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Book Review of Before They Are Hanged (First Law, Bk 2)

Before They Are Hanged (First Law, Bk 2)
emeraldmagick avatar reviewed on + 31 more book reviews


Second installment not as good as the first but still loved it:)

Plenty of trickery, battles, and twists abound... a couple unexpected surprises to be sure and some head scratching moments.

We get to know some of the characters better as they slog their way through each of their individual journeys.

Ferro grew on me more, you can see more where she's coming from even though she never lets us in completely. Jezal grows some too from being a spoiled arse... his growing friendship with LOGEN was fun to watch. Still not clear on what purpose Bayaz had in mind for him on this journey though.

Bayaz is keeping more secrets but more is revealed about the past between him and his brothers/sister of the Magi. You can see where things went downhill and how it all got there... left me wondering if things could have been different or if the path was meant to be this way.

Quai we don't really get to know better much and Brother Longfoot is a bit of a fool sometimes, but in a well meaning way.

Something bigger stirs behind the Gurkish/Union war, something that is content with all this destruction... guiding events the way THEY want them to go... knowing who you think it is doesn't solve all the matters either, only more unanswered questions (I will be perfectly happy though without an intimate glimpse into this character's head, thank you very much).

Glotka has a sense of what's going on and I share something of his suspicions but as to what it all is *shrugs* I have a feeling it'll come to light soon.

What more can I say without repeating myself? Haha.. Action intrigue, battle, violence, betrayal, conspiracy... all blended together for one heck of a mixture.

Only big complaint I have is the pacing is the same as the first... not much happening but at the same time there's plenty going on... no rest for anyone in the Union or Gurkish.

I don't mind ,don't get me wrong... it's never a boring novel, the pages fly by and you forget at times how thick the book is since your kept engaged in what's happening.

Bethod is one cunning bastard, I'll give him that, but how much of it is him?

The ending for each of the narratives, had me thinking 'what the hell are they going do to now?' I have a feeling things will be alot worse before they get even slightly better.