THE HEROES | Non-Spoiler Review

[@Rendref]

Darn it, it is my favorite First Law book. Absolutely loved all the themes, the characters, the twists, the situations and consequences for all the characters. And especially the end for Curnden Craw vs Beck, it was just so powerful. And never ever thought it was plotless, strange.

[@LienesLibrary]

I agree all those things are present in it, which is why I enjoyed it, but “things happening” does not equate to a plot, which traditionally necessitates a structure composed of exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and denoument

[@Rendref]

@@LienesLibrary Haha, they told me that about The Blade Itself too, but I also never caught it was plotless. Haha

[@metalmarten3478]

@@mankhobley4187 you're*. I'm sorry, but you're a reader and still make that error?

[@GregKulevich]

I love Bremer but Whirrun takes the cake. Shallow and Deep were dope as well.

[@LienesLibrary]

The cheese trap 😂👌

[@GregKulevich]

@@LienesLibrary Yup!😃 That's why they call him Cracknut Whirrun.....because he can crack nuts with his fist. Innovative one he is.

[@MJHaylett]

Just finished this and loved it. Loved it because it subverted my own expectations that this would be a book to glamourize war. I imagined a group of men swaying the battle with heroism and bravery, and both sides had these men, and women, but it was all for naught. The plot to me was about, or rather the theme and not the plot, how pointless it all was, a proxy war in the ongoing larger conflict between Bayaz and Khalul, countless men dead over a hill, a bridge and a river. How it could have been stopped on Day Two but those in power said no, one more day of senseless death. In fact the whole thing brought to pass so Bayaz could test some new tech. I guess it being so anti-war for a war book is what tickled me the most. My fear was it was going to be a pro-war book and I was not looking forward to it, but now, might be my favourite of the standalones so far. I loved that the word Hero was bandied about so much, took the sting out of it, deconstructing it, robbing it of allure, in the end it's just a bunch of rocks on a hill. Also the characters were great too but, well, you expect that from Abercrombie. Onto Red Country I go :D

[@constantinodelgado8509]

I went in knowing nothing but STILL loved it! It was awesome meeting characters for “two seconds” lol! I’d probably never re-read Red County though...

[@Irishdazza]

Never understood people saying that either this was a surprise or that it has no plot. The tag line literally says “one battle. 3 days. To change the fate of the north”, or words to that effect. Bayaz plans and executed a regime change in plain sight in front of everyone without them realising it while kahul desperately executes a holding action. Everything is very different afterwards (despite everyone pulling in their own directions following their own motivations). And who didn’t get chills at red hat’s subterfuge!

[@LienesLibrary]

I don’t disagree that that happens and that that’s fascinating, but interesting things happening does not a plot arc make - a plot arc is traditionally composed of exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and denoument - by traditional standards The Heroes lacks a plot structure

[@Irishdazza]

@@LienesLibrary I prefer to think it has a more subtle structure. But to be fair I had a similar conversation with someone who felt the outcome of the third book of the realm of the elderlings was unsatisfactory. My comment was that it shouldn’t be looked at as an outcome as there where another 10 or so books that followed. Who can say how many books Joe will have for us before we know the ultimate result of the family feud of the magi? Great work on the channel by the way. Really enjoy your clips and comments.

[@LienesLibrary]

@@Irishdazza I hope Abercrombie never stops writing First Law books 😌

[@connoriquada5429]

Casualties is a gnarly chapter. Honestly one of my favourite chapters Joe Abercrombie has written, especially in the ways of battle sequences.

[@tra779]

Glad you enjoyed it more! It's one of my favourite First Law books but I am kind of a sucker for war films! Shivers is also one of my faves and I found it really interesting to learn more about Gorst. I love the way Abercrombie writes battle scenes

[@LienesLibrary]

I tend to think war works better on screen because it’s much harder to convey everything going on in a battle through text alone but Abercrombie does a remarkably good job painting the picture and keeping it interesting

[@tra779]

@@sgtslick7 agreed it really adds a dimension to him that I didn't know I wanted!

