Zammar's Updates

"You know, I didn't think such a thing as 'the perfect book' could exist, and then I read The Wisdom of Crowds. I mean, I'd almost consider never picking up another book again, because I don't see how anything is going to top The Age of Madness. What a masterpiece, just hang it in The Louvre already.

First of all, I am so glad that I read the entire First Law universe in publication order, because the way that Abercrombie weaves threads from every single previous book all the way back into this finale is just beyond satisfying. So many conversations, twists, reveals, losses and victories carried so much more (emotional) weight with the added context of all that came before, and I loved seeing all the mirroring, the parallels, and the way that so many aspects came full circle in the most brilliantly twisted ways.

Seriously, I can't remember the last time I have felt so utterly fulfilled upon finishing a book/series, and I am just sitting here in utter awe of what Abercrombie just pulled off. It's not even that every single storyline is wrapped up in a neat little bow by the end (come on, it's Lord Grimdark, what did you expect?), but these characters and their tumultuous journeys are all written in such a painfully, brutally honest way that you can't help but feel satisfied. Angry, hurt, and probably more than a bit emotionally distraught, but ultimately just oh so satisfied.

Similarly to in the previous two instalments, the one true King Orso and my girl Tricky Rikke both just absolute stole the show for me, and I was cheering for them the entire way through. They shone every single second they were on the page, and I am totally not ready to talk about how their respective character arcs made me shed tears of both pure joy and deep agony... iykyk, I am UNWELL. Maybe I should've made of my heart a stone, but alas, too late now, ouch.

Speaking of feels though, I don't think my feelings on a character have changed more drastically over the course of a series than in the case of Leo dan fucking Brock. Not to spoil anything, but I hope his body will soon be found floating in the docks. Savine on the other hand... call me crazy, but I still love her in all her messy glory. It makes absolutely zero sense, but this woman just has my heart and she can crush it if she wants, I will be happy for it. These are not characters, they are people, and they are all too frighteningly realistic and relatable in all their flaws and vices.

Now, while these four were still the showstoppers for me, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I came to enjoy the other three POVs in this finale. Whereas they paled a bit in comparison to the 'main crew' in the previous instalments for me, there wasn't a single chapter, scene, sentence or word in The Wisdom of Crowds that didn't have me in a chokehold. Everything just came together in such a beautiful (or should I say ugly?) way, and everyone had such a good role to play in this absolutely glorious trainwreck of a story.

Also, I am truly so sorry for everyone who gave up on Abercrombie after the first couple of First Law books because of 'a lack of good female characters', because these complicated women all absolutely rock. Savine, Rikke, Vick, Isern, Zuri, Hildi, Ardee, Finree, and even damned Judge in all her diabolical madness... I LOVE THEM ALL! And can someone please explain to me how Abercrombie has written some of the best depictions of menstruation, pregnancy, birth, and motherhood?! Absolute insanity.

This entire story just dragged me across the entire spectrum of emotions and left me absolutely reeling by the end. I mean, The Age of Madness really should not have worked for me on so many levels because I usually never give a single flying fuck about war/revolution-focused narratives, and yet here we are. I think Abercrombie absolutely NAILED his vision for this story, and I love how this finale both gave so much closure while also leaving some threads dangling for potential future instalments in this world (pls give it to me, I need it more than I need air to breathe).

The Wisdom of Crowds is just every single thing I love about the entire First Law universe (or even about grimdark fantasy as a whole), all cooked up into one hell of a delicious (and slightly nauseating) dish and served up on a gleaming silver platter. This is Abercrombie at his darkest, dirtiest, funniest, wittiest, most brutal, most riveting, and most deviously twisted; it's Abercrombie at his very fucking best.

Some of the scenes in this series will forever be burned into my memory, for better or worse, and (most of) these characters can live rent-free in my heart forever more. Now excuse me while I go try to deal with this brutal book hangover and move on with my life pretending that everything is totally fine, cheers!"