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A Little Hatred

A Little Hatred

The Age of Madness: Book One
Dark FantasyGrimdark
Pages
480
Published
2019
Language
English

Synopsis

A generation after the events of the First Law Trilogy, the Union is changing. Chimneys rise over Adua. Machines replace men in the mills. Workers organise in the slums while nobles plot in their palaces and soldiers march on an old, circular war in the North. Four voices carry the story: Leo dan Brock, the Young Lion, a celebrated battlefield hero who finds peace an intolerable affliction; Savine dan Glokta, her father's daughter — brilliant, ambitious, utterly ruthless — who intends to own the new industrial age; Rikke, daughter of the Dogman, trying to master a prophetic gift that is killing her; and Prince Orso, heir to the Union throne, a man fluent in disappointment and more perceptive than anyone credits.

The first volume of the Age of Madness trilogy resets the stakes for a new era, introducing characters who are the inheritors of the old world's bargains — and who will have to live with consequences they did not choose. Abercrombie transposes his political cynicism into an industrial revolution setting, finding that power structures built on exploitation look the same in any century. Ambitious, darkly funny, and building toward a revolution.

Prose complexity
7/10

Vibe

DarkTense
Court IntrigueMorally Grey
Writing5.0Impact3.0Characters4.0Plot5.0Atmosphere5.0

Genres

Dark Fantasy Grimdark Fantasy Epic Fantasy Historical Fiction Political Thriller

About the author

J
Joe Abercrombie

Joe Abercrombie (born Joseph Edward Abercrombie, 31 December 1974 in Lancaster, Lancashire) is an English fantasy novelist. He was educated at Lancaster Royal Grammar School and read psychology at the University of Manchester, then moved to London and joined a television post-production company before going freelance as a film editor, cutting documentaries, music videos and concert films. He began writing The First Law in 2002, and the trilogy — The Blade Itself (2006), Before They Are Hanged (...

Characters

Leo dan BrockProtagonist

A celebrated battlefield hero who finds peace intolerable.

Prince OrsoProtagonist

The perceptive, self-deprecating heir to the Union throne.

Savine dan GloktaProtagonist

Brilliant and ruthless, intent on owning the new industrial age.

RikkeProtagonist

The Dogman's daughter, trying to master a prophetic gift that is killing her.

Stour NightfallAntagonist

The Great Wolf, King of the North — brutal, vain, and exactly the kind of enemy Leo dan Brock deserves.

All characters in A Little Hatred

Frequently asked questions

  • Do I need to read other books by Joe Abercrombie before A Little Hatred?

    While A Little Hatred introduces new main characters and a new storyline, it is set in the same world as Abercrombie's First Law trilogy and features returning secondary characters and references to past events. Reading the original trilogy first will enhance understanding of the world and character motivations, but it is not strictly necessary to follow the plot.

  • Does A Little Hatred end on a cliffhanger?

    A Little Hatred is the first book in a new trilogy, and while it resolves some immediate plotlines, it leaves many character arcs and overarching conflicts open for continuation in the subsequent volumes. Readers should expect an ongoing narrative rather than a fully self-contained story.

  • Do I need to read the First Law Trilogy before A Little Hatred?

    It is not strictly required — the Age of Madness works as its own trilogy — but the First Law Trilogy adds significant depth. Several characters' parents are major figures from the original trilogy, and the political history matters.

  • How does A Little Hatred compare to Joe Abercrombie's earlier work?

    This book marks a significant shift in the series' technological and societal backdrop, moving into an industrial age with emerging factories and social unrest, which contrasts with the more traditional medieval fantasy setting of the earlier First Law books. It maintains the author's characteristic dark humor and morally ambiguous characters but explores themes of class struggle and technological advancement more prominently.

  • How many point-of-view characters does A Little Hatred have?

    Four primary perspectives: Leo dan Brock, Savine dan Glokta, Rikke, and Prince Orso. The novel gives roughly equal weight to each.

  • Is A Little Hatred a good entry point for new Abercrombie readers?

    It works as an entry point, but the First Law Trilogy is the better starting place. Reading the trilogy first makes the returning characters and political callbacks considerably more rewarding.

  • Is the Age of Madness trilogy complete?

    Yes — all three books are published: A Little Hatred (2019), The Trouble with Peace (2020), and The Wisdom of Crowds (2021). The trilogy has a complete ending.

  • Is A Little Hatred darker or lighter than the original trilogy?

    Broadly similar in darkness, with a stronger industrial-age political angle. The tone is darker than Best Served Cold or Red Country, comparable to the First Law Trilogy, and sharply funny in ways that make the grimness more bearable.

  • What is the 'Age of Madness' about thematically?

    The trilogy examines revolution — who starts it, who controls it, who pays for it, and whether the world after is better than the world before. It is Abercrombie's most explicitly political work.

  • Are there returning characters from the First Law Trilogy?

    Yes — Sand dan Glokta is a major presence (as Savine's father), and several other familiar figures appear. Many of the new characters are children or successors of trilogy characters.

  • Does A Little Hatred have a satisfying ending, or does it leave things hanging?

    It ends with significant momentum rather than resolution — the trilogy's threads are established but not concluded. Readers should plan to read all three books. The ending is not a cliffhanger but it is clearly not complete.

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