Joe Abercombie will always remain one of my absolute favourite authors and, after reading The Trouble With Peace, it's not hard to see why. A perfectly balanced blend of humour, violence, gunpowder and blood, this is a stunning addition to The Age of Madness series which is an absolute thrill ride from start to finish.

I have read all of Joe Abercrombie's books so far, and I can honestly say that this one was my favourite! It was so expertly crafted and the plot moved at such a good pace that it was a joy to read. One of things that Joe does and that I really enjoy, is writing a scene or a chapter where each point of view is based on the previous interaction within that chapter. There is one such chapter here and it was glorious. I thought that the character development within this installment was absolutely fascinating and the prose itself was witty and sharp throughout. I now cannot wait to read the final book in this trilogy and would urge anyone who hasn't picked up a book in the First Law world to do themselves a favour and read one! Amazing!
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.

8/10

I was indifferent to the first of this sub-trilogy, for want of a better term, and found it hard to get invested in that book meaning coming to this novel I was a little skeptical whether I’d enjoy it (foolish thoughts) or even remember what had taken place in the previous novel. Luckily the author has a handy recap on his webpage to help my aging memory that struggles to remember things from a year gone by and I should have more faith in one of my favorite authors.

Things in this novel move at a slow pace, but this isn’t a criticism. I think Abercrombie is at his best weaving characters together and letting them plot their dastardly schemes and letting their horrible sides shine through. Everyone loves a bastard and there are plenty on offer here.

One criticism I did have and made me lower the overall score was the final battle didn’t grip me and I found a bit hard to navigate around with a lot of switching of perspectives. I understand why it was done showing the battle from a whole load of different viewpoints but it nearly gave me whiplash the amount of changes that occurred. Only a slight criticism though because even with these swift changes there was plenty of blood and guts on offer and a pace to make you rush through and see if anyone was left standing come the end.

I look forward to picking the next one up in the series and seeing how things finish off with this cast of characters. It also makes me question whether I wasn’t in the right frame of mind reading the first of this trilogy and that I should relook at it. I’m also keen to see where Abercrombie goes next.

The reigning king of grim dark fantasy is back at it. And for a series that picks up decades after the First Law trilogy - the Age of Madness is truly rolling on in spectacular style. The "little hatred" has gone onto become full fledged conspiracy, betrayal and the spark is lit for a rebellion. The trouble with peace...is that it hardly lasts, ending too soon.

And the trouble with this book, is that it ended too soon for me as well.
The Trouble With Peace, sequel to A Little Hatred, the second book in this new trilogy from Joe Abercrombie is even better than the first book and pushes ahead the overall narrative by a mile, brimming with tension and action - all coloured by the same shroud of grim hopelessness and underlined by that gut-punch of black humour that differentiates Abercrombie from others.

We start the second book, right after the catastrophic reveals and twists of A Little Hatred. Peace reigns within the Union, but a brittle one at that. And reluctant new King of the Union Orso realises that the closed council of his advisors are a bunch of old tottering Lords, mired deep in their old ways and not willing to look beyond their petty issues, to do any good for the kingdom. Tension flares with decisions that Orso takes about the fate of an arrogant Lord who is clearly guilty but whom the Open Council backs without blinking an eye, at his horrific crimes. This soon escalates as Orso realises that rocking the boat may not be the best idea, with respect to decisions about the members of either Councils. Savine dan Glokta is struggling to come to terms with the horrors she's lived through and deal with PTSD, simultaneously plotting hard to regain her social status. And of course, the revelation about her 'father' obviously has her shaken to the core and bitter about her losses. The Young Lion, Leo quickly realises that becoming a Lord Governor isn't half as fun as it sounds on paper. Paper-pushing isn't for him, a man born for action, itching to lead a charge against the enemies. And so he bides his time, waiting for something more exciting than just 'governing' Angland, the northernmost territory of the Union.

Up north, Clover, the old prudent warrior who hates violence, realises Stour Nightfall, the Great Wolf is not planning to honour the treaty signed with his 'ally' governor Brock. Thirsting still to get his 'dues' - mainly Uffrith, that remains an independent territory run by the goodwill and wisdom of the Dogman. Rikke, the one cursed with the Long Eye, an ability to read the future and be visited by the visions, still remains a tormented girl. But her best friends, Isern and Caul Shivers have plans for her. To help cure her of this. Vick, the slippery spy who's managed to switch sides, stay alive and work the underhand tactics for her boss, the Old Sticks Glokta, is still figuring out who is the leader of the revolutionaries who call themselves Breakers, spreading unrest, taking the arms against the capitalists and the 'owners'.

All things come to a head - as members of the Open Council, old arrogant Lords angry at the inept new King's high-handed decisions - conspire against the crown. And this conspiracy lights the fire for a roaring revolution that will spill blood and spell destruction throughout the Union. How the lives of the six main characters and their allies, friends and enemies get caught up in that fire, forms the main narrative for this rousing sequel in the Age of Madness.

