The Heroes

This follow-up to Abercrombie's First Law series stands well on its own. It takes the blood and guts of the earlier works to a new level. The entire story is essentially one continuous battle, and the pacing is intense. There's ample room for Michael Page's considerable voicing talents in this complex story. Page's crowning achievement is his masterful rendering of the neckless giant, Bremer dan Gorst, who speaks with a ridiculous falsetto. There's much irony and subtle humor interlaced with the gory story, and Page teases out these qualities with his impeccable timing and use of tone. As always, his female characters are near perfect. M.C. (c) AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine

Starred review from December 13, 2010
This blood-drenched, thought-provoking dissection of a three-day battle is set in the same world as Abercrombie's First Law Trilogy (The Blade Itself, etc.), but stands very well alone. Union commander Lord Marshal Kroy coordinates the fight with the aid of a motley group of incompetent, self-important officers. The strangely sympathetic Col. Bremer dan Gorst is officially a royal observer who nurses a burning desire to kill or be killed. Leading a much smaller army against the Union is Black Dow, whose grip on the throne of the Northmen is tenuous and based on fear and brutality. Calder, a slippery and cunning egotist, advocates peace while plotting to take Black Dow's place. Abercrombie never glosses over a moment of the madness, passion, and horror of war, nor the tribulations that turn ordinary people into the titular heroes.