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    Before They Are Hanged
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    Before They Are Hanged
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    Before They Are Hanged
    Audiobook22 hours

    Before They Are Hanged

    Written by Joe Abercrombie

    Narrated by Steven Pacey

    4/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this audiobook

    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
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHachette Audio
    Release dateSep 8, 2015
    ISBN9781478907824
    Unavailable
    Before They Are Hanged
    Author

    Joe Abercrombie

    Joe Abercrombie was born in Lancaster in 1974. His first book, The Blade Itself, was published in 2006. He lives in Bath with his wife Lou and their three children Grace, Eve and Teddy.

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    Reviews for Before They Are Hanged

    4/5

    1,557 ratings60 reviews

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    • 4/5
      This second installment had a slow start. A very slow start, and I was beginning to worry that it would be very dull compared to the amazing start the series had in "The Blade Itself."However, once it finally picked up in the last third, it was relentless and didn't let down. Bloody battle after bloody battle, and great character development. Edge of your seat narrative that had me turning page after page, not wanting to put it down.This is a dark series, that at times feels extremely hopeless. I love and I hate equally that, the hopelessness never seems to shift to hope. It's a very unique quality in a fantasy series, so I love it. However, its so bleak I find myself depressed for these characters have thinking this series will not have a happy bow tied around it at the end. There is something to be said for Abercrombie's writing however, that he has written such deplorable and flawed, and ugly characters, and yet, has made me so invested in them. I actually care about many of these characters and that's some fine writing, as these characters are not all that likable. I really enjoyed Ferro's development throughout the novel. It seemed as her character grew and developed, Bayaz's diminished and darkened. There was a nice contrast to their arches in the story, that I found quite riveting.What I love best about Abercrombie's writing is that at their core these are character driven narratives. He has taken fantasy character tropes and turned them on their head. Yet he still gets us inside the characters minds, and drives the story forward by driving his characters forward in development and growth. He is by and far one of the best character writers out there in this genre. Each character is fully realized and wholly their own in his narratives. Overall, the series is definitely worth a read, if not just to read something totally unique and different to your typical fantasy series. Strong writing, dark, and bloody.
    • 5/5
      This is an excellent continuation to the series, picking up where book one left off. Abercrombie delves deep into his characters and moves the plot forward, the latter being a welcome addition after the slower moving character work that made up the majority of the last volume. I loved the first book, but Before They Are Hanged entranced me and I was unable to put it down. In particular, I loved Logen's tale in this book, and really enjoyed Glotka's adventures in the south. There is still some of the same issue I described from the first book, where a chapter may not start with a clear indication of which character's perspective is informing the narrative, but otherwise this is a fabulous story, and the rest of the writing more than made up for it.