The best thing about any Joe Abercrombie of course is the characters. Flawed, vulnerable, all likeable despite their multiple flaws or vices. The bubbling cauldron of a milieu that Joe fleshes out starts of course right at the top. The hapless prince Orso pushed beyond his limits to now become a responsible king - bound by the age old tenets of a Closed Council led by a smug annoying but all-powerful Wizard ( the spider who sits at the centre of it all, waiting patiently for the bloody flies to get closer) But we've seen Orso grow from being an irresponsible young drunk fop into a resolute man, who despite all appearances has a strong will to do good for his country. Definitely my favourite of the lot, Orso with his wry observations on the unruly court and his fawning inept courtiers, has a flowing banter that comments on the sad state of affairs. Either with corporal Tunny ( remember the standard bearer, one of the original 'Heroes'!) or Hildi, his adopted sister from the brothels. Then one rung down from the King is the Lord Governor Leo. Masterfully crafted as a one-track mind, the Young Lion is frustrated to his core at this 'stupid' prospect of peace. His troubles and travails are all of just that one sort - inaction means ineptitude for him. And for someone who always aspires to be an honourable hero for his citizens, inspired by the stories of the Circle in the North, Leo becomes clay in the hands of conniving, ambitious older gents and ladies than him. I was a bit disappointed in the way his character arc developed. He was the one true shining gem but now am waiting to see how Joe crafts up his character in the last book of the series.

Coming to Savine dan Glokta - the most interesting woman of the lot. Truly fascinating character arc. The rise and fall and rise of Savine is a dizzying see-saw ride. You are always on the edge with her as this woman, who survived a worker revolution in the far-off industries of Valbeck, turns down a King's proposal, is still gambling to climb back unto the highest runs of the societal echelons within the Union. Her mind is sharp, her smile sharper as she sharpens her knives to dig into and rise up again. You would think her vile but she's just a reflection of the society in general. A woman fallen on hard times and hard luck with an absolutely diamond-hard edged will to survive and flourish. Rikke is the other female character among the chief six, while her perspectives in this book are a bit muted, she too goes through her own version of living hell, to go from a carefree young woman to a hardbitten bitter version of herself. Her physical transformation speaks about her own journey of discovery that's been tough and unforgiving - earlier given to sunny smiles, her face tattooed with runes to control for the Long Eye, her smiles are a rare flash and murderous.

Vick, Gunnar Broad and Clover round off the other perspectives on this long simmering tense plot with multiple threads. Vick is our 'correspondent' to the underhand deals that keeps the peace within the union while Broad and Clover are our first hand views of the violence, that defines such times. Broad still gets a raw deal with not much character evolution, stuck to being Savine's 'labour relations' man who uses threats and violence to get the work done within the factories owned and later, gets drafted into the vicious schemes by his mistress to move deals along. Clover's perspectives are the funniest with his dry wit and dark humorous takes on life and he also becomes the closest thing to being back among the "Northmen" - and our old forgotten heroes like the Bloody Nine or Bethod.

The war and battle scenes unfold like a mad man's dream and here Joe applies a clever technique that we have seen in the past, from Heroes. A string of minor unknown characters who live through the same moment, giving us a Roshomon'esque treatment of that singular moment. It happens multiple times through the book and it's marvellously applied, sifting through characters and opening up our perspectives on it. It's frenetic and in your face, the grim reality and hopelessness of such an act laid bare. The trademark banter, sharp wit and fabulous observations about life are all in there.

This is a sequel that is even better than the opening book in this trilogy. The stakes are raised much higher, the characters transform and the plot is getting thicker. Twists, turns and betrayals abound. The Trouble with Peace is yet another giant tick mark against the virtuouso of Joe Abercrombie. He shows us consummately why he is a master of the craft, truly the lord of grim dark fantasy with this fine instalment of the Age of Madness.

The fantasy world that Joe Abercrombie created going back to the First Law trilogy is astounding in its depth and detail, with its own history, society, politics and culture. This is what it means to create an otherworld. I have visited this fantasy world for many years and been fascinated by the range and diversity of characters I’ve met. Characters that come alive through their dialogue, delivering much more than the spoken word but with a sense of mood and thought, ambition, desires, and personality. The detail is exquisite, and we follow the characters as their circumstances change, how their position and power is fragile and hard-fought, and how they play a unique and crucial role in a wider story that is perceptibly boundless in its scope and imagination. Their world is gradually becoming industrialised and gives us thought about greed and for every wealthy person there are hundreds of poor.

The main characters from the first book A Little Hatred part of the Age of Madness Trilogy, return in The Trouble with Peace, with a journey ahead of them that will see their growth into adulthood and the positions they were fated to become. Some are uneasy with their new standing and commitments, like Orso who is King but apprehensive in the duties and requirements of the office, or Leo dan Brock, leader of Angland, also uneasy with the weight of responsibility. Both previously carefree characters who enjoyed drinking, laughing and fighting. Savine dan Glokta, daughter of Sand dan Glokta (famous from the First Law Trilogy) is a brilliant character and has fallen from grace and reputation, and pregnant with a bastard child, yet her enduring determination drives her forward. Rikke is another brilliantly drawn mystical character with new power to see images of the future through a talent called, The Long Eye. Rikke gives the narrative another dimension of impending doom and menace, and that exciting touch of supernatural.

