So my first reading of Abercrombies work turned up a great read and a series that I am really looking forward to getting my teeth into. 
 A lot of people will say that this is dark and gritty. There are scenes that made a lot of readers uncomfortable. But I had no such problems reading this book. If you have read Malazan or the Black Company, you will not find this too dark. 
 The difference for most readers, I suspect, is that the usual pain and cruelty is inflicted on our protagonists or the general population by the 'bad guys'. We are supposed to cheer when the 'bad guys' get their just deserts. In The Blade Itself, the bad guy is(one of) 'the man'. A twisted individual who is an inquisitor that uses torture as a main part of his miserable life story line. He is often cruel and really does have a 'i dont give a shit' attitude. But here is the thing, Abercrombie makes us like him, but writing in clever humour and justifying his callousness with his own misery. He also does well by not emphasising the cruelty point. He does not drag out the torture, it is quick, gets the result and that is that. It is cruel but not sadistic, or detailed in its horror. 
 Abercrombie does brilliantly with the character build in this, as good as I have read since finishing Eriksons Malazan series. I can clearly describe the main characters and their traits. I specifically enjoy the humour in this book, there are some great relationships forming that have the potential for mayhem and laughter. 
 There is an interesting character build with one of the main characters, Logan Ninefingers. In the beginning I was not sold on his story at all, and thought him a mindless thug with little personality. But as the story unfolds, we learn more and more about him. Not only are we fed piece be piece a back story, but a personality as well. Suddenly you are three quarters the way through the book and you realise that you suddenly know so much more about Logan. An interesting style and I cannot think of another character I have been introduced to like that. 
 So for me, five stars! Right up there as one of the best reads in 2012, certainly the best author i have read after immersing myself in the Malazan world for half a year. I have to way, that I am very very excited about book two.