      I'll keep this review brief and write something longer when I finish the third and final book in the series.
    • 5/5
      One of thebest character driven stories I've read! This book had more action in it that the first and has is not your typical adventure story, there are hidden secrets, dark histories, and grit to the story. Logen, Ferro, and Glokta are still my favorite characters, West and the rest of the Northemen are right up there. You probably could read this by itself but you would miss out on a really good book. I suggest reading the first...i will be continuing on the the "Last Arguement of Kings," then to the off shoot books....
    • 4/5
      Definitely an improvement over the first, finally digging the characters - most at least, I'd like to see a couple return to the mud...
    • 2/5
      Why are these characters wandering around. I'm not aware of any goals. Why is the master wizard looking for the seed?
    • 4/5
      I enjoyed this a bit more than the first one. It continues the story of the Empire under siege and the 'heroes' who may save it. While a bit long and drawn out with the typical fantasy 'trip to the end of the world', the heroes are well done and the book well paced. As this story progresses we get to know the individuals better and they get to know each other better in a fairly natural way. Three plot lines in the book occupy roughly equal parts and get equal attention - the northern barbarian invasion, the southern invasion and counter-efforts by Sand dan Glokta, the very effective Interrogator, and the world saving (or dooming) quest of the heroes. Typical fantasy stuff, but well done. Just as a comparison to other currently popular series, this is much better than the Malazan Empire books (those slog on and on and on with little point) and almost, but not quite on par with the Kingkiller series by Patrick Rothfuss. Rothfuss is better, but its not a huge gap.
    • 4/5
      It was as good as the first part. I enjoyed it a lot! I'm really into Abercrombie's writing style: interesting characters, lots of action, a good story, not very predictable, some suspense. And above it all, it's fun. Twisted, yes... but fun.
    • 5/5
      Before They Are Hanged by Joe AbercrombieFirst Law Trilogy: Book TwoSweet holy damn this was an awesome book. Far too many times a series has started promising only to disappoint in the second or third book. But Joe Abercrombie has just gotten better. These books are so good that I really really don't don't want to read the last book in the trilogy. I don't want the series to end. If it wasn't for the fact that I know Joe Abercrombie has written other books in this world I don't think I would. I think I'd shelve it and save it. Luckily, there are other books. I'm still going to read something in between just to prolong the joy of this series as long as I can.So the short version of this review - damn good book. If you like fantasy books, read this series. Read it now. If fantasy isn't your favorite genre, read these books anyway. They are just good books period.And now, getting into some details, that will probably include spoilers. So you're warned.Where do I start with the ways that i love this series. Lets start with the characters. If I were to just list them, they would sound like cliches plucked from any other fantasy series. You have the sadistic torturer, the hardened warrior woman, the spoiled nobleman, the fierce northern warrior, the ancient wizard and his faithful apprentice. But you are no novice fantasy reader, you've seen these tropes played upon before. You know that the sadistic torturer will find a chance at redemption, the nobleman will find honor through humility, and the ancient wizard will do wizardly things. But Joe Abercrombie goes further. Not necessarily in a new direction, though you'll find some fun twists on those characters you thought you knew, but instead to go deeper.I'm going to use George RR Martin as a comparison, something I don't really like doing. I don't like the Author vs Author game that seems to get played in fantasy a lot. Read them both, you've got the time.What George RR Martin did was to strip down those stereotypes. Rip away most of them really. And leave you with a gritty no nonsense fantasy book that is only just a slight sidestep away from reality. And he did it well.What Joe Abercrombie did was to deepen those same cliches until enough meat and flesh has been piled on that they aren't really cliches anymore. And he does it well.I love the pace too. I respect world building. Hell I love world building. But sometimes I worry that it comes at the cost of pace. Joe Abercrombie finds a balance that I like. You might not feel like you understand the world you're thrown into the middle of for a while, but the pace of these books clips along so nicely that before you know it you've stayed up far past your usual time just to squeeze another chapter in. And the world fills in around the edges as you go.And here's a minor award - best sex scene in a fantasy book ever. And also the least sexy sex scene in a fantasy book ever. It's too much of a spoiler to go in to, even with the spoiler alert. But if you've read the book, you know which one I'm talking about. Joe Abercrombie managers to make that scene real. Real in it's passion frenzy disappointment, and compassion. I don't think a sex scene has ever turned me on less, and yet resonated emotionally more. Not sure you want to hang that award on your wall, but there it is.I'm not going to dive right in to the last book in the trilogy. I want to savor it a bit. So i'm going to read something in between.
