Joe Abercrombie Books in Order: The Complete First Law Reading Guide

If you love grimdark fantasy, morally complicated characters, brutal battles, dark humor, political intrigue, and stories where doing the right thing can be every bit as dangerous as doing the wrong thing, Joe Abercrombie is an author you should know.

But there is one problem for new readers:

Where do you actually start?

Joe Abercrombie has written multiple books set in the world of The First Law, including an original trilogy, three interconnected standalone novels, two collections of short fiction, and a second trilogy set in the same world. He has also written the separate Shattered Sea trilogy and The Devils, which belongs to a different fantasy world.

That can make searching for the correct Joe Abercrombie books in order surprisingly confusing.

The good news is that the answer is fairly straightforward.

If you’re new to Abercrombie, the best reading order is essentially publication order:

The First Law trilogy → the three First Law standalones → Sharp Ends → The Age of Madness trilogy → The Great Change (And Other Lies)

You can then explore The Shattered Sea trilogy and The Devils separately.

Below, you’ll find the complete reading guide, including what each book is about, which books are connected, whether you can skip anything, and where to start if you’ve never read Joe Abercrombie before.

Joe Abercrombie Books in Order at a Glance

For the complete First Law reading experience, use this order:

The First Law Trilogy

1. The Blade Itself (2006)
2. Before They Are Hanged (2007)
3. Last Argument of Kings (2008)

First Law Standalone Novels

4. Best Served Cold (2009)
5. The Heroes (2011)
6. Red Country (2012)

First Law Short Fiction

7. Sharp Ends (2016)

The Age of Madness Trilogy

8. A Little Hatred (2019)
9. The Trouble with Peace (2020)
10. The Wisdom of Crowds (2021)

Later First Law Short Fiction

11. The Great Change (And Other Lies) (2023)

That is the recommended First Law reading order.

Joe Abercrombie’s official website groups the books in essentially these same categories: The First Law, the standalone novels set in the world of The First Law, The Age of Madness, and short fiction.

What Is the Best Order to Read Joe Abercrombie?

If this is your first time reading Joe Abercrombie, start with The Blade Itself.

Don’t start with Best Served Cold simply because it is technically a standalone.

Don’t start with A Little Hatred because it is a newer trilogy.

And don’t begin with The Heroes because you’ve heard it is one of Abercrombie’s best books.

The original trilogy establishes the world, history, characters, political landscape, and major events that make the later books much more rewarding.

After that, read the three standalone novels in publication order.

Then read Sharp Ends.

Then move into the Age of Madness trilogy.

This approach gives you the biggest payoff because later books assume that you know what happened earlier.

The First Law Trilogy

The first three books form the original First Law Trilogy.

They introduce the world that everything else in the First Law universe builds upon.

1. The Blade Itself (2006)

The Blade Itself is where Joe Abercrombie’s First Law universe begins.

The story introduces several characters whose lives initially appear to have little connection to one another.

There is Logen Ninefingers, a notorious Northman and warrior who has survived more battles than any reasonable person should.

There is Jezal dan Luthar, a young nobleman more interested in fencing, gambling, and his own social position than the unpleasant realities of war.

And there is Inquisitor Glokta, a former soldier who has been physically broken by torture and has become a torturer himself.

Their paths begin to converge as political tensions, warfare, and ancient forces threaten the stability of the world.

Abercrombie’s official description introduces Logen, Jezal, and Glokta as three of the central characters, while identifying The Blade Itself as Book One of The First Law.

Why start here?

Because The Blade Itself establishes the tone that made Abercrombie one of the most recognizable names in modern grimdark fantasy.

This isn’t traditional heroic fantasy.

Characters make terrible decisions.

Heroes are flawed.

Villains can be surprisingly understandable.

And victory rarely comes without a price.

One important warning for new readers: The Blade Itself is heavily character-driven and spends considerable time establishing the cast and world.

If you expect nonstop battles from page one, you might initially wonder where the story is going.

Stick with it.

The groundwork matters.

