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Quick answer: If you finished the First Law trilogy, try Best Served Cold, The Heroes, Red Country, A Little Hatred, The Black Company and The Lies of Locke Lamora. They share gritty worlds, dark humor and flawed heroes.
Joe Abercrombie's First Law trilogy (The Blade Itself, Before They Are Hanged, Last Argument of Kings) follows a barbarian, a torturer and a vain officer in a world of war and politics. It is witty and brutal. Readers who finish it want more grimdark fantasy and more of the same world. These 15 books cover both, with violence and strong language.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best Served Cold | Joe Abercrombie | Adult | a great next step |
| The Heroes | Joe Abercrombie | Adult | readers who like war stories |
| Red Country | Joe Abercrombie | Adult | readers who like westerns |
| A Little Hatred | Joe Abercrombie | Adult | readers who want the new trilogy |
| Sharp Ends | Joe Abercrombie | Adult | readers who like short fiction |
| The Black Company | Glen Cook | Adult | readers who like military fantasy |
| The Lies of Locke Lamora | Scott Lynch | Adult | readers who like heists |
| Prince of Thorns | Mark Lawrence | Adult | readers who want a ruthless anti-hero |
| The Way of Shadows | Brent Weeks | Adult | readers who like assassins |
| Kings of the Wyld | Nicholas Eames | Adult | readers who want humor |
| Malice | John Gwynne | Adult | readers who like epic battles |
| 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 |
| Blood Song | Anthony Ryan | Adult | readers who like swordplay |
1. Best Served Cold by Joe Abercrombie
Monza Murcatto, a mercenary, seeks revenge on those who betrayed her. A standalone in the same world with a strong heroine.
Best for: a great next step.
2. The Heroes by Joe Abercrombie
A three-day battle told from several viewpoints. A gritty and clever standalone.
Best for: readers who like war stories.
3. Red Country by Joe Abercrombie
A woman hunts for her kidnapped siblings in a frontier land. A fantasy western.
Best for: readers who like westerns.
4. A Little Hatred by Joe Abercrombie
The first book of Age of Madness, set a generation later with factories and revolt. Sharp and bloody.
Best for: readers who want the new trilogy.
5. 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.
6. The Black Company by Glen Cook
A band of mercenaries serves the Lady, a dark sorceress. Terse and cynical, and a root of grimdark.
Best for: readers who like military fantasy.
7. 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.
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 Way of Shadows by Brent Weeks
Azoth, a street kid, trains as a assassin under a master. Dark and fast.
Best for: readers who like assassins.
10. Kings of the Wyld by Nicholas Eames
A band of aging mercenaries reunite for one last job. Funny and rock-and-roll.
Best for: readers who want humor.
11. Malice by John Gwynne
Corban and Veradis find themselves in a war between clans and darker forces. Strong battle scenes.
Best for: readers who like epic battles.
12. A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
Noble houses fight for the Iron Throne. Big, political and bloody.
Best for: readers who like many viewpoints.
13. 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.
14. 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.
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
For more of Abercrombie's world, read Best Served Cold or The Heroes. For short samples, try Sharp Ends. For other grim epics, choose Prince of Thorns or The Black Company. For humor, pick Kings of the Wyld. A simple plan is to read one standalone, one trilogy opener and one short collection. These books contain strong violence and language. If you like audiobooks, the narrator's dry delivery makes Abercrombie's jokes land, and the length suits long commutes. For a palate cleanser between grim epics, try something lighter like Kings of the Wyld.
Related: Which Terry Pratchett Book Should You Read First? · Which Stephen King Book Should You Read First?
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.
Are the standalones connected?
Yes, they share the same world and a few characters, but each has its own story.
Who narrates the audiobooks?
Steven Pacey, whose performance is widely praised.
Is First Law grimdark?
Yes. It features brutal violence, moral ambiguity and dark humor.
Which First Law book is best?
Many fans pick The Heroes or Best Served Cold for standalone strength, and The Blade Itself for the trilogy.
Is there a reading order for the whole world?
Read the trilogy, then the standalones, then Age of Madness, though you can read standalones separately.