Before They Are Hanged
About this book
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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Reviews (1)
Good men fail. Noble quests lie. Before They Are Hanged show grim truth. Joe Abercrombie write second book in The First Law Trilogy. Author break Science Fiction & Fantasy rules. Heroes have dark flaws. Narrative arc bleed. Intellectual rigor high.
Mind Sharp, Body Broken
Superior Glokta defend city. Enemies surround walls. Traitors hide inside. Predecessor vanish. Allies lie. Glokta torture people. Glokta hate walking. Abercrombie use Glokta. Explore power politics. Provide nuanced perspective on duty. Bad men do necessary work.
Bloodline Breed Fools
Northmen burn Angland. Crown Prince Ladisla attack. Ladisla idiot. Army lack weapons. Army lack training. Abercrombie critique hereditary rule. Visceral impact high. Wars need blood. Crowns fail.
Hate Bind Group
Bayaz lead quest. Ruins hold ancient secrets. Group terrible. Hated South woman. Feared North man. Selfish Union boy. Group hate each other. They must fight Eaters. Paradigmatic shift from standard Fantasy. Fellowship lack friendship. Need survival. Bitter enemies forgive only at rope.
Voice Give Life
Steven Pacey speak words. Hachette Audio publish. 22 hours pass fast. Narration elevate prose.
Final Judgment
Rating 4.8. Score earned. Book hit hard. Middle book usually slump. Book build tension. Work subvert genre.
Target audience: Readers who like dark truth. Readers who hate shiny knights.
Question: Who you trust when enemies close in? Read book. Question allies.