new book joe abercrombie

Joe Abercrombie is writing a new fantasy trilogy, and it’s totally nuts

By ashley hurst | apr 1, 2022.

British fantasy author Joe Abercrombie has amassed a huge following thanks to his First Law series. Drawing comparisons to A Song of Ice and Fire due to its grittiness and brutality, The First Law quickly became a staple for fantasy readers. Now, Abercrombie has announced a much different and zanier series, all about an elf invasion of Europe.

Last year, Abercrombie published The Wisdom of Crowds , the final book in the Age of Madness trilogy, which is the third trilogy in the  First Law series. The author is taking no breaks, jumping right into a new trilogy, The Devils , which sounds utterly nuts. According to publisher Gollancz (via. TheBookseller ), the trilogy is a blend of heist, spy, and thriller fiction.

We are excited to announce we'll be publishing @LordGrimdark 's epic new trilogy, starting with THE DEVILS! Fusing the best of fantasy with the most gripping elements of heist, spy and thriller fiction... Read our full annoucement here: https://t.co/58bhnxgjHf pic.twitter.com/6JV79OQPvG — Gollancz (@gollancz) March 31, 2022

What exactly is The Devils about?

Besides elves attacking Europe, the books will also follow a child Pope. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Read the full synopsis:

"In a magic-riddled Europe under constant threat of elf invasion, the 10-year-old Pope occasionally needs services that cannot be performed by the righteous. And so, sealed deep beneath the catacombs, cathedrals and relic stalls of the Sacred City lies the secret Chapel of the Holy Expediency. For its highly disposable congregation – including a self-serving magician, a self-satisfied vampire, an oversexed werewolf, and a knight cursed with immortality – there is no mission that cannot be turned into a calamitous bloodbath."

In a statement, Abercrombie reaffirmed that he’s set on dominating the British fantasy genre with his books. “I’ve been working hand in glove with Gillian Redfearn at Gollancz since I was first published 16 years ago – it’s the kind of creative and commercial partnership an author dreams of having with an editor – and in recent years Orion as a whole have been going from strength to strength,” he said. “I’m delighted to be continuing our righteous battle for domination of the British fantasy genre.”

Now, all we need to know is whether Steven Pacey, the beloved narrator of the First Law audiobooks, will return to narrate the audiobook edition of The Devils . We can hope.

The Devils does not have a release date yet. Stay tuned!

Author Brandon Sanderson backs every single publishing project on Kickstarter. dark. Next

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Senior editor Lindsey Hall has acquired a new epic trilogy from New York Times bestselling author Joe Abercrombie at auction, for Tor US, negotiated by Ginger Clark of Ginger Clark Literary, on behalf of Robert Kirby.

The Devils begins a series which fuses the best of fantasy with the most gripping elements of heist, spy and thriller fiction. In a magic-riddled Europe under constant threat of elf invasion, the ten year old Pope occasionally needs services that cannot be performed by the righteous. And so, sealed deep beneath the catacombs, cathedrals and relic stalls of the Sacred City lies the secret Chapel of the Holy Expediency. For its highly disposable congregation – including a self-serving magician, a selfsatisfied vampire, an oversexed werewolf, and a knight cursed with immortality – there is no mission that cannot be turned into a calamitous bloodbath…

A must-read, this is accessible fantasy fiction with the addictive Abercrombie twist which has seen his novels hit bestseller lists around the world, delight millions of readers, and cemented his position as one of the leading fantasy writers of his generation.

Hall remarked, “Joe Abercrombie is the gold standard of fantasy; he paints dark worlds like no other, makes you love seemingly unloveable characters, and never fails to somehow make you laugh through it all. I’ve been a fan of his for years, and I’m so excited to go on this new adventure with him. Readers are not ready for how much they’re going to love The Devils.

Of the acquisition, Abercrombie says “I’m thrilled to be taking these books to Tor in the US – I’ve known Devi Pillai for many years, but during the process I’ve been very impressed with my new editor Lindsey Hall, and there’s been an infectious enthusiasm for this project from their whole team right from the start. I think they get me. Can’t wait to work with them.”

The Devils is slated for publication in 2025.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Joe Abercrombie is the author of the First Law Trilogy (The Blade Itself, Before They Are Hanged and Last Argument of Kings). His standalone novels (Best Served Cold, The Heroes and Red Country) are also set in the First Law world.

His novels have been shortlisted for the World Fantasy Awards, British Fantasy Awards, John W. Campbell Award and the David Gemmell Legend Awards. His covers are also award winning, and have won both the David Gemmell Legend Award and the World Fantasy Award for best artwork. Joe formerly worked as a freelance film editor and is now a full time writer who lives in Bath with his family. Follow @LordGrimdark on twitter for more information, or visit www.joeabercrombie.com.

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Novel Notions

Book review: the great change (and other lies) by joe abercrombie, december 19, 2023 petrik leo comments 0 comment.

Cover art by John Anthony di Giovanni

The Great Change (and Other Lies) by Joe Abercrombie

My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series:   The Age of Madness  (Book #0.5 of 3), First Law World (Book, #11 of 11)

Genre:  Fantasy, Epic Fantasy, Grimdark fantasy

Pages : 120 pages (Hardback)

Published: 30 th September 2023 by Subterranean Press

The Great Change (and Other Lies) is a terrific and thought-provoking insight into the behind-the-scenes of creation and revolution in The Age of Madness .

