Red Country

I absolutely loved this book, so much so that I'd probably consider it my favorite book I've read so far this year. I'm not sure I liked it quite as much as the original First Law Trilogy, but I think that this is my favorite of the standalone books from Joe Abercrombie. I loved the setting inspired classic Westerns, especially since it's in the First Law world with multiple returning characters. Perhaps because of it being a Spaghetti Western Fantasy Adventure Novel, there really isn't anything magical or fantastical in Red Country, other than a very brief cameo from a Wizard that I believe was in one of the previous stories. In fact, this book could probably be placed in the Western section, if it wasn't for the presence of swords instead of bowie knives, cross-bows instead of six-shooters, and the fact that it takes place in a secondary world, not the western United States. This book is instead driven by the wonderful original characters, excellent writing, and the rather simple but heart wrenching powerful story. I really only had two problems with Red Country, the first is just the basic formatting, where for some reason in his books all of the quotes only have one apostrophe instead of the normal two. It really took me awhile to get used to it, and until then the flow of my reading was effected, especially with some of the vernacular using apostrophes and having some of the viewpoint character's thoughts following right after someone else's comment. My other problem with the book isn't exactly a problem as it leads to some of my favorite scenes in the book, but in a fantasy book that's more realistic/gritty, the extreme amount of coincidences that fuel the story and interactions are a bit problematic. I'd say that it almost borders on being driving solely by Fate or Prophecy, even though that doesn't seem to be part of the story/world-building. I just found that the way everything falls perfectly into the place (sometimes horribly) at exactly the right moment to be a little odd, and it occasionally took me a little out of the story, it also made some of the outcomes of the story slightly predictable. If you look solely at Red Country, the world building is very slim. This is great for the long-term reader/fan of Abercrombie's books as there isn't any retread as the author tries to provide an info-dump to attempt to catch every reader up (new and old), but it's also great for a new reader as there really isn't anything they would need to know other than what's outlined at the beginning of the book. Basically, the western part of the continent is starting to be repopulated, partly by settlers looking for a new life, but mostly by people betting their lives on finding gold along with other people waiting to prey on them. Things are further complicated by the presence of savages (Indians) unhappy with the incursion of civilization and the two super-powers of the world (The Union and the Empire) hoping to lay claim on this fertile newish land. There are multiple main characters with interweaving stories, but the main driving storyline is initiated by the rampant kidnapping of children and the murder of anyone else that gets in their way. The child thieves happen to steal the wrong pair of children, as their older sister and step-father (whose pasts are riddled with bloodshed) will stubbornly follow them to the ends of the earth. This part of the story, especially near the beginning, is immensely powerful as they follow the bloody trail of the kidnappers, cleaning up the messes they made by burying all of the bodies they find, praying that the next body they turn around won't be one of their kids. After a bit, they group up with a wagon trail, and the story slows down a bit, but I still really loved the section as it evolved the characters and really increased the Western feel of the story. The other storyline in Red Country focuses on a mercenary company that's been sent by the Union to oust all of hiding rebels and bring the territory under Union control. Sadly, whenever you throw a couple hundred blood thirsty warriors at a problem, it tends to end in bloodshed along with rampant pillaging. The time with the mercenaries was entertaining, but it wasn't as good as the main story, however it does introduce an excellent and completely original viewpoint character in the Merc Company's Lawyer/Jack-of-all-trades. I won't go into any more depth in regards to the story to avoid spoilers, but I will say that I loved it, and while the ending is far from perfect it was still very enjoyable and expertly crafted. The writing in this book is superb, and I really don't have anything to complain about. The flow of the writing is great, with the book being a real page turner, although occasionally an expertly written scene or line would break me out of the flow where I was forced take time to recognize its majesty. There are a few odd choices made with the name of the characters though. I won't describe who exactly I'm talking about as it would be a spoiler, but there are a few returning characters whose true names are never spoken. Some of them are smaller, and this caused me to not exactly remember them, but another is huge, and even when who he is was made abundantly clear, it was odd that his name was never actually said. By the way, for anyone that had previously read Abercrombie's books but wasn't sure about picking up Red Country, the presence of this awesome character is enough by itself to warrant a purchase and read-through of the book. The action here is very well written, but it was a bit odd that none of the main viewpoint characters were really the heroes/fighters in the story; I mean they still take part in the battles but it's usually in more of a secondary capacity. Abercrombie does a really interesting thing every once in a while, where for an important event there will be multiple rotating viewpoints to get different angles/opinions on the unfolding event. It could be a little jarring since for most of the book the reader is riding along with one character per chapter and there aren't many main viewpoints, but I still really enjoyed the change in pace this writing tactic created. Those viewpoint characters are amazingly original and well written, and the only other author that I've seen come close to having such completely different characters (especially if you include Abercrombie's previous books) is George R.R. Martin. The voice really feels completely different between the characters, and to me they have to be so unlike the author that I find it amazing that he can make them so real and believable. So overall, I would strongly recommend this book to anyone that likes to read, whether they're fantasy fans or are new to the genre, whether they've read the previous books from Joe Abercrombie or are new to his masterpieces. I will say that if you've read his previous books, you will get a lot more out of Red Country, but it just improves the reading experience, and I don't think it would harm the quality of the story for a new reader. It may also provide an interesting experience if the reader goes back and starts the First Law Trilogy, as they can see younger versions of some of the characters in action. I simply loved reading this book, so much so that I was kind of sad when I was done, especially since I know it could potentially be awhile before I can read a new book in this world.