    • 3/5
      These books have good, wry humour, and great imagination and characters, but the war and the politics make for a long slog.
    • 4/5
      Not as wonderful as that which precedes it, Before They Are Hanged still manages to be a great piece of Fantasy Fiction. This book relies on one of the great tropes of all writing, the old Throw'em together and they'll stick routine. Nevertheless, there's more than enough here to make for a cracking read.
    • 4/5
      WARNING: There will be spoilers for The Blade Itself in this review.We catch up with our various protagonists pretty much where we left them at the end of the previous book. The First of the Magi Bayaz is leading his group of misfits (who all hate each other) to the end of the world on a magical quest. Newly promoted Superior Glokta is settling into the city of Dagoska, which is on the brink of an overwhelming invasion which he has been ordered to stop at any cost - while investigating the disappearance of his predecessor. Major West, also newly promoted, is trying to babysit the Crown Prince Ladisla who seems to be trying to ensure that he gets every single man under his command killed.This book suffers from a typical second-book syndrome. Although a lot happens and our protagonists gain some measure of self-confidence and acceptance of their lots, the broader situation remains similar to the end of the first book, but with far less hope - it feels suspiciously like the pawns being moved into place for the final book.The characters that we know and love from The Blade Itself haven't changed all that much, although their incessant swearing and self-absorption started to grate on me. Bayaz and Jezal lose much of their charm now that the questing party is in a situation that is beyond their control. Bayaz no longer seems like the wisest man in the world; he just seems irritable and sanctimonious, and Jezal's lack of self-awareness and prejudices make me want to strangle him (yes, he gets better, but the change is way too slow!) I still love Logen Ninefingers and the rest of the Northmen, though. West is also tolerable, especially as he grows a spine. My favourite character is definitely Superior Glokta - his self awareness and sardonic wit are amazing, and he's even starting to show signs of having a heart.Abercrombie has a great sense of humour (both via his characters and his narration) and manages to balance the incredibly different viewpoints of his characters really well. His political intrigue is cleverly plotted. Sometimes he switches viewpoints a bit too quickly, but that's a very minor issue.I don't mean to imply that I didn't like the book - I did! I think Abercrombie's attempts to make the characters realistic and gritty went too far, and ended up somewhat distracting, but the fact that he was able to provoke such strong frustration in me (as I feverishly turned the pages) proves that he's a great writer. The character building was good, we learned a lot more about the world, the writing and pacing works well, and I'm definitely going to read Last Argument of Kings as soon as possible.
    • 5/5
      Great Book.
    • 5/5
      Better then the first one, and that one was really good :)
    • 5/5
      The middle of an amazing trilogy. Heads are being butted and war threatens every corner of their fantastical world. Each character is further defined. We learn more of Bayaz and his qualities. Is he truly the great noble man that he claims to be? The quick wit is balanced with rich histories and amazing characters. Read at your own peril for you will love it. Warning- not a book for those who hate gory torture stuff. This book has that.
    • 5/5
      I read the first book some time ago. Unfortunately book 2 provided no help in picking up the story again. That said, the characters are so well formed, with dialogue both witty and thoughtful, I didn't mind too much. Took a good few chapters though. Love the mix of characters, with the mix of universal truths aboutwar, how experience is gained and that nothing ever works out the way you thought it would. The Dogman rules!
    • 3/5
      This is a well-written tense grimdark novel, though it feels like middle book in a trilogy. Major issues are left unresolved, and one of the largest subplots in particular ended in a failure that felt rather... deflating at the end of the book. That said, I admire that Abercrombie write the book in that way. These novels haven't been quite as much of a blood bath as GRRM's Song of Ice and Fire, but he is still ruthless in his own way: his characters fail in profound manners, and deal with those repercussions. Along those lines, I remain most intrigued my Glokta, the war hero turned cripple torturer who is despicable and yet complex and relatable.
    • 4/5
      Part two of The First Law trilogy. Our anti-heroes of The blade itself find themselves in really unpleasant situations - warfare in the north against threatening barbarians having more than one surprise ready for their enemies, a quest towards the end of the world with a lot of nasty encounters and the order to hold a town under siege, which proves to be an impossible job at best. The tone of this book is darker, more gritty, but the author still adds a good deal of humour (especially in the plotline about Glokta, the cynical inquisitor). The mixture works for me.

