Sharp Ends

Highly recommended - a funny, finely-wrought, terrifically energetic work of high fantasy. Seek it out -- Joe Hill
Pratchett-like parody of epic fantasy throughout... if Pratchett dropped the C-bomb and relished disembowelment. * SFX *
'Joe Abercrombie has created a world able to stand alongside landscapes the likes of George RR Martin and JRR Tolkien have created in terms of drama, political intrigue and, of course, bloodshed.' * SciFiNow *
Suffice to say that Sharp Ends is an intriguing entry point into the World of the First Order. I'm equal parts hooked and scared. Is it all like this? Can anyone survive? * Geek Native *
These stories proved to be engrossing. They are a spicy addition to the main courses of the novels, adding to the flavour of the original and offering a wider explanation of how some characters got to the place they did. I look forward to enjoying the novels and I'll be looking out for my favourites. * SF Crowsnest *
There are some great writers of low fantasy around today, but few are as good as Abercrombie...Each short story does offer an entertaining and dark read * The Bookbag *
Dark, and darkly comic, this is an ideal read for anyone who enjoys their humor dry and their vengeance bloody. * The Eloquent Page *
he consistently high standard of the stories in Sharp Ends make it a triumph. Granted, readers would be advised to acquaint themselves with their setting, but anyone who was excited by Abercrombie's debut ten years ago will feel those butterflies again. It's a masterful approach, displaying everything that's great about the short story format, from a writer at the height of his powers. * Starburst Magazine *
Sharp Ends is by turns brutal, witty, chilling, charming but always brilliant. * Geek Planet Online *
Overall, the best fantasy collection it's been my pleasure to read in many years. * CONCATENATION *