2. Before They Are Hanged (2007)

The story continues in Before They Are Hanged, the second book in the First Law trilogy.

The characters introduced in The Blade Itself are now facing much larger problems.

Superior Glokta has been given an almost impossible task: defend a city surrounded by enemies while trying to determine which of the people around him can actually be trusted.

Meanwhile, war is spreading across the North.

The official description highlights Glokta’s impossible position, the advancing Northmen, and Crown Prince Ladisla’s disastrously equipped army.

Why it matters

This is where the series begins to expand beyond character introductions and become a much larger fantasy conflict.

The political maneuvering becomes more important.

The military campaigns become more dangerous.

And the mysteries introduced in the first book begin to take shape.

If The Blade Itself is the setup, Before They Are Hanged is where the pieces start moving.

3. Last Argument of Kings (2008)

Last Argument of Kings concludes the original First Law trilogy.

The war reaches a critical point.

The various storylines finally collide.

Characters who have spent the previous two books moving through very different parts of the world find themselves caught up in events that will determine the future of the Union and the North.

Hachette identifies it as the final novel in The First Law Trilogy.

Why you absolutely should not skip it

If you’re planning to continue into the First Law standalone novels and eventually The Age of Madness, this book is essential.

A great deal of the pleasure in later First Law books comes from understanding what happened here.

Abercrombie also has a habit of rewarding readers who remember seemingly minor details.

So don’t rush through the original trilogy simply to get to the standalones.

The First Law Standalone Books

After completing the original trilogy, Abercrombie expanded the world with three standalone novels:

1. Best Served Cold
2. The Heroes
3. Red Country

They are sometimes called the Great Leveller books.

They aren’t a conventional trilogy with one continuous plot.

Instead, each tells a different story in the same world, with connections to characters, events, places, and history from the original trilogy.

Abercrombie’s official site describes these as standalone books in the world of The First Law, while his Great Leveller omnibus collects all three.

4. Best Served Cold (2009)

Best Served Cold is the first of the First Law standalone novels.

It follows Monza Murcatto, a famous mercenary commander who is betrayed by the powerful man she serves.

Left for dead, Monza survives.

And she wants revenge.

Not ordinary revenge, either.

She has seven people to kill.

That simple premise becomes an elaborate story of vengeance, politics, violence, shifting alliances, and people who are very bad at knowing when they should stop.

Abercrombie’s official description centers on Monza’s betrayal and her determination to make seven men pay.

Should you read it after the original trilogy?

Yes.

You technically could read Best Served Cold without reading The First Law first.

But don’t.

You’ll appreciate the world, references, returning characters, and political background much more if you’ve already completed the original trilogy.

5. The Heroes (2011)

The Heroes is one of Abercrombie’s most distinctive fantasy novels.

Instead of following a sprawling war over months or years, the novel focuses heavily on three days of battle.

The setting is the North.

Two armies face one another.

And thousands of people are about to discover that being called a hero doesn’t necessarily mean you’re particularly heroic.

Abercrombie’s official biography describes The Heroes as his second standalone novel set in the First Law world and notes that it became a major bestseller.

Why readers love it

If you enjoy military fantasy, this may be one of the strongest books in the entire First Law universe.

Abercrombie examines war from multiple perspectives.

You see soldiers.

Officers.

Veterans.

Young men looking for glory.

People simply trying to survive.

And people who have absolutely no idea what they’re doing.

The result is a brutal but often darkly funny examination of warfare.

6. Red Country (2012)

Red Country is the third standalone First Law novel.

It takes the world of Abercrombie’s fantasy universe in a different direction.

There are missing children.

There is a journey into dangerous territory.

There are mercenaries, outlaws, violence, and plenty of old grudges.

And the book has a distinctly western-inspired feel.

That makes Red Country particularly interesting if you enjoy fantasy that doesn’t stay locked inside traditional medieval conventions.

Why read it third?

Because the three standalones were published in this order:

Best Served Cold → The Heroes → Red Country

Abercrombie’s official biography confirms this sequence, with the three books published in 2009, 2011, and 2012 respectively.

