r/bookclub • u/NightAngelRogue Dungeon Crawler Rogue | 🐉 • Apr 15 '26
First Law [Discussion 1/5] Bonus Read - A Little Hatred (The Age of Madness #1) by Joe Abercrombie - Promises through Sinking Ships
“Once you’ve got a task to do, it’s better to do it than live with the fear of it’
Hello, Grimdark readers! Welcome to the SECOND check in (sorry for the mix up in the title!) for A Little Hatred, Book 1 in The Age of Madness Series by Joe Abercrombie. So much going on! This week, we are continuing the novel, discussing Promises through Sinking Ships!
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Enjoy the section and the discussion questions. Hope you all enjoyed this section!
Rogue
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u/NightAngelRogue Dungeon Crawler Rogue | 🐉 Apr 15 '26
How does the author reveal Rikke’s relationship with Leo through the crowd scene?
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u/nepbug Buried in Bonus Books Apr 16 '26
I thought it was more of a development than a reveal. Started out as old childhood friends that quickly escalated to flirtatious lovers. They honestly seem like a good pairing with Rikke being smarter and Leo being a more intimidating and stronger force, but neither is dramatically off from the other, both like to deliver clever quips.
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u/fixtheblue Read, ergo sum | 🐫🐉🥈||🧠🥈 Apr 23 '26
I really like them together too. I'm not sure how willing I am to get my hopes up this time though lol
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u/NightAngelRogue Dungeon Crawler Rogue | 🐉 Apr 15 '26
If there is something you want to discuss that I missed, feel free to post it here!
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u/nepbug Buried in Bonus Books Apr 16 '26
So many new characters for us has been exciting, but I'm still fighting to keep them all straight in my head.
I think Savine is my favorite at the moment.
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u/fixtheblue Read, ergo sum | 🐫🐉🥈||🧠🥈 Apr 23 '26
Ikwym the nobles mentioned do not interest me at all. For the most part I am able to keep up with the rest though some of the people in the Broad/Vick chapters melt together
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u/nepbug Buried in Bonus Books Apr 16 '26
What's the over/under for total number of sex scenes that will be written in this book?
I think we're at 3 so far? (Savine and Orso twice and Rikke and Leo once)
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u/fixtheblue Read, ergo sum | 🐫🐉🥈||🧠🥈 Apr 23 '26
I was driving when listening to the Rikke-Leo chapters. They were so well done I was chuckling and cringing and actually laughing out loud at one point on my own in my car ha. After just finishing a
fairypornromantasy I am grateful that sex scenes in this book are not....well lets just say they were a lot!
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u/NightAngelRogue Dungeon Crawler Rogue | 🐉 Apr 15 '26
Thoughts on this section? Any favorite moments, quotes etc?
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u/haikusbot Apr 15 '26
Thoughts on this section?
Any favorite moments,
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- NightAngelRogue
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u/NightAngelRogue Dungeon Crawler Rogue | 🐉 Apr 15 '26
Theory time! Where does the story go from here?
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u/fixtheblue Read, ergo sum | 🐫🐉🥈||🧠🥈 Apr 23 '26
Broad becomes the leader of the rebellion. Orso and Savine head North. Leo beats Stour. They all return to a city in conflict....
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u/NightAngelRogue Dungeon Crawler Rogue | 🐉 Apr 15 '26
Shivers! He’s back! How has he changed since we saw him last?
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u/nepbug Buried in Bonus Books Apr 16 '26
He seems less hateful, more loyal to Dogman. Good to see he's still imposing and effective, but he's got to be getting up in age as well now.
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u/fixtheblue Read, ergo sum | 🐫🐉🥈||🧠🥈 Apr 23 '26
Good point. I imagine him to be pretty similar and only a little older but that's not the case at all. I do think he has mellowed as you said. I kinda want to see him and Isern together
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u/NightAngelRogue Dungeon Crawler Rogue | 🐉 Apr 15 '26
Gloka! Arch Lector! What has he been up to since we last saw him?
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u/NightAngelRogue Dungeon Crawler Rogue | 🐉 Apr 15 '26
How does Broad’s interaction with Sarlby change his job prospects?
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u/NightAngelRogue Dungeon Crawler Rogue | 🐉 Apr 15 '26
What specific actions do Vick and Sibalt take during the foundry mission that reveal their plan and its urgency, and how does the Inquisition’s response affect the scene?
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u/NightAngelRogue Dungeon Crawler Rogue | 🐉 Apr 15 '26
How does Sibalt’s final choice affect Vick and the mission’s outcome?
