Best Served Cold

By: Joe Abercrombie

Narrated by: Steven Pacey

Length: 26 hrs and 29 mins

Publisher's summary

Springtime in Styria. And that means war.

There have been 19 years of blood. The ruthless Grand Duke Orso is locked in a vicious struggle with the squabbling League of Eight, and between them they have bled the land white. While armies march, heads roll and cities burn, and behind the scenes bankers, priests, and older, darker powers play a deadly game to choose who will be king.

War may be hell, but for Monza Murcatto, the Snake of Talins, the most feared and famous mercenary in Duke Orso's employ, it's a damn good way of making money, too. Her victories have made her popular - a shade too popular for her employer's taste. Betrayed, thrown down a mountain, and left for dead, Murcatto's reward is a broken body and a burning hunger for vengeance. Whatever the cost, seven men must die.

Her allies include Styria's least reliable drunkard, Styria's most treacherous poisoner, a mass-murderer obsessed with numbers, and a Northman who just wants to do the right thing. Her enemies number the better half of the nation. And that's all before the most dangerous man in the world is dispatched to hunt her down and finish the job Duke Orso started....

Springtime in Styria. And that means revenge.

First Law Trilogy

The Blade Itself

Before They Are Hanged

Last Argument of Kings

Novels in the First Law World

Best Served Cold

The Heroes

Red Country

©2015 Joe Abercrombie (P)2015 Hachette Audio

Critic reviews

"The battles are vivid and visceral, the action brutal, the pace headlong, and Abercrombie piles the betrayals, reversals, and plot twists one atop another to keep us guessing how it will all come out. This is his best book yet." (George R. R. Martin)

"Joe Abercrombie takes the grand tradition of high fantasy literature and drags it down into the gutter, in the best possible way. Monza is a beautiful mercenary who has sworn to kill the seven men who tried to kill her. No elves, no wands - just lots of down-and-dirty swordplay." ( Time)

"Abercrombie is both fiendishly inventive and solidly convincing, especially when sprinkling his appallingly vivid combat scenes with humor so dark that it's almost ultraviolet." ( Publishers Weekly)

Better than the first 3 books by far.

If you could sum up Best Served Cold in three words, what would they be?

I enjoyed the First Law trilogy. Pacey's a great narrator, better than most, and I loved Glokta. I bought Best Served Cold thinking I would get more of the same, but instead I got a much darker story with better characters and dialogue. I loved this listen!

Great narration, good story, but the platitudes

The First Law trilogy is probably my favorite trilogy. I've listened to it three times through. Best Served Cold was a good story, but I swear every other sentence was a platitude trying to be a very profound introspective statement. I don't remember The First Law trilogy being that way. Either way this book is still worth a credit and listen.

I just love the First Law audiobooks

Stephen Percy does an amazing job. Story was amazing. I loved it. It was awesome to see the characters from the first trilogy move on and do new things!

all around great!!! you do not need 20 words to de

all around great!!! you do not need 20 words to describe how good the story is. it ties in within the first law trilogy and brings old and new characters.

This Book is AMAZING.

I first read this novel several years back after reading Joe Abercrombie’s “First Law” trilogy.
I just now went through it again on Audible and my God... It is SO COOL.
If you’re a fan of “Game of Thrones,” and like fantasy epics and revenge stories with unbelievable world-building, then you should adore this book.
It does help to a small degree to have read the preceding trilogy, but you by no means have to have done so to hugely appreciate this stand-alone story.
The characters, dialogue, wit and general story drive this book to greatness like almost nothing I’ve ever read, (and friends and neighbors, I read a LOT).
Also, the narrator is next level. He kills it with every character - pun intended.
Check. This. Out.

One of my top 5

Where does Best Served Cold rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Definitely in my top 5.

What other book might you compare Best Served Cold to and why?

I don't really have a direct comparison, of course all the first law series, but this one was special. What a person will do for the ultimate payback.

What does Steven Pacey bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Mr. Pacey is a great narrator. Very articulate and well spoken. He brings enthusiasm and different tones to differentiate between characters.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I loved the whole book, but I particularly loved the master poisoner Morveer. His character definitely made the book for me.

Any additional comments?

This book has some ties to the first law series and world, but can be enjoyed on its own. It is a must listen that will entertain you for hours.

Another GREAT Ambercrombie book

Best narrator I have heard. Wish he done more books.
The book itself is GREAT. Follows in line with past Ambercrombie novel's. .

amazing amazing amazing

Another stellar performance of an interesting and compelling story by Joe Abercrombie. love the world and intrigues.

So worth it after the first trilogy!

I didn’t know what to expect and I’m no book ad or promoter but damn this book was good!

I dig it like a grave

Just wait till you get to the whorehouse... That is one of the best chapters I've ever read.