Best Served Cold
Joe Abercrombie
9/10
Best Served Cold is a book that seems to have a way of pulling you in. It makes sure that when you put it down you pick it up again, even though it is quite heavy. for those of you who don't know Revenge is a dish best served cold and this book is heavy with revenge. It follows the story of a mercenary who seeks revenge on her jealous employer after he kills her brother and seriously maims her trying to kill her at the same time. This leaves her with a horribly scarred body and a thirst for revenge. She sets out to kill everybody related to her attempted murder with only a handful of allies. These allies are what made the book so interesting for me. they each have their own quirks, vices and behaviours. My favourite being an exceedingly polite serial murderer who is obsessed with numbers and only wishes he could return to the order of his medieval prison. Along within arrogant poisoner, a drunk who both hates and loves her and a viking mercenary who only wants to be the best man he can be. The cast of characters makes sure that the seven men who must die, do so in a way that satisfies a thirst for revenge that is harboured in the heart of the most feared and revered woman in all of Styria.
Something that I tend to do more out of habit then anything else is analyse the book (yes, I know, I'm supposed to read for fun) but it was really one of the things that made this book interesting. When you read it, think about the way that all of the main characters seem to try to get the best out of the situation in which they find themselves. Money is a big factor and stories of betrayal are told, made and revenged upon many times in the book. This story has no 'good guys' there are main characters but read the whole book and try to tell me that in the end there is a winner. The battle may have ended, but the war rages on, and the price of victory may have been too great. Read the book and then make your decision. Leave a comment, please, I'd like to discuss this idea.
This book is enthralling, entertaining and a very long read that is well worth reading slowly and pondering during class. Not worth a detention when is is a lot easier and much more fun to simply ponder and daydream about the horrible yet intricate enigma that is Revenge.
P.S There, happy? I tried to make a longer review after receiving criticism for making them too short.
