Best Served Cold (2009)

I read The First Law trilogy back in 2024. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I was drawn in by Abercrombie’s style of character-driven grimdark fantasy. Best Served Cold is a standalone novel in that same universe. I wouldn’t say it was necessary to have read the original trilogy before reading this – the story is self-contained, with a beginning, middle, and end – yet if you have read those, you will be rewarded with references, callbacks, and Easter Eggs in this one.

Even though it is 600+ pages in trade paperback, Best Served Cold is a pared-down story. In its essence, it is a vengeance narrative. There are still important world events happening on the periphery, but the focus is on Monza Murcatto, a famed mercenary betrayed by her employer and left for dead, who sets out to avenge her brother’s murder and punish every conspirator involved. Abercrombie structures the novel around her hit list, as Monza and her ragtag crew move from one target to the next. The simplicity of the premise is intentional. It allows the characters, their shifting loyalties, and the brutal consequences of their choices to take center stage.

While leaner in scope, it’s a worthy addition to the First Law universe. Abercrombie’s trademark blend of bleak humor and visceral violence is fully on display. The book never feels monotonous. Its settings move from decadent courts to crumbling fortresses to chaotic battlefields, keeping the momentum fresh. Best Served Cold is a dark, stylish, and thoughtful exploration of revenge and its cost.

I plan on eventually reading the other two standalone novels, and then the Age of Madness trilogy at some point. All part of the larger First Law series.