Joe Abercrombie: The Trouble With Peace

 Hi everyone

The Trouble With Peace is Joe Abercrombie's second book in The Age of Madness series.
I got my copy from Bol.com. After loving the first book, I was really excited to dive back into this world but unfortunately, this one left me deeply disappointed. 

"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."

I’ll be blunt: This was utterly boring.
The characters (Orso, Savine, Leo, even Rikke) felt like completely different people from the first book. In A Little Hatred, they were strong, confident, and driven. Now? They’re reduced to a constant state of "woe is me." They’re downtrodden, passive, and lacking any will to live, let alone thrive. They whine endlessly, and there’s no emotional payoff to make us care about their struggles. I found myself hoping they’d die just so we could focus on more interesting characters. But no such luck. It’s exhausting to read.

The plot is vague and meandering. It seems like a lot is happening, but nothing actually progresses. The pace is glacial, and the story feels stuck. I struggled to finish because it felt like a slog with no reward. Abercrombie’s grimdark style usually works because of his sharp humor, brutal action, and political intrigue. But here, the tone is relentlessly bleak without any glimmer of hope or light.

If you’re a die-hard Abercrombie fan, you might find something to appreciate here. But for me, this was a huge letdown. 

Have you read The Trouble With Peace? Did you feel the same way, or did it work for you? I’d love to hear your thoughts, maybe I missed something!

Happy reading!
Helena