The Blade Itself: Spoiler-free & Spoiler Review | 2 To Ramble

[@supermayo8a]

Mondays are no longer painful with 2 to Ramble uploads

[@2ToRamble]

❤️

[@storky1456]

Yeah the dcc videos have been rough lol

[@reirei7086]

_“I can be pretentious and correct”_ is my new motto 😂

[@migg201204]

If you have not listened to the Audio, Steven Pacey is excellent and adding a lisp to Glokta when speaking but removing it for his inner monologue is so small but a genius move to show the severity of his disability but how he does not hear it or at least acknowledge it. Perfect.

[@2ToRamble]

It’s fantastic

[@brianetie86]

“Once you’ve got a book to read, it’s better to do it, than live with the fear of it” ~What to say when recommending this book to a friend.

[@boombop9787]

Austin NEEDS to read the standalones with Richard before moving onto the next trilogy

[@PaperbackJourneys]

Yeah The First Law might be my favourite fantasy series PURELY based on the characters. Also like you... I loved Lonesome Dove.

[@aidanh3444]

Richard with ANOTHER objectively perfect take, great review.

[@FallofZee]

It must be an amazing feeling to have a couple of ramblers talking about your book and characters down to the minute details that you may or may not have intentionally added. I just hope to have the same thing happen to my WIP one day. Love the content lads!

[@2ToRamble]

Cheers!! (Also wishing best to you on your WIP)

[@rishabhtomar8413]

Body floating by the docks

[@Lycan3303]

Finished it ...thought it was a lot more of a slow burn than I was expecting but still a very excellent book especially towards the end ....that West chapter genuinely shocked me you know the one ....been a long time since I v been shook by a book ....the chapters on the exiled were my favorites...also Bayaz is best girl 😊

[@WildWolfGod]

If you want, you two should absolutely do the audiobooks for the series. Steven Pacey was my favorite Audiobook narrator until I found Jeff Hayes but he's absolutely FANTASTIC.

[@2ToRamble]

I (austin) have been doing audiobook - did very little physical for first book but audio for 99% of the time. Its awesome

[@Golias72]

I love them too. Except when he pronounces 'grimaced' wrong (like its two words grim and aced) 😁

[@WildWolfGod]

@@2ToRamble Fantastic to hear! I hope you two enjoy your ride through The First Law!

[@shashatarot9084]

I ❤ the audiobooks for the first law universe

[@xandefrith6312]

I found this book from your previous video. Sold me on it. Just finished the third book of the trilogy last night. Can say with confidence this series is one of my favorite of all time. Joe Abercrombie is forever an instant purchase for me. Also, the best audio books, maybe of all time!

[@Sovereign_Prince07]

I've had this on my shelf for a while... I'm excited to get to it soon! You guys pitch it well.

[@2ToRamble]

🙏 Hope you enjoy!

[@emosongsandreadalongs]

Everyone loves to go on about the morally gray characters, but I will die on the hill of "Logen is legitimately a good person"

[@shughes5778]

He's a good person with [Spoilers] A very very bad person inside of him. I actually completely agree otherwise though.

[@bradykathol8806]

He is the heart of the series especially the 3rd book

[@MrCian47]

I mean, no.

[@phoenixtempleeviltruth8074]

I would argue Logen is perhaps the worst of all the POV characters, at least in this trilogy, but I can at the same time totally see it the other way. He’s just such an amazing character, my favorite in the whole series

[@filipzoric6881]

This is fitting cuz I got my best friend to read The Blade Itself as well. It's my favorite series so it was quite an experience to see someone else fall into the Circle of the World.

[@gamingrambles]

Yes! So glad y’all are covering this! Similar to Mark Lawrence, Joe can make morally gray characters super engaging (even though no one’s really a hero)

[@hexeldev]

I read the first book 2 years ago and the rest very recently. I HIGHLY recommend to go through the entire trilogy without reading too many other books in between. As Austin points out. These books are INCOMPLETE imo when read separately, but the trilogy together makes an amazing story.

[@firecy]

Love the videos! One small request: any chance you guys could increase the volume on the Spotify podcast? It’s pretty soft right now and makes it hard to listen when commuting on the train

[@2ToRamble]

Oh shoot, is it like that for all episodes or this one specifically?

