A Little Hatred (The Age of Madness #1) by Joe Abercrombie
A Little Hatred (The Age of Madness #1) by Joe Abercrombie is set in the same world as his magnificent First Law series and boy is it a treat to be back.
“The chimneys of industry rise over Adua and the world seethes with new opportunities. But old scores run deep as ever. On the blood-soaked borders of Angland, Leo dan Brock struggles to win fame on the battlefield, and defeat the marauding armies of Stour Nightfall. He hopes for help from the crown. But King Jezal's son, the feckless Prince Orso, is a man who specializes in disappointments. Savine dan Glokta - socialite, investor, and daughter of the most feared man in the Union - plans to claw her way to the top of the slag-heap of society by any means necessary. But the slums boil over with a rage that all the money in the world cannot control. The age of the machine dawns, but the age of magic refuses to die. With the help of the mad hillwoman Isern-i-Phail, Rikke struggles to control the blessing, or the curse, of the Long Eye. Glimpsing the future is one thing, but with the guiding hand of the First of the Magi still pulling the strings, changing it will be quite another...”
I think what I love most about Joe’s writing is the way he brings his characters to life. They are rarely predictable, constantly changing as they experience the world around them and always multifaceted. I’ve read some reviews that say Joe’s characters do not develop throughout his series. I can understand their point, especially when Logan began and finished the First Law Series by jumping out of a window. I think this only applies though if you expecting a serving girl to become a princess, a farm boy to be revealed as ‘the chosen one’ or basically an average nothing to become an exceptional something. A change of station is an obvious way to affect a change in a character but the shifts Joe likes to twist can happen in an instant, a look, and therefore a dozen times in a conversation. It’s incredibly exciting and just when you think you know where someone’s story is going he inevitably, and, without mercy, puts them on them on another path that throws everything you thought you knew into question. It’s something like playing chess against a grandmaster who happens to also be madman.
As always there is plenty of fantastic combat. The pages are littered with bludgeoning back alley ambushes, intricate and finely detailed duels, masterpieces of dance and rhythm in themselves and of course the muddy body strewn battlefields where thousands of men and women meet their end with no romance whatsoever. My allegiance between the players was always shifting as well which is a huge delight. I mean Gorst is an asshole but he is definitely an asshole you want on your side and no one really wants to be part of the Glotka family do they? Nooooo they don’t. But for Savine? If anyone could make it worth it she could.
I’m particularly excited to see where this series goes because of the interesting setting in terms of the rise and fall of a society. It’s the industrial revolution in a world previously powered by magic and there is a shifting of the currencies of power. The rich and influential are seeing the very things that make them so usurped by new levels of mechanical technology, a lessening of their magical ranks and the availability of far more common means of attaining wealth. At the same time we have those stuck at the bottom finding hope and agency among their peers and the chance for just that little bit more. But as a wise and terrible man says ‘if you give them just a bit more what do you think they will want next?’. Fun times.
As a side note I used the First Law wiki page a bit whilst reading this and it was a great way to quickly relive some of the histories of the characters than have been around over five or six books now. Whether you’re a big fan who wants a refresher or a new reader of Joe’s work he doesn’t want to feel like they need to read a slew of other books to enjoy this one, it’s worthwhile checking it out. I think if you do start here though you’ll definitely be going back to see how it all began so don’t delve too deep or you’ll spoil some of the greatest grimdark you’re very likely to read.
9/10
A Little Hatred (The Age of Madness #1) is published by Orbit. A review copy was provided by the publisher for which I am extremely grateful, though it had no effect of my review.