I'm a big Abercrombie fan; I love his Circle of the World setting and how he ties all of his books together with recurring characters and references. While this is technically a stand-alone novel, if a reader isn't familiar with--well, pretty much all of Abercrombie's past books but especially the First Law trilogy and Heroes--then they will miss a lot of good stuff in here. Abercrombie always manages to create great settings, write edge-of-your-seat suspense scenes, and introduce great, gritty, three-dimensional characters. And while he has all of that here, it doesn't shape up compared to his best works. I'm in the minority of his fanbase in that I really liked Best Served Cold, moreso than the Heroes. I prefer both of those to this. One reason is the characters are nowhere near as entertaining as those in past works. Shy is one of Abercrombie's more likable female protagonists, but her whole "I have a dark and secret past" storyline, which ultimately isn't that interesting, never did it for me, and she ended up being rather one dimensional in her desire to save her siblings while choosing to ignore what was happening to characters around her, especially her step-dad Lamb (who really is the star of the book. The cowardly lawyer, Temple, is a stronger character and seems to actually go through some deep character development. But the duo pale in comparison to Abercrombie's past protagonists. It's the gritty western-ish setting of the Far Country that's the real star of the show, here, as are the supporting characters. The new supporting characters, like the protagonists, aren't as entertaining to read about as those in past books, though the famed scount Dab Sweet and his stoic ghost companion are welcome additions to the Circle of the World series. It's the returning characters who steal the show here, some using their real names, some old ones. Without spoiling anything, it's pretty obvious from the get-go who one of the characters are, though for another, only attentive readers will figure out her real identity. Moreso than any other characters, even the lackluster protagonists, this story is about Lamb and everyone's favorite amoral mercenary, Nicomo Cosca. While there is an incredibly thrilling finale (pretty much as soon as part V begins until the end of the book) involving both these characters, the road getting there often took boring turns, and the payoff for one of the main characters was disappointing, seeming to just set the stage for future books. All in all, a gritty take by Abercrombie on the western. A solid read, but not one of his best works, as the characterization was pointedly lacking compared to his past works. I get the feeling Abercrombie is setting us up for another trilogy in his Circle of the World with these standalone novels. I hope that's the case, and can't wait to see more of his regular cast of characters (perhaps a certain former slave with a chip on her shoulder will be making a reappearance soon?). Unfortunately, Red Country does little to add anyone new to it, focusing on more familiar faces instead.