There are connections among them, but the most important reason to preserve the order is that later books become increasingly rich in references to the world and its history.

Should You Read the Three Standalones in Order?

Definitely.

You can technically read each one independently.

But for a first-time reader, I recommend:

Best Served Cold → The Heroes → Red Country

This is the order in which they were published, and it gives you the best progression through the First Law world.

It also makes the later Sharp Ends collection easier to appreciate.

7. Sharp Ends (2016)

Sharp Ends is different from the books that came before it.

It isn’t a novel.

It is a collection of short fiction set in the world of The First Law.

Abercrombie’s official site describes it as a collection of short fiction from the First Law world.

The collection contains stories featuring characters and situations from different periods of the First Law timeline.

That means you shouldn’t think of it as simply:

“Book 7: the next story.”

It’s more like opening a box of additional pieces from the world you’ve already spent several books exploring.

Why read it after Red Country?

Because many of the stories become much more meaningful once you know the characters and history from the novels.

You’ll recognize names.

You’ll understand references.

You’ll appreciate certain twists.

And some stories give additional context to characters you have already encountered.

Can you skip it?

You can.

But if your goal is to read all the First Law books in order, don’t skip it.

It’s especially valuable for readers who want more of Abercrombie’s world rather than only the major novels.

The Age of Madness Trilogy

After Sharp Ends, the First Law universe moves into a new era.

This is the Age of Madness trilogy.

The books are:

1. A Little Hatred (2019)
2. The Trouble with Peace (2020)
3. The Wisdom of Crowds (2021)

Joe Abercrombie’s official biography confirms that this trilogy began with A Little Hatred in 2019 and concluded with The Wisdom of Crowds in 2021.

This trilogy is still set in the world of The First Law, but the world has changed dramatically.

Industry is growing.

Factories are appearing.

Political movements are gaining strength.

And the old order is under pressure.

8. A Little Hatred (2019)

A Little Hatred begins the Age of Madness trilogy.

The world of the First Law is entering an industrial age.

The old feudal order is beginning to look increasingly outdated as factories, commerce, political unrest, and social change reshape society.

But the old problems haven’t disappeared.

People still want power.

People still want revenge.

People still betray one another.

And people still have a remarkable talent for making terrible decisions.

Hachette describes the trilogy as a world where the age of the machine dawns while the age of magic refuses to die.

Why this book is different

If the original First Law trilogy feels like grim medieval fantasy, A Little Hatred feels like that world is beginning to enter an industrial revolution.

That change gives Abercrombie a new set of themes to explore:

• Class conflict
• Industrialization
• Political revolution
• Economic inequality
• Labor unrest
• Changing warfare
• The decline of traditional power

But the trademark Abercrombie ingredients remain.

Nobody is entirely good.

Nobody is entirely safe.

And nobody seems capable of learning from history.

9. The Trouble with Peace (2020)

The Trouble with Peace is the second Age of Madness novel.

The title tells you quite a lot.

Peace sounds desirable.

But in Abercrombie’s world, peace can be just as dangerous as war.

Political tensions increase.

Conspiracies develop.

Powerful people make increasingly desperate moves.

And the fragile stability created after previous conflicts begins to unravel.

Hachette describes the book as a sequel in which fragile peace gives way to conspiracy, betrayal, and rebellion.

Why you shouldn’t read it separately

This is very much a middle book.

It builds directly on A Little Hatred and prepares the ground for The Wisdom of Crowds.

So if you’re beginning the Age of Madness trilogy, read all three consecutively if possible.

10. The Wisdom of Crowds (2021)

The Wisdom of Crowds concludes the Age of Madness trilogy.

Revolution has taken hold.

The established order is collapsing.

Political and social forces that were building in the previous two books finally explode into something much larger.

Hachette identifies it as the concluding book of the Age of Madness trilogy.

Why it belongs at the end

This isn’t simply the final book of a trilogy.

It is also the culmination of a much larger First Law story.

Events from the original trilogy matter.

Events from the standalone novels matter.

The world has changed.

Characters have changed.

