Before They Are Hanged, Joe Abercrombie
Before They Are Hanged, Joe Abercrombie
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Before They Are Hanged

Author: Joe Abercrombie

Narrator: Steven Pacey

Unabridged: 22 hr 39 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Orbit

Published: 09/08/2015


Synopsis

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

About Joe Abercrombie

Joe Abercrombie is a British fantasy writer best known for his acclaimed First Law Trilogy: The Blade Itself, Before They Are Hanged, and Last Argument of Kings. A freelance film editor as well, he works mostly on documentaries and live music events for bands from Coldplay to Iron Maiden. He was nominated for the 2008 John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer. Joe lives with his wife and daughter in London.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Petrik on May 28, 2022

Before They Are Hanged succeeds over The Blade Itself wonderfully. “We should forgive our enemies, but not before they are hanged.”—Heinrich Heine I’ve mentioned in my review of The Blade Itself that although I highly enjoyed it, Abercrombie’s debut felt like more like a setup book; a nece......more

Goodreads review by Emily on April 04, 2022

I've been enjoying this series but less so with book 2. I still love Glokta, there were some strong moments ((view spoiler)[West pushing the Prince down the cliff was particularly satisfying.) (hide spoiler)] but the story didn't grip me as much. Anyone else felt like the sex scene were... kinda gross? Will continue and see how I fe......more

Goodreads review by Matt's Fantasy Book Reviews on July 28, 2023

A masterful follow-up that leaves the reader ravenous for the final book This book is absolutely wonderful, and somehow improves upon the first book which was a great first entry in this series. The first series suffered from a few too many different POVs that didn't interconnect, but this one feels......more

Goodreads review by mark on July 25, 2011

okay enough with the reviews and comments from folks saying that there aren't any likeable characters in this series! what we have here are: (1) a barbarian with a heart of gold. sure, he can turn into a mass murdering psychopath when pressed, but my gosh, that doesn't happen too often! (2) an ex-sla......more

Goodreads review by James on March 19, 2017

"We should forgive our enemies, but not before they are hanged" - Heinrich Heine Before They Are Hanged is Abercrombie's second entry into the twisted and grim world of The First Law. It follows on from the three story arcs that The Blade itself stylishly led towards. Bayaz, the first of the Magi is......more


Quotes

"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)