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Before They Are Hanged Audiobook
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(4.00) - 20,886 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
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
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"Abercrombie's use of titles is second to none--his source material is well-chosen, and the titles implicity reflect the themes of their novels. I find it to be a solid middle-volume-in-a-series-type novel. It's appropriately more violent, and more explicit, and essentially a stakes-raising installment, as most Part Twos tend to be. What I most appreciate about Abercrombie's storymaking is that he doesn't feel the need--as most fantasy authors, even Martin, do--to add a multiplicity of new characters to what...make sure the story doesn't run out before they've sold the number of books they need to in order to guarantee his next advance from the publisher? Okay, that's a little cynical, but let's be honest here--I've been reading about Inquisitor Glotka, and that's bound to take its toll on your worldview, no? Solid read, a solid part two, and all the fuel I need and more to go ahead to read the next perfectly titled book."
— Ricky (4 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“Abercrombie’s…eye for character means that there’s heart as well as muscle.”
— SFX -
“Nobody writes grittier heroic fantasy than Joe Abercrombie…Immediate, daring, and utterly entertaining…Abercrombie is headed for superstar status.”
— Realms of Fantasy -
“This grim and vivid sequel…keep[s] the reader engaged with complicated plotting and intriguing character development…Abercrombie leavens the bloody action with moments of dark humor, developing a story suffused with a rich understanding of human darkness and light.”
— Publishers Weekly (starred review) -
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) -
Exhilarating... Abercrombie's knack for wit and grit holds your attention throughout, and his eye for character means that there's heart as well as muscle.
— SFX (UK) -
"Lord of the Rings as directed by Kurosawa.
— Wall Street Journal on The Heroes
Before They Are Hanged Listener Reviews
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Patrick Schneider, 10/23/2024
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JayEh, 8/21/2024
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Amanda Carr, 1/17/2023
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" very entertaining sequel...will definitely buy the other audio books, the voice actors is superb with every character "
— Dylon, 6/6/2017 -
" An absolutely stunning piece of writing and then audio work, Steven Pacey is really a master of voice! "
— Tony, 3/24/2017 -
" An exceptional series. "
— Rob, 2/13/2014 -
" Good stuff. Not really a stand alone book, but the middle of a longer story "
— Fred, 2/12/2014 -
" really good! better than the first book. "
— Reita, 2/2/2014 -
" Excellent book. Loved it. "
— N, 1/30/2014 -
" READ THIS TRILOGY! "
— Shannon, 1/20/2014 -
" The plot thickens. Some characters die. Some change. Some go on to greater things. Bayaz and crew go traveling and meet with danger. Glokta has even more questions. Collem West battles Bethod and his Northmen. Threetrees and crew get into some bloody melees. Eaters attack. Jezal slowly becomes less of an ass. New characters are introduced. Mysteries deepen. And who are Valint and Balk? Can't wait to get my hands on the conclusion this August. (Note: the title comes from the quotation: "We should forgive our enemies, but not before they are hanged." ~ Heinrich Heine) "
— Woodge, 1/17/2014 -
" Another winner from Abercrombie. "
— Adam, 1/14/2014 -
" Did not suffer from the second-book-in-the-trilogy blahs. "
— Lisadlh, 12/27/2013 -
" This book is an improvement over the first book. The characters are more fleshed out and seem more believable. That said, the main plot still seems weak. I will read the third book. "
— Garick, 12/24/2013 -
" Better than the first book, but Bayaz has lost all of his charm. "
— Valette, 12/24/2013 -
" Part two in the great trilogy. "
— Eric, 12/15/2013 -
" The second volume features a lengthy overland journey of an adventuring party in search of an ancient artifact. Fantasy standards are both wonderfully subverted and followed here. Highly recommended. "
— Jesse, 11/13/2013 -
" It's just as good and maybe even better than the first book (The Blade Itself) in this 3 book series. "
— Pickleman, 10/9/2013 -
" Was rather enjoyable with a decent twist to a major plot point at the end. Simple, easy, fantasy reading. "
— Andy, 10/3/2012 -
" Seeing some unlikely changes in characters in this one. Still not sure where some of them will end up but probably a few will go back to the mud. "
— Nathan, 8/2/2012 -
" Our heroes continue on their grim quest, buoyed by life-changing events and plot twists. Not as promising as the first book in the series, but still worth a read. "
— Kimberly, 7/17/2012 -
" These books are surprisingly good. "
— Andrew, 5/3/2012 -
" Finished this monster - mind numbing. will write a detailed review in a while. for now, this forms one of my Great Reads for 2012. Joe Abercrombie has climbed up more notches on that "My Favorite" authors pedestal - inching closer to Steven Erikson. "
— Sachin, 3/4/2012 -
" audio re-read "
— Winespringbrother, 10/10/2011 -
" A good follow up to The Blade Itself. I'm excited to read the 3rd and final book in the series. "
— Eric, 9/12/2011 -
" Great escapism. Loved the characters. Loved the narrator of the audio book. "
— Ed, 8/16/2011 -
" Book 2 of this really good series (see review under Book 1). "
— Rob, 5/17/2011 -
" Didn't enjoy it as much as the first book, but still pretty good. "
— Aaron, 5/13/2011 -
" Awesome. Long live the Dogman! "
— Alex, 5/13/2011 -
" This book is awesome. It makes me feel happy that I don't have to live outside and wear potato sacks and fight Shanka. "
— Annette, 5/3/2011 -
" Amazing. I can't wait to read the next book in this amazing fantasy series. "
— Annette, 5/2/2011 -
" I read this book after the first in the series got me hooked. More of the same great writing and characters. For my tastes, this was an amazing book and I would encourage people who are looking for more of a noir fantasy book to pick it up. "
— Richard, 5/2/2011 -
" More good stuff just like #1 "
— Hahleq, 4/25/2011 -
" Even better than the first one, and I loved the first one. Haven't raced through a book this quickly in years. Looking forward to the last in the trilogy. "
— Renee, 4/20/2011 -
" It's just as good and maybe even better than the first book (The Blade Itself) in this 3 book series. "
— Pickleman, 4/18/2011 -
" somewhat predictable - but in an 'oh so exciting' way - a perfect middle book in a series. "
— Jess, 4/15/2011 -
" I enjoyed this book more than the first in the series I think. Maybe it was due to the familiarity with the characters or his writing style. I found I cared a heck of a lot more about the characters this time out though. "
— Jason, 4/14/2011 -
" Joe Abercrombie has created some of the most dynamic characters in the fantasy genre. Each of them is unique, and each has a depth that is often lacking in this genre. "
— Kelli, 4/13/2011
About Joe Abercrombie
Joe Abercrombie is a British fantasy writer and film editor. He is the author of The First Law trilogy, as well as other fantasy books in the same setting, and a trilogy of young adult novels. His novel Half a King won the 2015 Locus Award for best young adult book. He was born in Lancaster in 1974, spent much of his youth in imaginary worlds, and left school with a good idea of how to make stuff up. After graduating from Manchester University he worked as a television editor, but he never stopped making stuff up.
About Steven Pacey
Steven Pacey is an actor and Earphones Award-winning narrator. He is a highly decorated stage actor, performing often at the West End Theatre. He has appeared in numerous television roles, including Tarrant in Blake’s 7, and has made over three hundred radio broadcasts.