[@bringsnacks219]

Strap in lads you’re in for a ride with this series!!!! The First Law universe is incredible. All 9 books in the series (10 books if you include Sharp Ends) are masterpieces. This is without question my favorite fantasy series of all time. I initially read the series and fell in love and have recently went back to listened to it on audible. Steven Pacey who narrates the series is so talented and has such a good understanding of the universe that Joe Abercrombie himself said in an interview that the man’s narration started to influence how he wrote the characters. I’m so excited, and slightly jealous, for you guys getting to dive into this series. Keep up the great work.

[@eoinmolloy2016]

I know its been mentioned but the audio books for this series are utterly phenomenal. Made my experience so much more enjoyable

[@joshwilson2402]

Love the videos but I think sticking with the wide angle would be better than the odd split camera, just a suggestion.

[@2ToRamble]

Appreciate it, do you think the split is too zoomed in?

[@papaflow3116]

Also another question Josh directly from the 2toramble video editor. Out of curiosity what kinda device to you watch on? Phone, computer monitor, tv, etc. Cheers, & thanks for the feedback

[@blu3poisonfrog]

watched your first video about TBI just a couple weeks ago and was wondering when you would do another!

[@2ToRamble]

Perfect timing

[@KALtheLostie108]

Hey awesome! Glad you liked it so much! I'll probably be diving into this next month.

[@meris8486]

YES! love this series, it's so grim, disgusting, depressing and hilarious. Few characters start a chapter pooping themselves and are somehow still awesome.

[@M.J.J.-W]

My #1 favorite series of all time. Nobody, nobody has made me love characters more than JA

[@H4is3nberg]

Fantastic video. I had the same reactions as Richard while reading it 😅

[@esmayrosalyne]

Okay so idk if I had the same thoughts on the plot before watching this video, but Rich might just have talked me into believing it. Applause 🤣 I think this series actually is underappreciated for its re-read value!! And true, Glokta is the BEST character, but Jezal is my personal favourite because he is just such a tragically entertaining hot mess lol. Thanks for the fun, can't wait for Austin to become a full-on Abercrombie stan hehehe

[@2ToRamble]

😁

[@DecidedPanda]

Just read the First Law trilogy this summer and it has really stuck with me. The scenes, the characters, the problems that the characters face all left such an impact and even though the experience reading the books was kind of strange, the way that those books have remained in my brain keep it a 5/5

[@philsajor6724]

Richard got me to read Lonesome Dove last month, so I'll be definitely reading this next! Excited to finish this episode once I'm done with the book! 😁

[@2ToRamble]

🙏

[@corbinfreeman6607]

I’m so happy you guys are checking out this series. It’s my favorite. I don’t really think any author compares to Abercrombie, personally

[@Lidard]

The day after I purchased the book, this comes out! You guys know me so well

[@2ToRamble]

😉

[@renownedhades2703]

You know how long I've been waiting for this?!

[@2ToRamble]

😁

[@rosssims7224]

Love The Blade Itself!! Excited to continue. Austin’s inability to pronounce character names continues 😂

[@2ToRamble]

😭😭 i swear it’s not intentional

[@MichalGlowacz86]

As for today I've read 5 books from the First Law universe, and currently it's my 2nd favourite modern fantasy series (behind The Witcher, but I'm Polish so super biased here). I hope you keep reading! I actually liked the first two standalones (Best Served Cold and The Heroes) more than the original trilogy.

[@chughin]

I no joke finished this book last night after picking it up from your first video. This couldn’t have been better timed

[@chughin]

Actually I finished it AN HOUR before this video was posted. Wow, could not get better timing

[@2ToRamble]

Damn!!

[@wolfiemac32]

YEEESSSSS!!!! FINALLY!! 🎉

[@nordamoddev1038]

10 total books 😁 there is also a collection of short stories 📚

[@vigilantScrivener]

I’ve read this and Before They are Hanged (getting to Last Argument soon) and like academically I know in hindsight there’s a plot but I definitely like some characters more than others (fuckin’ love Glokta and the audiobook narrator does a bang up job of switching the speech impediment on and off when Glokta thinks and when Glokta speaks)

[@jansencomadena6566]

Literally just finished this book last night, really liked it!! How does Before They Are Hanged compare?