What would a fantasy western be like? Red Country the sixth book and third standalone novel of Joe Abercrombie’s First Law world answers that question in its blood-splattered pages with a cast of morally questionable characters some of whom are looking to save family, become better, and to get rich. Shy South, her sister Ro, brother Pit, and their stepfather Lamb live on a farmstead near the little town of Squaredeal in the Near Country, a lawless and large unsettled land west of the Union ruled Starikland that is constantly in rebellion. While Shy and Lamb are in town, their farm is burned to the ground, their friend Gully murdered, and Shy’s siblings kidnapped by an indebted Grega Cantliss who plans to sell children to the Dragon People who reside in the mountains northwest of the goldrush boom town of Crease. Shy and Lamb begin chasing Cantliss’ gang and eventually find three deserters who Lamb beats up for information then kills in a tavern in Averstock to Shy’s surprise. The legendary scout Dab Sweet and his ‘associate’ Crying Rock catch up with the duo and offer them a chance to join their caravan to Crease in the Far Country that they accept. Meanwhile the Union with ‘help’ by Nicomo Cosca’s mercenary company defeats the most recent rebellion in Starikland, Cosca’s company is paid by the Inquisition to head into the Near Country to find rebels much to the chagrin of the Company’s lawyer, Temple. After sacking Squaredeal, Temple and another Company solider go into Averstock to convince the rebels to save the townspeople but Cosca sends in the Company to sack it before the time he gave them was up. Temple runs from the Company and through a series of misadventures falls into a river and is saved by Shy and allowed to join the caravan but in Shy’s debt that he must work off. The biggest incident on the trip was an attack by the Ghosts, native tribesmen, lead by Sangeed through the instigation of Sweet and Crying Rock to get money for their retirement. After fighting off the Ghosts, Lamb kills Sangeed at the negotiation leading the band retreating. Upon their arrival in Crease, Shy and Lamb learn that Cantliss is employed by Papa Ring who is feuding with The Mayor with each control one-half of the city (on either side of the only street in town). Lamb agrees to fight for The Mayor in an upcoming fight for control of the town and later learns his opponent is Glama Golden. Temple helps build a shop for one of the caravan’s participants to finish off his debt to Shy and at the party upon its completion hooks up with Shy but runs out on her when Cantiss bursts into their room to kidnap her before the fighting. Another of the caravan’s members rescues Shy during Lamb’s fight in which he goes berserk and kills Golden resulting in The Mayor winning the town. Ring is hung and Cantliss is captured to lead Shy and Lamb to the Dragon People when Cosca appears forcing a change of plans. Shy, Lamb, Dab, Crying Rock, and a few others of the caravan lead Cosca’s company now including Temple again to the Dragon People and rescue Ro and Pit along with many others as the mercenaries ransack the mountain hideaway that includes a cave full of gold. On the way back, one of the caravan’s members is found out to be the leader of the Starikland rebellion leading to the rest of the caravan members attempting to rescue him by stealing the Company’s pay wagon while Lamb fights his way into where the Inquisition is questioning him. Temple and Shy crash the wagon but are saved by the real rebel leader who takes the gold to start a new war. They return to Crease before the mercenaries and arrange a trick to convince them that the town has pledged allegiance to the slowly rising Old Empire, the Inquisition strips Cosca of leadership of the Company and head back to Starikland. Lamb returns a few days later and the family head home only for Cosca to reappear only to be killed. Upon their return to Squaredeal, Shy takes over the general store while Temple becomes a carpenter/lawyer. One day Caul Shivers appears looking for Lamb to get revenge for his brother but decides not to fight. Lamb leaves the same day for his own reasons. The amount of morally questionable characters in this Joe Abercrombie work should not be a surprise, what is how many of them are at least trying to not be total…jerks. Shy and Temple were both fun characters to read, each having their previous screw ups to live down but also wanting something better. Seeing the return of one of Abercrombie’s best characters from the first trilogy answered the cliffhanger ending he had at the end of The Last Argument of Kings, but his years long struggle to be a better man ended when he once again became the Bloody Nine. Though I have never read a western, this had the feel of one not only with the caravan and it’s obligatory native tribesmen attack but also a goldrush boom town that its literally isn’t big enough for the two factions opposing one another. Abercrombie also shows that the overall political situation in the world is changing as the Old Empire of the original trilogy is apparently revitalized and a potential rival for the Union, yet the long shadows of the past as seen with the Dragon People means that the fantastic elements of the world are still around ready to play a role. Red Country is the answer to the question we didn’t know to ask, what would a western be like set in Joe Abercrombie’s First Law world. The mixture of previously established and newly introduced character makes a engaging story that keeps you reading from beginning to end.