And the consequences of earlier decisions have had decades to spread.

That is why reading the earlier First Law books first makes the Age of Madness trilogy substantially more rewarding.

11. The Great Change (And Other Lies) (2023)

The Great Change (And Other Lies) is another collection of short fiction set in the First Law universe.

It was published after the Age of Madness trilogy.

The collection contains stories connected to the world and characters of Abercrombie’s First Law books.

For readers following the complete First Law reading order, this is best saved until after the Age of Madness trilogy.

Why?

Because short fiction can contain characters, references, and developments that assume knowledge of the wider First Law universe.

It’s much more satisfying as an additional collection after you’ve completed the major novels.

The Complete First Law Reading Order

If you want the entire connected First Law experience without unnecessary complications, save this list:

Joe Abercrombie’s own bibliography confirms the major divisions between the original trilogy, standalone First Law novels, Age of Madness trilogy, and short fiction.

What About the Shattered Sea Books?

This is where another common search-result problem appears.

Joe Abercrombie also wrote the Shattered Sea trilogy.

It is not part of the First Law universe.

The books are:

1. Half a King (2014)
2. Half the World (2015)
3. Half a War (2015)

Abercrombie’s official biography describes The Shattered Sea as a Viking-inspired fantasy series for young and old adults.

The official bibliography places the three books in exactly that sequence.

12. Half a King (2014)

Half a King begins the Shattered Sea trilogy.

It follows Yarvi, a young prince who is not exactly what his society expects a warrior prince to be.

When tragedy changes his life, Yarvi finds himself forced into a dangerous journey in a world where strength, loyalty, and survival are constantly tested.

The book has a strong Viking-inspired atmosphere and focuses heavily on identity, politics, survival, and personal growth.

13. Half the World (2015)

Half the World is the second Shattered Sea book.

It shifts the focus to new characters while continuing the broader story of the world.

There is more political conflict, warfare, personal ambition, and shifting alliances.

It should be read after Half a King.

14. Half a War (2015)

Half a War concludes the Shattered Sea trilogy.

The conflict that has been developing throughout the previous books reaches its climax.

If you enjoy the Viking-inspired setting of the first two books, this is where the larger story comes together.

Do you have to read Shattered Sea before First Law?

No.

They are separate fantasy worlds.

If you’re specifically searching for Joe Abercrombie’s First Law books in order, you can completely ignore the Shattered Sea trilogy.

If you want to read everything Abercrombie has written, add it as a separate trilogy.

What About The Devils?

Joe Abercrombie’s The Devils is another separate work.

It is not part of The First Law and not part of The Shattered Sea.

Abercrombie’s official biography identifies The Devils as the first book in a new series and gives its publication as May 2025.

So if you’re building a complete Joe Abercrombie reading list, place it separately from the First Law sequence.

15. The Devils (2025)

The Devils introduces a new fantasy setting and a new group of characters.

The premise centers around a particularly unconventional group of people brought together for a dangerous mission.

As with Abercrombie’s First Law books, expect violence, dark humor, complicated characters, and a willingness to turn familiar fantasy expectations upside down.

But don’t treat it as First Law Book 12.

It isn’t.

Joe Abercrombie Books by Series

For readers who prefer a quick breakdown, here’s the easiest way to understand his bibliography.

The First Law Trilogy

1. The Blade Itself
2. Before They Are Hanged
3. Last Argument of Kings

First Law Standalones

4. Best Served Cold
5. The Heroes
6. Red Country

First Law Short Fiction

7. Sharp Ends

Age of Madness Trilogy

8. A Little Hatred
9. The Trouble with Peace
10. The Wisdom of Crowds

First Law Short Fiction

11. The Great Change (And Other Lies)

Shattered Sea Trilogy

1. Half a King
2. Half the World
3. Half a War

New Series

• The Devils

This separation is much less confusing than trying to assign one giant number to every Joe Abercrombie book.

Should You Read Joe Abercrombie’s Books in Publication Order?

For the First Law universe, yes.

Publication order is the best choice for a first-time reader.

