Joe Abercrombie Books in Order (The Blade Itself, The Trouble With Peace, The Wisdom of Crowds)

Joseph Edward Abercrombie is a British fantasy writer born in Lancaster. He studied psychology and worked at a television company making tea before taking up a career as a freelance film editor.

It was during that time that Joe Abercrombie thought again about writing — he tried while at University but it didn’t go well. This time, he found his voice, a less serious but bloody violent voice, and finish writing his first novel, The Blade Itself, published in 2006 by Gollancz. Most of his books are set in the same universe, known as The First Law world.

How to read Joe Abercrombie’s Books in Order?

Reading The First Law World Series in Order

The First Law series is set in an epic fantasy world at war called the Circle of the World. In the North, The Union (which contains multiple provinces) is at war with The Northmen, a rough alliance of several northern tribes. In the South, the Union and the Gurkish Empire were in a conflict for the control of the Union City of Dagoska. The story follows the fortunes and misfortunes of characters inhabiting this world and navigating through these and other conflicts. For more information, you can consult our guide to the First Law series.

The First Law Trilogy

1. The Blade Itself (2006)
2. Before They Are Hanged (2007)
3. Last Argument of Kings (2008)

First Law universe standalone novels

1. Best Served Cold (2009)
2. The Heroes (2011)
3. Red Country (2012)
4. Sharp Ends (2016)

The Age of Madness trilogy

1. A Little Hatred (2019)
2. The Trouble With Peace (2020)
3. The Wisdom of Crowds (2021)

• The Great Change (and Other Lies) (2023) – A novella-length collection that collects four short stories related to The Age of Madness series.

Reading The Shattered Sea Trilogy

1. Half a King (2014) – Prince Yarvi has vowed to regain a throne he never wanted. But first he must survive cruelty, chains and the bitter waters of the Shattered Sea itself. And he must do it all with only one good hand. Gathering a strange fellowship of the outcast and the lost, he finds they can do more to help him become the man he needs to be than any court of nobles could. But even with loyal friends at his side, Yarvi’s path may end as it began – in twists, and traps and tragedy…
2. Half the World (2015) – Desperate to avenge her dead father, Thorn lives to fight. But she has been named murderer by the very man who trained her to kill. Fate traps her in the schemes – and on the ship – of the deep-cunning minister Father Yarvi. Crossing half the world to find allies against the ruthless High King, she learns harsh lessons of blood and deceit. Beside her on her gruelling journey is Brand, a young warrior who hates to kill. A failure in his eyes and hers, he has one chance at redemption. And weapons are made for one purpose. Will Thorn forever be a tool in the hands of the powerful or can she carve her own path? Is there a place beyond legend for a woman with a blade?
3. Half a War (2015) – Princess Skara has seen all she loved made blood and ashes. She is left with only words. But the right words can be as deadly as any blade. She must conquer her fears and sharpen her wits to a lethal edge if she is to reclaim her birthright. The deep-cunning Father Yarvi has walked a long road from crippled slave to king’s minister. He has made allies of old foes and stitched together an uneasy peace. But now the ruthless Grandmother Wexen has raised the greatest army since the elves made war on God, and put Bright Yilling at its head – a man who worships only Death. Some – like Thorn Bathu and the sword-bearer Raith – are born to fight, perhaps to die. Others – like Brand the smith and Koll the wood-carver – would rather stand in the light. But when Mother War spreads her iron wings, she may cast the whole Shattered Sea into darkness…

If you like the Joe Abercrombie reading order, don’t forget to bookmark it! You may also want to check out John Gwynne’s novels or The Kingkiller Chronicle.