Series: The Age of Madness #2 (See my review of book one here!)
Release Date: September 15th 2020
Publisher: Gollancz
Pages: 540
Find it on: Goodreads. BookDepository. Waterstones.
Source: The publisher kindly sent me a copy of this book to review
Rating: 5/5 stars

Synopsis

Conspiracy. Betrayal. Rebellion.
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.

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.

Review

The Trouble with Peace is the eagerly awaited second instalment in Joe Abercrombie’s Age of Madness trilogy. Book one A Little Hatred was a five star read for me and it made it to my top reads of 2019. The Trouble with Peace was one of my most anticipated releases of 2020 and I had the highest of expectations going in. After just a few pages I was completely sucked back into this world and ended up staying up way past my bedtime to finish this incredible story.

The Trouble with Peace picks up not long after the events of book one. I won’t say too much about the plot as it is the second book in the series but it is full to the brim with political intrigue, secrets and betrayals, war and fighting. It’s a fast paced read and one I couldn’t put down. Like the characters in Abercrombie’s previous books they are incredibly complex and fascinating. I love watching how they adapt and grow over the course of the two books and Savine is rapidly becoming one of all time favourites – she’ll do whatever it takes to win and she doesn’t care who stands in her way.

Like his previous novels The Trouble with Peace contains plenty of violence and gory scenes but there’s also plenty of clever dialogue and sharp humour. It’s a brilliant second book in the series – a complex tale with an intriguing plot, full of flawed and fascinating characters. Whilst you can technically read this trilogy without having read The First Law books, they are some of my favourite books of all time and I highly recommend picking them up before reading these ones. If you’ve read A Little Hatred already, The Trouble with Peace should absolutely be next on your reading list. I can already say for certain that this will be in my favourite books of 2020 and I cannot wait to see where Abercrombie takes the story in The Wisdom of Crowds.