In a world where power is fragile and neighbouring lands maintain an uneasy peace with forces that seek to recapture land lost to the Union in previous battles. The fighting leader of the North, Stour Nightfall continues his preparation and plotting to reclaim land from the Union. The conspiracies and scheming are deftly built, not only from outside the Union lands but also close to home. There is one thing for sure there is always a Trouble with Peace in this world and the politics and its machinations will eventually succumb to the ferocity of battle and the inevitable destruction ahead. The descriptive power of Abercrombie’s battle scenes is outstanding and a clear aspect of what makes these books so enthralling and visual.

I would highly recommend this epic fantasy and series and I would be surprised if any fantasy fans didn’t get completely enthralled in the storyline and invested in characters that are fascinating and compelling. Abercrombie is one of the top fantasy authors around today and I am still bewildered why this hasn’t been dramatized for TV or film. Maybe it's underway and I just haven't heard but if not Why Not?

I would like to thank Orion Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy in return for an honest review.

Another amazing book from Abercrombie with a great twist at the end. Can't wait for the final book in the trilogy.

I received a copy of this book to review from Netgalley. Thank you for the opportunity.
This book is not just reading, it is an immersive experience. Disclaimer, I had not read the previous book in the series which left a large gap in my knowledge. However, the writing was well done and the story detailed and intricate. The inclusion on many characters viewpoints is confusing at times but I found it gave a more encompassing view of the society created within these books.
This book is multilayered and I feel that this book is one to read again and again with new nuances discovered each time.

God, Joe Abercrombie can write. This book is phenomenal.

The Trouble With Peace is Abercrombie writing at the height of his powers. Its not just fantasy at its very best, this is a book that deserves accolades as a top quality piece of writing.

Its a book that goes beyond the standard tropes of hard hitting epic fantasy. Its a very relevant book too looking at the state of the world at the moment. It deals with social inequality and injustice. Its a social commentary on the ineptitude of the ruling classes. As well as this, its a brilliant story of love, war, politics, with Abercrombie's trademark wit, and a smattering a filth to go with it.

This is probably his best book to date, which is some achievement. I cant wait for the final book in the trilogy next year.

The Trouble with Peace marks the ninth installment in the First Law world as envisioned and scripted by the self-proclaimed Lord Grimdark, Joe Abercrombie. I know it’s nine books because I have just completed a wonderful journey for the last 12 months reading through all the currently published books with my now 15-year-old son, Josh. In fact, I read all the books out loud to him, averaging around 10-15 pages most days at about 3-4 minutes per page. Reading one book immediately after the one before created a wonderful larger narrative of nearly 4,500 pages, and allowed us to experience these tales together in a satisfying story arc full of rich characters and a completely developed world.

Before I go any farther, if you are reading this and considering The Trouble with Peace as your next book to read, please STOP. While I will spend the rest of this review trying to convincing you to pick up this grimy gem, I suggest that you first make sure to read all eight of the books that came before it. There is just way too much history that would be missed, way too much perspective missed with the depth of characters, and the current tome will not be nearly as satisfying. So, it would seem, I’m trying to sell you nine books, not just this one.

Before moving into the details on The Trouble with Peace, Josh and I both place this book (and A Little Hatred, the first volume in The Age of Madness trilogy) just behind the three books in The First Law trilogy. Honestly, The First Law books take a slight edge because of the prominence of Glokta and Logen in those books, two of our all-time favorite characters. While Glokta was again in this book, he is portrayed as only a fraction of the ruthless, heartless, vicious monster as he was before. He is still great, but the charisma is diminished.

The Trouble with Peace picks up largely where A Little Hatred ended. There isn’t exactly peace, or even a true cease-fire, it’s more like the losers are licking their wounds and plotting their next moves. Before long, unlikely alliances are brokered, and dissent is fueled to a frenzy. King Orso, who only recently was given the crown, and who is still dealing with a rejected marriage proposal, and who has lived a life absent of effort or cares, is dead center in the sights of those who mean to overthrow him. While much of their hostility is truly birthed out of a system that elevates the wealthy, the nobility and the powerful while oppressing the masses, more notably as influenced by the members of the corrupt Councils, he is nevertheless the representative and the target for their anger.

Written into this struggle is a form of commentary to the greater struggle that humanity faces in our modern day. We still face corrupt politicians, as well as rampant issues of inequality and prejudice. When we see how this book handles topics like politics and worker’s rights, they come across as believable because they have a familiarity to them. All of this follows a seemingly natural progression where injustice leads to debate and a sense of helplessness which escalates through private backroom deals and eventually can boil over into war. Every aspect of his world is diverse and expansively realized, far beyond socio-economic, geographic, ethnic and more, clearly showing a meticulous attention to detail.

