10 audiobooks for fans of Before They Are Hanged
- 1
Red Country
First Law World • Book 6
Narrated by Steven Pacey
Why this book?
Red Country delivers the same gritty, morally ambiguous fantasy world with Pacey's masterful narration bringing its complex characters to life, while trading epic scope for a tighter, more personal story of vengeance and survival. The sharp dialogue and dark humor that define Abercrombie's voice remain intact, making this a natural continuation for listeners invested in his cynical take on the fantasy genre.
★ 4.54 ABR Score (77.2K ratings)★ 4.32 Goodreads (66.8K) ★ 4.79 Audible (10.4K)More about this pick
Shy South pursues the kidnappers who burned her home and stole her siblings, accompanied only by oxen and her cowardly stepfather Lamb.
- 2
The Heroes
First Law World • Book 5
Narrated by Steven Pacey
Why this book?
The Heroes delivers the same dark humor, morally complex characters, and gritty medieval warfare that made *Before They Are Hanged* compelling, while Pacey's masterful narration captures the brutal cynicism with equal intensity across the same runtime. Abercrombie's razor-sharp dialogue and unreliable perspectives reach new heights as three days of battle unfold through multiple viewpoints, rewarding listeners who appreciated the first book's blend of character depth and savage irony.
★ 4.53 ABR Score (87.1K ratings)★ 4.35 Goodreads (77.8K) ★ 4.76 Audible (9.3K)More about this pick
Three brutal days of warfare over a worthless hill get Steven Pacey's full character treatment — his voice work turns each soldier into someone you'll remember.
- 3
Best Served Cold
First Law World • Book 4
Narrated by Steven Pacey
Why this book?
Steven Pacey's masterful narration brings the same gritty, morally complex world to life, deepening the dark humor and brutal character work that made *Before They Are Hanged* compelling. *Best Served Cold* delivers Abercrombie's signature blend of cynicism and unexpected heart through an even more intricate revenge narrative, rewarding listeners who appreciated the first book's unflinching take on ambition and consequence.
★ 4.46 ABR Score (126.0K ratings)★ 4.25 Goodreads (113.4K) ★ 4.7 Audible (12.7K)More about this pick
Mercenary captain Monza survives assassination only to embark on methodical revenge against her former employers. Pacey inhabits each player in this chess game of betrayal with distinctive menace and wit.
- 4
The Devils
The Devils • Book 1
Narrated by Steven Pacey
Why this book?
Steven Pacey's masterful narration returns to bring Abercrombie's morally complex characters to vivid life, delivering the same darkly witty, gritty fantasy tone that made the first book compelling. The Devils deepens the author's exploration of ambition, betrayal, and the cost of power with an even more intricate narrative structure, rewarding listeners who appreciated the character-driven storytelling and philosophical depth of *Before They Are Hanged*.
★ 4.42 ABR Score (69.7K ratings)★ 4.22 Goodreads (62.8K) ★ 4.72 Audible (6.9K)More about this pick
Brother Diaz leads a squad of murderers and monsters on a holy mission requiring unholy methods in Abercrombie's new fantasy series. Steven Pacey returns to capture every brutal, darkly comic moment with his signature skill.
- 5
Sharp Ends
First Law World • Book 7
Narrated by Steven Pacey
Why this book?
Sharp Ends delivers the same mordant wit and gritty character work that defines Before They Are Hanged, with Steven Pacey's masterful narration bringing equal depth to these interconnected short stories set in the same brutal world. The collection captures Abercrombie's signature blend of dark humor and moral ambiguity in a more compact format, perfect for listeners who crave another immersive experience without the extended commitment.
★ 4.33 ABR Score (32.0K ratings)★ 4.11 Goodreads (27.7K) ★ 4.71 Audible (4.3K)More about this pick
Abercrombie's collection explores the First Law world's darkest corners through mercenaries, thieves, and bastards living on society's brutal margins. Steven Pacey brings distinct personality to each violent, morally complex tale.
