Amazon.com: Customer reviews: Best Served Cold (World of the First Law Book 1)

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Reviewed in the United States on January 9, 2017

I had read Ambercombie's first trilogy and very much enjoyed it. I was a bit iffy about starting this one as from the reviews it was obvious that most of the main characters would not be a part of it. It is set in a different part of the world. I felt I might be a bit disappointed to miss the main characters - which had been quite developed, and worried there would not be a lot of time to have similar quality characters done in what is essentially a stand alone novel.

Having said all that, there was no need to worry. He does an excellent job putting together a couple new characters you quickly care about while pulling in a bunch of secondary character from the first trilogy. The fact that it is relatively a stand alone novel means it is very fast paced - actually I respect the author in not trying to pull this story out into another trilogy which he could have easily done. Definitly an enjoyable read that I would highly recommend and I look forward to reading the later books in this world.

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CMR

Did not enjoy

Reviewed in the United States on June 25, 2019

I loved the First Law series. I particularly liked the way that the characters were multi-dimensional, with the same person being capable of both great kindness and great evil. This book just left a bad taste in my mouth. Monza is self-absorbed and malicious and doesn't ever seem to appreciate the futility of her quest for revenge. Shivers comes across as a bit naive at first but Monza's callous treatment totally destroys him. I felt very sorry for him. None of the other characters - with the possible exception of Cosca - are in any way sympathetic or interesting. Finishing this book was a struggle and I won't be re-reading it. I hope the other standalones are better.

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Traeling

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Reviewed in the United States on January 9, 2017

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50 people found this helpful

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DanniKalifornia

Unexpectedly superb - Audible version a MUST!

Reviewed in the United States on August 30, 2018

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I recommend the audible version of this epic novel narrated by Steven Pacey as an absolute must if you enjoy books on audio. I have yet to find any other narrator that brings a story to life with such authenticity. His timing is right, his emphasis, tones, and the voices are all unique, for each character! He is not reading a book, as so many others do, he is performing it. And that is the reason I made it more than part way through this book. Which is not to say the book isn't well written, because it definitely is. It is, however, bleak, full of gore in fully descriptive detail, and literally nearly every character is a murderer with few redeeming qualities. The author is relentless, does not take it easy on the 'audience' or the characters, and the plot can seem somewhat slow. Even listening, I was 2/3 through and wondering what on earth the point was. Thinking I had never before read a book where I found it hard to in some way relate to, root for, or like any of the characters very much. If you're like me, and have never read anything by Abercrombie to know his style, or have never read a story so incessantly dark and bloody, and you try to read it yourself rather than listen to Pacey's excellent performance, you just might quit before it's done. And that, as I found out, would be a mistake. By the time it was done, I WAS caring about and rooting for the characters. In a very human and realistic sort of way. Because this story is not pretty, and neither are the people in it. But I was able to grow to appreciate a book unlike any other I've ever experienced. The author is masterful with his twists and the subtleties in his crafting allow the story to build and grow over time in a way that sucks you in slowly and doesn't spoon feed you. It is also sprinkled throughout with humor that had me chuckling or barking out laughter.
I have since started Joe Abercrombie's First Law Trilogy with The Blade Itself on audible and am finding it just as awesome. Without any reservations I can say that this book is, thus far, my absolute favorite audible experience, and one I highly recommend!

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Matthew Ries

It Might Cold But Tastes Very Good

Reviewed in the United States on April 21, 2021

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A ruthless and paranoid Grand Duke looking to become a King believes his best general is planning to usurp him and looks to get rid of her, but he did not finish the job. Best Served Cold is the fourth book and first standalone set in Joe Abercrombie’s First Law world as the vengeful path of the betrayed has an impact for the great powers of the world.

Monzcarro "Monza" Murcatto is the notorious leader of The Thousand Swords mercenary company that has brought victory after victory to her employer, Grand Duke Orso of Talins, becoming wealthy and popular as a result. Unfortunately, too popular for Orso’s liking which results in his ordering that Monza and her beloved brother Benna being thrown down a mountain. Unfortunately for Orso, she survives the stabbing, mutilating, garroting and a brutal fall. Now Monza wants vengeance against the seven men responsible: Orso's bodyguard Gobba, his banker Mauthis, the general of his armies Ganmark, her treacherous second-in-command Faithful Carpi, his sons Prince Ario and Count Foscar, and finally Orso himself. However, she cannot do it alone, so she enlists the help of an oddball carnival of psychopaths to aid her in her quest. This includes: Caul Shivers, a Northman looking to make a fresh start; Friendly, a number-obsessed ex-convict; Castor Morveer, a self-congratulatory blowhard of a poisoner, and his constantly eating apprentice Day; Shylo Vitari, a former Practical; and last, but by no means the least, the lovable scoundrel and drunkard has-been Nicomo Cosca who Monza betrayed to become leader of the Thousand Swords. Across Styria, they systematically work their way through Monza’s list. On the way, they not only kill their targets, but poison an entire bank full of people in Westport, burn a bordello to the ground in Sipani, and play no small role in the fate of Styria as a whole. Before Monza finally kills Duke Orso himself, he reveals that his fears were well-founded, and Benna was indeed planning to usurp him without Monza's knowledge. Meanwhile, various subplots interweaver Monza’s bloody-minded violent revenge. Bayaz and Khalul continue their machinations on the grand chessboard in Styria. Caul Shivers’ moral transformation from a likable optimist to a cold-blooded killer. Through Monza’s flashbacks we learn that her reputation as a butcher of the innocent, may not be as simple as all that. And a mysterious assassin called Shenkt who has his own plans for Monza, and his own desire for revenge … against Bayaz. In the end, a pregnant Monza is Grand Duchess of Talins just as Benna had planned, one of the only stable states in Styria and fulfilling Shenkt’s plan of an independent strong leader in Styria.

