Our book opens right away with Monza getting figuratively shafted, emotionally destroyed, and physically crippled. Our story follows Monza Murcatto, dashing and charismatic mercenary leader, and her story to claim the lives of seven men who betrayed her. The book is a revenge story to boot, if that was not clear from the title, so if you are expecting a happy ending turn back now. Best Served Cold is quintessentially Abercrombie, a dark and gritty tale in a fantasy world with the harsh bleakness of reality pumping through its veins. It certainly wasn’t a bad book, but it didn’t quite live up to the standard I expected of Joe. I read Red Country a while ago and found it… fine.

There are three stand alones in the world of The First Law – Best Served Cold, The Heroes, and Red Country. Best Served Cold is a great book, but not one for someone looking for a light and happy tale. That being said, I highly recommend that if you find yourself at the end of The Last Argument of Kings, and clamouring to get your hands on another book in the First Law world, that you take a short hiatus before diving back in. I have a policy about not speaking of the First series, as I believe it is something everyone should discover for themselves to have the maximum impact while reading it. The First Law trilogy by Joe Abercrombie is one of the most powerful and genre defining series I have ever read in my life.

Best served cold by joe abercrombie