Last Argument of Kings by Joe Abercrombie is the third, and final, novel in the First Law trilogy. The first book in the trilogy is titled The Blade Itself and the second book is titled Before They are Hanged. Mr. Abercrombie is quickly making a name for himself with this trilogy. While there are traditional fantasy elements in this trilogy, it does not follow the normal, and usually ever present, clichés many other fantasy series do. If you like your fantasy filled with fluff and feel good storied, do not read this book. However, if you like your fantasy novels to have dark, gritty, nasty characters; then by all means take a look at this series.

The plot of this novel picks up right where the second book ended. The Union is doubly threatened. First by the Northmen, led by Bethod, and also from the south by the Gurkish. A simple army plot is not enough for this novel, or trilogy. So for added effect Mr. Abercrombie crams in several sub plots. Things such as a mysterious bank that seems to have its funds strategically invested in several different areas for optimal, shall we say blackmail. There is the process of who will be elected the new ruler if the king dies because he has left no heir. Additionally, there is the fallout of the mysterious magic item a select group of people were seeking in the second novel. Lastly, the plans of the First of the Magi, Bayaz, are laid to bare. There are even things I didn’t talk about be cause of spoiler potential. If that seems like a lot of material to put into one book, well it is. But, it works. The plot never bogged down, nor did it ever feel like the section I was reading was irrelevant to the story. For 636 pages, this was a fast paced plot that really ties up all the loose ends from the previous two books, although, be warned. How Mr. Abercrombie ties up those loose ends may very well not be the way you want, nor expect, them to end.

The characters in this novel are largely the same cast of characters as were present in the first two books; Glokta, Logen Ninefingers, Bayaz, Ferro, Jezal, and West. However, one very interesting thing about this book is that the characters who I thought would dominate the story did not always do so. All the characters in this trilogy are complex. They all have flaws and doubts, they do things wrong and they are not always the most honorable people. It is rather refreshing to read about characters that do not always have the noble cause in the forefront. To add to that the character development in this book, and for that matter the entire trilogy is simply fantastic. The characters are gritty, hardened, and sometimes downright crooked. Yet, each and every one has something about them that most people will be able to identify with. They all seem so very real that it is easy to root, or hate, them. That is the true magic of the characters.

A couple minor criticisms about this novel.

1 – As with the first two books, the internal dialogue of the character Glotka. I will say it is a consistent thing between all three books, but for me it just doesn’t work. This could very well be my admitted personal bias against all things first person. While it does not detract from the overall story, I can see others, like myself, who may be annoyed by it.

2 – There are a few scenes where I would have liked a little more description of the surroundings. I realize it is a fine line between too much description and not enough. For the most part, Mr. Abercrombie provides a sufficient amount of description, but there are a few scenes where I was left wanting just a little more.

Some things I really enjoyed about this novel.

1 – The between character dialogue. Simply, perfect. The banter, the flow, the pacing was all perfect. Each character has their own unique voice. Some fantasy books I have read the dialogue seems stiff and unnatural. That is not the case with this book.

2 – The characters. I really enjoyed the fact that the characters are not the typical fantasy clichés. The nastiness and cut-throat nature of the characters is a joy to read.

3 – The multi-layered plot. I like a book who’s plot makes me think and try to get one step ahead (which incidentally rarely worked, I always seemed one step behind). Following the multiple plots to their ending was a joy. I was always curious what would happen next.

In my review of the second novel in this trilogy I said this:

“The First Law trilogy seems to be taking on the mantel of a fine painting. Taken piece by piece each book is solid. However, taken as a whole, as the entire trilogy, the true beauty of this work begins to stand out.”

It is safe to say that the paining has been completed and it looks fantastic. This trilogy truly stands up against the ‘big’ names in the fantasy genre. It is a refreshing take on a genre that can, at times, get bogged down within itself. What you see is not always what you get. With the First Law trilogy Mr. Abercrombie has staked his claim to his little corner of the genre. However, that little corner will most likely grow as he continues to write solid, engaging tales. This is a trilogy that I whole-heartedly recommend for those fans looking for something a little different.