Audiobooks Like Red Country

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Steven Pacey narrates Red Country across 20 hours with the same dirty-road authority he's brought to Joe Abercrombie's First Law world throughout — the grimdark-western hybrid requires a narrator who can play frontier violence without glamorizing it, and Pacey's performance keeps both the bleakness and the dark humor in the same register, never letting either overwhelm the other. Eight of these ten recommendations are also narrated by Pacey, nine come from Abercrombie's catalog, and the list effectively maps the First Law world for listeners who want to continue through it.

10 audiobooks for fans of Red Country

  1. 1
    Before They Are Hanged cover

    Before They Are Hanged

    The First Law • Book 2

    by Joe Abercrombie

    Narrated by Steven Pacey

    Why this book?

    Steven Pacey's masterful narration brings the same dark humor and morally complex characters to life, deepening the gritty, character-driven storytelling that makes Red Country so compelling. Before They Are Hanged expands Abercrombie's world with equally cynical wit and brutal consequences, delivering a listening experience that rewards the trust you've already placed in both creator and narrator.

    4.64 ABR Score (243.2K ratings)
    ★ 4.36 Goodreads (221.5K) ★ 4.81 Audible (21.7K)
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    Superior Glokta's torture-scarred cynicism and Bayaz's quest for ancient magic get Steven Pacey's full character treatment across multiple storylines.

  2. 2
    The Blade Itself cover

    The Blade Itself

    The First Law Trilogy • Book 1

    by Joe Abercrombie

    Narrated by Steven Pacey

    Why this book?

    Steven Pacey's masterful narration brings the same gritty, character-driven storytelling to life, capturing Abercrombie's dark humor and morally complex protagonists with equal brilliance. The Blade Itself establishes the First Law world with the same cynical tone and visceral action that makes Red Country compelling, while offering a deeper exploration of how violence and ambition corrupt even the most well-intentioned characters.

    4.50 ABR Score (344.3K ratings)
    ★ 4.22 Goodreads (317.5K) ★ 4.7 Audible (26.8K)
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    Barbarian Logen Ninefingers, selfish nobleman Jezal, and crippled torturer Glokta are drawn into a conspiracy that threatens the kingdom. Pacey's exceptional character voices bring Abercrombie's morally gray antiheroes to life in this gritty fantasy that subverts traditional genre expectations with dark humor.

  3. 3
    Last Argument of Kings cover

    Last Argument of Kings

    The First Law • Book 3

    by Joe Abercrombie

    Narrated by Steven Pacey

    Why this book?

    Steven Pacey's masterful narration brings the same morally complex characters and dark humor to life, deepening the cynical tone that defines Abercrombie's world. Last Argument of Kings expands on the brutal themes of ambition and consequence established in Red Country, offering a richer narrative landscape across its extended runtime.

    4.59 ABR Score (225.4K ratings)
    ★ 4.37 Goodreads (204.4K) ★ 4.75 Audible (21.0K)
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    Steven Pacey captures every brutal nuance as Logen Ninefingers faces his final battle and the Bloody-Nine must confront his oldest friend turned enemy.

  4. 4
    The Devils cover

    The Devils

    The Devils • Book 1

    by Joe Abercrombie

    Narrated by Steven Pacey

    Why this book?

    Steven Pacey's masterful narration brings the same dark humor and morally complex characters to life in *The Devils*, while Abercrombie deepens his exploration of ambition and betrayal across an even grander scope. The audiobook's extended runtime allows for richer world-building and character development that rewards listeners already attuned to Abercrombie's cynical, propulsive storytelling style.

    4.42 ABR Score (69.7K ratings)
    ★ 4.22 Goodreads (62.8K) ★ 4.72 Audible (6.9K)
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    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. 5
    Unbound cover

    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)
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    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.

  6. 6
    The Sound of Change cover

    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 gritty, character-driven storytelling to *The Sound of Change*, delivering a richly immersive fantasy experience that rewards deep listening over its expansive runtime. Both works explore morally complex protagonists navigating dark, transformative worlds where personal stakes matter far more than grand heroics.

    3.93 ABR Score (207 ratings)
    ★ 4.32 Goodreads (95) ★ 4.73 Audible (112)
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    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.

  7. 7
    Dangerous Women cover

    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)
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    Twenty-one authors contribute stories about deadly, complex female characters across genres from fantasy to noir, creating an anthology that celebrates dangerous femininity.

  8. 8
    The Butcher's Masquerade cover

    The Butcher's Masquerade

    Dungeon Crawler Carl • Book 5

    by Matt Dinniman

    Narrated by Jeff Hays

    4.88 ABR Score (135.3K ratings)
    ★ 4.69 Goodreads (108.1K) ★ 4.94 Audible (27.2K)
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    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.

  9. 9
    The Gate of the Feral Gods cover

    The Gate of the Feral Gods

    Dungeon Crawler Carl • Book 4

    by Matt Dinniman

    Narrated by Jeff Hays

    4.79 ABR Score (150.1K ratings)
    ★ 4.55 Goodreads (125.6K) ★ 4.91 Audible (24.5K)
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    Carl and Princess Donut face floating gnome fortresses and haunted crypts in their deadliest floor yet. Jeff Hays continues his exceptional character work, especially with Princess Donut's regal cat attitude amid apocalyptic absurdity.

  10. 10
    The Dungeon Anarchist's Cookbook cover

    The Dungeon Anarchist's Cookbook

    Dungeon Crawler Carl • Book 3

    by Matt Dinniman

    Narrated by Jeff Hays, The Critical Drinker

    4.75 ABR Score (182.0K ratings)
    ★ 4.43 Goodreads (152.4K) ★ 4.9 Audible (29.6K)
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    Carl and Princess Donut face the impossibly twisted Iron Tangle subway system where up is down and logic doesn't apply. Jeff Hays and The Critical Drinker's dynamic narration perfectly captures this series' blend of absurd humor and genuine stakes.

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.

Read our full ranking methodology →