      There is quite a lot of character development in this book - unpleasant circumstances make you grow or fail. Luckily most of the characters grow. The pace is much faster than in the first volume, the author moves back and forth between three plotlines. The fighting scenes are well written, although dirty and bloody (but that's how it is - as Logen, the barbarian, would say - one has to be realistic about this).

      One last remark: A map would have been a nice addition - I did not miss it that much in the last volume of the trilogy, but it would have helped to keep track of the characters and opposing forces in this book.
    • 5/5
      Ok, where to start with this review for the second book in the First Law trilogy...

      It has already been mentioned in other reviews that it picks up immediately after the first book, with Glokta heading south to Degoska (spelling names in this review is a challenge, since I'm listening to the books instead of reading them) to prevent the city from being overrun by the Gurkish army, Collum West heading north to prevent Adua from being overrun by Bethod, and Bayaz, Logen, Jazel, Quay, Longfoot, and Ferro heading to the edge of the world for... something.

      At this point, the characters are well-known, and I wasn't expecting much in their development, but boy, was I surprised! I especially liked how Glokta's character developed over the course of this volume. I was also surprised at how much I dislike Bayaz, who has turned into something of a conniving manipulator, failing to give the "whole truth" or worse, only giving enough information to get his team into some deep, life-threatening trouble.

      As several reviewers already mentioned, this book overcame the "second-book-in-a-series" curse very well, and the tension is ratcheted up significantly towards the end of the book, with several characters being killed (a couple shocked me), intense palace intrigue, shady dealings, and double-crosses happening in spades throughout. Of course, it ends on a series of cliff-hangers, too.

      The narrative is outstanding, and Stephen Pacey has got to be one of the best at this. His ability to differentiate the dozens of characters is simply amazing!

