given room to grow.
Industry has bloomed in Adua, and with it the troubles of the future. Wage slavery, unsafe working conditions, the dignity stealing machines. The chapters surrounding the mills and smokestacks have more in common with Upton Sinclair's "The Jungle" than your nearest Fantasy comparison. The rhetoric of the working class clashes with the rich oppressors while also leaving room for the zealots who wish only to burn in a way that doesn't come off as both-sidesing this very real, very immediate conflict. Abercrombie will outline clearly where he directs his fury where other books would be vague. Another book might dress Late-Stage-Capitalism in metaphor, but A Little Hatred has little time for games.
Little, but not none. The war in the north is fun, and all the reasons to pick up an Abercrombie book still sing. Beautiful, slimy writing, bastards you love, and some of the best fight scenes in fiction are all present.
The cast of characters, while diverse and interesting, doesn't quite rise to the instant-obsession level of the first trilogy. I'm hoping more will be revealed over time, but they mostly feel a bit two-dimensional. I'm normally not a fan of dynastic storytelling, but this particular collection of kids (especially considering their parents) is quite interesting. Still, this book lacks a truly great character like Logen or Glokta. The hole they leave is palpable.
The end features a bit of a pacing slog that exists, I believe, to set up some things the latter two books probably won't have time for, and overall I feel this book fills the exact same role as The Blade Itself, where it is mostly an extended prologue for the next two books. Whereas The Blade Itself has no huge defining moment and the most magnetic characters in modern fantasy-- the start of this trilogy is much more plot dense but with characters, it's a bit hard to let into your heart completely. It would be dumb for me to dock this book a star for this reason when it is the same exact playbook for The Blade Itself. I'm certain when I finish the trilogy, I'll feel even better about going with the optimistic 5-star rating.
Overall a supernova start to a trilogy that tackles things you truly won't get elsewhere in modern Fantasy.