[@2ToRamble]

People generally like book 2 more - we both thought it was still very much worth it but slightly less so than book 1

[@MrCian47]

And now your life has changed Austin. Fantasy doesn’t get any better than this in my book, and wait until you get to some of the later books.

[@2ToRamble]

👀

[@zwolfe33]

I've read 10 First Law books and it's not enough. I must have more First Law books. There is no slog. Each book better than the last. I hate every single character. I would die for all of them.

[@2ToRamble]

Beautifully said lol

[@theblackberseker1978]

I think you’re pitch of this series is a lot better then what I heard online. I’ve read the first law trilogy this year and whilst I’ve enjoyed it I didn’t LOVE IT like the hype I see online and I would chalk that up to its not as dark as everyone says. Like you two said it’s more Subverts expectations and gives us a more realistic fantasty then dark. When I heard it was dark I was expecting a book full of dalinar’s oathbringer moment or the first poppy war book. Characters that do really really bad things that you’re like damn. No way they did that. That’s insane. The book didn’t do that for me but if I was told it’s a realistic approach to a fantasy story I would have enjoyed it more and on rereads I think I’d enjoy it mmore

[@2ToRamble]

Appreciate that! Glad we did it justice

[@dylanmanlypt]

I completely agree with Richard on the plot

[@shughes5778]

I've got two holds for rereading from the library right now. The Wise Man's Fear and Golden Son. I know I'm breaking both of your hearts when I say that I prefer WMF by far.

[@2ToRamble]

🥲🥲

[@mattpen]

DNFd this twice, I keep picking it up because others love it but we’ll see if I ever get through it.

[@davidbarlow9197]

I think that the trilogy has to be critiqued as 1 book, kind of like LOTR. Blade itself was definitely the slowest of the three. I did think Blade itself was a little too long and could have been cut in half but after finishing the trilogy realized why it was the way it was. The series is also a straight black comedy, not even grimdark. Grimdark is depressing (Dark Age), First law is funny. Even the last chapter of the first trilogy had me shaking my head thinking: this MF Abercrombie took me on this journey to end up here! Subverting all tropes and expectations, hilarious.

[@2ToRamble]

Interesting - didnt think of it that way!

[@tuber7081]

If we are being honest, the first book has no plot. It’s a great book with immaculate character work……but it’s widely agreed on that the plot is the worst part of the book. Giving this book a higher score for plot than any of the red rising books is CRAZY

[@Talking_Story]

I am up to the second stand alone. This series subverts going back to the Arthurian legends for me. This series is magic!

[@rkgrkg]

Yay! Nothing constructive to add here, just that I love love love the First Law trilogy!

[@BrownTown89]

I'm on my 6th Abercrombie book, he's becoming my favorite.

[@fluffypenguins]

Im glad you guys loved it. My favorite abercrombie book is the heroes. The middle standalone book. I also think that the second trilogy is slightly better than the first. I hope you guys read them all. Ps. Dont listen to people who tell you to skip the standalones or not to read them in order. Yes they are standalones but there are charactwrs that cross over all 3 books and they need to be read between the trilogies in publication order

[@shughes5778]

How important are the standalones to the second series? Especially if you already read book 1 of the second series?

[@fluffypenguins]

@@shughes5778 mainly just progresses the world and sets things up. The north is different in the second trilogy from where it left off in the original trilogy and you need to read the standalones to understand what happens. The standalones really just set up the the world for the second trilogy so you aren't confused about the way of things

[@Why_do_I_do_this.]

11:45 You are very welcome. It was a pleasure to bully you into reading this book 😆😆. To be fair ... You did promise me on 2 separate occasions that First Law was going to be "the next seires you take on". My bullying is justified 🤣🤣🤣 Also I finally agree with Richard on something 😂. This book is GOOD

[@2ToRamble]

Whats the next series youre going to bully about 😭

[@Why_do_I_do_this.]

@@2ToRamble We still have the First Law standalones after book 3 and then the Age of Madness trilogy after those 😆😆😆😆. After that we'll see what happens

[@suvash11]

Terry Pratchett is the only author that makes me laugh more the Joe Abercrombie! First Law is the best!

[@Deedubyar]

Austin! Hurry up and read The Name of The Wind!! I’m telling you, you’ll love it! I think we have very similar reading tastes, so as someone who has read NoTW and loved, I really do think you’ll at least enjoy it. I mean my favorite series before reading NoTW literally were Red Rising, First Law, Stormlight, and Dune-all of which I know now you like/love. So please! Read NoTW soon! I’m dying with anticipation as to what your thoughts will be.