      On to the next book!
    • 5/5
      The cast of characters meet each other, sometimes on the same side, sometimes opposite sides and still, things are not clear cut; you find yourself rooting for one or other of them and then they come into conflict. Glokta at the siege of Dagoska shows his honourable side, but in such a way as to leave you wondering just what all this obedience to some set of ideals is all about. Pairing up, or at least, coupling goes on, but the book ends without hope that there is anything lasting... And the quest itself seems hopeless to and I wait with bated breath for the last book :) Again!
    • 5/5
      A worthy continuation of one of the best fantasy series' out there. Even manages to parody LOTR and get away with it perfectly!
    • 5/5
      The middle chapter of The First Law Trilogy is a fun mixture of epic journeys, brutal battles, political intrigue, and yes even sex (unfortunately). Joe Abercrombie after leading all his flawed and well written characters to Adua in The Blade Itself, he sent them all far away from the middle continent of his world. The epic journey of Bayaz, Logen, Ferro, and Jezal across the Old Empire on their way to the Edge of the World is given all the sense of an epic quest that sees all four change in their views of themselves but to the others as well. Inquisitor, now Superior, Glokta journeys to Dagoska to find out what happened to his predecessor and to defend the city from the Gurkish any way he can while looking over his shoulder for the stab in the back he always expects is coming but is continually surprised when it never happens. Up North, Logen's former crew join up with Collem West and together they attempt to fight off Bethod's invasion of Angland facing challenges none of them expected including dealing with the burden of leadership. Abercrombie surprises fantasy fans, even those use to the twist and turns of GRR Martin, by how he spins the three main story arcs in this book, especially the ending to the 'epic quest' led by Bayaz. However it's the characters that even really makes one not want to set down this book and that's why this book is so good.
    • 4/5
      Highly enjoyable. Interestingly complicates common fantasy tropes. No deep art here, just fun entertainment. More refined than the first in the series.
    • 3/5
      Knocked this off while I was sick in bed. I'm into the third now an will review the series once I'm done with that (they pretty much run like one big book anyways).
    • 4/5
      This guy is good, love these books. Gotta read a friends book before I tackle book 3 in this series though. It's tough to wait for the finale but I will persevere!!!
    • 4/5
      I enjoyed this more than the first book. Because there is some forward motion even if there is the "fooled you" on the quest. You get more character development, particularly for Jezal who stops being quite so selfish. Still doesn't quite hit the " fab" spot for me but enjoyable enough.
    • 5/5
      More than once I have admitted my lack of patience when confronted with long set-ups, a flaw that probably made me miss on a few good books because I could not wait for the story to finally take flight, but with the first book of this trilogy I was not only able to curb my usual impatience, I was eager to learn where the author was taking me (and quite enjoying the ride), so now I’m happy to say I was very richly rewarded with this second installment in Joe Abercrombie’s debut work. Here the seeds planted in The Blade Itself come to fruition and grow into a multi-faceted tale that promises to flow into an equally enthralling final book.The characters we got to know in the previous novel are now traveling all over the world: Bayaz, the first of the Magi, has taken his company - Logen Ninefingers, Jezal dan Luthar, Ferro and a few others - toward the west, and the mysterious quest for which he needs their peculiar abilities, as the group ends up facing harrowing dangers and hardships to fulfill a mission whose details only their leader knows; Colonel West marches North with the Union army to fight agains the invading northern barbarians led by Bethod, and is saddled with the handling of crown prince Ladisla, a complete idiot in love with the idea of battle and glory, and totally unsuited to the task at hand; and Sand dan Glokta, inquisitor extraordinaire, is promoted to Superior and tasked with the defense of the southern city of Dagoska, under siege by the Gurkish - the old foe who once captured and tortured him, turning him into the cripple he is now.While there is decidedly more action in Before They Are Hanged, what with hazardous journeys, bloody battles and a doomed siege whose problems are compounded by treachery and personal agendas, the characters remain the central focus of the story, growing in depth and facets and at the same time showing their humanity in all its high and low points: in the space of these two books in the series, Joe Abercrombie’s characters have turned from fictional creations into flesh and blood people it’s easy to believe in, care about (or despise, in some instances) and root for. Maybe the only one for whom the jury’s still out is Jezal dan Luthar, the dandy swordsman with a superiority complex, the one who keeps sneering at this traveling companions: grievously wounded in a skirmish, he realizes the importance of team work, of respecting one’s companions, of reaching out to them as people and not as objects of contempt. The change that comes over Jezal with this epiphany seems too quick, too radical to feel truly plausible, but I have faith in the author and look forward to seeing where this individual’s path will lead.Logen Ninefingers took little time to become one of my favorite characters in Book 1 and here he becomes more definite, more solid: on the surface, Logen might look like an uncouth barbarian, a man with little depth and a brutish disposition, but there is much more to him than meets the eye at first sight. Both in his personal reflections and in the interactions with his traveling companions he shows a talent for introspection and wisdom that belies the surface coarseness he presents to the world, as is the case of this campfire observation:He and Bayaz were close enough to the fire, but the others were further than comfort would have put them. Drawn close by the wind, and the cold, and the damp night, pushed further out by each other.The advice he offers Jezal, and his steadfast friendship overtures toward Ferro - the former Gurkish slave turned into a formidable, perpetually scowling warrior - point toward a different side of Logen’s character, one I’m not sure I can label as gentler, but certainly far more human and sympathetic than what the rest of the group shows to each other. If at some point the unlikely company shapes into something more than a band of strangers, and becomes a team ready to watch each other’s backs, much comes from Logen’s relentless attempts at bonding, which can either move into humorous territory, as in the scene where the group discusses battle scars, or turn to starkly profound musings:A family? I did have one. And now I’ve got another. You don’t pick your family, you take what you’re given and you make the best of it.Colonel West undergoes some big changes as well: the man so easily annoyed, and weighted with a huge chip on the shoulder due to his lowborn origins, is forced to curb his annoyance and anger when having to deal with prince Ladisla and his cronies, their complete inadequacy in managing an army and their bloodily ineffective handling of Bethod’s onslaught. The man who built his career on adherence to rules, to a strict moral code of conduct, finds himself in a grim situation where he will need to delve into the brutal side of his personality to survive. West’s transition toward a more savage frame of mind is an interesting - if at times terrifying - journey and one clearly inspired by the Northmen allies he finds along the way, who are Logen’s long-lost friends and also very interesting characters I hope to see more of in the next book. As was the case with The Blade Itself, I kept the best for last - Sand dan Glokta: much as I enjoy reading about Logen Ninefingers, Glokta remains my favorite character, because he’s the best defined and the most intriguing creation that Joe Abercrombie brought to life. The core of my attraction for Glokta comes from his dual nature: a savagely crippled individual who seeks and finds beauty where he can; a professional torturer who knows intimately the meaning of pain, and yet does not enjoy inflicting it; a man who professes outward cynicism while adhering to a unique moral compass. It’s Glokta’s complexity that makes him such a fascinating individual, that and the dichotomy between his inner musings and his outward utterances. He might say:As for being a good man, that ship sailed long ago, and I wasn’t even there to wave it off.yet he risks a great deal to show mercy to a powerful adversary; or again he can freely admit:You could not even guess at the things that I have done. Awful, evil, obscene, the telling of them alone could make you puke. […] I push it all into the dark corners of my mind, and it’s incredible the room back there. Amazing what one can live with.yet when he becomes aware of a young woman in distress he applies his considerable influence to rectify her situation, and enjoys the feeling of having accomplished a good deed. Glokta’s principles might be colored in shades of grey, and that’s indeed the main reason for his appeal, one he shares with most of the other characters in this series - all of them of the “dirty, ugly and mean” kind, but still made interesting by the author’s narrative skills.It took me a long time before finally reading this amazing series, but now that I have I can place it at the very top of my favorite reads. And there’s still more to explore…
    • 3/5
      Dit tweede deel van de serie gaat verder waar boek 1 eindigde. Nog steeds zijn er de drie hoofdlijnen in het boek.

