The Trouble with Peace

By: Joe Abercrombie

Narrated by: Steven Pacey

Length: 21 hrs and 57 mins

Publisher's Summary

A fragile peace gives way to conspiracy, betrayal, and rebellion in this sequel to the New York Times best-selling A Little Hatred from epic fantasy master Joe Abercrombie.

Peace is just another kind of battlefield....

Savine dan Glokta, once Adua's most powerful investor, finds her judgement, fortune and reputation in tatters. But she still has all her ambitions, and no scruple will be permitted to stand in her way.

For heroes like Leo dan Brock and Stour Nightfall, only happy with swords drawn, peace is an ordeal to end as soon as possible. But grievances must be nursed, power seized, and allies gathered first, while Rikke must master the power of the Long Eye...before it kills her.

Unrest worms into every layer of society. The Breakers still lurk in the shadows, plotting to free the common man from his shackles, while noblemen bicker for their own advantage. Orso struggles to find a safe path through the maze of knives that is politics, only for his enemies, and his debts, to multiply.

The old ways are swept aside, and the old leaders with them, but those who would seize the reins of power will find no alliance, no friendship, and no peace lasts forever.

For more from Joe Abercrombie, check out:

The Age of Madness
A Little Hatred
The Trouble With Peace

The First Law Trilogy
The Blade Itself
Before They Are Hanged
Last Argument of Kings
Best Served Cold
The Heroes
Red Country

The Shattered Sea Trilogy
Half a King
Half a World
Half a War

"A master of his craft." (Forbes)

"No one writes with the seismic scope or primal intensity of Joe Abercrombie." (Pierce Brown)

©2020 Joe Abercrombie (P)2020 Orbit

Critic Reviews

"A master of the genre." (Lev Grossman, number-one New York Times best-selling author)

"Abercrombie's satisfying plotting and expert subversion of genre expectations are sure to please. Readers will be gripped." (Publishers Weekly)

Had enough!!

Why must all the male characters be bumbling idiots that need to be put in their place. This is new new narrative of most books. I guess I will just re-listen to the first law series.

Pacey’s Performance is Award-Worthy

I don’t have much to say about the plot - hopefully at this point you have listened not only to A Little Hatred (Book 1 of the Age of Madness), but to all of the previous First Law books. The Trouble With Peace is a sequel to all of them, and (possibly?) the penultimate episode of the entire saga.

And it is very, very good. If you enjoyed the previous books you will find more to love. It is heavy on politic-ing, but Abercrombie has such a penchant for dialogue that those segments are as ‘edge of your seat’ as any battle (not to say there weren’t a few battles as well). There were goosebump inducing moments as well as laugh-out-loud ones. Now that our main players have been established, this book is also able to move at a much faster pace. Suffice it to say, I couldn’t stop listening!

Additionally, Abercrombie begins to weave the larger Bayaz/Khalul/Shenkt arc that has been hanging in the background of all of his books towards the forefront. Needless to say, I cannot wait for Book 3!

Now, onto Pacey’s performance as narrator - it is second to none. I listen to probably 100 audiobooks a year, and I have never found a better performance. As good as the First Law books are, the reason I buy them the day they are published is because of Pacey’s performance. It is truly legendary.

Caricatures with Catchphrases

Strong characteristics don't make strong characters and the only seemingly intelligent character is the narrator. Say one thing about Joe Abercrombie, say he jumped the shark.

Very disappointed

This book is so depressing, why call it fantasy when you can get the same death and greed watching the news? Don’t wast your credit!

Not as good as predecessors

Steven Pacey is still the best narrator ever, but Abercrombie is really stretching a small amount of material over a large space. Hardly anything happened in the book it seemed, and the constant waxing philosophic over modern day social/political issues is tiresome (I'm aligned on most of the ideals, but even I couldn't take the ham fisted preaching for so many pages). Abercrombie needs to focus on subtlety and story if he continues the franchise. He got lazy in this one. It's like he gave up on writing an amazing narrative because he was so focused on bludgeoning the reader with his sociopolitical commentary. Moralizing is much better received if it's wrapped in a captivating, compelling story. I'm a huge fan and will still buy the next one, but really disappointed in this installment.

Just reread The First Law

I’ve reread the first trilogy twice since buying this book, still haven’t finished it.
hard to believe this is the same author.

Not what I was hoping for...

Focused way too much on the politics. Nowhere near enough of the magic or gritty violent fighting i came to love about the previous books.

No Thank You

Made it over half way but eventually surrendered. Flawed characters are fine, but having nothing redeemable about any of them just makes for a depressing slog. This author has proven that he can write well, but this mess is not an example of that talent. Class warfare, racial bigotry and brokeback mountain type romance, among other things, come off as preachy "woke" BS. Some of this could have been accompanying background to otherwise entertaining fiction. That's not the case with this story.

Like a hit of caffeine.

This is something I have been waiting for for quite some time. This is kind of book that you can't stop listening to once you start. It has so much in the way of plots, story and subterfuge. The writing as well gives the listener a great chance to dive into the story that you only feel comfortable in when you keep listening. Can't wait for the next book.

Another amazing book by joe Abercrombie

I absolutely love this author. The first law trilogy was absolutely brilliant, but both “A Little Hatred” and “The Trouble With Peace” have somehow managed to be even better.

Abercrombie excels at creating gloriously flawed and human characters who’s contrasting perspectives and storylines interweave to create a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts. Having read all of Abercrombie’s books, I have to say that the characters in this latest series might be my favorite. Savine, Rikke, and Vick are some of the best written female characters I have read in the fantasy genre in ages and the well-meaning self-deprecating King Orso is an absolute breath of fresh air.

A wonderful book in a wonderful series by a wonderful author and definitely worth the reading!