These books, in our opinion, stand out because of the superbly crafted characters. Josh was even telling me, moments after finishing this book, how well written many of the characters are, such that he can practically picture them in his mind. He is already inspired to create some drawings based on those whose bodies have been more disfigured. Beyond just visually, the characters are so well portrayed as constantly wrestling with choices between bad and worse, between black and dark grey, and despite the probable unfortunate circumstances. Even more impressive is that all their choices fit who we have come to understand them to be. “Of course Savine would do that.” “That’s classic Shivers, right there.”

Many will point to the action in this book as its strength, and they will comment about the massive conflict that is inevitable given the posturing and positioning, not to mention the furor that is barely restrained. Abercrombie does not hold back in the mayhem and carnage, and the scale of the conflict here is equal to his previous offerings. All his works feel like a secret game of cat and mouse, in which the powerful use the hoi polloi as pawns, and this one is no different. They also feature plot twists aplenty, and we see it again here. While most of this book is not surprising, the last 20 pages sure are.

Suffice it to say that we are eagerly looking forward to the conclusion in The Wisdom of Crowds in 2021. If you love other Joe Abercrombie books, you will probably love this one too. It is as good as we hoped it would be. No actually, it was better. 5 stars!!!

A corrupt sort-of-democracy debates whether to leave a profitable Union for the promise of better opportunities elsewhere, in a campaign marred by dirty tricks. The benefits of new technologies accrue to the few, while the many struggle and starve. Rich, powerful men assume it grants them impunity to rape. Who knows where writers get their ideas, eh? Though, as ever, even grimdark fantasy struggles to match current reality - the powerful rapist does end up, at great political cost, being punished, rather than getting a promotion to a powerful sinecure. Still, there's plenty to wince at as the point-of-view characters from the previous book, A Little Hatred, are now set directly at loggerheads. One is the figurehead of a complacent and greedy establishment, the other of an insurgent movement that, for all its talk of the people, is really bent on reviving an even earlier model of privilege and impunity. The parallels are obvious, and yet neither character comes across as evil, or even quite an idiot - although the reader, with access to more information, can see exactly how they're being railroaded into terrible courses of action. Sometimes by bad counsel, but often simply because there are no good options. At times it's unsettling how good Abercrombie is at letting the reader walk a mile in his characters' shoes, seducing us into sympathy not just for killers and traitors, but even with investors and strike-breakers. Heavens help us if he ever leaves fantasy behind; I have a terrible suspicion he might even be able to make the likes of Dominic Cummings or Priti Patel into a viable protagonist.

In the meantime, the star of this volume even more than the first is undoubtedly Savine dan Glokta; tycoon, daughter of the chief inquisitor, ex of the new king, and also traumatised survivor of an abortive rebellion. Increasingly I found myself picturing her as a rare sort-of-likeable role for Lucy Punch. Key player though she is, she shares the story with various other characters scattered around the Circle of the World, up and down the social scale, some of whom get whole chapters through the book, and others only single, often terminal appearances. Sometimes we're embedded with them, elsewhere the effect is more like one of Altman's long tracking shots, narration handed off from one character to another across grand centrepiece scenes of high life, low life, and of course lives ending in blood and mud and worse, which is what the alleged glory of battle always comes down to. Do the characters share a little too much of a tone? Perhaps; most of them are some variant of world-weary, cynical, or else overwhelmed by the sudden realisation when their high ideals crash headlong into reality. I've got a bunch of quotes screenshotted, but mostly they're some variant on baleful exasperation, often with all too much of a bearing on our own situation: "Old men, I swear. They get weak and stubborn both at once, so they make no good ideas but won't be shifted from the bad ones." Certainly I don't think I could read many Abercrombie books in a row, but in suitable doses, there's a lot to be said for this mixture of laconic philosophising, knots of tragic inevitability, and unglamorous ultraviolence. Hell, he can even write a lovely rural idyll when he wants, albeit mainly as a way of twisting the knife when we know the scenery and all it holds are about to get utterly fucked up in battle. On top of which, this pulls off that rare balancing act of being a middle volume of a trilogy which manages both to advance an overall plot, yet provide its own satisfying internal arc and resolution within that.

