Imagine the French Revolution covertly instigated and conducted by a few influential figures of the establishment. With the sole aim of screwing other such people. Just to reinstall the monarchy in the end. A noble cause, perhaps. And a cunning plan. Quite naturally, things do not go as planned and take a turn for the worse. Things burn and people die in spectacular manner.

Surprisingly, the one who emerges as a complex character is Leo dan Brock. And that's it, as anything else in the book is predictable and happens exactly the way a reader had suspected since a certain prophecy in A Little Hatred. Still a great page turner.

Joe Abercrombie writes top contemporary fantasy, so do get The Age of Madness Series. You won't regret it.