Gavin Howe
Joe Abercrombie's First Law series is an epic fantasy trilogy set in a world at war, on the brink of an industrial revolution. The First Law refers to a law prohibiting direct contact with the 'Other Side', the realm of demons, from which magic power is derived. The series introduces a cast of characters, including Logen, a warrior from the North with berserker rages, and Jezal dan Luthar, a dashing young fighter. If you enjoyed the First Law series, you might be interested in Abercrombie's standalone novels set in the same world, such as 'Best Served Cold' and 'The Heroes', or his new trilogy beginning with 'A Little Hatred', which is set 20-30 years after the original trilogy. For readers seeking similar fantasy adventures, the Gentlemen Bastard series by Scott Lynch, or the Broken Earth trilogy by N.K. Jemisin are recommended.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Author | Joe Abercrombie |
| Genre | Epic fantasy |
| Number of Trilogies | 3 |
| Number of Standalone Books | 3 |
| Number of Short Story Collections | 1 |
| First Book in the First Law Trilogy | The Blade Itself |
| Second Book in the First Law Trilogy | Before They Are Hanged |
| Third Book in the First Law Trilogy | The Last Argument of Kings |
| First Law World Standalone Novels | Best Served Cold, The Heroes, Red Country |
| Shattered Sea Trilogy | Half a King, Half the World, Half a War |
| Upcoming Book | A Little Hatred |
| Recommended Books for Fans of the First Law Series | The Lies of Locke Lamora, The Gentlemen Bastard Series, The Stormlight Archive, The Way of Kings, The Malazan Empire, The Farseer Trilogy, A Song of Ice and Fire, The Broken Earth Trilogy, The Red Rising Trilogy |
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What You'll Learn
The First Law world standalone novels
The First Law series by Joe Abercrombie consists of three trilogies and a collection of short stories. The First Law world standalone novels are set in the same universe as the original trilogy and can be read without investing in a full epic trilogy. Here is a list of the First Law world standalone novels:
Best Served Cold (2009)
This novel is a brutal revenge thriller that follows mercenary Monzcarro "Monza" Murcatto on her quest for revenge after a deadly betrayal. Monza is a mercenary commander in the service of the Grand Duke Orso. After successfully uniting Styria under Orso's rule, Monza and her brother Benna are summoned to the palace of the Grand Duke, where she witnesses the murder of her brother at the hands of the Grand Duke and his men. The novel introduces new characters and features known characters from the original trilogy, including Caul Shivers, Shylo Vitari, and Nicomo Cosca. A film adaptation of Best Served Cold is currently in pre-production, with Rebecca Ferguson set to star as Monza Murcatto.
The Heroes (2011)
The Heroes is another strong story in terms of character and pacing, but its focus on being a war/anti-war novel might not appeal to a wider audience. It is set in the aftermath of a battle involving an army attempting to siege a city under the command of ex-torturer, Glokta.
Red Country (2012)
Red Country is best read after familiarizing yourself with the original First Law trilogy and Best Served Cold, as it concludes character arcs originally set up in those novels.
Sharp Ends: Stories from the World of the First Law (April 2016)
Sharp Ends is a collection of short fiction set in the world of The First Law. It includes stories such as "Tough Times All Over," which won a Locus Award, and "The Fool Jobs" and "Some Desperado," which received nominations.
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Best Served Cold
The story follows mercenary commander Monzcarro "Monza" Murcatto, who is in the service of the ruthless Grand Duke Orso of Talins. After winning several victories for Orso, Monza becomes too popular for her employer's taste. Orso has her and her brother, Benna, thrown down a mountain, but Monza survives. She then sets out on a quest for revenge against the seven men responsible, including Orso himself.
The novel features a cast of new characters, as well as some familiar faces from the original trilogy, such as Caul Shivers, Shylo Vitari, and Nicomo Cosca. Monza's reputation as a butcher of the innocent is explored through flashbacks, and the story also introduces a mysterious assassin named Shenkt, who has his own plans for Monza and his desire for revenge against Bayaz.
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The Heroes
"The Heroes" is the fifth novel in Joe Abercrombie's First Law series, published in January 2011. It is a military grimdark fantasy novel that takes place four years after the events in "Best Served Cold". The story is set in a forgotten ring of stones on a worthless hill in an unimportant valley, where thousands of men from the Union and the North have gathered for battle, bringing with them a plethora of sharpened weapons.
The novel centres around the battle for the hill, with the Union forces initially being driven back with heavy losses on both sides. The Northern camp is led by Black Dow, a ruthless and feared warrior, while the Union is led by King Jezal. The story also features Bremer dan Gorst, a disgraced master swordsman and former bodyguard to King Jezal, who is seeking to reclaim his honour on the battlefield. Other key characters include Finree dan Brock, the ambitious daughter of Lord Marshal Kroy, Corporal Tunny, a long-serving veteran and cynical profiteer, and Beck, a young farm boy eager to follow in his father's footsteps.
