Book Review: The Blade Itself

It had been long enough since my last tome. This one, the first in Joe Abercrombie's First Law trilogy, runs about 500 pages plus substantial extras. It's also pretty violent, as made plain by the cover. By the time I read a positive blurb from George R.R. Martin and a Guardian description as "delightfully twisted and evil," I wasn't sure I'd dare reach the end. Still, I've enjoyed enough dark novels to give it a go.

( Cut for length )

For something different and much shorter, I have begun the latest edition of Steering the Craft by Ursula K. Le Guin. I'm not entirely sure I'm part of her target audience, but every bit of pro writing advice suits me fine.