[@ronfoss7784]

Love the series, Read the heroes twice, And lawd Jesus!!!! The Audible edition is friggin ' amazing!!!!

[@RetroBailey]

the moment Shivers and Gorst met (again) was amazing

[@robertwing7974]

I'm slowly making my way through your Abercrombie stuff as a diehard of the First Law universe and I thought this video was particularly interesting. The Heroes is my favorite of the First Law books, but you're totally right. There is no real plot. The book is a mood, and for me it's a mood about camaraderie, ugliness, heroics, worship of violence, expectations versus reality, and a whole lot more. I've read it 20 or so times, and when I'm reading the pages, I'm transported to some kind of vibe that makes me feel oddly cozy, despite all the blood and mud. Thank you for your explanation! It helped me understand all the more what I love about it, and where it admittedly can feel like it falls short.

[@LienesLibrary]

20 times?! Wow you have me beat, I thought reading The Blade Itself for the fifth time this coming January was excessive 😂

[@robertwing7974]

@@LienesLibrary Haha, I might be the world's biggest Whirrun of Bligh fan - which is fair since the man did invent the cheese trap. Most of the other books I've only read once or twice through. Do you have reviews of other First Law books hidden away somewhere? I'd love to hear your perspective on Best Served Cold (my least favorite book in the series!) in particular.

[@LienesLibrary]

@@robertwing7974 I have reviews for all the First Law books 😅 there’s an “Abercrombie” playlist on my channel with all those reviews and any other videos I’ve done on his books (Whenever anyone picks up The Heroes I tell them to let me know when they get to the cheese trap 😂)

[@robertwing7974]

@@LienesLibrary Excellent! I look forward to binging the playlist and then probably falling into the trap of a full reread of the series. This is such a cool find as someone who has long suffered a group of friends who have NOT read the First Law universe. Thank you!

[@LienesLibrary]

@@robertwing7974 well my friend talked me into joining her podcast as a cohost by agreeing to a year-long First Law readalong starting January 2022 🙃

[@ellisg95]

I can 100% see where you're coming from with this review. I enjoyed The Heroes as I did all First Law books, but if I was ranking them, I would only put Red Country lower than The Heroes. (Not including Sharp Ends as it's short stories).

[@LienesLibrary]

First time through I liked Red Country better than The Heroes - we’ll see how I do with the reread 🙃

[@ellisg95]

@@LienesLibrary Yeah, there wasn't a lot between the two for me. I just think The Heroes gripped me more. I've only read the series so a reread of Red Country could feel different

[@b_a_z_e_dv.2.067]

If I had to choose my favourite aspect of The Heroes it would have to be the dozen. Craw and the dozen were a pleasure to follow cause it felt like I've known this group for years despite only just meeting them, their humour and witty banter was executed so well. But to watch as the band crumbles was painful to read. All in all I think the heroes tries to have mirrors of both sides but the union lacked the lovable band of warriors that the north often has.

[@Craigathy]

I love “The Heroes”! Easily one of my favorites.

[@Eridi4na]

Expectations can make or break a book for you. I guess we all need to research a bit more before reading.

[@LienesLibrary]

My research usually entails looking at the cover art 🥴

[@mpsensha]

Too many battles tend to bore me to tears, but Abercrombie does it in a way that had me hooked.

