Before They Are Hanged

The First Law: Book Two

By: Joe Abercrombie

Narrated by: Steven Pacey

Length: 22 hrs and 38 mins

Publisher's summary

Bitter and merciless war is coming to the frozen north. It's bloody and dangerous, and the Union army, split by politics and hamstrung by incompetence, is unprepared for the slaughter that's coming. Lacking experience, training, and in some cases even weapons, the army is scarcely equipped to repel Bethod's scouts, let alone his elite forces.

In the heat-ravaged south, the Gurkish are massing to assault the city of Dagoska, defended by Inquisitor Glokta. The city is braced for the inevitable defeat and massacre to come... but a plot is festering to hand the city to its besiegers without a fight, and the previous Inquisitor of Dagoska vanished without trace. Threatened from within and without the city, Glokta needs answers, and he needs them soon.

And to the east, a small band of malefactors travel to the edge of the world to reclaim a device from history - a Seed, hidden for generations - with tremendous destructive potential. A device which could put a end to war, to the army of Eaters in the South, to the invasion of Shanka from the North - but only if it can be found, and only if its power can be controlled.

©2007 Joe Abercrombie (P)2010 Orion Publishing Group Limited

Surprisingly good

I really liked this - as much or perhaps better than the first book. Abercrombie is funny, horrifying and smart in equal measures and Pacey is an excellent narrator.

another great addition to the series

loved every minute of it. great addition to the series. Joe Abercrombie never dissapoibts in this book.

Loved it

Joe Abercrombie does a fantastic job of refreshing the fantasy genre with his gritty not everything is sunshine and rainbows style of writing. Don't get me wrong there are still good guys and bad guys but most of the time there is an extremely thin line between the two, I found myself thinking all the time "that guy is terrible...but a good man", you wanted to hate some characters but you just couldn't. It's hard to explain, suffice it to say its an awesome story, a great narrator, and you'll want to keep going.

A keeper

A very engaging, disturbingly human storyline. Steven Pacey is up there with the best of them in its narration.

holy stool

you should get this book. it's crazy good. but don't listen to it around small ears.

Great series

This is such an entailing series. I love the sarcasm, the suspense, how there are three stories in one. The narrator does a fantastic job!!

Previous Book Incomplete

Just finished The Blade Itself - the first book in this series.

Beware: The audiobook for Blade Itself does not include the entire book and is missing the last 3 chapters. Audible has removed, I'm assuming to fix the issue. If you have not read the first book I would wait until they fix the audiobook before starting this one.

With that said, I just started this book and am really liking the continuation of the story. The narration is fantastic (as in the first book) though read a little choppy during battle sequences. The narrator does a great job with the dialogue and infusing different character into each of the voices, especially Glokta. The writing style and dialogue is top notch. Anything Abercrombie has written to date is a treat. Note: not for the faint hearted.

Mature Fantasy Reading

By mature, I don't mean sexy. In fact, most characters in this series are revolting on some level. It's this aspect of the complex characters that make it mature in nature.

The story seamlessly picks up at the end of volume one. I don’t think one will get much from this book without reading “The Blade Itself”, so I recommend that book to get you started.

The Abercrombie-Pacey team is again brilliant. These books and this narrator are meant to go together.

I highly recommend this series, unless you like your heroes unsullied and as shining examples of all that is good, for you’ll be disappointed by the “good guys” in these books.

Great Story Line

This is a well thought out story line. Abercrombe and Pacey make you feel you are right in the story with there immese detail....Anyone who loves Sci-Fi will love this book. Pacey has so many voices to go along with the characters, you will never get bored....

Favorite series.

Listened to it three times so far, favorite series so far. Characters are all dynamic and interesting.