[@2ToRamble]

I did read it! It was our Patron book club of the month. And we recorded the episode as well. Coming out this month 😈

[@Deedubyar]

@@2ToRamble Let’s goo!!! Perhaps I’ll consider becoming a patron if you give it a good rating🤔🤔

[@shughes5778]

I'm looking forward to dissecting every complaint Richard makes about NotW.

[@bhargavapothakamuri4218]

Finally the first law. I read the trilogy !! Bloody Logan 9 fingers. Sand dan Glokta. Joe Abercrombie!! Is the best. I wish he wrote Storm Light Archives/Cosmere. I wish you listened to the Audiobooks!! Man the Narrator is awesome.

[@2ToRamble]

Cant say I wish he wrote Stormlight, but yes he is great lol - and I (austin) did listen to the audiobook! Did very little physical reading for this

[@jeremyzwiers4335]

'Bout time you got to some Abercrombie. If you guys get to "Best Served Cold" I'm gonna be a happy man. I think the reason for me why it was so easy to fall in love with Abercrombie's character work is just how adeptly he's able to convey the emotions in a POV characters thoughts. Honestly, I would argue that Abercrombie might be the best with this particular facet in fantasy writing right now. Certainly in the top 5. It's amazing how with establishing a reasonable yet emotionally scarring backstory into characters, and establishing the emotions that each character forms out of those PTSD inducing backstories, he can make us completely sympathetic to their plights and what they're trying to accomplish. Which is impressive since, and I think this is fair to say, the POV characters could all be placed in other stories and be some of the best villains out there. The fact that it's possible to sympathize with these terrible (morally) characters is a real feat that I don't think many fantasy writers out there can accomplish, and I think that alone gets Abercrombie correctly into a top fantasy author position. What I'm genuinely curious though is, I know that George RR Martin was an inspiration for Abercrombie for sure. But, authors rarely have only one inspiration that they riff from and adapt solely. But I honestly have no idea which other authors would have been inspirations for Abercrombie that would have been in his mind when he wrote books in this particular world. Any guesses who those other inspirations would be? Have a magical Monday.

[@2ToRamble]

Well said! And we don’t know of other inspirations - definitely going to look into this. We already recorded book 2, going to do book 3 soon and see if I can find anything

[@angussinclair1344]

Abercrombie, funnily, doesn't really read fantasy. He read all the classics from the 80s and 90s & of course rhapsodises over LOTR, but I believe he tends to draw from other genres and non-fiction nowadays. Lonesome Dove is one of his favourites.

[@k.enterante]

Pretentious and correct here, but BOOK TWO, Before They Are Hanged, is not only the best book in the first trilogy…but the best book Abercrombie’s written to date (followed closely by The Trouble With Peace…another book two) 😤

[@2ToRamble]

Oo 👀

[@papapudding]

I got the first trilogy waiting for me on my shelves. I'm almost done with Red Rising and then it's unto this!

[@2ToRamble]

🔥 (got to finish red rising - top tier)

[@tonkabeanicecream5698]

Joe Abercrombie has said many times this is his version of lord of the rings so the whole trilogy is basically one big book. I have the very same problems with the plot as I am mostly plot reader.

[@blckbirdoftrees6218]

I get why people liken First Law and ASOIAF. I don't think they are particularly similar though. ASOIAF has hero's, villain's, and morally grey characters. Bad things happen to good people however it is always earned and makes perfect sense why it happened. The story while dark has a constant sense of hope in it. First Law by contrast only has morally grey characters. A lot of the times the bad things that happen to the heroes is earned others it feels a bit malicious on the part of the author. There is not really any hope in it.

[@2ToRamble]

Fair!

[@LeonC0704]

Hahahaha I love how excited Richard is

[@yura_riabov]

Loved the blade itself, my second favourite out of nine after book 3

[@iOfTheStormm]

Loved the review guys, but why tf did i get 4 ads in a period of 6 minutes near the end?