      Bayaz, de eerste van de Magiërs, begeeft zich naar het einde van de aarde met zijn bizarre verzameling reisgenoten om redenen die voor iedereen buiten de Magiër zelf onbekend zijn.

      Superieur Glokta is naar het zuiden afgereisd om de politiek van een geallieerde natie te infiltreren, in de hoop om erachter te komen wat er met zijn noodlottige voorganger is gebeurd en verdedigingen voor te bereiden voor de aanvallen die binnenkort worden geïnitieerd door een oprukkende en uiteindelijk op handen zijnde rivaliserende leger.

      Het overblijvende verhaal verweeft de verhalen van de legendarische krijgers van Drieboom en de Hondman met de problemen in het Noorden waar de Unie de grote troepen van de Noordelijke Koning aanpakt. Hier volgen we de actie van "het slechtst bewapende, slechtst opgeleide en slechtst geleide leger ter wereld"

      Glokta is een uitstekende folteraar. Sommigen zouden zelfs de beste zeggen, maar ergens op zijn kromme pad maakte hij een paar nogal vervelende vijanden. Zo is het leven......

      Hij wordt uitgezonden op een zelfmoordmissie en bijna onmogelijk om te voltooien. Iedere andere zou falen. Dit is echter Sand Dan Glockta: de meest ingenieuze folteraar en manipulator die ooit de kleuren van de Unie zou dragen. Hij is misschien de beste creatie in deze serie, vanwege zijn verleden, zijn pijnlijk heden en ook zijn interne monologen die even grof als humoristisch zijn
    • 4/5
      Keeps everything good about the first and improves on elements that didn't work. The plot kept me guessing and the arcs of several characters were amazing.
    • 5/5
      Strong second book. Introduction of more plotlines makes me suspicious that the trilogy ending might not be as all-encompassing as I would like, but nonetheless a great read.
    • 5/5
      Before beginning this book, I was not expecting it to hold up to my expectations after reading the first one. Well, as it turns out, you can be glad to be disappointed.

      Abercrombie managed to surprise me on several occasions within the book, and although some events were predictable, I have yet to read a book where this wasn't the case.

      Again, I need to mention the quality of Steven Pacey. He always manages a fitting voice for each character, and even though I mostly listen to audiobooks while riding my bicycle, it is never his fault if I don't understand something (More often than not, it's the fault of the car that tries to kill me while I am crossing the street).

      Recommended to everyone who is even a bit into fantasy and does not mind a bit of blood and entrails with his book.