The Blade Itself (The First Law #1), by Joe Abercrombie (softback, english edition)

🇬🇧 This Book Is In English

'Delightfully twisted and evil.' — The Guardian

The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie
(The First Law Trilogy, Book 1 of 3)

The grimdark classic that changed epic fantasy forever — meet three of the most unforgettable antiheroes ever written.

Inquisitor Glokta — crippled relic of the last war, former fencing champion turned torturer extraordinaire — is trapped in a twisted and broken body. Not that he allows it to distract him from his daily routine of torturing smugglers. Captain Jezal dan Luthar, nobleman and would-be fencing champion, is living a life of ease by cheating his friends at cards — vain, shallow, and self-obsessed, his biggest problem is having to get out of bed to train with boring old men. And Logen Ninefingers, an infamous warrior with a bloody past, is about to wake up in a hole in the snow with plans to settle a blood feud — ideally by running away from it.

But old habits die really, really hard. Especially when Bayaz gets involved. A bald old man with a terrible temper and a pathetic assistant — he could be the First of the Magi, he could be a spectacular fraud. Whatever he is, he's about to make the lives of Glokta, Jezal, and Logen a whole lot more difficult.

Why readers can't put it down:

• 🖤 Three deeply flawed, darkly funny antiheroes you'll love despite yourself
• ⚔️ A torturer, a coward, and a warrior walk into a fantasy novel — and it's brilliant
• ✨ Razor-sharp wit wrapped around genuine darkness and moral complexity
• 🔮 A world where no one is heroic and everyone has something to hide
• 📚 Book 1 of 3 in the trilogy that defined modern grimdark fantasy

Perfect for readers who love:
grimdark fantasy · dark humour · antihero ensembles · morally grey characters · epic fantasy · Joe Abercrombie · Mark Lawrence · Robin Hobb · Scott Lynch

'Delightfully twisted and evil.' — The Guardian

'Highly recommended … seek it out.' — Joe Hill

🖤 A Torturer Who Finds Dark Humour in His Own Ruin
🖤 A Nobleman Who Has Never Had to Try at Anything
🖤 A Warrior Trying Very Hard to Run Away From His Past
🖤 A Mysterious Old Man Who May or May Not Be the Most Powerful Mage Alive
🖤 A World Where the Heroes Are Worse Than the Villains
🖤 A Story That Will Make You Question Everything You Thought You Knew About Fantasy

At Dark Rose, we believe the most compelling stories are the ones where no one is purely good — and the most interesting characters are the ones who know it.

👤 Recommended Age: 18+

⚠️ Content Notes:
Violence • Torture • Dark humour • Morally grey characters • War • Grimdark elements • Death

✨ Best for readers who love:
Grimdark Fantasy • Antihero Ensembles • Dark Humour • Epic Fantasy • Joe Abercrombie • Mark Lawrence • Scott Lynch

⚠️ Probably not for readers looking for:
Light Reads • Clear-Cut Heroes • Hopeful Tone • Romance-Focused Stories

📚 Format & Details

• Format: Softback
• Pages: 544
• Genre: Grimdark Fantasy / Epic Fantasy
• Series: The First Law Trilogy, Book 1 of 3
• Publisher: Gollancz
• Published: 8 March 2007

"Old habits die really, really hard. Especially when Bayaz gets involved."