There was a time in youth when I have been a sucker for fantasy books and series. However, as I grew old, I am developing more inclination towards non-fictions and hardly find time, energy, or fascination to start any long series. The only long series I have read in recent times is The Dresden Files , which I could because I have been following this series for over a decade now. Of course, needless to mention, the story building of Jim Butcher seems enchanting to me and I feel like I grew with the characters. I have many favourite series but perhaps I never felt too attached with others than the Dresden Files.
Anyhow, I have been hearing about this trilogy of Joe Abrecombie for the past 3 years from my folk that the name "Glokta" was curved in the background of my mind, suffering in the dilemma of starting the trilogy or not. Every time we hang out, certainly, where we chatter about books, he would always try to bring the trilogy and put an effort to persuade me to give it a go, Glokta this, Glokta that, he would go on.
"What is he so fascinated about?" curiosity won me over and I started the first book of the series last month and finished the first book "The Blade Itself".
I felt like I only read an introduction of that universe, though the book indeed was a big one for it to be only an introduction. However, I perceived that in the first book, Joe actually organized the story like making the ship ready with all the arrangements, which is about to sail, introducing the characters with little base to understand more than it is written, and building the timeline and story.
So, cannot say I did not like it, specially when one of the main characters is rather unusually not-heroic and does not defy your usual imagination of a protagonist!
Regardless of every other thing, my entire attention was focused on Glokta. Even though I understand this is the first book and from herein the story will pick up its pace, but I do feel like I cannot say I enjoyed as much as I expected.
If one thing that only kept me connected to read till the end, it was this ugly, crippled, broken to the bones and soul, weak, evil, bended hero of ours, San Dan Glokta. At the very least, I have never read or seen a protagonist from a fantasy series to be created as such of a kind and still can amaze the audience with adequate potential.
It indeed was a very unique experience.
Well, now that everything has come to a point and that the arrangements to sail the ship have been completed, I am very much looking forward to the next adventure, book-2: "Before they are hanged". Though, I wonder if it is possible to cover such a grand plot in only the rest of the 2 books.
All the contents are mine until it’s mentioned