Books with characters like Sand dan Glokta

Bitter Sweet – The Hunter’s Lament

Cunning, weathered and well—as the name might suggest—more than a little bitter, Bitter Sweet is the single POV for The Hunter’s Lament.

Sweet might not quite be as sharp as Sand dan Glokta, or as comfortable around torture or inflicting pain, but there are strands of the Inquisitor in Sweet’s steely determination and his world-weary outlook.

If you enjoy characters like that, you’ll love this book!

Various – The Devils

It’s no surprise that other Joe Abercrombie novels will make this list. After all, the creator of Sand dan Glokta is likely to leave shards of the character strewn across his other work.

And you’ll find plenty of elements in The Devils, specifically spread across the primary cast of character, the titular “devils” of the Holy Church of Expediency themselves.

In this medieval Suicide-squad novel, you can see snippets of Glokta in the dry wit of Baptiste, the simmering danger of Baron Rikard, and the general weariness of Balthazaar.

The Moidart – Stormrider

The Moidart is one of my favourite characters in David Gemmell’s iconic Rigante series. There is an air of danger around him in every scene, and his “ten steps ahead in a game of chess” approach is very similar to how Glokta handles his own problems.

What’s more, the Moidart is—like Glokta—a sufferer of chronic pain, both physical and psychological. These traumas influence the character in unique and surprising ways.

I’ve picked Stormrider because this is where we see the best character development of the Moidart, but you must at least read Ravenheart beforehand (if not starting with Sword in the Storm and Midnight Falcon).

Father Chains – The Lies of Locke Lamora

Father Chains’ withering reproaches, coupled with his shuffling gait, always remind me of Sand dan Glokta. The patriarch of The Gentlemen Bastards possesses a similar grim joviality to the torturer of the Union.

There are other elements to this book that you’ll enjoy, too. The whole story revolves around the seedy criminal underbelly of the city of Camorr, so you’re effectively getting all of the Glokta bits from the First Law, all in one book!

Kinch Na Shannack – The Blacktongue Thief

Kinch is both our narrator and protagonist in The Blacktongue Thief, and while I freely admit there are plenty of differences between he and Glokta, there’s also lots of parallels to be drawn.

Kinch is a member of the Thieves Guild. He’s resourceful and cunning…and used to taking hits. He’s more of a thinker than a fighter, which is where I see the throughline to Sand dan Glokta.

The book itself is also just as dark, gritty and witty as the First Law books. If you haven’t read it, you’ll not regret starting now!

Yarvi – Half a King

Though he features in all three of Abercrombie’s highly underrated Shattered Sea series, Yarvi is the main focus of of the first book in the trilogy, Half a King.

Yarvi is born with a deformed hand in a world where physicality reigns supreme (just like Glokta). He’s possessed of a deep-cunning that allows him to outthink his adversaries (just like Glokta). Oh and he has lots of adversaries…just like Glokta!

In short, if you read this book you’ll see exactly why I’ve included it in this list. Likewise, if you finish the series you’ll understand even more, as Yarvi’s continuous arc is a treasure to behold.

Sage – Lightfall

Sage is, like all of the characters in Lightfall, an immortal. He is a sorcerer, co-existing in the Everlands alongside werewolves and vampires. He is also a plotter, a planner and a risk-taker…all traits that he shares with Sand dan Glokta.

If you enjoyed reading Glokta’s chapters in the First Law series, I can almost guarantee you’ll find a similar pleasure in Sage’s chapters in Lightfall, as he looks to solve a murder and unmask a great mystery, all at once.