Spot on on there. I was a bit ambivalent in the days after I first finished the trilogy, as I mentioned in my post here when I first finished. But in the following weeks it grew on my as I kept going back to the story in my mind, to the extent that I simply had to pick up the stand-alones. For me, that's when Abercrombie really starts to shine, and the world he has established goes from being mildly interesting to wildly fascinating, to the point where I'm hopping from my Kindle to my phone to google world maps, just to make sure I'm in "the right place" when I'm reading the stories.
I found Abercrombie's ability to juxtapose the characters' own thoughts, emotions and rationalizations for why they behave the way the do against how others perceive them enthralling, and that really shines in the sequels. Especially when you get reacquainted with characters you've gotten to know through the original trilogy. The sequels are also much better written in every way, as you said.
Out of the six books I've read so far, The Heroes was my personal favourite (saving Sharp Ends for a while). I'm really hoping that the new trilogy will focus on the overreaching story arch, but I've come to terms with the fact that Abercrombie is probably going to be staying true to recent form and focus mostly on the story of the people who are but pawns of the powers that truly rule things. I think there's a none-to-well-hidden point of social and philosophical commentary in structuring his stories that way
Either way, with the caveat that Sharp Ends might have done something for the overall story, I think it's brilliantly set up right now after the three other stand alone books. The "religious south vs feudal-capitalistic middle/north" power struggle will surely face some curve balls in the years to come?
Thanks again to you
@Revan and
@Art Vandelay for the recommendation!
I second that.