Spillion Sworbreck—a writer of cheap fantasies and scurrilous pamphlets, turned to pamphleteering and demagoguery.

Sarlby—an old comrade-in-arms of Gunnar Broad, now become a Burner.

Bannerman—a cocky ex-soldier who worked with Broad, then joined the Breakers.

Halder—a taciturn ex-soldier who worked with Broad, then joined the Breakers.

In the North

Rikke—Leader of Uffrith who has seized Carleon and half the North. Blessed, or cursed, with the Long Eye.

Caul Shivers—Rikke’s right hand, a much-feared Named Man and noted humorist with a metal eye.

Isern-i-Phail—Rikke’s mentor, a half-mad hillwoman, said to know all the ways.

Scenn-i-Phail—one of Isern’s many brothers, scarcely saner than she is.

Scofen-i-Phail—another of Isern’s many brothers, still madder than the last.

Hardbread—one of Rikke’s War Chiefs, known for his indecision.

Corleth—a girl with stout hips, standard-bearer for Rikke.

Corleth’s granny—Corleth’s mother’s mother. Obviously.

The Nail—a War Chief of the West Valleys, a feared and famous warrior.

Caurib—a witch whose head is stitched together with golden wire, said to have returned from the Land of the Dead.

Jonas Clover—once Jonas Steepfield and reckoned a famous warrior, now thought of as a disloyal do-nothing, betrayed Stour Nightfall to join Rikke.

Downside—one of Clover’s warriors, with a bad habit of killing men on his own side.

Sholla—Clover’s scout, a woman who can slice cheese very fine.

Flick—an apparently useless lad among Clover’s men.

Stour Nightfall—“The Great Wolf,” once King of the Northmen, a famed warrior and arsehole, now a hobbled prisoner of Rikke.

Black Calder—once the true power in the North, cunning father of Stour Nightfall.

Flatstone—Calder’s most reliable War Chief.

Trapper—a Named Man in the service of Calder.

Stand-i’-the-Barrows—notorious chieftain of a hundred tribes from beyond the Crinna, obsessed with bones.

In Talins, Sipani and Westport, Cities of Styria

King Jappo mon Rogont Murcatto—King of Styria.

Grand Duchess Monzcarro Murcatto—“The Serpent of Talins,” mother of King Jappo, a feared general and ruthless politician, responsible for the unification of Styria.

Princess Carlot—sweet-tempered sister of King Orso, wife of Chancellor Sotorius of Sipani.

Her August Majesty Queen Terez—Queen Dowager and mother of the High King of the Union.

Superior Lorsen—colourless Superior of the Inquisition in Westport.

Filio—a senior Alderman of Westport and fencing enthusiast.

Sanders Rosimiche—a junior Alderman of Westport and strutting loudmouth.

Dayep Mozolia—a merchant in fabrics, influential in the politics of Westport.

The Order of Magi

Bayaz—First of the Magi, legendary wizard, saviour of the Union and founding member of the Closed Council.

Yoru Sulfur—former apprentice to Bayaz, nondescript but for his different-coloured eyes.

The Prophet Khalul—former Second of the Magi and arch-enemy of Bayaz. Rumoured to have been killed by a demon, plunging the South into chaos.

Cawneil—Third of the Magi, about her own inscrutable business.

Zacharus—Fourth of the Magi, guiding the affairs of the Old Empire.

By Joe Abercrombie

THE AGE OF MADNESS

A Little Hatred

The Trouble with Peace

The Wisdom of Crowds

THE FIRST LAW TRILOGY

The Blade Itself

Before They Are Hanged

Last Argument of Kings

Best Served Cold

The Heroes

Red Country

Sharp Ends: Stories from the World of the First Law