(Netgalley ARC)

I love Joe Abercrombie books so much I could spit. I loved the first instalment of this series so much I put reading this one off, saving it for best and could/would it be as good as the last one? Especially considering the first book had the best use of period pain I have ever read.
The answer is yes and no. All the things I love about Abercrombie’s writing is there: the sharp dialogue, everyone speaking in Bon mots and quoting their wise northern grannies (everyone should have a wise northern granny), the changing allegiances, starting the book loving one character then hating them then going back to loving them again, the humanity, the violence, the pessimism. All of that is there in spades but this one for me felt as if it was suffering from a bit of middle-installmentitis. It stuck to the formula more obviously than the first: act 1- catch up with everyone act2- political machinations act3- FIGHT! This however I will forgive, it’s a winning formula. A mediocre Abercrombie book is still better than most other books.
I hate Savine and love Savine in equal measure.
There wasn’t enough Rikke,
Orso is totally killing it (but not for long I’m sure)
More King Jappo please!
#Lerandforever💔

I’ve been a fan of Joe Abercrombie from day one, and his latest in The Age of Madness trilogy definitely does not disappoint. Joe has a knack for bringing characters to life, never just good or bad but everything in between. The Trouble With Peace is a very good novel, and sets up the story for what should be an interesting final instalment. Having said that, this book reminded me more of his stand-alone novels following the First Law trilogy... it did a good job taking us from A to B, but actually not that much happened in between. Hence, why I peg this book a notch lower than A Little Hatred or the First Law, despite it being a cracking novel written with the amazing wit and tone that has made Joe Abercrombie one of my favourite authors in the genre. Many thanks once again to NetGalley for the advance copy. 4.5 out of 5.

Abercrombie continues to prove he’s a master of the Fantasy genre in The Trouble With Peace, an utter triumph. It frustrates me that Abercrombie’s commercial success isn’t quite on the same level as his contemporaries, such as George R. R. Martin, Brandon Sanderson and Patrick Rothfuss. It’s exactly what his writing deserves.

In the sequel to A Little Hatred, the story leans fully into the political backstabbing and betrayal of his world. Abercrombie pits characters against each other in the most surprising fashion, and the results are always pure dynamite. His dialogue is unmatched, it’s razor sharp and belly-achingly hilarious. One of my favourite parts of his books is watching the character’s spar with their words.

The author’s skill for crafting characters full of personality and definition is on full display as ever. He develops them in ways that feel authentic, but unexpected. It always keeps me on the edge of my seat waiting to see what they’ll do next.

Abercrombie’s writing style is also ridiculously cool and effortless. He infuses his narrative with so much wit, wonder and wisdom. He also writes battle scenes spectacularly, the final one in particular being presented in such a fun and fresh way unique to Abercrombie.

If you’re looking for explosive action full of rebellion, treason and betrayal, written through the perspective of incredible characters in a flawlessly built fantasy world, then look no further. I would recommend checking out every single one of Abercrombie’s books (starting with The First Law, the books that are set prior to this series in the same world)

If I’m one hundred percent honest I’m not sure who I am writing this review for. If you are an existing Joe Abercrombie fan, you’ll know what to expect – death, violent mayhem, Machiavellian chicanery (you know, the usual). You’ll be looking forward to revelling in dark deeds as characters screw other characters over with barely restrained glee. My point is, you are going to read this book because Mr Abercrombie writes the sort of books you like to read. He is a known quantity and you don’t need me to tell you that. If, however, you have stumbled upon this review having never heard of Joe Abercombie, perhaps you live under a rock, then stop right now. This isn’t the book for you. Don’t get me wrong, it is all kinds of awesome. The problem is that if you haven’t read book one in this series, at a bare minimum, then you will be missing out on all manner of good stuff.

Still here?… Good. Now that all the Abercrombie newbies are off to experience The First Law trilogy and the rest of the author’s back catalogue, we can have settle down and have a bit of a natter about The Trouble with Peace.

I seem to recall I described its predecessor, A Little Hatred, as Les Misérables with more killing and significantly less singing. The Trouble with Peace ramps the tension up a notch*. The fall out from events in the city of Valbeck has left the political situation in the Union brittle at best.

Poor old King Orso, everyone’s favourite debauched hedonist, is still not happy about having absolute power thrust upon him. Rather than being in charge of everything, he now finds himself beholden to everyone one. His grasp on the kingdom becomes more and more tenuous as the days pass. Meanwhile, square-jawed well-intentioned idiot man of action, Leo dan Brock, knows something needs to be done about the state of the Union, and he could well be the man to do it. If only he knew what that ‘it’ was.

It is the female characters who really stood out for me in this novel. I don’t think you could meet a more pragmatic bunch. Each of them is more than prepared to do whatever is necessary to get a job done.

Savine dan Glokta continues to give her father, ‘Old Sticks’, a run for his money when it comes to answering the question – who is the most devious member of the dan Glokta family? Savine is a brilliant character. I get the impression that most of the time, she thinks she is the cleverest person in the room, and she is. In The Trouble with Peace, Savine’s iron will is tested to breaking point.

North of the Union, Rikke attempts to survive in the midst of another deadly political minefield. Ably, assisted by Isern-i-Phail and old grumpy one eye Caul Shivers, she engages in a battle of wits with Stour Nightfall the current king in the North. I’ll admit to a certain amount of bias here. My favourite Abercrombie characters always come from the northern territories, and this book is no exception. The evolution if Rikke’s character is a dark delight. By the end of the novel, I was ready to cheer everything she did. As an added bonus Stour Nightfall remains, putting it simply, an egotistical bastard and I kind of love him all the more for it.