Like all of Abercrombie’s books of the First Law there are no purely good characters even though there are some awfully bad ones, but Monza might turn out to be one of the more morally positive by the end of the book than any of the other characters of Abercrombie’s work. All the characters followed throughout the book are well-written and intriguing, but the most intriguing is Benna who though killed in the first chapter worked to make Monza the ruler of a city though given what he did to ruin her reputation appeared to be setting her up to be assassinated so he could take over which would be a real Abercrombie thing to do. The long game of Shenkt appears to be something interest to look forward to for the future of the world especially given who the two big supernatural players of this world are.

Best Served Cold is a fantastic return by Joe Abercrombie to his First Law world that any fan of the original trilogy would enjoy.

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CMR

Did not enjoy

Reviewed in the United States on June 25, 2019

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ADK

Ok, I guess

Reviewed in the United States on November 26, 2020

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I read the First Law trilogy, which came oh-so-highly recommended in a fantasy group I'm in. It was alright, I guess. There's almost zero magic in these books though, so if that's what you're looking for then you can look elsewhere.
As far as this book goes, I was mostly bored. It kind of dragged on because the main character (Monza) had a list of people she wanted revenge on and that list was a little long, but that's the entire focus of the book. I liked Shivers, but then something happened and he changed into a different person that I didn't like. And I never liked Monza, so basing a book more or less on these two at the top was pretty irritating to me.
My favorite was Cosca, followed by Friendly. I'm not sure they made it worth reading this book--maybe--but I doubt I'm going to spend the time to reread this book or any of the First Law. I think this is where I'm calling it quits with these books, which is unfortunate because of people's general obsession with them. I don't really get it. Joe is a great writer though--I've highlighted a lot of passages in his books. I just don't think I'm interested enough in grim dark to stay with him.

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H Stafford

So Damn Good

Reviewed in the United States on March 5, 2021

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This book was my gateway to Joe Abercrombie. I remember picking it up in the bookstore years ago, not knowing what to expect. I was a long time fantasy reader who was simply looking for a good book to read.

I was blown away. The entire book was a shock to the system; bloody, dark, grim. Abercrombie's depictions of action are visceral and carry such impact that you can almost feel the thunder of the calvary charge or the thud of a mace crunching into a shield. I felt right in the middle of the action and was aware of the stress and risk the characters endured.

While the action hooked me as a reader, it is the characters that solidify this as a must read. Each of the characters has their own personalities and motivations. Their reactions and internal struggles are realistic and human. They are not perfect heros of old, with only noble thoughts fighting evil; they struggle with the same darkness we all do daily as a part of the human condition. Each of the characters have a strong arc that transforms them throughout their journey, for better or worse, but always real. I cannot say enough about Abercrombie's ability to breathe life into his characters.

The world building is done exceptionally well. The country where this takes place is well described, both the geography and the politics, with hints as to a history long past and other locations in the world. This was my first Abercrombie novel, so I did not have any knowledge of the other locations or history, but I was provided with enough information to give a feel of a diverse world with historical significance without feeling as though I were missing something. It made me want to learn more about the world, which I thankfully found when I read the First Law Trilogy.

I have read this book numerous times over the years and each read through has been different for me; as I change, so does my appreciation of the characters Abercrombie has created. If you have not read Abercrombie before, this book is a great place to start, as I did. If you've read the First Law Trilogy, then you will enjoy this follow up.

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Bryan DesmondTop Contributor: Dragon Ball Z (TV Show)

His writing is tight, his pace breakneck, his characters memorable, all that I came to love about his first trilogy is back.

Reviewed in the United States on June 1, 2017

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Well, this was a hell of a ride. Maybe I'm just a sucker for a well told revenge story.

I've come to expect greatness from Mr. Abercrombie after recently finishing his First Law trilogy. Best Served Cold, the first of three books set in the world of the First Law, met that expectation and perhaps went a bit further. His writing is tight, his pace breakneck, his characters memorable, all that I came to love about his first trilogy is back in force.

