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They say Black Dow's killed more men than winter, and clawed his way to the throne of the North up a hill of skulls. The King of the Union, ever a jealous neighbor, is not about to stand smiling by while he claws his way any higher. The orders have been given and the armies are toiling through the northern mud. Thousands of men are converging on a forgotten ring of stones, on a worthless hill, in an unimportant valley, and they've brought a lot of sharpened metal with them.
THE HEROES
For glory, for victory, for staying alive.
First Law Trilogy The Blade Itself Before They Are Hanged Last Argument of Kings
Novels in the First Law world Best Served Cold The Heroes Red Country
**
From Publishers Weekly
Starred Review. This blood-drenched, thought-provoking dissection of a three-day battle is set in the same world as Abercrombie's First Law Trilogy (The Blade Itself, etc.), but stands very well alone. Union commander Lord Marshal Kroy coordinates the fight with the aid of a motley group of incompetent, self-important officers. The strangely sympathetic Col. Bremer dan Gorst is officially a royal observer who nurses a burning desire to kill or be killed. Leading a much smaller army against the Union is Black Dow, whose grip on the throne of the Northmen is tenuous and based on fear and brutality. Calder, a slippery and cunning egotist, advocates peace while plotting to take Black Dow's place. Abercrombie never glosses over a moment of the madness, passion, and horror of war, nor the tribulations that turn ordinary people into the titular heroes. (Feb.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
From Booklist
When he�s not writing large-scale fantasy novels, Abercrombie moonlights as a freelance film editor, a skill that undoubtedly contributes to his forte of crafting cinematically vivid action and crisp, witty dialogue. His latest novel revisits territory well trodden in his First Law trilogy, which opened with The Blade Itself (2006), and traverses an imaginary landscape reminiscent of a medieval Europe populated by citizens of the Union Empire and its tribal enemies to the north. Here the story concentrates on a sometimes violent, sometimes bafflingly strange three-day battle taking place on and around an insignificant Northlands hill crowned by monolithic burial stones called The Heroes. While the battle looms as only one stepping stone in a larger campaign by the Union�s Lord Marshal Kroy in preventing the North�s Black Dow from seizing more lands, the clash of key adversaries will prove decisive. Yet the premise here is less important than the multiple political intrigues, scandals, and jealous feuds enacted by Abercrombie�s parade of colorful characters. One of Abercrombie�s most masterfully executed and compellingly readable novels to date. --Carl Hays
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About Joe Abercrombie
Joe Abercrombie is a British fantasy author renowned for dark, character-driven storytelling, morally complicated heroes, biting humor, brutal conflicts, and a willingness to challenge familiar fantasy conventions. He is best known for The First Law universe, a richly developed setting in which political ambition, war, betrayal, and personal weakness shape the destinies of kingdoms and individuals. Rather than dividing characters neatly into heroes and villains, Abercrombie creates people whose motives are often understandable even when their actions are destructive. His novels combine large-scale battles with intimate character studies, sharp dialogue, and unexpected shifts in power. Readers searching for Joe Abercrombie books will discover grimdark fantasy, military campaigns, political intrigue, revenge stories, and unforgettable characters whose decisions rarely produce simple victories. His work is particularly appealing to readers who want fantasy that examines the cost of violence and the limits of idealism.
Early Life and Writing Career
Joe Abercrombie was born on December 31, 1974, in Lancaster, England. Before becoming a full-time novelist, he studied psychology and worked in film editing, experience that helped develop his interest in visual pacing, scene construction, and the presentation of character. His debut novel, The Blade Itself, was published in 2006 and introduced readers to the world that would become known as The First Law. The book established many of the qualities associated with his work, including morally ambiguous protagonists, dark humor, intricate conflicts, and a realistic focus on the consequences of power. Subsequent novels expanded the setting and developed the lives of recurring characters, while his later works explored different periods and generations within the same universe. He also wrote the Shattered Sea trilogy, a separate fantasy series aimed at younger adult readers but still marked by political complexity and difficult choices.
The First Law Series and Popular Books
The First Law trilogy begins with The Blade Itself, followed by Before They Are Hanged and Last Argument of Kings. The series introduces characters such as the formidable warrior Logen Ninefingers, the cynical inquisitor Sand dan Glokta, and the ambitious nobleman Jezal dan Luthar. Their intertwined stories unfold against a background of war, political maneuvering, and supernatural threats. Abercrombie later expanded the universe with standalone novels including Best Served Cold, The Heroes, and Red Country, each exploring different aspects of violence, revenge, leadership, and survival. The Age of Madness trilogy, beginning with A Little Hatred, moves the setting into a period of industrial and social change. Readers...Read More