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Apr 16 '26
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u/fixtheblue Read, ergo sum | 🐫🐉🥈||🧠🥈 Apr 23 '26
I didn't understand why he did it right in front of her
Ikr that was so awful for her. Even if she did turn out to be a different person to what we expected. It was such an extreme reaction from Sibalt and I think the forst real indication that this rebellion is bigger than it's seemed up to that point in the story. He had to protect it at the biggest cost, his life
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Apr 23 '26
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u/fixtheblue Read, ergo sum | 🐫🐉🥈||🧠🥈 Apr 24 '26
No i don't think so I think he genuinely had feelings for her and actually he did what he did to protect her. In his mind that was the only way to protect her because he knew he couldn't hold out against the inquisitor's torture. I am looking forward to catching up to this week's discussion and finding out more
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u/NightAngelRogue Dungeon Crawler Rogue | 🐉 Apr 15 '26
How do other characters respond to danger in the three episodes (Broad at the brewery, Vick and Sibalt at the foundry, Rikke and Isern in the ravine). How does each scene show a different response and what does that difference reveal about the character involved?
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u/fixtheblue Read, ergo sum | 🐫🐉🥈||🧠🥈 Apr 23 '26
This is a bit of a Broad (ha) question, but I like the Rikke and Isern scene the most. I was enthralled by the events and I LOVED that Shivers came to their rescue
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u/NightAngelRogue Dungeon Crawler Rogue | 🐉 Apr 15 '26
What reasons does Clover give for tolerating Magweer’s sneering, and how does his response (“you either put up with it, or ‘Murder the bastard’”) reveal his attitude toward conflict?
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u/tomesandtea Viceroy of Verity | 🐉🧠 Apr 15 '26
Choose your battles! It shows he's wise and has learned a lot in his lifetime, and also that he isn't just conflict avoidant or weak/scared. Clover decides what is worth the time and effort, and doesn't waste his blood and sweat on any old conflict.
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u/fixtheblue Read, ergo sum | 🐫🐉🥈||🧠🥈 Apr 23 '26
Yes and this is making me wonder if he is going to flip hard when the time comes! I legit want this lazy drunken irresponsible man to transform into an absolutely terrifying destructive force when pushed too far
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u/NightAngelRogue Dungeon Crawler Rogue | 🐉 Apr 15 '26
How does Leo change his strategy during the fight with Glaward? How does that reveal Leo’s strengths beyond physical power?
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u/tomesandtea Viceroy of Verity | 🐉🧠 Apr 15 '26
Leo is smart and he knows how to use his brains to his advantage. He also isn't overly egotistical and cocky! He was able to a) recognize that he was outmatched in strength, and b) read his opponent and the situation quickly while forming a plan to turn things his way.
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u/Fulares 📚Bookclub Boffin📚 May 04 '26
As Tomes said, he's smart and uses his brains in a fight. In his first chapter, I expected him to be a cocky kid but it's becoming clearer that he has the patience needed to win battles without the obvious advantage. He still doesn't have good battle strategy but Finree is teaching him and I expect he'll be a good Lord Marshall in time.
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u/NightAngelRogue Dungeon Crawler Rogue | 🐉 Apr 15 '26
What is significant about Vick’s confinement and the conversation with Glokta?
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u/tomesandtea Viceroy of Verity | 🐉🧠 Apr 15 '26
Glokta did a very surprising thing and didn't torture and physically destroy her! But he isn't going all soft in his old age, he just knows what breaks different kinds of people.
Also he has a cool wheelchair apparently!
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u/NightAngelRogue Dungeon Crawler Rogue | 🐉 Apr 15 '26
What barriers does Prince Orso encounter while trying to secure troops, and how does the final card-game moment foreshadow his next decision?
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u/tomesandtea Viceroy of Verity | 🐉🧠 Apr 15 '26
Money. No one has any. No one wants to give him any. I found it pretty hilarious that he didn't think it would cost too much to raise those troops. It's more than just feeding them, my man.
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u/nepbug Buried in Bonus Books Apr 16 '26
Don't forget ineptitude! He's quickly finding out that he really doesn't know the basics of being in charge of a military operation.
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Apr 16 '26
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u/Fulares 📚Bookclub Boffin📚 May 04 '26
it reminds me of work
Orso really comes across here as that coworker that doesn't understand the process for things in the slightest. Everyone he talked to walked him through things and immediately passed him off to be someone else's problem 😂
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May 04 '26
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u/Fulares 📚Bookclub Boffin📚 May 04 '26
This is definitely an aspect that Abercrombie is writing well. I'm finding the evolution of worker mentalities and changing power with the industrial revolution of the country so well integrated into the existing First Law world.
