A Little Hatred

A Little Hatred marks the beginning of Joe Abercrombie's Age of Madness trilogy, set in a world transitioning from medieval warfare to industrial revolution. The story follows multiple characters across different social classes as they navigate political intrigue, warfare, and societal upheaval. The industrial changes bring worker revolts and class tensions to the Union, while threats from the North force hard choices about war and diplomacy. Characters must adapt their traditional methods of gaining and holding power as new machines and money reshape their society. Through interconnected narratives about warriors, nobles, and workers, the novel explores how progress and innovation can create winners and losers. The book examines themes of social change, inherited power, and the human cost of advancement.

Readers highlight the complex characters, dark humor, and industrial revolution themes. Many note the book maintains Abercrombie's signature gritty style while exploring new territory through a younger generation of characters. Positives from reviews: - Strong female protagonists, particularly Savine dan Glokta - Integration of industrial age elements with fantasy - Sharp dialogue and memorable one-liners - Multiple compelling storylines that intersect Common criticisms: - Slower pacing in first third of book - Too many viewpoint characters to track - Some found it less engaging than First Law trilogy Ratings: Goodreads: 4.34/5 (44,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.6/5 (4,800+ ratings) "The industrial setting breathes fresh life into the world" - Goodreads reviewer "Takes 100+ pages to get going but pays off enormously" - Amazon review "Characters are grey rather than purely good or evil, which makes them feel real" - Fantasy-Faction review

The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie Set in the same world as A Little Hatred, this first book of The First Law series introduces the foundations of political intrigue, violence, and morally grey characters that continue through to A Little Hatred.

The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss This tale follows a legendary figure who must navigate politics and power while concealing his true identity in a world where magic and technology intersect.

Prince of Thorns by Mark Lawrence A dark fantasy chronicling a ruthless prince's quest for revenge in a post-apocalyptic world where science and magic coexist.

The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch This story tracks a group of sophisticated thieves through complex political schemes in a fantasy world with advancing technology.

Gardens of the Moon by Steven Erikson The first entry in the Malazan series presents a complex narrative of military campaigns, magic, and political machinations in an industrializing fantasy world.

🗡️ Joe Abercrombie wrote the first draft of A Little Hatred in just four months, though the planning and revision process took considerably longer. ⚔️ The book marks the beginning of The Age of Madness trilogy, set in the same world as Abercrombie's First Law series but approximately 30 years later, showing how industrialization has changed the landscape of warfare and politics. 🏭 The industrial revolution themes in the novel were partially inspired by Manchester's transformation during the 19th century, with Abercrombie extensively researching this period of British history. 👑 Several characters in the book are descendants of major players from the original First Law trilogy, allowing readers to see how family legacies and old grudges evolve across generations. 🖋️ The novel's working title was "A Little Want of Charity" before being changed to "A Little Hatred" during the publication process.