Full review to come if I ever regain my brain back in the next few weeks; this felt like a set up to the second volume or the character-driven sequel to a plot-heavy first book. I enjoyed it well enough but find myself not particularly caring for the characters or politics, even though I just spend a solid few days with them. It feels unfair to compare Abercrombie to George R. R. Martin, but I have been doing that since I started reading and don't see the point in stopping now. The thing that made ASOIAF so gripping to read from the beginning was the big cast of characters and political parties - few of them could be classified as morally good, but you were able to root for characters, root against others and at the end of the day, the intrigue is thrilling and the stakes are high. The Blade Itself lacks the vibrancy and dynamics that truly bring these characters to life. Maybe it's the world building that doesn't intrigue me, maybe it's the specific characters, maybe it's the lack of anything actually *happening*.
I own the other two books and am confident that I will enjoy the continuation of this story, but for now I am left with a neutral feeling - it wasn't bad, but it wasn't outstanding.