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Quick answer: If you finished Joe Abercrombie's Age of Madness trilogy, try The Blade Itself, Best Served Cold, The Heroes, Red Country, Prince of Thorns and The Lies of Locke Lamora. They offer grim worlds, dark humor and flawed heroes.
A Little Hatred, The Trouble with Peace and The Wisdom of Crowds move Abercrombie's First Law world into an age of factories and revolution, with the children of old heroes struggling in a changing world. Readers who finish them want more grimdark fantasy with wit, battles and morally gray characters. These 15 books fit, starting with the First Law books themselves.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Blade Itself | Joe Abercrombie | Adult | the earlier trilogy |
| Before They Are Hanged | Joe Abercrombie | Adult | series readers |
| Last Argument of Kings | Joe Abercrombie | Adult | series readers |
| Best Served Cold | Joe Abercrombie | Adult | readers who like revenge |
| The Heroes | Joe Abercrombie | Adult | readers who like war stories |
| Red Country | Joe Abercrombie | Adult | readers who like westerns |
| Sharp Ends | Joe Abercrombie | Adult | readers who like short fiction |
| Prince of Thorns | Mark Lawrence | Adult | readers who want a ruthless anti-hero |
| The Lies of Locke Lamora | Scott Lynch | Adult | readers who like heists |
| The Black Company | Glen Cook | Adult | readers who like military fantasy |
| A Game of Thrones | George R.R. Martin | Adult | readers who like many viewpoints |
| The Poppy War | R.F. Kuang | Adult | readers who like grim wars |
| Gardens of the Moon | Steven Erikson | Adult | readers who want a deep series |
| The Traitor Baru Cormorant | Seth Dickinson | Adult | readers who like strategy |
| Blood Song | Anthony Ryan | Adult | readers who like swordplay |
1. The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie
The first book of the First Law trilogy introduces Logen Ninefingers, Inquisitor Glokta and Captain Jezal. Start here if you have not read it.
Best for: the earlier trilogy.
2. Before They Are Hanged by Joe Abercrombie
The second book follows the quest to the edge of the world, and the siege of a city. Darkly funny.
Best for: series readers.
3. Last Argument of Kings by Joe Abercrombie
The finale of the First Law trilogy, with shocking turns. Brutal and satisfying.
Best for: series readers.
4. Best Served Cold by Joe Abercrombie
Monza Murcatto, a mercenary, seeks revenge on those who betrayed her. A standalone with a strong heroine.
Best for: readers who like revenge.
5. The Heroes by Joe Abercrombie
A three-day battle told from several viewpoints. A standalone, gritty and clever.
Best for: readers who like war stories.
6. Red Country by Joe Abercrombie
A woman seeks her kidnapped siblings in a frontier land. A fantasy western.
Best for: readers who like westerns.
7. Sharp Ends by Joe Abercrombie
A collection of short stories set in the First Law world. Quick, vivid and funny.
Best for: readers who like short fiction.
8. Prince of Thorns by Mark Lawrence
Jorg, a teen prince, leads a band of brutal outlaws. Violent and morally dark.
Best for: readers who want a ruthless anti-hero.
9. The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
Locke and his gang of thieves pull off elaborate cons. Clever and funny.
Best for: readers who like heists.
10. The Black Company by Glen Cook
A band of mercenaries serves the Lady, a dark sorceress. Terse and cynical, and the root of grimdark.
Best for: readers who like military fantasy.
11. A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
Noble houses battle for the Iron Throne. Big, political and bloody.
Best for: readers who like many viewpoints.
12. The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang
Rin joins a military academy and discovers a dangerous power. Brutal and unforgettable.
Best for: readers who like grim wars.
13. Gardens of the Moon by Steven Erikson
The first of The Malazan Book of the Fallen, a dense, epic series. Complex and ambitious.
Best for: readers who want a deep series.
14. The Traitor Baru Cormorant by Seth Dickinson
Baru, a gifted accountant, plots to destroy an empire from within. Cold, political and tragic.
Best for: readers who like strategy.
15. Blood Song by Anthony Ryan
Vaelin Al Sorna is raised as a warrior and tells his story. Fast, with strong battle scenes.
Best for: readers who like swordplay.
How to Choose
If you want more of the same world, read the First Law trilogy, then Best Served Cold and The Heroes. For short samples, try Sharp Ends. For other grim epics, pick Prince of Thorns, The Black Company or The Poppy War. For clever heists, choose The Lies of Locke Lamora. Abercrombie's books contain strong violence and language. A useful path for new readers is The Blade Itself, then Best Served Cold, then A Little Hatred, so you meet the world before the new generation. Audiobooks narrated by Steven Pacey are especially popular for this series.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to read First Law before Age of Madness?
It helps, because the new trilogy features descendants of earlier characters, but newcomers can follow it.
Is Age of Madness grimdark?
Yes. It features brutal violence, moral ambiguity and dark humor.
What is the best reading order for Abercrombie?
Many fans read First Law, then the standalones, then Age of Madness.
Is there more after the trilogy?
Yes. Abercrombie has continued with new books set in the same world.
Who narrates the audiobooks?
Steven Pacey narrates the First Law audiobooks, and fans consider his voice acting a highlight.
Is the humor important?
Yes. Abercrombie uses dark humor to relieve the grim violence, which is much of the appeal.