The Trouble with Peace (Age of Madness Series #2)

by Joe Abercrombie

Overview

A fragile peace gives way to conspiracy, betrayal, and rebellion in this sequel to the New York Times bestselling A Little Hatred from epic fantasy master Joe Abercrombie.

"A master of his craft." —Forbes

 
"No one writes with the seismic scope or primal intensity of Joe Abercrombie." —Pierce Brown
 
Peace is just another kind of battlefield . . .
 
Savine dan Glokta, once Adua's most powerful investor, finds her judgement, fortune and reputation in tatters. But she still has all her ambitions, and no scruple will be permitted to stand in her way.
 
For heroes like Leo dan Brock and Stour Nightfall, only happy with swords drawn, peace is an ordeal to end as soon as possible. But grievances must be nursed, power seized, and allies gathered first, while Rikke must master the power of the Long Eye . . . before it kills her.
 
Unrest worms into every layer of society. The Breakers still lurk in the shadows, plotting to free the common man from his shackles, while noblemen bicker for their own advantage. Orso struggles to find a safe path through the maze of knives that is politics, only for his enemies, and his debts, to multiply.
 
The old ways are swept aside, and the old leaders with them, but those who would seize the reins of power will find no alliance, no friendship, and no peace lasts forever.
 
For more from Joe Abercrombie, check out:
 
The Age of Madness
A Little Hatred
The Trouble With Peace
The Wisdom of Crowds
 
The First Law Trilogy
The Blade Itself
Before They Are Hanged
Last Argument of Kings

Best Served Cold
The Heroes
Red Country
 
The Shattered Sea Trilogy
Half a King
Half a World
Half a War

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780316187190
Publisher:	Orbit
Publication date:	07/13/2021
Series:	Age of Madness Series , #2
Pages:	544
Sales rank:	75,759
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.30(h) x 1.50(d)

About the Author

Joe Abercrombie was born in Lancaster in 1974, spent much of his youth in imaginary worlds, and left school with a good idea of how to make stuff up. After graduating from Manchester University he worked as a TV editor, but he never stopped making stuff up, and his first book, The Blade Itself, was published in 2006. He has since written eight more novels and a collection of stories in his First Law and Shattered Sea series. He lives in Bath with his wife Lou and their three children Grace, Eve and Teddy, and makes stuff up full-time.

Editorial Reviews

"A master of the genre."—Lev Grossman, #1 New York Times bestselling author

"Abercrombie's satisfying plotting and expert subversion of genre expectations are sure to please. Readers will be gripped."—Publishers Weekly

"Abercrombie squeezes your heart till it matches his beat. No one writes with the seismic scope or primal intensity of Joe Abercrombie."—Pierce Brown, #1 New York Times bestselling author, on A Little Hatred

"Abercrombie continues to do what he does best . . . Buckle your seat belts for this one . . . . A vivid and jolting tale."—Robin Hobb, New York Times bestselling author, on A Little Hatred

"Highly recommended - a funny, finely-wrought, terrifically energetic work of high fantasy. Seek it out."—Joe Hill on A Little Hatred

"Say one thing for Joe Abercrombie, say that he's a master of his craft."—Forbes on A Little Hatred

"A Little Hatred is Abercrombie at his very best: witty, wise, and whip-smart. Masterfully plotted . . . . I had high hopes for this book, and it exceed them all."—Nicholas Eames, author of Kings of the Wyld, on A Little Hatred

"Brutal, unforgiving, and terribly fun. Everything awesome readers have come to expect from Joe Abercrombie."—Brian McClellan, author of Sins of Empire, on A Little Hatred

"With expert craft, Abercrombie lays the groundwork for another thrilling trilogy."—Publishers Weekly (starred review) on A Little Hatred

"A Little Hatred may be the most accomplished work from a writer who many already consider a master."—SFF World on A Little Hatred

From the Publisher

07/27/2020

The impressive second epic fantasy of Abercrombie’s Age of Madness trilogy (after A Little Hatred) grounds the ongoing power struggles within the Union in issues that resonate with contemporary politics. Orso, “a notorious wastrel while crown prince,” is now High King of the Union, but his controversial reign has sparked an opposition movement dedicated to toppling him and “making the Union great again.” Abercrombie balances the ensuing intrigue, espionage, and a bloody assassination attempt with the nitty-gritty of Union politics, shining a light on corruption, tax reform, and class distinctions, on the way to a climactic confrontation between Orso’s forces and those marshalled against him. Meanwhile, Leo dan Brock, the leader of the rebels, marries Orso’s former lover, Savine dan Glokta, who left Orso after learning a scandalous secret, adding emotional stakes to the political turmoil. The large cast, which takes over four pages to list in a helpful appendix, becomes overwhelming at times, and newcomers to the series will have a hard time untangling the complex backstory, but Abercrombie’s satisfying plotting and expert subversion of genre expectations are sure to please. Readers will be gripped. (Sept.)

Publishers Weekly