An excellent book with very sympathetic characters in very difficult conditions. Unlike Martin’s Westeros, the scum still strive, debate if they’re good people, and struggle in a difficult world. I continued to enjoy them even as they changed– grew worse and better throughout. Monza, the primary POV character, is dead committed to her revenge– but it’s understandable and she has enough doubts and twinges that I don’t loathe her.
The characters are well drawn; even the chapters from her associates POVs prove well well thought out. The cast balloons up early, but never gets too unwieldy, and usually remains pretty tightly linked to the primary storyline. Monza’s flashbacks provide interesting details that we’ve already heard about, revealing a more complex story than you get on first pass.
I like the book and it ended well– I don’t anticipate a sequel. I look forward to seeing what else Joe Abercrombie has written and plan on checking it out.