I was a huge fan of Joe Abercrombie's The First Law trilogy, a dark, grounded fantasy about a series of deeply flawed antiheroes, each of which struggled with their own shortcomings and weaknesses in an effort to do something greater. What resulted, though, was a pretty unflinchingly dark series about violence and cruelty, showing how hard it is to change, and how the world cares little for intentions in the face of power and will. The whole trilogy was epic, rich, character-driven, and stark, delivering rich writing, complex worldbuilding, and satisfying character arcs that struggled with questions of redemption, forgiveness, guilt, and change. While The First Law is a self-contained series, that didn't stop Abercrombie from writing more stories set in that world. And while I haven't read any of the others, if they're even half as good as the incredible Red Country, I need to read them post-haste. It won't take you long to realize that Red Country is Abercrombie's take on the Western genre, even with its fantasy trappings. Opening on a town far away from the cities of The First Law, Abercrombie shows us weathered, hardscrabble men and women who have left behind the comforts of "civilization" for the new frontiers of the Far Country. Some are looking for gold and new wealth; some are leaving behind their old lives in hopes of a fresh start; some are businessmen, looking for towns where they can make their fortune; and some are soldiers of fortune, expanding the Empire by force and crushing any thought of rebellion among those who might be using the lack of central authority to make their own power. It's familiar fare, done with Abercrombie's usual rich writing, dark humor, and complex characterization. And when the young siblings of a woman named Shy South get kidnapped by raiders and sold to a tribe, it's easy to think that Abercrombie is going for a Searchers homage here. Here's the uneasy relationship between profit, racism, and violence; here's characters whose lives of violence have led them to indulge their worst tendencies; here's questions about the relationship between "civilization" and "savage" and which is the case. But then, in the space of one line, Abercrombie made me realize that what I was reading wasn't The Searchers; it was Unforgiven - a study of a lifetime of violence, of what it does to the soul, and whether there's any returning from it. Oh, there are other elements at play here - the exploration of frontier towns will remind any Western fan of the seedy anarchy that Deadwood gave us in its first season, and that Searchers feel never quite goes away - but in true Abercrombie fashion, this is a story about violence and those who deal it out. (This is the part where I mention that, while you don't have to read The First Law to appreciate Red Country, it definitely will increase the book's greatness. While Red Country entirely stands alone, there is an aspect of the book that is deeply informed by the events of that series and is never spelled out in Red Country's pages. It gives the events we're watching a whole different feel, and undeniably raises the tension of what we're reading as we wait for that shoe to drop.) There's a lot going on here - Abercrombie follows several major characters as they interweave, and alternates third-person limited narration between them (although we are never given a window into the mind of one key player, interestingly, leaving him defined entirely by his actions). And while the story starts simply enough - with the pursuit of these kidnapped children - there's so much more going on, including the fate of the tribes who inhabited this land before "civilization" came along, a fight for self-sovereignty, a crew of mercenaries destroying everything in their path... ...and yet, what makes Red Country great is none of that. No, what makes it great are the character arcs, as Abercrombie does something he never was able to do in The First Law: he lets them attempt to find redemption and absolution from their sins, as they grapple with their pasts and look inward to see if change is possible. Does Abercrombie give us easy answers? Unequivocally no - this is a hard book, with brutal violence, characters who let us down, and changes for the worse. But he never forgets that the quest for redemption is important in of itself, and maybe worth doing, even if it's never quite possible. And as we watch these characters struggling through the darkness and attempting to find any light to cling to, Abercrombie finds their dignity and humanity, even while keeping true to the broken people they are. Red Country is an absolute knockout - it's riveting, exciting, brutal, surprising, and completely gripping, but more than that, it's satisfyingly rich, both in terms of the world we're seeing and - more importantly - in terms of the characters we're meeting. It's everything I loved about The First Law but even more so, giving me unforgettable characters and a final scene that couldn't be more perfect in how it draws together the themes of the book. The First Law was stunning, but this is something truly special. A must for any fantasy fan, but also for anyone interested in how you tell the story of an antihero.

