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Quick answer: If you finished Joe Abercrombie's Age of Madness trilogy, read A Little Hatred, The Trouble with Peace and The Wisdom of Crowds, then try The Blade Itself, Best Served Cold and The Heroes. All offer grim humor, flawed heroes and brutal fights.
Age of Madness is the second Abercrombie trilogy set in the world of the First Law, where an industrial revolution disrupts old ways and new rebels rise. It mixes dry wit with cynical politics and battles. The books below share that grimdark style. All are adult fantasy, and all are real, in-print books.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| A Little Hatred | Joe Abercrombie | Adult | the series starter |
| The Trouble with Peace | Joe Abercrombie | Adult | the middle |
| The Wisdom of Crowds | Joe Abercrombie | Adult | the finale |
| The Blade Itself | Joe Abercrombie | Adult | first trilogy |
| Best Served Cold | Joe Abercrombie | Adult | revenge story |
| The Heroes | Joe Abercrombie | Adult | battle fiction |
| Red Country | Joe Abercrombie | Adult | fantasy Western |
| Half a King | Joe Abercrombie | Teen | YA entry |
| The Lies of Locke Lamora | Scott Lynch | Adult | heist fantasy |
| Prince of Thorns | Mark Lawrence | Adult | brutal protagonists |
| A Game of Thrones | George R.R. Martin | Adult | political intrigue |
| The Black Company | Glen Cook | Adult | grimdark roots |
| The Traitor Baru Cormorant | Seth Dickinson | Adult | political fantasy |
| The Poppy War | R.F. Kuang | Adult | military fantasy |
| Gardens of the Moon | Steven Erikson | Adult | complex worlds |
1. A Little Hatred by Joe Abercrombie
The first Age of Madness book introduces a new generation facing industrial change. Funny and violent.
Best for: the series starter.
2. The Trouble with Peace by Joe Abercrombie
The second book follows the aftermath of war and a growing rebellion. Sharp and tense.
Best for: the middle.
3. The Wisdom of Crowds by Joe Abercrombie
The finale sees a revolution in Adua. Dark and satisfying.
Best for: the finale.
4. The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie
The start of the First Law trilogy, with Logen Ninefingers, Glokta and Jezal. Grim humor and flawed heroes.
Best for: first trilogy.
5. Best Served Cold by Joe Abercrombie
A standalone about a mercenary's revenge. Violent and funny.
Best for: revenge story.
6. The Heroes by Joe Abercrombie
A three-day battle told from many sides. A tight, brutal war novel.
Best for: battle fiction.
7. Red Country by Joe Abercrombie
A Western set in the First Law world. Fast, bloody and dry.
Best for: fantasy Western.
8. Half a King by Joe Abercrombie
A young adult story of a prince who must prove himself. First of Shattered Sea, lighter and fast.
Best for: YA entry.
9. The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
A gang of thieves in a canal city plot elaborate cons. Funny and dark.
Best for: heist fantasy.
10. Prince of Thorns by Mark Lawrence
A teenage warlord returns to his father's castle. Dark and bold.
Best for: brutal protagonists.
11. A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
Noble houses fight for the Iron Throne. Political and violent.
Best for: political intrigue.
12. The Black Company by Glen Cook
A band of mercenaries serves a sorceress. Gritty and darkly funny.
Best for: grimdark roots.
13. The Traitor Baru Cormorant by Seth Dickinson
A young woman rises in an empire she plans to destroy. Clever and bleak.
Best for: political fantasy.
14. The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang
A war orphan enters a military academy and unleashes dangerous power. Dark and ambitious.
Best for: military fantasy.
15. Gardens of the Moon by Steven Erikson
The first Malazan book plunges into an empire at war. Dense and rewarding.
Best for: complex worlds.
How to Choose
If you have not read The First Law, start with The Blade Itself. For standalones, Best Served Cold, The Heroes and Red Country. For a lighter option, Half a King. For similar grimdark, Prince of Thorns and The Black Company. Abercrombie's books are violent and darkly funny, so be ready for both. Abercrombie's trilogies are best read in order, with a break for standalones. If you like his humor, focus on The Heroes and Best Served Cold. If you prefer a quicker read, start with Half a King, a YA series that is lighter but still sharp. Pair a big fantasy with a short one, so you keep the habit of finishing books.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What order are Abercrombie's books?
The First Law trilogy, three standalones, then Age of Madness. Read The Blade Itself first.
Can I read Age of Madness first?
You can, but you will miss references to earlier characters.
Is Age of Madness grimdark?
Yes, with moral ambiguity, violence and sharp humor.
How long is each Age of Madness book?
Each is about 500 pages.
Is Age of Madness set in the same world?
Yes. It takes place a generation after The First Law, with a new cast and some familiar faces.
Where should I start with Abercrombie?
The Blade Itself is the standard start, and Best Served Cold works as a standalone.
Is the Age of Madness trilogy darker?
It is just as dark, with more political and social conflict.
Does Abercrombie write short stories?
Yes. Sharp Ends collects short stories in the First Law world.
How many Abercrombie books are there?
More than a dozen novels and short story collections.
Is Abercrombie funny?
Yes. His dark humor, especially in dialogue, is a signature of the series.
Who should read Abercrombie?
Adult readers who like sharp wit, moral gray and unpredictable plots.
Is there an Abercrombie audiobook?
Yes, and Steven Pacey's narration is widely praised.