Cold Banquet
Tags
Summary
Editor's review
The novel's core appeal lies in its deconstruction and reinvention of fantasy paradigms. Set in the decaying, corruption-ridden realm of the Union, the story unfolds across multiple narrative threads surrounding a northern campaign. Abercrombie offers no perfect heroes; instead he thrusts a cast of flawed, selfish, even despicable figures into the spotlight: Logen Ninefingers, a northern warrior tormented by pain and addiction; Jezal, a vain and scheming noble officer; Glokta, an arrogant and brutal inquisitor; and Bayaz, a wizard plagued by phantom voices. These characters struggle to survive beneath the grinding wheels of a grand and cruel fate, and their 'growth' often amounts to moral compromise and decline.
In the editor's view, The Blade Itself is worth far more than a simple adventure epic. It is a dark parable that probes human nature, power, violence, and redemption. The author's skillful use of POV lets readers enter each character's inner world, experience their dilemmas and choices, and arrive at complex, profound empathy. The combat scenes land with visceral impact; the political maneuvering is rendered with cold realism, stripped of any romantic gloss. For readers weary of the traditional 'light conquers darkness' template, the book's grey moral terrain and unexpected twists deliver a powerfully jolting reading experience. It redefines what fantasy can be: heroes do not necessarily win, magic is not omnipotent, and the ending is often a knowing, sardonic laugh.
Who it's for
A good fit for
- Veteran fantasy readers seeking subversive, anti-heroic narrative
- Readers who prefer grey morality, complex characters, and political intrigue
- Literary readers who appreciate a sharp, cold, irony-laced prose style
- Explorers interested in 'low-magic' or grimdark fantasy subgenres
Not a good fit for
- Readers expecting a traditional epic of clear-cut good and evil
- Readers who cannot tolerate severe moral flaws or tragic fates for major characters
Reading tips
- Read in chapter order, following the different POV characters to piece together the full picture and enjoy the narrative tricks
- Pay attention to the wit and irony in dialogue, and to how action scenes reveal character and motive
- After finishing, continue with the series' Before They Are Hanged and Last Argument of Kings for the complete story arc
About the publisher
Chongqing Publishing House is a comprehensive publisher known for its titles in the humanities, social sciences, literature and arts, with about 940 books in its catalogue. Its publishing areas cover world history, science fiction, foreign literature, architecture and philosophy. Representative titles include Xiang Da's A History of Communications Between China and the West, Liang Sicheng's Rules of Qing-Style Construction, Liu Cixin's The Three-Body Problem II: The Dark Forest and III: Death's End, Ann Rand's The Fountainhead (25th Anniversary Edition), and Brandon Sanderson's Stormlight Archive series. Its authors include Xiang Da, Liu Cixin, Liang Sicheng and Ann Rand. The press has developed distinctive strengths in historical source editing, the introduction and creation of science fiction, the translation of foreign literature, and architecture and philosophy titles, balancing scholarly value with general readership. As public information is limited, this profile outlines its publishing directions based only on the books in the catalogue.
Contents
- 版权信息
- 本纳·蒙洛卡托救人一命
- 第一部 塔林
- 机遇之地
- 偷骨贼
- 离水的鱼
- 六和一
- 以牙还牙
- 第二部 西港
- 毒师
- 科学与魔法
- 全世界最安全的地方
- 恶友
- 二和二
- 计划和意外
- 如数奉还
- 第三部 斯皮奈
- 迷雾与流言
- 劝说的艺术
- 酒鬼的人生
- 排除在外
- 恶棍们
- 和平缔造者
- 酝酿麻烦
- 性与死亡
- 好戏连台
- 怎么回事
- 第四部 威斯尼亚
- 报仇
- 堕落
- 袋中鼠
- 孤注一掷
- 仁慈与懦弱
- 奇特的组合
- 黑暗
- 鉴赏家
- 烂肉
- 帮人报仇
- 剑术大师
- 第五部 普兰提
- 一对六
- 眼睛匠
- 迟到的公爵
- 死人发不了财
- 宽广的胸怀与崭新的起点
- 叛徒
- 毒药之王
- 不比你坏
- 收获
- 新任老团长
- 第六部 奥斯皮亚
- 作战计划
- 政治
- 不再拖延
- 都是买卖
- 斯提亚的命运
- 胜利者的滋味
- 白费功夫
- 流沙
- 第七部 塔林
- 荣归故里
- 狮皮
- 准备
- 底线
- 一个国家
- 尘归尘，土归土
- 在所难免
- 打旋的十字弓
- 种子
- 改变
- 皆大欢喜
FAQ
I've never read a fantasy novel—can I still follow The Blade Itself?
Is this book very similar to A Song of Ice and Fire?
Is the story self-contained, or must I read the whole series?
Related on WeRead
Comments
Find this book
This site is an index: you start “Search all sources” in your browser, and the entries it lists all point to third-party sites; please judge their availability yourself.
About the author
Joe Abercrombie is a foreign-literature author who writes against the backdrop of an otherworldly continent. The library currently holds seven of his works, including The First Law Trilogy (three-volume set), Heroes, The First Law, Volume III: Last Argument, The First Law, Volume II: Before They Are Hanged, The First Law, Volume I: The Blade Itself, The Age of Madness, Volume I: A Little Hatred, and Cold Comfort. Public information about his nationality, dates of birth and death, and English name is limited, and the library holds no further biographical details. Judging from the works available, he excels at multi-strand storytelling in an invented world, with stark plotting and complex character relationships that combine adventurous tension with political intrigue, which is why his books are often categorized under otherworldly continents and foreign literature.
Qu Chang is an editor and translator of foreign literature active in the Chinese book market. Public information about him is limited, and biographical details are not available in the current records. Judging from the 31 works held in the collection, his work centers on translating and introducing fantasy and speculative fiction, especially the Chinese editions of various volumes in George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series and related Cthulhu Mythos texts. These works are usually categorized under foreign literature and otherworldly continents, indicating his sustained commitment to publishing genre fiction. His translations cover epic fantasy and horror mythos, bringing foreign speculative narratives to Chinese readers and exerting a certain influence among relevant readerships.
Zhao Lin is a Chinese translator and editor in the field of foreign literature, about whom public information is limited. The database contains eighteen titles she has worked on, spanning fantasy and horror, including Cthulhu Mythos Vol. 2: At the Mountains of Madness, A Song of Ice and Fire: The Complete Series, The Tales of Dunk and Egg, Heroes, the three volumes of The First Law, and Red Country. Most fall under foreign literature and otherworld fantasy, involving vast secondary worlds, power struggles, and adventures of growth. Judging from these titles, she focuses on fantasy and Lovecraftian horror of global influence, serving genre readers and helping Chinese audiences grasp the plot and atmosphere of the originals. Her work emphasizes translation rather than original writing, aiming to fully convey narrative rhythm and genre features, and has won some influence among readers.
