10 audiobooks for fans of The Heroes
- 1
The Trouble with Peace
The Age of Madness • Book 2
Narrated by Steven Pacey
Why this book?
The Trouble with Peace continues Abercrombie's signature blend of dark humor and morally complex characters with the same masterful narration from Steven Pacey, whose distinctive voice work makes the political intrigue and character dynamics feel immediate and deeply engaging. Those drawn to The Heroes' unflinching examination of war's brutality and futility will find the same unflinching cynicism about power and human nature, now set against the machinations of fragile peace.
★ 4.75 ABR Score (56.2K ratings)★ 4.6 Goodreads (46.4K) ★ 4.86 Audible (9.8K)More about this pick
Steven Pacey's narration transforms this political dark fantasy into something almost Shakespearean—his voice work elevates already sharp character writing into genuinely unforgettable performances you'll hear in your head for months.
- 2
The Wisdom of Crowds
The Age of Madness • Book 3
Narrated by Steven Pacey
Why this book?
Steven Pacey's masterful narration brings the same gritty, character-driven storytelling to life in both works, seamlessly capturing Abercrombie's dark humor and morally complex protagonists across similarly immersive 23+ hour listening experiences. The Wisdom of Crowds deepens the author's exploration of ambition, power, and human nature with the same unflinching wit and visceral prose that made The Heroes compelling.
★ 4.74 ABR Score (50.4K ratings)★ 4.6 Goodreads (41.3K) ★ 4.85 Audible (9.1K)More about this pick
Steven Pacey transforms Abercrombie's sprawling revolution into a masterclass in character voices, making each schemer's descent through chaos feel devastatingly personal across 24 hours of pure narrative grip.
- 3
Before They Are Hanged
The First Law • Book 2
Narrated by Steven Pacey
Why this book?
Steven Pacey's masterful narration brings the same gritty, morally complex world to life with equal intensity, while Abercrombie's trademark dark humor and character-driven storytelling deepen across a similarly epic runtime. The cynical tone and themes of ambition, betrayal, and the corruption of war that define The Heroes continue to resonate throughout this companion work, offering the same immersive listening experience.
★ 4.71 ABR Score (243.2K ratings)★ 4.36 Goodreads (221.5K) ★ 4.81 Audible (21.7K)More about this pick
Superior Glokta's torture-scarred cynicism and Bayaz's quest for ancient magic get Steven Pacey's full character treatment across multiple storylines.
- 4
Last Argument of Kings
The First Law • Book 3
Narrated by Steven Pacey
Why this book?
Steven Pacey's masterful narration brings the same darkly witty, morally complex characters to life in this epic conclusion, deepening the cynical humor and brutal introspection that defines Abercrombie's world. The extended runtime allows for even richer character development and world-building, rewarding listeners who appreciated The Heroes' unflinching examination of war's human cost with a more expansive exploration of ambition and consequence.
★ 4.68 ABR Score (225.4K ratings)★ 4.37 Goodreads (204.4K) ★ 4.75 Audible (21.0K)More about this pick
Steven Pacey captures every brutal nuance as Logen Ninefingers faces his final battle and the Bloody-Nine must confront his oldest friend turned enemy.
- 5
A Little Hatred
The Age of Madness • Book 1
Narrated by Steven Pacey
Why this book?
Steven Pacey's masterful narration returns to bring Abercrombie's signature blend of dark humor, moral ambiguity, and visceral action to life once more, while *A Little Hatred* deepens the author's exploration of how ambition and violence corrupt even the most well-intentioned characters. The same witty, brutal voice that made *The Heroes* compelling carries through with undiminished intensity across a slightly more compact runtime.
★ 4.65 ABR Score (72.9K ratings)★ 4.45 Goodreads (61.8K) ★ 4.75 Audible (11.1K)More about this pick
Steven Pacey turns Abercrombie's grimy, morally bankrupt world into something genuinely alive—his voice work makes you feel the desperation of each character's climb, and the political scheming lands with brutal comic timing.
- 6
The Blade Itself
The First Law Trilogy • Book 1
Narrated by Steven Pacey
Why this book?
Steven Pacey's masterful narration brings the same morally complex characters and dark humor to life, while Abercrombie's unflinching examination of violence and ambition creates an equally gripping listening experience. The Blade Itself establishes the brutal world and philosophical cynicism that makes The Heroes so compelling, offering the perfect entry point to understand how these themes evolve throughout the series.
★ 4.63 ABR Score (344.3K ratings)★ 4.22 Goodreads (317.5K) ★ 4.7 Audible (26.8K)More about this pick
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.
- 7
The Devils
The Devils • Book 1
Narrated by Steven Pacey
Why this book?
Steven Pacey's commanding narration brings the same gritty intensity and darkly comedic voice work to *The Devils*, while Abercrombie's unflinching exploration of moral compromise and the cost of ambition deepens across both works. The continuation of his signature cynical worldbuilding and complex character arcs makes this a natural progression for listeners invested in his brutal, character-driven fantasy.
★ 4.54 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.
- 8
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
★ 3.98 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.
- 9
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 immersive fantasy experience that rewards careful listening across a similarly epic runtime. Both audiobooks showcase Pacey's ability to deepen complex themes through his distinctive vocal performances, making them ideal for listeners who value narrator artistry as much as narrative depth.
★ 4.06 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.
- 10
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
★ 3.92 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.
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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.