It's like a spaghetti western with swords. Story: After returning home to her farm, headstrong Shy South and her hulking but sullen step-father Lamb, discover that they've been raided. With their farm burned to the ground, and the children missing, they set off to hunt down the kidnappers. The party eventually teams up with a wagon train of desperate prospectors as they trek across the plains searching for gold in them thar hills. Their adventure takes them across a wild frontier full of natives, mercenaries, the inquisition, and betrayers. A few characters from the First Law Trilogy return and it's great to see them. There are some twists and turns and people get what's coming to them. World: The world is similar to the old west, but the characters carry swords instead of guns. Gunpowder and a cannon type weapon are introduced in this book and there's no magic. With the themes of natives, a gold rush, wagon trains, a small dirt-water town, it feels more like a western, than a fantasy book. Characters: Shy South is hard as nails, enjoys a good drink, and can negotiate a banker to tears. Temple is a man of many talents, but his cowardice holds him back. Dab Sweet is a legendary scout far past his prime. Lamb is a shy giant of a man, who avoids confrontation... until pushed too far. The characters are all fun to read and they play off of each other with witty dialogue and dry humor. Writing Style: Joe Abercrombie is known for his gritty writing style, bloody violence, dark humor, and not-so happy endings. Everything in this book is dirty, dusty, covered in puke, blood, or excrement. But that's just the way it is on the frontier. The action is extremely violent and bloody. The humor is dry. And at times, the story takes an unexpected turn away from things that are predictable and climactic, to throw the reader a curve ball. Action: This book has less action than the other Abercrombie books, but there are raids, horseback battles, brawls, duels, and skirmishes. The action is bloody and there's a bit of gore. It's well written and you feel the characters struggle, the impact of the blades, and the injuries afterwards. Maturity: Adult There's sex, swearing, adult themes, drinking, puking, killing, beating, decapitating, dismembering, and downright ornery characters. Overall: This is a very good book. The pace is uneven, but when there isn't any action, it's enjoyable to read the characters interacting with each other. The action is violent. The dialogue is funny. The humor is dark. The setting is right out of the gold rush. The characters are shockingly ruthless... but true to their motives. If you enjoyed Joe Abercrombie's books, you'll like this one, even though it's much more western than medieval fantasy. If you haven't read the First Law Trilogy, just know that you'll get a lot more out of this book if you read that first. It's not completely necessary, but it helps!

I'm a long-time fan of Abercrombie, so I had RED COUNTRY on pre-order and was basically drooling as I waited for its release date. I'm very happy to say that it did not disappoint. I'm not a fan of westerns, but I found the idea of combining fantasy in a western setting extremely compelling. There isn't much fantasy in RED COUNTRY though, certainly less fantastical elements than was found in THE FIRST LAW trilogy, which I found slightly disappointing. All right, here's a breakdown of my review of RC. CHARACTERS: I love, love, looooove Abercrombie's characters. If you're looking for special snowflakes, he ain't the guy for you. But if what you want are real, gritty, complex characters, then Abercrombie's got it down pat. Admittedly, I found RC's main, Shy, less compelling than past mains like Murcatto and Glokta. Of course, saying that Shy isn't as interesting as Glokta is like saying something isn't as valuable as a diamond the size of a hamster. She's still a great character. Err, I feel like I'm not expressing myself very well, so moving on...the rest of the characters in RC are your typical Abercrombie cast of effed-up, cowardly bastards. Which is amazing, because I love it when characters are flawed and cowardly and not fighting to sacrifice themselves for a greater good. PLOT: Shy South comes home to find the children stolen and the farm burned. She travels to the Far Country in pursuit of the kids. Like BEST SERVED COLD, RED COUNTRY's plot is pretty straightforward. I find that Abercrombie's books tend to be character-driven, but this doesn't mean that his plots are thin. On the contrary, set during a gold rush, on the cusp of newfound technologies (coal and gunpowder), Abercrombie has managed to ramp up the stakes in RED COUNTRY. Y'all know how TFL trilogy was described by TV Tropes as being set in a "crapsack world"? Well, RED COUNTRY's setting sinks even lower than that. And I mean that in the best possible way. Part of why I love Abercrombie is his ability to shine a light on the worst of humanity, and he sure as hell did it in RC. WRITING: Abercrombie's writing is as unpretentious as before, albeit smoother, with an economy to his words that I find admirable. There was never a point in the book where I felt like he was indulging himself (cough, cough, Rothfuss). The writing remained consistently strong throughout the book, the pacing fast, the story richly-set and moving at a healthy pace. The ending left me with tears in my eyes and goosebumps all over my arms. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed RED COUNTRY, but I have docked one star because I didn't find it as amazing as his other books. I much prefer BEST SERVED COLD and TFL, both for the plot and the immense complexity of their characters. Having said that, RED COUNTRY is a strong book that I will definitely recommend to fans of low fantasy.