The battle scenes in "The Heroes" are described as breathtaking, visceral, and thrilling, with Abercrombie's writing bringing raw emotion to the explosive combat sequences. The character development throughout the novel is also noteworthy, with each of the six main POV characters undergoing significant changes over the course of the three-day battle.
While "The Heroes" can be read as a standalone novel, it is recommended to read the First Law trilogy and "Best Served Cold" first to fully appreciate the world-building and character arcs.
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Red Country
"Red Country" is the title of Joe Abercrombie's sixth novel, released in 2012. It is the third stand-alone novel set in the First Law world, taking place approximately 10 years after "Best Served Cold". The novel is a love letter to the Western genre, with Abercrombie's characteristic mix of gritty realism, complex characterisation, and intense, grisly action.
The story follows Shy South and her stepfather, Lamb, who live in a farmstead south of the little town of Squaredeal in the Near Country. When they return home from town, they find their farm burned to the ground, their old friend Gully hanged, and Shy's siblings Ro and Pit gone. With their old life gone, they follow the kidnappers to get the children back. In pursuit, they come across more burned farms and meet young Leef, who has also lost his younger brother to the kidnappers. They learn that the kidnappers have been stealing children from all over the Near Country and that their leader, Grega Cantliss, has a buyer somewhere in the mountains west of the Far Country.
Meanwhile, the infamous captain general Nicomo Cosca and his mercenary band, the Company of the Gracious Hand, have aided the Union army in quelling the rebellion in Starikland. As they march across the hills to Squaredeal, they burn buildings and massacre townsfolk. Cosca's lawyer, Temple, experiences an attack of conscience and, together with his friend Sufeen, enters Averstock to give the townsfolk a chance to surrender. However, a pair of rebels corner them, and Sufeen is stabbed when the Company charges the town.
"Red Country" features the return of Logen "The Bloody Nine" Ninefingers, a beloved character from the First Law trilogy. The novel expands the world of the First Law with new and familiar characters, including Caul Shivers, and explores themes of vengeance, courage, and cowardice.
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Shattered Sea trilogy
If you're looking for something similar to Joe Abercrombie's First Law series, you might want to try his Shattered Sea trilogy. Like the First Law series, Shattered Sea is an epic fantasy series, but it is aimed at young adults. The trilogy was published by Del Rey in the United States and Harper Voyager in the UK.
The Shattered Sea trilogy takes place in a world that resembles the current-day Baltic Sea, with the main three countries of the book, Gettland, Vansterland, and Throvenland, making up most of what is modern-day Sweden. The story follows Prince Yarvi, who is reluctantly declared the new king of Gettland after his father and brother are killed by soldiers from neighbouring Vansterland. Born with a malformed hand, Yarvi is considered a weak ruler by many, including his own father. He swears an oath to the gods to avenge his father and brother and kill their murderers.
Yarvi travels with a band of warriors, including Brand, Thorn, and Rulf, to seek out other allies for Gettland in their political conflict with the High King and Grandmother Wexen. Along the way, the crew journeys through harsh conditions to reach the Empire of the South, a powerful kingdom far from Gettland that could be a strong ally. Thorn is trained in combat by another crew member, Skifr, a woman who steals elf-relics for a living. Skifr uses a powerful elf-relic weapon to easily wipe out nomads attacking them. As Thorn and Brand journey across the world, their mutual dislike slowly grows into friendship and eventually blossoms into romance.
The Shattered Sea trilogy has received positive reviews from critics, with Ryan Lawler of Fantasy Book Review giving the novel a rating of 9.5/10 and Publishers Weekly calling it "a splendid second installment". Luke Brown of SFF World wrote that the final novel in the trilogy is "the book in the trilogy most like previous Abercrombie novels".
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Frequently asked questions
The First Law series by Joe Abercrombie consists of 3 trilogies and a collection of short stories. The first trilogy includes "The Blade Itself", "Before They Are Hanged", and "The Last Argument of Kings". The standalone novels set in the First Law world include "Best Served Cold", "The Heroes", "Red Country", and "A Little Hatred".
If you enjoyed the First Law series, you might enjoy the following fantasy series: "The Gentlemen Bastard" series, "The Stormlight Archive", "The Broken Empire" series, "The Licanius Trilogy", "The Broken Earth Trilogy", "The Red Rising Trilogy", and "The Malazan Empire" collection.
The First Law series is an epic fantasy series set in a world at war, on the verge of an Industrial Revolution. The world was once inhabited by both demons and humans but was changed forever when Euz, a legendary half-demon, banished the demons from the world. The series follows a band of unique characters, including a warrior from the North, a disabled and disfigured torturer, and a half-demon fleeing her past.
The recommended reading order for the First Law series is to start with the First Law trilogy, as this forms the foundation for the references and character arcs in the standalone novels. While the standalone novels can be read on their own, they are best appreciated after reading the original trilogy.
