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.
Facts last checked 2026-10-16
- First published
- 2006
- Pace
- Medium
- Length
- Long
- Pages
- 536
- Format
- Book 1 of 3 in The First Law
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
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Quick answers about The Blade Itself
- What is The Blade Itself about?
- 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.
- Who should read The Blade Itself?
- Read it if you like grim, funny, cynical fantasy where characters are flawed and the fights are brutal. Skip it if you want inspiring heroes or a tidy, self-contained story, as this starts a trilogy with a slow build.
- How long and how fast is The Blade Itself?
- It is a medium-paced, long read of about 536 pages, first published in 2006.
- Does The Blade Itself have content warnings?
- Content we flag: Violence, Torture, Death, Gore.
- Can I borrow The Blade Itself for free?
- Often, yes. Check Libby (OverDrive) to see whether your library lends The Blade Itself; the borrow button above searches it for you.
- What should I read after The Blade Itself?
- Readers who liked it often move on to The Lies of Locke Lamora, A Game of Thrones, The Black Company.
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Where to get it
| Store | Price | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Borrow free | ||
| Libby / OverDrive | Free with a library card | Borrow free with Libby from Libby / OverDrive |
| Print, new | ||
| Amazon | Check price | Buy new from Amazon |
| Ebook | ||
| Kobo | Check price | Buy ebook from Kobo |
| Google Play Books | Check price | Buy ebook from Google Play Books |
| Audiobook | ||
| Audible | Check price | Buy audiobook from Audible |
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