[@JoanaSousaReads]

It's like a war vlog 😂😂 but this is so helpful! I've been meaning to get to this one soon and this helped me know what it's actually about! Thank you 😊

[@joelindley5113]

This was kinda my favourite (before The Trouble With Peace that is). I get the criticism of it but I'm a sucker for a good battle and this book dispels the myth that a battle is one prolonged skirmish. There's tactics & withdrawals. Then there's THAT chapter (can't really describe it, too spoilery). Not many authors can pull off a whole novel about one battle, Abercrombie nailed it

[@LienesLibrary]

I do have immense respect for the project of this book and I think he pulled it off remarkably well

[@jackinthebox1993]

Sorry, but I read this book twice and loved it both times. Black Dow was terrifyingly terrific, Craw was a refreshing P.O.V. of an aged warrior, and Abercrombie even made me root for Calder of all people. But my favorite scene in the whole book was when Abercrombie switched from P.O.V.'s to different characters like thirteen times (you know the one I mean), to show the pointless slaughter of warfare. It was beautiful! Plus, I loved the deconstruction if the great warrior's battle between Gorst and Wyren of Bly, so anticlimactic and so hilarious! The Red Beck was kinda slow and forgettable for me but I ended up becoming so proud of that kid by the end. I also love how so antiwar the whole book is and plays with so many of the characters and OUR expectations of battle. 8/10, Would definitely re-read a third time in the future 🤓

[@LienesLibrary]

Don’t know why you opened with sorry 🤔

[@osoisko1933]

A Thor: Ragnarock-esque take on Shawshank Redemption would be a dope story. But I don't have much to say since I'm only halfway into Best Served Cold still (I'm at the part where Shivers had his unfortunate encounter beneath a palace). I guess all I can add is I really like this project Abercrombie took with these stand alones.

[@LienesLibrary]

Oh my that movie would be either brilliant or utter trash 😂 glad you’re enjoying the standalones!

[@yancowles]

OK, late to the party, just heard you say TH was your least fave first law book! Different strokes etc. I thought TH was possibly the best book I've ever read (yep, really, closely followed by Chickenhawk) and was just thinking of rereading it oddly enough. Maybe I'll find it awful second time around, I hope not.

[@gregorylaperche5574]

Interesting. I'm not sure if I'll like those, because I really didn't like The Blade Itself because the plot was slow as heck. But now that I know more about the world, I might like all the political intrigue and all that stuff from this book.

[@LienesLibrary]

I think you just might 🤔

[@juju10683]

This book was absolutely brilliant. If you don’t like battles or military history you will not like this book as much. Just a matter of taste.

[@ScullyPop]

I go back and read them again sometimes, too.

[@cynthiaholmes5124]

Heroes is the next book that I will be reading just finished best served cold so far it's my favorite book from Abercrombie I really love the character monza in that book 🤔☺️🙂😀😁💝💖

[@thefantasynuttwork]

First Law content makes me happy

[@LienesLibrary]

Same - never enough First Law 😌

[@neobaud513]

I had the same experience. The only thing I remember about it is that I didn't like it. That is unusual for Joe. Normally his books are unforgettable.

[@nikolagregic7709]

I think its the best Joe book, as many others. Every1😊 have different taste, that's all.

[@gordontheobald]

I liked Whirrun of Blight best in this one. He’s such a doofus and his story ends perfectly. And Bremer dan Gorst’s internal voice is dark/hilarious.

[@LienesLibrary]

Gorst is mainly who I was thinking of when I was talking about characters you knew from before surprising you with their internal thoughts 😅

[@ArcanaZeroTheFool]

Love the way you say cinema :)

[@LienesLibrary]

😅

[@mhatt9773]

Your voice is by no means pretentious. Your hair, on the other hand....

[@LienesLibrary]

You’re right, I should hide it under a fedora, then I’d look less pretentious

[@mhatt9773]

@@LienesLibrary Or a beret. Nothing screams unpretentious like a nice beret. Have you considered mixing your audio in Dubly? That might make your voice more palatable.

[@LienesLibrary]

@@mhatt9773 I’d need to work on growing out my mustache if I wanna pull off a beret

[@mhatt9773]

@@LienesLibrary As always, I have complete faith in you.

[@LienesLibrary]

@@mhatt9773 **begins to sweat as pressure mounts**