That means:

The Blade Itself

↓

Before They Are Hanged

↓

Last Argument of Kings

↓

Best Served Cold

↓

The Heroes

↓

Red Country

↓

Sharp Ends

↓

A Little Hatred

↓

The Trouble with Peace

↓

The Wisdom of Crowds

↓

The Great Change (And Other Lies)

This sequence follows the development of the First Law universe and preserves the intended progression from the original trilogy through the standalones and into the Age of Madness.

Can You Skip the First Law Standalones?

Technically, yes.

But I wouldn’t recommend it.

This is one of the biggest mistakes new readers make when planning their Joe Abercrombie reading order.

Someone finishes Last Argument of Kings, sees that A Little Hatred is another trilogy, and thinks:

“I’ll just start that next.”

You can do that.

But you’re leaving a lot of the world-building and character history behind.

The three standalone books aren’t random side stories.

They expand the world after the original trilogy and introduce events and characters that make the later Age of Madness books more meaningful.

So the better route is:

First Law trilogy → three standalones → Sharp Ends → Age of Madness.

Can You Read Best Served Cold Without Reading The First Law?

Technically, yes.

The book has its own plot.

But I recommend reading the original trilogy first.

Best Served Cold exists in the same world, and knowing what came before makes the political environment, characters, and references much richer.

The same applies to The Heroes and Red Country.

They are standalone novels in the sense that each tells its own central story.

They aren’t standalone in the sense that the world suddenly forgets everything that happened before.

Is Sharp Ends Important?

If you’re only interested in the major novels, you can skip Sharp Ends temporarily.

If you want the complete First Law reading experience, read it.

It is especially valuable after Red Country because the collection includes stories from different periods of the First Law timeline and features characters that readers will recognize.

Think of it as an expansion pack for the world rather than a conventional sequel.

Should You Read The Great Change Before The Age of Madness Trilogy?

No.

For a first-time reader, save The Great Change (And Other Lies) until after the Age of Madness trilogy.

The safest reading route is:

Sharp Ends → A Little Hatred → The Trouble with Peace → The Wisdom of Crowds → The Great Change (And Other Lies)

That way, you’re not encountering later-world material before you’ve experienced the major novels.

What Is Grimdark Fantasy?

If you’re new to the term grimdark, Joe Abercrombie is one of the authors most strongly associated with the modern version of the genre.

Grimdark fantasy generally emphasizes:

• Morally gray characters
• Brutal consequences
• Cynical politics
• Violence
• Corruption
• Difficult choices
• Unreliable or compromised heroes
• A world where good intentions don’t guarantee good outcomes

Abercrombie doesn’t necessarily ask:

“Who is the hero?”

He often asks something more uncomfortable:

“What would this person actually do when survival, power, fear, and ambition collide?”

That is a big part of what makes his characters so memorable.

Is Joe Abercrombie’s First Law Series Finished?

The main First Law story currently consists of the original trilogy and the later Age of Madness trilogy, with three standalone novels and short-fiction collections expanding the same world.

However, it’s useful to distinguish between the completed Age of Madness trilogy and the broader First Law universe.

Abercrombie’s official site continues to categorize his First Law works separately from his newer projects, while The Devils is presented as a new series.

So if you’re starting now, you have a substantial amount of completed First Law material to read without needing to wait for the conclusion of the two major trilogies.

How Many Joe Abercrombie Books Are There?

The answer depends on what you’re counting.

There are:

• 3 First Law trilogy novels
• 3 First Law standalone novels
• 3 Age of Madness novels
• 2 First Law short-fiction collections
• 3 Shattered Sea novels
• 1 Devils novel currently published
• Plus short stories that originally appeared in anthologies and special editions

That is why different websites may give you different totals.

For a reader, series and universe are much more useful than one giant book count.

What Joe Abercrombie Book Should You Read First?

If you’ve never read him before:

Start with The Blade Itself.

It’s the obvious entry point into the First Law universe.

If you finish the original trilogy, don’t immediately jump to another author.

Continue with:

Best Served Cold → The Heroes → Red Country.

