The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie
“Once you've got a task to do, it's better to do it than live with the fear of it.”
The book had an engaging storyline that was fast-paced and absorbing. However, what impressed me the most was the level of detail in the character development written by Abercrombie. The internal dialogue for each main character's thoughts and ideas brought the book to life—the characterization in the book added to its realism. In modern fantasy, most stories have characters that are more rounded and lifelike instead of the stark black/white, good/evil stick figures that were popular in the past. For instance, humans are not completely good or completely evil, they tend to be self-interested and consumed with their needs, desires, priorities, and goals. Abercrombie's genius lies in how he builds each character from the inside out, allowing us to see and recognize each cast member's understanding of themselves and their world, and perceive each person's internal motivations. In short, the characters seem like real people.
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