[@iOfTheStormm]

5 in 8 minutes now. What the actual fuck is this

[@2ToRamble]

Has this happened before? Sorry about that, we can check what KZbin is doing here

[@iOfTheStormm]

@@2ToRamble first video that it's happened on, and that's not just your guys' videos. I was streaming on my phone, too. Sorry, didn't mean for it to come across and blaming you. Just a little annoying

[@2ToRamble]

@@iOfTheStormm All good -- sounds like something on KZbin's end -- if it happens again definitely let us know and we can fiddle around with ad settings if they allow

[@Marc9.]

One of my favourites series, all 9 books are great! The second trilogy is even better than the first one for me

[@rosssims7224]

I’m with Austin, plot was the only weaker part of the book to me. But loved the characters and what was happening enough to still give the book a 5 for me.

[@phoenixtempleeviltruth8074]

If you both think this book is this good, then the later books will floor you. I would say every other entry in this series is better than the blade itself, so there’s a lot to look forward to!

[@eloipuigpelatrubio]

Finally, Abercrombie is here

[@Rumham7291]

dang we giving 5.0 for plot rating to a story with a hidden plot? You guys weren't nearly as generous with Garden of the Moon's plot lol.

[@martinroy2769]

Say one thing about this book, it's a great start for a trilogy

[@phoenixtempleeviltruth8074]

Body found floating by the docks…

[@oliverqueen9221]

Guys help, im tryna poo right now but im having trouble due to hemorrhoid issues and constipation. This is a grimdark situation and i need your support in this dark time.

[@2ToRamble]

I dont know what to say, but im commenting to let you know I read this thrice over and am left commentless

[@audiobookemperor]

This is one of my favorite books of all time but come on, the plot is almost non existent lol. The character work is some of the best in all of fiction though. Straight up masterpiece.

[@TheCjay2009]

Richard I am 100% with you i love this book

[@2ToRamble]

Is it your favorite of the trilogy? Ill have to ask Rich which is his favorite

[@TheCjay2009]

This is the thing Austin I loved the entire trilogy I don't have a favorite it was just a fantastic journey with these characters.

[@KJWohsBookReviews]

Now THIS is the controversial opinions we want. Wera is gonna flip shit

[@DrewLoPresti]

Woah woah woah, what did i miss? Why is the rambler rating stars now??

[@2ToRamble]

We’ve been doing it since Episode #126 - in that episode we explain everything in annoying detail as to why we switched and how the reting system works

[@phoenixtempleeviltruth8074]

The Plot Itself

[@JonathanFollowerOfFaith9424]

Glokta is the goat 🎉 he is a vile little shit, but brilliant 😂

[@2ToRamble]

😂 well said

[@charlesburge2564]

Body floating down by the docks...

[@Austins0asis]

There is actually 11 books that take place in this world the other 2 are Sharp ends and the great change (and other lies)

[@2ToRamble]

Ahh got it - are those more novella/short stories as well? Should we read them in a specific order?

[@Austins0asis]

Yeah sharp ends are short stories it was ok and the great change follows a rock lol. I liked them but probably won't reread them

[@NeolwA]

Say one thing for this book, say plot is definitely not better than characters. This is how I view the category when it comes to plot, I disregard everything characters, world, themes or anything at all and just think solely of the plot in the book. Also should've just given the character a 5, if the plot is a 5 since the characters are the reason why you would care for the plot at all.

[@2ToRamble]

Agreed, but now I must see Rich defend this 😈 I hope he replies here

[@ramacass108]

I disagree that none of the characters are good people. I think Logan is good, “the bloody nine” is obviously not good but Logan is.

[@2ToRamble]

From my (austin) understanding, he has a history where he did bad things (as logen), but curious to find out more

[@ramacass108]

@@2ToRamble we often hear from other characters about all the horrible things that Logan did, but it’s not really clear how much of it was actually Logan or if near all of it was the bloody nine. Either way he doubtless has a dark past, a past he regrets.but thinking back over the books. I can’t think of a time where Logan killed or harmed someone that wasn’t in self-defense. Logan is very easy to cheer for.

[@ramacass108]

@@2ToRamble glockta even puts himself at risk a couple of times to do what he feels is right and punishes people when he feels they have been unnecessarily cruel. I love the characters so much in this series. They all have so many layers. I think it is true that none of them are “heroes“

[@markmiles3768]

Say one thing for 2ToRamble. Say their videos are amazing!

