The Blade Itself is the opening book of the high fantasy trilogy The First Law, written by Joe Abercrombie. The novel has gained a massive reputation in the epic fantasy world, consistently starring in almost every top recommendation for the genre.
Is the book worth its reputation?
Considering the story in its entirety—which encompasses characters, plots, worldbuilding, the narrative technique, style, and other similar aspects, it performs decently in most of these aspects. Despite its remarkable stature as one of the best, it makes us wonder how. But, the one aspect in which it truly excels is the prominent one on the list, the character.
How a character saves the story.
The character we are referring to for this insight is one of the main characters of the book, Sand dan Glokta.
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- Eccentricity
The more eccentric the characters, the more striking they are, but within the meaningful confines of the story. On the spectrum of eccentricity, the character Glokta occupies the right spot. His thoughts and behaviors dance on the edge of acceptability, binding the readers to his arc.
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- Distinction
To elevate the character from the rest and even transcend beyond the story, contrast is essential. The author masterfully crafts the distinction, not just with an unusual appearance but by granting the readers access to the inner workings of Glokta’s mind with an expressive writing style exclusive to him, creating a more lasting impression than any other.
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- Characterization
Characterization involves meticulously detailing a character both internally and externally. This is paramount to making characters come to life. Followed by the intended distinctions, characterization is a deep dive into those qualities. Glokta can be an ideal example to represent characterization itself. His internal compass, manner of speaking, body language, and trivial reactions in his everyday life vividly illustrate the extent of characterization.
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- Transparency
Transparency is a double-edged sword, offering both benefits and risks. It can completely give away the character by being open to the audience, resulting in a lack of mystery. And mystery is a prime contender when it comes to engagement. But when approached thoughtfully as per the demands of the story, it can effectively humanize the character, making the character more relatable. Glokta serves as an embodiment of the latter in this instance by allowing access to his innermost thoughts, enabling the character to be more resonant.
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- Background
Without the background, the character’s actions are purposeless. And when speaking of a flawed or negative character, a background is a must. Without this, the character can be tainted with words like unethical, immoral, and unlawful and placed behind bars for evil, even if it wasn’t the intention. In this story, the dark setting of twisted-minded characters, with their malicious thoughts, cruel intentions, and vile behavior supported by sound backstories, helps them stay clear of the unforgiving hate from the readers.
Is it a must story?
The blade Itself represents the significance of a character. For anyone in search of remarkable characters, whether an avid fantasy reader or not, this book is a must-read. Character-driven stories can make or break with the main character. However, when a character not only improves the story but catapults it from a decent to a good read, these are the works to keep an eye out for.