Joe Abercrombie Reading Order

7 books (2011–2016)

Joe Abercrombie contributed to seven fantasy and science fiction anthologies published between 2011 and 2016, which are now complete. These anthologies should be read in publication order, beginning with The Best Science Fiction and Fantasy of the Year, Volume 5 and progressing through Dangerous Women, Legends: Stories in Honour of David Gemmell, Rogues, Speculative Fiction 2013, The Best Science Fiction and Fantasy of the Year, Volume Nine, and concluding with Unbound. Each anthology stands independently, but following the publication sequence provides a chronological view of Abercrombie's anthology contributions during this period.

Start with The Best Science Fiction and Fantasy of the Year, Volume 5, the first of 7 books in the Anthologies series.

#	Title
1	The Best Science Fiction and Fantasy of the Year, Volume 5 2011Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Dangerous Women 2013Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Legends: Stories in Honour of David Gemmell 2013Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	Rogues 2014Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5	Speculative Fiction 2013 2014Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6	The Best Science Fiction and Fantasy of the Year, Volume Nine 2014Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
7	Unbound 2016Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

4 books (2009–2016)

The First Law World series comprises four standalone fantasy novels by Joe Abercrombie, published between 2009 and 2016, set in the same universe as his First Law trilogy. Each book tells a separate story with its own characters and plot, so readers can begin with any entry, though publication order is recommended for a deeper appreciation of the world. The complete series includes Best Served Cold, The Heroes, Red Country, and The Fool Jobs, offering grimdark fantasy tales that explore themes of ambition, conflict, and moral complexity across the First Law universe.

Start with Best Served Cold, the first of 4 books in the First Law World series.

#	Title
1	Best Served Cold 2009Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	The Heroes 2011Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Red Country 2012Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	The Fool Jobs 2016Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

1 book (2016–2016)

1 book (2013–2013)

3 books (2014–2015)

Joe Abercrombie's Shattered Sea is a complete fantasy trilogy published between 2014 and 2015. The three books—Half a King, Half a War, and Half the World—should be read in publication order. This young adult series follows interconnected characters across a fractured world, with each installment building on the events and revelations of the previous books.

Start with Half a King and read in order.

#	Title
1	Half a King 2014Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Half a War 2015Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Half the World 2015Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

4 books (2019–2023)

The Age of Madness is a four-book fantasy series by Joe Abercrombie, published between 2019 and 2023 and appearing to be complete. The books should be read in publication order, beginning with A Little Hatred and continuing through The Trouble With Peace, The Wisdom of Crowds, and concluding with The Great Change. This series represents Abercrombie's venture into epic fantasy with interconnected storylines spanning the entire sequence.

Start with A Little Hatred, the first of 4 books in the The Age of Madness series.

#	Title
1	A Little Hatred 2019Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	The Trouble With Peace 2020Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	The Wisdom of Crowds 2021Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	The Great Change 2023Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

2 books (2025–2027)

5 books (2006–2016)

Joe Abercrombie's The First Law is a five-book fantasy series published between 2006 and 2016. The complete series follows publication order, beginning with The Blade Itself and continuing through Before They Are Hanged, Last Argument of Kings, Tough Times All Over, and Two's Company. This dark fantasy saga blends complex character development with morally ambiguous storytelling across its interconnected narratives.

Start with The Blade Itself, the first of 5 books in the The First Law series.

#	Title
1	The Blade Itself 2006Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Before They Are Hanged 2007Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Last Argument of Kings 2008Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	Tough Times All Over 2014Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5	Two's Company 2016Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible