Books in Order
Joe Abercrombie Books in Order
About Joe Abercrombie
Joe Abercrombie (born 1974, Lancaster, England) is the leading figure of grimdark fantasy — a subgenre that emphasizes moral ambiguity, brutal realism, and the deconstruction of epic fantasy tropes. His First Law trilogy (2006–2008) redefined what was possible in commercial fantasy with its pitch-black humor, unreliable characters, and deeply cynical view of heroism and power. Abercrombie worked as a TV editor before publishing his debut. His books are praised for sharp dialogue, exceptional villain/antivillain construction, and a willingness to subvert every genre expectation. He is often cited alongside George R.R. Martin as a defining influence on modern epic fantasy.
Start with The Blade Itself. The First Law trilogy is the entry point to the entire First Law World. All subsequent books are set in the same world and reference its events.
The First Law Trilogy
Full Series Page →The entry point. A subversive epic fantasy following a torturer, a barbarian, and a crippled nobleman across a war-torn continent.
Book 1
![The Blade Itself cover]()
The Blade Itself
2006
Start hereThree unlikely companions are thrown together as a world-ending threat emerges. Darkly funny, morally complex.
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Book 3
![Last Argument of Kings cover]()
First Law World — Stand-Alone Novels
Set in the same world, years after the trilogy. Each stands alone but rewards readers who know the trilogy.
Book 1
![Best Served Cold cover]()
Best Served Cold
2009
A revenge story. One woman against seven men. Excellent stand-alone.
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Book 2
![The Heroes cover]()
The Heroes
2011
A three-day battle told from multiple sides. War fiction in a fantasy setting.
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Book 3
![Red Country cover]()
The Age of Madness Trilogy
Set 30 years after the First Law trilogy in the same world's industrial revolution. Read the original trilogy first for full impact.
Book 1
![A Little Hatred cover]()
A Little Hatred
2019
Read First Law firstThe First Law world's industrial age. New generation of characters.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What order should I read Joe Abercrombie books?
Start with The First Law trilogy (The Blade Itself → Before They Are Hanged → Last Argument of Kings). Then the three stand-alone novels in any order, then The Age of Madness trilogy. All are set in the same world and build on each other, though the stand-alones and Age of Madness can be read after just the first trilogy.
Is Joe Abercrombie's writing very violent?
Yes — Abercrombie's work is genuinely brutal and explicit in its depictions of violence and war. This is deliberate and thematic: the violence serves his critique of heroic fantasy tropes. If you are sensitive to graphic content, his books may not be for you. If you appreciated similar content in the Game of Thrones TV series, you will likely be fine.
Do I need to read the First Law trilogy before the stand-alone novels?
Technically the stand-alones work on their own, but the trilogy dramatically increases the impact of the stand-alones, which feature characters and consequences from the trilogy. Most readers strongly recommend reading in order.