Then read:

Sharp Ends.

Then:

A Little Hatred → The Trouble with Peace → The Wisdom of Crowds.

And finally, if you want every major piece of First Law short fiction:

The Great Change (And Other Lies).

What If I Only Want the Main Story?

If you don’t care about short stories and want the major First Law novels only, use this shorter list:

1. The Blade Itself
2. Before They Are Hanged
3. Last Argument of Kings
4. Best Served Cold
5. The Heroes
6. Red Country
7. A Little Hatred
8. The Trouble with Peace
9. The Wisdom of Crowds

That’s nine major First Law novels.

I’d still recommend reading Sharp Ends before A Little Hatred if you’re interested in the fullest possible experience.

What If I Only Want the Original First Law Trilogy?

Then your reading list is wonderfully simple:

1. The Blade Itself

The beginning.

2. Before They Are Hanged

The middle.

3. Last Argument of Kings

The conclusion.

Joe Abercrombie’s publisher lists these three as the complete original First Law trilogy.

But be warned:

Finishing those three may leave you wanting considerably more.

Fortunately, that’s exactly what the three standalone novels are for.

First Law vs. Age of Madness: What’s the Difference?

Both are set in the same world, but they take place in different eras.

The First Law

The original trilogy introduces the world and its major political and military conflicts.

The atmosphere is strongly medieval and feudal.

The Age of Madness

The world has moved toward industrialization.

Factories, economic power, political unrest, social movements, and changing warfare become increasingly important.

The publisher describes the Age of Madness as an era in which industry and revolution shake the world of The First Law.

That’s one reason reading the original books first is so rewarding.

You get to watch the world change.

Are The Shattered Sea Books Connected to The First Law?

No.

The Shattered Sea trilogy is a separate fantasy series.

Read it as:

Half a King → Half the World → Half a War

You don’t need any knowledge of Logen Ninefingers, Glokta, Jezal, the Union, or the First Law to understand it.

It’s also somewhat more accessible to younger readers, although Abercrombie’s themes and storytelling remain recognizable.

Is The Devils Connected to First Law?

No.

The Devils is the beginning of a different series and should not be inserted into your First Law reading order.

If your goal is to read the First Law books, you can simply leave The Devils for later.

If your goal is to read everything Joe Abercrombie has written, then add it as a separate series.

Final Thoughts

The easiest way to understand Joe Abercrombie’s books in order is to stop thinking of them as one enormous numbered series.

Instead, think of his bibliography as several distinct paths.

The First Law path is the one to take if you want Abercrombie’s famous grimdark fantasy universe:

The Blade Itself → Before They Are Hanged → Last Argument of Kings → Best Served Cold → The Heroes → Red Country → Sharp Ends → A Little Hatred → The Trouble with Peace → The Wisdom of Crowds → The Great Change (And Other Lies).

That’s the reading order I’d recommend to a first-time reader.

The three standalone novels are especially important. They may not form a traditional trilogy, but they enrich the world between the two major First Law trilogies and make the later books more rewarding.

Then there is the separate Shattered Sea trilogy if you want another side of Abercrombie’s writing, and The Devils if you’re ready to explore his newer fantasy work.

But if you’re holding The Blade Itself in your hands for the first time, don’t overthink it.

Open the book.

Meet Logen Ninefingers.

Meet Glokta.

Meet Jezal.

And enter the world of the First Law.

You have a lot of very good—and very bloody—reading ahead of you.

Written by

Emon Anam

Hi, I’m Emon. I’m the voice and heart behind Whimsy Read. After nine years in the world of banking, I followed my passion for storytelling into the world of SEO and content strategy. Now, I blend that analytical eye with a deep love for literature to bring you book reviews that are thoughtful, honest, and always focused on the stories that stay with you. When I’m not reading or writing, you’ll find me enjoying joyful chaos with my wife and three kids, getting lost in a new series, or revisiting my old loves: theater, music, and gaming. At the end of the day, I believe great books are meant to be shared, and I’m so glad you’re here to share them with me.