- 6
Unbound
Annwn Cycle #The Dead's Revenant • Book 1
by Shawn Speakman, Terry Brooks, Seanan McGuire, Mark Lawrence, Anthony Ryan, Tim Marquitz, Brian Staveley, Michael J. Sullivan, John Marco, Peter Orullian, Kat Richardson, Sam Sykes, Kristen Britain, Mazarkis Williams, Jim Butcher, Rachel Caine, Harry Connolly, Delilah S. Dawson, David Anthony Durham, Jason M. Hough, Mary Robinette Kowal, Joe Abercrombie
Narrated by Dick Hill, Tim Gerard Reynolds, Nick Podehl, Allyson Johnson, Christian Rodska, Emily Bauer
★ 3.74 ABR Score (1.3K ratings)★ 3.96 Goodreads (1.0K) ★ 4.13 Audible (246)More about this pick
Twenty-three fantasy authors contribute unrestrained tales without thematic constraints in this genre celebration. The six-narrator ensemble including Tim Gerard Reynolds and Nick Podehl brings remarkable variety to each story.
- 7
The Sound of Change
The Bards and Dragons Saga • Book 2
by Steve D. Wall
Narrated by Steven Pacey
Why this book?
Steven Pacey's masterful narration brings the same richly layered character work and dark wit to *The Sound of Change*, creating an equally immersive listening experience across a comparable runtime. Both epics balance gritty, morally complex storytelling with moments of unexpected levity, making them ideal for listeners who crave fantasy with psychological depth and narrative sophistication.
★ 3.93 ABR Score (207 ratings)★ 4.32 Goodreads (95) ★ 4.73 Audible (112)More about this pick
Flintlock fantasy continues as exiled Ulric, silenced bard Dellioph, and despairing Gali flee pursuing dragons. Pacey returns to this gun-and-magic world with his signature character work.
- 8
Dangerous Women
The Dresden Files #13.1 - Bombshells
by George R.R. Martin, Gardner Dozois, Carrie Vaughn, Lev Gossman, Joe R. Lansdale, Megan Lindholm, Lawrence Block, Brandon Sanderson, Sharon Kay Penman, Lev Grossman, Nancy Kress, Diana Rowland, Diana Gabaldon, S.M. Stirling, Sam Sykes, Pat Cadigan, Caroline Spector, Joe Abercrombie, Megan Abbott, Cecelia Holland, Jim Butcher, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Melinda M. Snodgrass
Narrated by Scott Brick, Jonathan Frakes, Stana Katic, Inna Korobkina, Lee Meriwether, Claudia Black, Sophie Turner, Janis Ian, Iain Glen, Karen Dotrice, Various
★ 3.56 ABR Score (14.9K ratings)★ 3.67 Goodreads (13.2K) ★ 4.02 Audible (1.7K)More about this pick
Twenty-one authors contribute stories about deadly, complex female characters across genres from fantasy to noir, creating an anthology that celebrates dangerous femininity.
- 9
The Butcher's Masquerade
Dungeon Crawler Carl • Book 5
Narrated by Jeff Hays
★ 4.88 ABR Score (135.3K ratings)★ 4.69 Goodreads (108.1K) ★ 4.94 Audible (27.2K)More about this pick
Carl and Princess Donut navigate a dinosaur-infested jungle floor while alien viewers vote on their survival. Hays captures the series' perfect blend of video game logic and genuine emotional stakes.
- 10
Empire of Storms
Throne of Glass • Book 5
Narrated by Elizabeth Evans
★ 4.84 ABR Score (1.3M ratings)★ 4.63 Goodreads (1.3M) ★ 4.84 Audible (33.1K)More about this pick
Elizabeth Evans handles the emotional weight of Aelin's journey as she gathers allies and faces impossible choices in this penultimate Throne of Glass installment.
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How We Rank Audiobooks
Rankings are driven by listener ratings and review counts from Audible and Goodreads. Books with high ratings across a large number of listeners rank higher — a 4.5 with 50,000 ratings says more than a 4.8 with 200.
Unlike most book lists, we weight audiobook-specific factors: narrator performance, production quality, and how well a story translates to audio. A great book with a poor narration isn't a great audiobook.
We don't accept paid placements or prioritize new releases. These rankings reflect what listeners actually enjoy, not what's being promoted.
Rankings update periodically as new ratings come in and new titles are added to the collection.