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u/NightAngelRogue Dungeon Crawler Rogue | 🐉 Apr 15 '26
Why is the sweep boy’s death significant as well as Broad’s emotional reaction?
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u/nepbug Buried in Bonus Books Apr 16 '26
Yeah, that was rough. Broad really does have a big heart and wants to protect those that need it most.
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Apr 16 '26
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u/fixtheblue Read, ergo sum | 🐫🐉🥈||🧠🥈 Apr 23 '26
Definitely. I think Broad might end up leading the whole rebellion putting him up against Vick and Fallow's betrayal!
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u/NightAngelRogue Dungeon Crawler Rogue | 🐉 Apr 15 '26
What is significant about Rikke’s vision?
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u/tomesandtea Viceroy of Verity | 🐉🧠 Apr 15 '26
It convinces Leo that her power is real, not just superstition. It also shows that in the wolf vs. lion part of her prediction, the lion wins! (Is Leo the lion? 😆 He'd like to know...) Are we going to see a Leo vs. Stour match-up?!
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u/nepbug Buried in Bonus Books Apr 16 '26
The confidence this might give Leo reminds a lot of the confidence in which Whirrun went into battle with the Father of Swords because the prophet/fortune teller had told him how he would die and it was always different than the battle he was in.
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u/tomesandtea Viceroy of Verity | 🐉🧠 Apr 16 '26
Yesssss! Excellent comparison and also uh oh, Leo, don't get too confident
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u/fixtheblue Read, ergo sum | 🐫🐉🥈||🧠🥈 Apr 23 '26
Ohhhhh no! I hope you are wrong. Interesting this begs the question. How reliable is Rikke's LongSight?!
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u/Fulares 📚Bookclub Boffin📚 May 04 '26
The reliability is a great question. Also, did Whirrun's prophet/fortune teller have the long sight as well or was it a hack?
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u/NightAngelRogue Dungeon Crawler Rogue | 🐉 Apr 15 '26
Why does Vick expect the Breakers to be “a dozen conspirators hiding in a cellar, like in Adua,” and how does the reality of the warehouse meeting change her understanding? Cite lines that support both her expectation and her reaction.
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u/fixtheblue Read, ergo sum | 🐫🐉🥈||🧠🥈 Apr 23 '26
I think it indicates how little she believes in the movement. She's not just grassing up a few rebels she's got to infiltrate a huge organised rebellion. I would like to see her switch sides tbh and actually fight against the unfair and miserable work conditions of the poor
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u/NightAngelRogue Dungeon Crawler Rogue | 🐉 Apr 15 '26
What is the significance of Superior Risinau being revealed as the Weaver, leader of the Breakers? Did you spot any clues hinting at this early on?
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u/tomesandtea Viceroy of Verity | 🐉🧠 Apr 15 '26
I didn't notice any clues, and I'm curious to see if others did because I wasn't really focusing on trying to figure out who the Weaver would be. It's interesting to have a Superior be the Weaver because these seem like opposing positions - someone who works for the government, essentially, is also the leader of a movement that is causing chaos and very possibly going against the wishes of said government. Will it cause divisions in the breakers/burners? Will the Superior get in trouble with the King/Council? Hmm...
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u/fixtheblue Read, ergo sum | 🐫🐉🥈||🧠🥈 Apr 23 '26
Nope no clues here either. Though does this nod back to Rikke's second Long Eye prediction of the bald Weaver with an endless purse. Who is bank-rolling him? I am wondering if it might be our old Magi "friend" maybe he wants chaos. Idk
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u/tomesandtea Viceroy of Verity | 🐉🧠 Apr 24 '26
That does seem like a very "him" move! I wouldn't be at all surprised!
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u/Fulares 📚Bookclub Boffin📚 May 04 '26
I am wondering if it might be our old Magi "friend" maybe he wants chaos
I thought it was him immediately as well! I'm wondering if this is another situation like the First Law trilogy where Bayaz is intentionally setting up multiple baskets of eggs like he did with Jezal and the other king options. Or this could just be him trying to control when and how these revolutionaries fail (unless he wants success 🤔)
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u/NightAngelRogue Dungeon Crawler Rogue | 🐉 Apr 15 '26
How do Savine and Vick each respond to uncertain or threatening information in the section?
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u/tomesandtea Viceroy of Verity | 🐉🧠 Apr 15 '26
Savine always seems to be thinking ahead, planning and maneuvering, and doing her homework. Vick is more reactive and influenced by emotions or each situation as it comes.
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u/fixtheblue Read, ergo sum | 🐫🐉🥈||🧠🥈 Apr 22 '26
Chapter summaries complements of the First Law wiki