Before They Are Hanged

By: Joe Abercrombie

Narrated by: Steven Pacey

The second novel in the wildly popular First Law Trilogy from New York Times bestseller Joe Abercrombie.

Superior Glokta has a problem. How do you defend a city surrounded by enemies and riddled with traitors, when your allies can by no means be trusted, and your predecessor vanished without a trace? It's enough to make a torturer want to run -- if he could even walk without a stick.

Northmen have spilled over the border of Angland and are spreading fire and death across the frozen country. Crown Prince Ladisla is poised to drive them back and win undying glory. There is only one problem -- he commands the worst-armed, worst-trained, worst-led army in the world.

And Bayaz, the First of the Magi, is leading a party of bold adventurers on a perilous mission through the ruins of the past. The most hated woman in the South, the most feared man in the North, and the most selfish boy in the Union make a strange alliance, but a deadly one. They might even stand a chance of saving mankind from the Eaters -- if they didn't hate each other quite so much.

Ancient secrets will be uncovered. Bloody battles will be won and lost. Bitter enemies will be forgiven -- but not before they are hanged.


First Law Trilogy
The Blade Itself
Before They Are Hanged
Last Argument of Kings


For more from Joe Abercrombie, check out:

Novels in the First Law world
Best Served Cold
The Heroes
Red Country

Critic reviews

"Bloody and relentless."—George R. R. Martin on Best Served Cold

"Bold and authentically original."—Jeff VanderMeer on The Blade Itself

"Abercrombie has written the finest epic fantasy trilogy in recent memory. He's one writer that no one should miss."—Junot Diaz

"If you're fond of bloodless, turgid fantasy with characters as thin as newspaper and as boring as plaster saints, Joe Abercrombie is really going to ruin your day. A long career for this guy would be a gift to our genre."—Scott Lynch, author of The Lies of Locke Lamora on The Blade Itself

"Compelling characters, a complex plot, and style to burn."—Strange Horizons on The Blade Itself

"Pointed, driven, and sharp."—Locus on Red Country

"Magnificent, richly entertaining"—Time on The Heroes

"Imagine The Lord of the Rings as directed by Kurosawa."—Lev Grossman, Wall Street Journal on The Heroes

"[Abercrombie has] begun breaking his own rules. And succeeding wildly at it. ... Rarely has Abercrombie had so much fun while rollicking through his colorful cast's foibles and witty dialogue - and rarely has he dished out so much straight-for-the-heart poignancy."—The A.V. Club

"New, fresh, and exciting."—The Independent (UK)

"Exhilarating... Abercrombie's knack for wit and grit holds your attention throughout, and his eye for character means that there's heart as well as muscle."—SFX (UK)

"Lord of the Rings as directed by Kurosawa."—Wall Street Journal on The Heroes

Devoted the first book. Inhaled the second...

Writing this review while the third one downloads. Excellent story. Sort of Game of Thrones meets the Dark Tower. Excellent reader. There are a dozen or more characters, each with his or her own distinct voice, accent, speech impediment, tone... I listen in awe... wearing a steady grin!

A typical middle book in a trilogy.

Keeps the story going, but nothing overly exciting. The larger world feels under developed. Some very jarring... Erotica... But all in all a worth while read.

Same Level as Tolkien / Sanderson

I couldn't be any more satisfied with Before They Are Hanged. Fantastic. In fact, every one of Abercrombie's novels in this trilogy are a superlative work of art; 5 starts across the board. There's 'experience' in his writing, the plot lines and themes are perfectly crafted, and Pacey's narration is simply exceptional. These novels are on the level of Tolkien, Jordon, and Sanderson. Bravo.

Unexpected & Wonderful

I love when a writer surprises me. At the start of the series I found myself wondering what the story was about. Soon, however, I was so captivated by the characters that I stopped asking the question! Behold, the story develops and seems to be blooming into something magnificent!

A Great Sequel To The Best Fantasy Series!

I've been listening to many audio-books and I am so thrilled that I finally gave the First Law Trilogy a try. The sequel continues the satisfaction I had after the first book. I am hooked. Joe Abercrombie's characters are just delicious. They are fully conceived and artfully portrayed with a fantastic menagerie of distinctive personas by Steven Pacey. I devoured each book with the ferocity of a starved eater. My only regret is that the squeal to the series has yet to be written. In the meantime, I've now started one of the stand alone books, Best Served Cold, also performed by Steven Pacey. If you love action, witty humor, fantastic characters, both male and female, a bit of cloak and dagger as well as some passionate moments, you're in for a great ride. Thank you Joe Abercrombie and Steven Pacey for the wondrous world both written and performed.