What is the title of the first book in Joe Abercrombie's 'The First Law' trilogy?

The first book in Joe Abercrombie’s “The First Law” trilogy is The Blade Itself. Published in 2006, it introduces the trilogy’s central conflicts and follows characters including Logen Ninefingers, Inquisitor Glokta, and Captain Jezal dan Luthar.

The title comes from a line attributed to Odysseus in Homer’s Odyssey: “The blade itself incites to deeds of violence.” That literary reference fits Abercrombie’s grim view of warfare, politics, and heroism, where violence often shapes events more powerfully than noble intentions.

The next two trilogy volumes are Before They Are Hanged and Last Argument of Kings. Best Served Cold is not part of the original trilogy; it is a later standalone novel set in the same world. The First Law universe later expanded with additional standalone books, short fiction, and the Age of Madness trilogy.