Sitting back after reading this one, and reminiscing on the first trilogy, I'm left with two main thoughts. First is this. Joe will not give you what you want. He will make you want things. You will want a certain character to do X, but have a fear that they will do Y, and Joe will laugh and make them do Z. Leave what you want behind and enjoy the ride. The second is rather bleak, and it is this; if you try to change someone for the better, more often than not they'll change for the worse. Horrible right? But interesting to watch.

If you've not read it, I recommend it. I think that you could even read this one without having read the First Law, though you'd miss knowledge of plenty secondary situations and characters. I'll be diving into The Heroes very soon.

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Alexis

A Great Revenge Story!

Reviewed in the United States on June 21, 2021

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“You were a hero round these parts. That's what they call you when you kill so many people the word murderer falls short.”

This is the first standalone novel in The First Law world and let me just say that it was a wild ride!

I love when authors expand their worlds with additional books and after reading this, I need more authors to do this with standalones. I adored Best Served Cold. It does everything a continuation is supposed to do. It expands the world of the First Law by showing us a different part of it, but also gives some side characters from the previous books the main character treatment.

Monza as the main character was just amazing! I loved her and all of her bad decisions. Her motivation is very clear from the beginning. Her mind is always on her mission and even when it feels like she may lose sight of that, she brings it back into focus. Monza also has no problem screwing people over in order to get her revenge, which makes her ruthless, but at the same time, she has these moments where she shows guilt and remorse. She is for sure a complex character, which is something Abercrombie is really good at creating.

Speaking of amazing characters, let’s talk about Shivers. He was a side character from the First Law Trilogy and all I really knew about him was that he wanted revenge for his brother’s death and he never really got it. It’s ironic that he would hook up with another person on a quest for revenge for their brother’s death as well. Shivers is another complicated character because there were moments where I understood him and his motivations and even rooted for him. There were also these moments where I was questioning his thought process. I will say that overall, I ended up quite liking him.

“All your life spent getting ready for the next thing. I climbed a lot of hills now. I crossed a lot of rivers. Crossed the sea even, left everything I knew and came to Styria. But there I was, waiting for me at the docks when I got off the boat, same man, same life. Next valley ain’t no different from this one. No better anyway. Reckon I’ve learned … just to stick in the place I’m at. Just to be the man I am.”

I also loved Nicoma Cosca. By far, one of the best characters in the entirety of the First Law so far. He brought the humor and fun to the story and I couldn’t tell if I could trust him or not, which is something I tend to enjoy in a character. I still dislike Duke Orso though. He can choke because he is still a backstabbing snake and nothing about that changed in this book. There are little cameos that I also enjoyed seeing like Jezal.

This is a revenge story, so unlike with the First Law trilogy, this does have a central plot even though the strength is still the characters. I love a good revenge plot line, so it is not a surprise how much I loved this. The story itself was full of plot, schemes, and people betraying others left and right. There is also a lot of death and violence as well, which isn’t shocking considering the type of story this is.

And that ending! The ending has me excited for future books because I wonder if what we learned at the end of the book will be important in the next trilogy. I’m excited to see.

“Sometimes men change for the better. Sometimes men change for the worse. And often, very often, given time and opportunity . . .’ He waved his flask around for a moment, then shrugged. ‘They change back.”

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G. McKay

Bleak. Did not finish. Quit at 50%

Reviewed in the United States on March 7, 2022

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It's almost well written, there are definable characters, there's a sense of place, the action scenes are well described. I liked the prior books in the universe even.

I didn't like the survival of the betrayest theme, that was repeated over and over. The protagonist is just as crappy as everyone else. There is not a single character with a redeeming feature. Every character gets their very own spin on how broken they are, and they just don't deviate from that in any kind of meaningful way. They all make the same ugly mistakes over and over again.

The unforgivable part are the goofy plot devices that keep the plot diving downward and downward. It's repetitive, and you can't even take the moments of regret seriously, because they just move on to something worse.

Hey, maybe there's a redemption arc. But if there is, they don't deserve it, and I'm not going to slog through misery porn to eventually get to it.

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KL Hayes

Worst peice of crap I've ever been forced to finish

Reviewed in the United States on October 19, 2021

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Typically I do not right reviews but after reading this feel forced to vent the bile I gained from finishing this after reading the First Law series. I wont go into any indepth analysis of the work as i really doesnt deserve the effort - much like dissecting a runny dog turd to understand why it is disgusting. Thr writing is ham fisted, the characters are vile individuals that one hopes to find redemption but only sink into grosser depravities that the writer finishes with an attitude of "thats just life - cool huh?" in the end Even the pornagraphic scences are dull worthless travesty entries. I felt when finished that i had been shoved headfirst by this writer through the accumulated sewage of his misanthropic world, being force-fed the the choicest vile spew, and when coming up for air at the end, only to left with the intolorable ache of from having been "fonged" by the writer along the way

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