Finally, we have Victarine dan Teufel. Vick exists in the grey world of spies were no-one can be trusted, and alliances constantly shift. She displays a delicate finesse when it comes to her work. That said, Vick is also more than happy to beat anyone to a bloody pulp if the situation calls for it. No spoilers, but I am insanely curious to see where the thread of her narrative goes next.

Ultimately events in the Union escalate to the point where violence ensues, this is a Joe Abercrombie novel after all. I have to hand it to the author; I don’t think there is anyone else out there that can write a battle quite like him. He places the reader square in the heart of the action. There are constantly shifting viewpoints, a tumult of visceral bloody scenes and mayhem all over the place. The best thing about an all-out Abercrombie slobberknocker is that no one is safe. A battlefield is littered with random acts of violence that can sweep a character into oblivion with the slash of a sword or the swing of an axe. Abercrombie is well aware of the fact and plays with it. I love that sense of uncertainty coupled with all the frenetic chaos.

I fully appreciate that grimdark novels are an acquired taste. Personally, I enjoy the barefaced brutal honesty. Lots of not very nice people doing lots of not very nice things to one another. I ask you, what’s not to love? Even the characters who could be described as heroic tend to become somewhat jaded as the plot rattles onward. There is a universal truth that books like this wholly embrace. None of us is entirely good but neither are we entirely bad. What motivates us changes, sometimes on a second by second basis. The pressure of traumatic events leaves its mark and how we respond to that defines us.

To my mind, the novels set in The First Law universe have always been about change; rulers and countries rise and fall. The Age of Madness trilogy has a far larger scope than that. In A Little Hatred, and now The Trouble with Peace, the birth of industrialisation heralds a fundamental change that will touch everyone. Factory workers are beginning to see the benefits of coming together to fight for their rights. Magicians see science move into the ascendancy. There is a whole lot going on here. As ever, sneaky political manoeuvring is the key to it all. You can’t help but spot the odd reference or two that sound suspiciously like biting social commentary on the state of our own current affairs. At one point there is even a cheeky little throw-away line mocking the political situation in the United States. Abercrombie is a canny old sod, right enough.

The Trouble with Peace is published by Gollancz and is available now. Part three of The Age of Madness trilogy, The Beautiful Machine, is set to follow next year. Highly recommended, but then after such a glowing review you probably expected I would say that didn’t you?

*yes, an entire notch.

I received an advance copy of this book from netgalley and the publishers in exchange for an honest review.
This is the second book in Abercrombie's second proper trilogy in the world of The First Law. I will admit to having issues with the first book, A Little Hatred, but they were mainly a result of the book building on from the previous trilogy (and the standalone books) but being a significant amount of time later. I had felt the characters had been left as "so-and-so's son/daughter" with minimal introduction otherwise.
Those issues are now long-forgotten, as in this book all characters receive enough attention to embed themselves and find their voices (no longer are Vick and Savine the same in my head, likewise Leo and Orso, although I have to admit that Clover and Broad still cross over in my mind).
The plot follows some gentle political and social manipulations, both in the capital Adua, and also in the North. Things quickly develop into a much stronger and very possible uprising against the throne, and more importantly against the corrupt financier and magician controlling the throne.
There are some truly superb action sequences in this book, where the action flows seamlessly from one character's PoV to another, almost as if watching a film, where the camera follows an arrow and watches the intended target until they stab at someone, who the camera then follows. This allows the action to unfold across both sides of the conflict and give the story from multiple angles. One of these scenes was one of the best told battle scenes I think I have ever read.
The plot is strong, the characters similarly, and the dialogue and narration is Abercrombie at his best. The crossing, double-crossing and triple-crossing is a joy to read. It is rare in a "grimdark" book to see one of the nastiest characters getting their comeuppance but at the end this is delivered in a fairly shocking manner.
This may just be Abercrombie's best book yet, in my humble opinion.

En las galeras romanas existía una figura que marcaba el ritmo de los remeros a base de golpes de tambor y cuando estaba leyendo The Trouble with Peace no me costaba imaginar ese sonido dominado por Abercrombie, capaz de marcar un ritmo hipnótico desde el principio de la novela y que este vaya in crescendo conforme vas devorando los capítulos.


Y es que el autor de Lancaster es todo un maestro en la gestión del tempo de sus libros, manteniéndote atado a sus páginas gracias a sus maravillosos personajes, su convulsa trama y una dosis de culebrón folletinesco digna de una mezcla entre Cristal y Topacio.

The Trouble with Peace es una continuación directa de A Little Hatred, donde ya comenzó a pasar el testigo de unos personajes a los que conocíamos como la palma de la mano a una nueva generación que también acabará haciéndose un hueco en nuestros corazones. Supongo que lo más destacado en este aspecto es la renuncia de cierto personaje al que considerábamos tan poderoso como insoslayable, pero que sale del libro sin apenas alharacas.

