Location from The First Law by Joe Abercrombie
A peninsula of squabbling city-states that make Italian Renaissance politics look civilized — where mercenary captains are the real power and betrayal is just good business.
Styria runs on treachery the way the Union runs on bureaucracy — it's not a bug, it's the operating system. The city-states hire mercenary companies to fight their wars, switch allegiances mid-battle, and consider assassination a legitimate form of governance. Best Served Cold unfolds here, and the Styrian setting gives Abercrombie a canvas for revenge, mercenary culture, and the kind of political scheming that makes the Union's Open Council look straightforward. Monza Murcatto conquered half of it before being betrayed, and spent the rest of the book proving that no betrayal goes unanswered.
A Mediterranean-analog peninsula of wealthy city-states, each with its own architecture, politics, and mercenary contracts. Warm climate, prosperous trade, and an atmosphere of sophisticated violence. The cities are beautiful and the politics are ugly.
Also known as: Styria