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The First Law Books in Order
Joe Abercrombie's grimdark First Law world spans nine books: a founding trilogy, three standalones, and the Age of Madness trilogy. Read them in publication order for the cleanest experience.
The First Law Books in Order โ complete list
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Why this order?
Joe Abercrombie's The First Law is one of grimdark fantasy's cornerstone series, and the good news is that reading order is simple: go in publication order. There is no prequel to slot in, no reshuffled timeline, and no decision about where to start. Begin with the original trilogy, then the three standalones, then the newer Age of Madness trilogy. Publication order and chronological order are the same.
Start with the founding trilogy: The Blade Itself (2006), Before They Are Hanged (2007), and Last Argument of Kings (2008). These introduce the cast that anchors the whole world, from the barbarian Logen Ninefingers to the crippled Inquisitor Sand dan Glokta, and they must be read first and in this exact order, since they form one continuous story.
Next come the three standalones: Best Served Cold (2009), The Heroes (2011), and Red Country (2012). Each tells a self-contained story with a fresh protagonist, but they are set after the trilogy and are loosely connected, bringing back familiar faces and seeding events that pay off later. They are technically optional, yet skipping them robs the Age of Madness of much of its emotional weight, so read all three.
Finally, the Age of Madness trilogy: A Little Hatred (2019), The Trouble with Peace (2020), and The Wisdom of Crowds (2021) move the world into an industrial revolution and follow the children of the original cast. Fans of Mark Lawrence, Glen Cook's Black Company, or George R.R. Martin will feel right at home in Abercrombie's cynical, blood-soaked Circle of the World.
Timeline 2006โ2021
Every entry plotted by release year โ see the gaps, clusters and revivals at a glance.
Where to play it today
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Frequently asked questions
How many First Law books are there?
There are nine books in the main First Law world: the original trilogy, three standalone novels, and the Age of Madness trilogy. Abercrombie has also written a short story collection, Sharp Ends (2016), set in the same world.
What order should I read The First Law in?
Read in publication order: The Blade Itself, Before They Are Hanged, and Last Argument of Kings first; then the standalones Best Served Cold, The Heroes, and Red Country; then the Age of Madness trilogy, A Little Hatred, The Trouble with Peace, and The Wisdom of Crowds.
Do I have to read the standalones before the Age of Madness?
You can technically skip them, but you shouldn't. Best Served Cold, The Heroes, and Red Country develop characters and events that give the Age of Madness trilogy much of its emotional payoff.
Where does Sharp Ends fit in?
Sharp Ends (2016) is a short story collection spanning the world's timeline. It is optional and best read after the standalones, once you already know the recurring characters it revisits.
Is publication order the same as chronological order?
Yes. The First Law has no prequels or flashback-heavy installments, so the order the books were published matches the order events happen in the world.
Where should a beginner start?
Start with The Blade Itself. It is the entry point to the entire world and introduces the core cast that everything else builds on.
Last verified · Sources: en.wikipedia.org, Wikidata
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