Esta segunda novela difiere de la anterior en una menor carga de crítica explícita al capitalismo (existe pero no es tan señalada) para virar hacia la inutilidad de la guerra, un tema que ya trató en la maravillosa Los héroes. Las ambiciones de alfeñiques encumbrados por su herencia y su sensación de importancia acaban con la vida de miles de personas en un solo día, en un resumen acertado y cruel de lo que implica la guerra .

Me parece también excelente que vuelva a utilizar en un capítulo de descripción de la batalla, algo eminentemente confuso ya de por sí, esa especie de travelling de cámara con el que va cambiando de personajes y narrando un pequeño momento, un fogonazo que nadie recordará pero que puede ser desde el momento final de sus vidas en un carga a una simple aportación en el esfuerzo bélico.

Abercrombie dedica una parte importante de la novela a los movimientos estratégicos en la búsqueda de aliados y refuerzos para el enfrentamiento, haciéndonos creer que la superioridad numérica es la que puede desequilibrar la batalla, pero conforme va avanzando la lectura vemos que hay acciones aisladas, aparentemente inanes, que son las que cambian el curso de los acontecimientos y por lo tanto, de la historia.

The Trouble with Peace es una historia tan absorbente que el único consuelo que me queda en espera del siguiente libro es saber que Abercrombie ya lo tiene escrito y que no pasará mucho tiempo hasta que podamos terminar la trilogía The Age of Madness.

Brilliance again from my favourite writer of modern fantasy.

I’ve just finished the audio book, read by the utterly brilliant Steven Pacey, and can’t wait for the final part of the trilogy next year.

The book begins with an ironic comment about the weight of a crown and a joke about old men’s bladders… and so we can tell that Joe’s back with his latest, the second in The Age of Madness trilogy, where many of the characters we first encountered in Joe’s original trilogy (The First Law) have given way to their descendants.

In A Little Hatred (reviewed by myself HERE and Rob Bedford HERE) we found that industrialisation had arrived in the Union. This has led to violence and revolution, as The Breakers and Burners attempt to gain control of the cities and the impoverished workforces therein. Their ex-Masters, the rich and over-privileged noblemen, struggle to deal with this sea-change, and much of the book reflects the tension between the revolutionaries and the factory owners. Recently crowned King Orso the First, now the High King of the Union, tries to negotiate a near-impossible path which satisfies both factions. … for the trouble with peace is keeping it, once you’ve got it.

“Your Majesty, we are not here to set right all the world’s wrongs…. (but) To ensure that we benefit from them.”

In addition, the disruption caused by the Burners and the Breakers allows those outside Adua, such as the Gurkish and those in Starikland, to look for weakness that they could exploit.

Savine dan Glokta, daughter of the infamous Arch Lector Sand dan Glokta, is centre stage once more. After the events of A Little Hatred, which led to a distinct fall from grace, Savine is now determined to build her reputation back up again, even if it involves her getting married to do so.

For Leo dan Brock, the Young Lion, is now Lord Governor of Angland and chafing under the responsibility of diplomacy when he’d rather be fighting. Disgruntled with the ineffectiveness of the Open Council, he would prefer to sort problems out on the battlefield, where he made his name.

In the North, Stour Nightfall, Leo’s once-rival, also begins to feel aggrieved that the many issues raised in A Little Hatred are being ignored by the monarchy and the political hierarchy now that peace is being restored.

The young girl Rikke still struggles to master the strange mystic power of the Long Eye. And over all, Bayaz, the First of the Magi and member of the Closed Council, watches from the shadows and continues his Machiavellian manipulation of events for his own interests.

Whilst this is clearly the middle book of a trilogy, Joe manages to maintain momentum throughout, and even manages to build towards the end. There is no preamble, we begin pretty much where A Little Hatred finished. From the start, there is talk of a “Great Change” coming, which is trumpeted throughout, and the last part of the book clearly has world-changing consequences for some of our characters. Whilst there are still major changes yet to happen in the next book, there’s enough going on and some wonderful revelations in this second book that keeps the pages turning.

It’s sometimes said in fiction that the best Fantasy and Science Fiction books echo reality, that their connection with basic fundamentals of life (life, death, loyalty, betrayal, for example) make them more memorable. And I found this so here.

Whilst this is not a mere retelling of the Industrial Revolution mixed in with some Les Miserables trappings – although in the hands of a lesser author it could have been – at times there’s almost a strange feeling of fiction imitating real life as the key players attempt to negotiate with each other, whilst simultaneously stabbing each other in the back. Some of the grand speeches given here reminded me very much of the rhetoric currently being expounded both here in British politics (dare I say Brexit?) and in other countries. For example:

“Just feels like there are too many brown faces around in Adua these days.”

“Too many for what? The people who come here are hard workers. They bring wealth and energy and new ideas. There are great thinkers amongst them. Great engineers. And how would you stop them, anyway? Make us less prosperous?”

In terms of the bigger picture, there are also key issues under examination. In Abercrombie’s world, how does the old sorcery cope with industrialisation, for example? Is there even a place for it in this ‘modern’ world? We begin to discover the answer here. The last third of the book gives us battle scenes as only Joe does, but this time combining many different perspectives – not just of the major characters but also from ones never heard of before – to show what’s happening amidst all the grue. This mosaic element – lots of small vignettes to create a bigger picture – worked very well for me.

What I was hoping for most – and got – was that typical Abercrombie character development, where the main characters show many facets of their nature – not all bad, but not all good either. Typically in an Abercrombie book, characters that may seem ineffective are often not and those who lead struggle behind the civic face seen by the public. As is usual, the joy of Joe’s books is that he shows people we would normally describe as heroes and villains with a much more complex nature than many writers would depict. Even the characters you want to survive and do well have their issues and problems, and vice versa. There is character evolution and plot resolution here – and not all is as expected as it might be. We say goodbye to some long-known characters here, but at the same time watch the ascendance of others – and not always in ways we like.

If you’ve read my previous reviews then it should be again obvious is that what impresses me most throughout the book are the glorious dialogue and one-liners thrown out throughout the book, not only in the epic battle scenes but also in the less bloody (but just as cutting) battles of diplomacy. To avoid civil war, our characters attempt, with varying degrees of success, to survive a subtler kind of war, and Joe does well to show that sometimes diplomacy can be just as brutal and perhaps even more ineffective than combatting it out on a battlefield.



To sum up, then. Is it gory? Yes, to the point where there were parts that made me wince. But, at the same time, that grim humour characteristic of an Abercrombie novel, that balances the gore and the unpleasantness, runs throughout in a way that seems to only really work for me in Joe’s books. Others have tried to emulate, but simply don’t match, for me at least. The first book in this new series was great. This is even better.

In short, fans will leap on this latest and I’m pleased to say in my opinion will not be disappointed. Other than having to wait for the final part, of course! Will definitely be one of my books of the year.

One of his best

When "A Little Hatred" came out I read it with pleasure; it was much better than "Red country". But when I reread "Best served cold", my favourite Abercrombie, I realised it wasn't quite up to that Olympian standard.
No such worries with "The Trouble with Peace". This really is Abercrombie at his best. The pace, wry humour, and excitement are as ever. And the characters have somehow bedded in. They have developed lives of there own. And the twists and turns of the plot are superb. So no second part of a trilogy syndrome. This is quite superb! Go ahead and enjoy it ASAP!

I read both A Little Hatred and The Trouble with Peace pretty much back to back because I just needed to know what would happen next. The book thankfully follows on quite neatly with all our characters and we jump straight back into this world. The end of the first book brings about an uneasy peace for the Union, of which I was fully expecting chaos to ruin during the second book. I love books that show the more political side of disputes, and Abercrombie perfectly sets up the threats to peace at the start.

What stands out to me most is the characters. Similar to A Little Hatred, there wasn’t any point of view that I wasn’t enjoying reading. This is mainly because all these characters are so distinctive. Whilst some like Leo, Stour and Orso do have very similar (almost mirroring) stories at times they each stand out on their own as well.

I also enjoyed that there’s different backgrounds, cultures, social class and more that each of them have, which understandably changes how they react and what they do. So Leo, Stour and Orso are all heirs to their titles, with Orso and Stour being princes and when you’re reading you can pinpoint the similarities between them. But because of different upbringings and things that happen within the books, they have different story arcs through their actions. Abercrombie writes his characterisation so well that you fully believe this is what each character would logically do.

The first book brought politics and engaging fight scenes, and The Trouble with Peace doesn’t disappoint these expectations. It does have some action scenes and gory fights like the first. But, overall the books pacing shifts more to focus on the character dynamics, scheming and conspiracy’s surrounding and towards our characters. However if you like the slow paced politics, betrayal and backstabbing… you’ll still love it.

I do love some political maneuvering and even the smaller situations brought a sense of humour to the table. For example, when Leo and Savine’s mothers team up they’re a perfect pair to plot the future for mutual gain in a hilarious way for our characters. This was also the point where I noticed how much we knew about our secondary characters too. These two didn’t interact in the first book, but once together you realise how similar they are in both demeanor and how they run their lives (and children).

We’re introduced to Bazel, the first Magi a bit more in this book – although I think he was briefly mentioned in A Little Hatred. This along with Rikke learning more about her long eye brought a bit more magic to the series. As someone who loves high fantasy, this intrigued me a lot and I was always trying to second guess Rikke’s visions to foreshadow the book itself.

The Trouble with Peace has well navigated away from middle-book syndrome and I enjoyed it just as much as the first. I’ll be avidly keeping my eye out for The Wisdom of Crowds next year.

Positives of The Trouble with Peace
Character development for main, secondary and even tertiary characters
Excellent world building (that doesn’t need knowledge of previous books to understand!)
Negatives of The Trouble with Peace
A little less action packed than book one