Cover of The Blade Itself

Epic fantasy

The Blade Itself

A crippled torturer, an arrogant young noble fencer and a barbarian warrior who wants to be left alone are all caught up when a wizard arrives and a war in the north draws near. None of them is a hero in the usual sense.

First published
2006
Pace
medium
Length
long
Format
Standalone

Read this if you like grim, funny, cynical fantasy where characters are flawed and the fights are brutal.

Skip this if you want inspiring heroes or a tidy, self-contained story, as this starts a trilogy with a slow build.

The feel

Content warnings

  • Violence
  • Torture
  • Death
  • Gore

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