The Wisdom of Crowds
The Riotous Conclusion to The Age of Madness
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4.7 • 134 Ratings
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- £5.49
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- £5.49
Publisher Description
Concluding the AGE OF MADNESS trilogy, THE WISDOM OF CROWDS brings the series which is revolutionising fantasy to its stunning conclusion. . .
Chaos. Fury. Destruction.
The Great Change is upon us . . .
Some say that to change the world you must first burn it down. Now that belief will be tested in the crucible of revolution: the Breakers and Burners have seized the levers of power, the smoke of riots has replaced the smog of industry, and all must submit to the wisdom of crowds.
With nothing left to lose, Citizen Brock is determined to become a new hero for the new age, while Citizeness Savine must turn her talents from profit to survival before she can claw her way to redemption. Orso will find that when the world is turned upside down, no one is lower than a monarch. And in the bloody North, Rikke and her fragile Protectorate are running out of allies . . . while Black Calder gathers his forces and plots his vengeance.
The banks have fallen, the sun of the Union has been torn down, and in the darkness behind the scenes, the threads of the Weaver's ruthless plan are slowly being drawn together . . .
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Abercrombie's conclusion to his bestselling grimdark Age of Madness trilogy (following The Trouble With Peace) will satisfy his many fans, especially those who don't need to rely on the five-page cast list at the back to feel sufficiently oriented. Disreputable crown prince turned reluctant king Orso the First has assumed the throne of the Union following an unexpected military triumph. Predictably, he wears the crown uneasily: his reign is challenged by a rebel group calling themselves the Breakers, who are amassing a People's Army to march on Orso's stronghold. The crown's response is harsh, and the book's strongest scenes depict the consequences of Orso's acquiescence to his advisers' decision to toss captured rebels off a tower to their deaths. ("The trial can be on the way down. The ground can give the verdict.") The bloodshed and political turmoil are reminiscent of the horrors of the French Reign of Terror, mixed with diverting humor that comes partially courtesy of Orso's narcissistic tendencies. Less successful are some of the other, more forced real-world allusions, including a draft constitution that begins, "We consider these facts to be self-evident." Nonetheless, with its thoughtful exploration of differing approaches to governance and rich, action-packed plot, this epic fantasy makes a fitting series close.
Customer Reviews
Great end to an outstanding trilogy
Starts slow at first but really builds to a magnificent crescendo..
Great book couldn’t put it down
Exciting, great characters total surprise at the end.
Unbelievable
Possibly the best book I’ve read this year, no fantasy writer even comes close. Truly exceptional, twists and turns galore and yet all of them are believable and this brutally realistic world that he’s created keeps rolling on.