Woosh! I zoomed through the third book in the First Law series brought to me by Joe Abercrombie. I didn’t even get up to go to the toilet so my bladder exploded, but you won’t hear me complaining about it!

The third in the series is a nailbiter! The first two kind of plod forward like Michael from Halloween. No matter how you go, you feel something’d right behind you and with the third book you finally see what it is. Last Argument of Kings covers not just two major wars coming to their inevitable conclusion, but also the political intrigue surrounding the death of one king and the handing over of power to his unsurprising, but still satisfying, successor. Glokta – my personal favourite character over the three books, is at his scintillating best, “questioning” anyone he can lay his hands on as he ferrets out the “truth” by hook, crook and a large variety of cutting tools. His story is just amazing and his wit and bitter sarcasm is, well, almost jolly, really. He’s certainly the Torturer of the Millenium. He’ll be a hard character to beat, that’s for sure. I think it will be a hard task for any writer to try matching Mister Abercrombie for Glokta. He’s just . . . just it.

Bayaz it is who is very satisfying, too, and a common theme of “what is evil and what is good?” is explored with a frankness and a near-cynicism that’s so refreshing in the genre of modern fantasy. Bayaz epitomises to me what is the “powerful mage” character of fantasy literature. The Gandalfs and Merlins and even the Raistlins. He’s in some good company, and even more so for the more realistic ruthlessness he displays. His bloodthirsty need to pretty much obliterate the enemy is both fun and explorative of the character. I enjoyed his ruthless nature and his chilling coldness.

Ninefingers, of course, is a little more fun than the past two books, too. His is a magnificent and cunning war, and while I think I would have loved a few more Bloody-Nine moments, I’m satisfied. Ferro’s tale was slightly more of a let-down at the end, but I did like her final meeting with Ninefingers. I think it should have just ended there, is all. But I was happy with her story.

The Named Men get their spotlight moments, too, and while I was always pleased with the Black Dow, I was a little disappointed in his final moments. Maybe it’s not out of his character, but given his whole sneaky assassin-style, I was kind of wishing for something a bit better from him. His was the only story I think I was displeased with and confused by. Still, he had some of the best moments, and I put him in for my award for “Best Rogue of 2009.”

The action sequences, I think, have been a highlight not just of this series, but the previous two. I even found myself wincing, once, and that’s a rarity for me. The descriptive, yet constrained violence of Mister Abercrombie is masterfully done. I was reminded a lot of a series of westerns – the Edge series by George G. Gilman. In fact, at many times I was thinking of those.

The thing about Mister Abercrombie is he’s got a fine grasp on the realities of politics, and it shows in the final few chapters of the novel as he explores the time after the wars – gleefully showing who falls and who climbs that greasy pole. And he does this with the same deeply witty style that has plagued the previous two books. He carries a backpack of verve, a bucket of vim and a few pockets stuffed with vigor. I feel very satisfied with the novel and the final page made me feel like giving a big whoop of pleasure at the outcome – many of which strangely echo the beginning in a very wheelish manner that kind of leaves you warm and thrilled at the thought that – could there ever be more novels of the Bloody-Nine?

I shiver in anticipation. Please, Mister Abercrombie! Pretty, pretty please?

In the wonderful word of the Bloody-Nine: “More?”