[@2ToRamble]

😇

[@nvthvxn9627]

FINALLY

[@doctorpretender4944]

Richard gives the plot 5 stars but the prose 4.5? Bro should swap those scores

[@Playatoma]

LETS GOOOO

[@passdoutcouchpotatos]

I hated this book series as a read, only the final book has any actually coherent plot. If felt like a single 3 act book stretched to a trilogy

[@2ToRamble]

I (austin) agree plotwise wasnt anything grest- though I dont think it was incoherent. Characters and prose made this a really awesome read for me, but I see where youre coming from

[@passdoutcouchpotatos]

@@2ToRamble By Coherent i mostly am referring to the Lack of an overall solid conclusion books 1 and 2. Book 2 felt especially hollow to me on a read. The Character writing WAS good, but the lack of narrative really felt like it was holding our characters back.

[@wrustria]

i really did not like these books😬got through the middle of book 3 and just couldn’t continue.

[@2ToRamble]

Ah darn. What made it not enjoyable for you?

[@frankie3010]

@@2ToRamble how about every character being a different cheek of the same deformed asshole?

[@KaydianBladebreaker]

Say one thing about Austin, it takes him a long time to read this book.

[@KaydianBladebreaker]

Austin: "This is so weird, you rating the book higher, its a weird feeling." I KNOW, IT FEELS LIKE WE'VE FALLEN INTO SOME MIRROR UNIVERSE WHERE EVERYTHING IS BACKWARDS!

[@qbanboi069]

Both pretentious and correct. Solid!

[@chokog2446]

I love this series, but I actually think book #1 is the best...

[@2ToRamble]

Oh dang. Is it your faborite in all of the First Law as well?

[@chokog2446]

@@2ToRamble Yes! I think it's the best character study... The rest kind of falls off of that, but it's still really good 😊👍

[@sethmegginson5678]

Say one thing about 2 to ramble say they can review a book

[@2ToRamble]

🤌

[@LionOryan]

5/5

[@TalonBray]

Hate to be that guy...First Law trilogy is not peak Grimdark The Second Apocalypse series is peak grimdark

[@2ToRamble]

Oo who wrote that?

[@TalonBray]

@2ToRamble R. Scott Bakker, there is an initial trilogy then tetralogy. You'd probably hate it, there is no hope, no "good guys", it's the cruelest of cruel, the grimmest of grim. But the story is a sweeping epic and one of the best things I've ever read. There are layers of philosophy about human consciousness, it's an amazing series

[@primalbaaha6979]

Best character writer in fantasy (imo)

[@frankie3010]

Gayest opinion ever

[@Smileysmiley012]

Pretentious and correct

[@jaycubvee]

This book was average at best. The ending was getting really good (when events started to come together) and that's about it. Characters, Plot, World Building are nothing exciting YET. Hopefully this picks up as the series continues

[@2ToRamble]

Will you be continuing on?

[@frankie3010]

@@jaycubvee don't continue. This filth isn't worth your time

[@jaycubvee]

@@2ToRamble Maybe after Lightbringer and Words of Radiance 😅

[@shughes5778]

​@@jaycubveeMan, setting up your return to this for failure I see. That’s an amazing book and one of my favorite series its got to compete with.

[@thehatter1074]

You either like the series because of the characters or hate read because of how bad they are but you continue reading because the prose is so good. Honestly, I didn't really care for the main cast as much as the side characters. And the side stories were much more interesting than the main story imo.

[@frankie3010]

I don't read because neither the prose nor the characters are good.

[@NeolwA]

The prose imo is not the best thing when it comes to description of surroundings and sequences of events, but when it comes to character monolog, the prose suddenly become 10/10 the best thing there is

[@2ToRamble]

Interesting! Who was your favorite side character?

[@thehatter1074]

@@2ToRamble It would have to be Dogman and the gang. But West's story was also amazing.

[@Haarwyvern]

I've just read the two first book.. the first one is probably the worst fantasy book I've read in my life. I don't have read that much so it helps but it was pretty disappointing. World building is bad, plot is bad, characters are average (except Glotka) and worst of all this world don't have this alchemy thing that make a fantasy book interesting... I'm currently at the start of book 3 but I don't have motivation rn, book 2 was so~so with the main PoV being bad and the others being fun.

[@MrCian47]

Lol

[@L3vy330]

Pretentious and correct