Shy is a hard woman with a dark past. Lamb is a giant of a man and a bloody coward. But he's the closest thing to a father Shy and her two young siblings is ever going to have. When Shy finds her farm burnt to the ground and her young brother and sister taken, Shy and Lamb take off cross country to find them. It is a journey that will cost them everything they are. "What do we do if we catch them?" she muttered, keeping her voice down. "Chances are they're going to be armed and willing. Better armed than us, that's sure." "Recon we'll have to be more willing then." There are many detailed characters in Red Country but none is as riveting as Lamb, a quiet man who kept his head bowed for years, farming, raising children that weren't his own. Perhaps the story of Lamb draws from too many familiar tropes (the lone warrior, ronin, etc.) but Lamb's journey, dialogue, and challenges haunted me weeks after finishing the book. I didn't want no trouble," said Lamb. "It blew in anyway. Trouble's got a habit that way." He pushed his wet hair out of his face, and his eyes were wide open, bright, bright, mouth open too, breathing fast, and he was smiling. Not like a man working his way up to a hard task. Like a man enjoying getting to a pleasant one, taking his time about it like you might over a fine meal, and of a sudden Shy saw all those scars anew, and felt this coldness creeping up her arms and down her back and every hair on her standing. Elsewhere Captain General Nicomo Cosca leads The Company of the Gracious Hand, a fierce bunch of mercenary murderers and thieves, accompanied by a feckless lawyer named Temple. The Company of the Gracious Hand has been hired by the inquisition to route hidden pockets of rebels, which they mean to do by burning and pillaging their way across the country. It's a red country indeed. This is a fantastic book that spans many characters, miles of travel, and battles. No one ends the journey unscathed, definitely not Lamb who turns out to have a much richer and darker past than Shy ever suspected. Abercrombie's First Law trilogy is also fantastic but the characters are so dark that you almost stop caring about them. In Red Country, Shy, Temple, and definitely Lamb are dark, broken characters and yet you never stop rooting for them to succeed. They are forced into many hard choices, each with a hefty price to pay, and each conflict brings an uneasy resolution. Yet the dialogue has so much sly wit and humor that the book never seems TOO dark or bleak. There is a spark of hope and warmth that keeps the balance. Joe Abercrombie is a modern master of the anti-hero and Red Country is his best work to date. I highly recommend.

Red Country is Abercrombie's third stand-alone novel set in the same world as his First Law trilogy. While reading the prior books is not necessary to follow the story, I think it really enhances the experience, as there are many plot points and characters that are easier to understand if you know the backstory. The book revolves are Shy South, a woman with a troubled past who is trying to keep the family farm running. When the farm is burned and her brother and sister are kidnapped she vows to track down the attackers and get her siblings back. In order to do so she will need to chase them across the Far Country, an unsettled, brutal land in the midst of a gold rush. Her father-in-law Lamb, who she believes to be the biggest coward alive, accompanies her due to a promise he made to her mother. The story sounds simple, but as it continues it keeps adding more and more to the mix. Along the way they find interesting characters to accompany them, join up with a group of settlers heading towards the rumors of gold, get embroiled in the battle for the town where the gold rush is centered, and finally get sucked into the politics of the brewing war between the Union and the Old Empire. Some familiar faces from previous books play a role, Cosca, Friendly, and Caul Shivers just to name a few. Consistent with the previous books there are really no cut and dry good guys, it's a dark and dirty world and even the "heroes" aren't going to come out clean. The highlight for me is Lamb. I won't spoil who he is, but if you've read any of the previous books you probably already know. If this series is Abercrombie's take on a western movie, the Lamb is Clint Eastwood's character from The Unforgiven (which I would swear there are some lines from in the book, not the same, but close enough that it made me wonder if it was intentional..... or I could just be reading too much into it). Lamb is the killer who has tried to put the violent past behind him and start fresh, slowly getting dragged back into the old life. This has always been among my favorite characters in the series, and it's a welcome return, even if the character might wish differently. In conclusion, simply stated, this is my favorite fantasy novel I've read this year, best I've read since the previous book in the series. It manages to tell a great story on its own while continuing to develop the storylines in Abercrombie's world. Highly recommended!