“Greed was the one thing in the diamond trade, after all, that could always be relied upon.

Reading and reviewing a new book by Joe Abercrombie, especially for a new book in The First Law World , was not on my 2023 schedule. The release of The Great Change (and Other Lies) is a serendipitous moment for me despite its short length. Here is the thing. Joe Abercrombie is one of my favorite authors. The First Law World is one of my favorite series/worlds. Every time people ask me what my favorite grimdark fantasy series is, I will immediately point them to The First Law World which is comprised of The First Law trilogy, The Great Levellers trilogy, The Age of Madness trilogy, and now two collections of short stories. I have made this feeling abundantly clear on a myriad of occasions. Having any new stories—no matter how short—in The First Law World is a blessing for literature. When I found out about The Great Change (and Other Lies) collection of short stories, I knew it would be imperative for me to read the new four companion short stories taking place in the Age of Madness trilogy.

“Across the sea, after all, the machines needed to be fed. More of them and hungrier every day.”

Picture: The Thread by John Anthony di Giovanni

The $60 price for the physical edition of this collection by Subterranean Press stopped me for a while. Fortunately, a kind-hearted friend bought it for me as a Christmas present, and I had the chance to read this less than two-hour reading-length novella-sized collection of four short stories sooner than I expected. If you missed out on the physical edition, you can purchase the ebook at a much more affordable price. The Thread , The Stone , The Point , and The Great Change . These are the four Age of Madness companion short stories you can read in the collection. Featuring old friends and new: from smugglers to kings, from diamond-cutters to dress-makers, from the most apparently insignificant of slaves to the most feared man in the Union, Old Sticks himself, I strongly believe The Great Change (and Other Lies) will give the fans of the series—myself included—a quick refreshment and reminder on why we continue to love reading Abercrombie’s writing. As I always say, no one in the grimdark fantasy subgenre writes like Joe Abercrombie.

“Diamonds are like people, after all—they need to be ground down a little before they reveal their best.”

Picture: The Stone by John Anthony di Giovanni

As Abercrombie said at the beginning of the book, it is recommended and better to read The First Law World or The Age of Madness trilogy first. Especially for The Great Change short story. I will keep this review brief and spoiler-free. The Age of Madness happened during the Industrial Revolution era of The Circle of the World. With technology transforming industries and the uncountable individuals involved, progress is never safe from sacrifices. The web of commerce and industry was knitting the whole world ever more tightly together, and the price of progress was steep. Changes are inevitable. Nothing can be conjured out of thin air. The purpose of this collection of short stories is to provide an efficient exploration of this reality. Every item, every material, every event; there are origins, transitions, and endgames to each one of these. In The Great Change (and Other Lies) , the character’s stories revolve around an object or concept. In The Thread , we follow the thread from the cotton fields of Gurkhul to the heights of Aduan society. In The Stone , we follow a stone from the rivers of Kadir until it becomes a crown of the Union. In The Point , we follow the iron from the prison mines of Angland to a knife in the back of the old regime. And finally, in The Great Change , we follow the slow gestation of the Great Change itself, a revolution which will turn the whole world upside down…

“Your Majesty, when a great man dies, it is tempting to think it can only be the result of some great event, some grand conspiracy, some towering malevolence… It would be a reassurance, in a way, to feel that death follows such meaningful patterns. But the hard truth is that great men die of the same things little ones do. Sometimes they slip and strike their heads, sometimes they choke on a fish bone, and sometimes they pass peacefully in the night, for no particular reason. When they do so, it is, in a way, a mercy. We should all be so lucky as to die in an unspectacular fashion.”

Picture: The Point by John Anthony di Giovanni

Did I love reading all four short stories? I would not say ALL of them. The Point did not click with me as much as I hoped. But I will gladly give my stamp of approval to the other three short stories: The Thread , The Stone , and The Great Change . As I always say, I have a soft spot for Abercrombie’s characterizations and writing style. I am biased about this world, and reading anything new in The First Law World already gives me joy and satisfaction. This feeling is elevated further because some of the beloved main characters from The Age of Madness trilogy do appear in The Great Change (and Other Lies) . Savine, Zuri, Vick, Orso, Old Stick, Bayaz, and more. With a storytelling similar to the one employed in The Little People chapters, which is a storytelling technique Abercrombie utilizes to direct and flow a transition from a point or a scene to another scene seamlessly repeatedly, Abercrombie succeeds at telling thematic stories of corruption, greed, capitalism, and revolution quickly. Although I certainly would have preferred reading a new novel instead of short stories in The First Law World , my brief return to this grim society is, once again, a comfort to my soul.

“I have often thought it would be a fine thing… To leave the world better than we found it.”

Picture: The Great Change by John Anthony di Giovanni

Well, this review ended up longer than I expected. I find it challenging to put a brake on myself when I am talking about my enjoyment of Abercrombie’s books. Lastly, though… I need to mention this Subterranean Press edition is embedded with four black-and-white interior illustrations by John Anthony di Giovanni, who returned once again to provide his skill to the Subterranean Press edition of Abercrombie’s books as he did for The Age of Madness trilogy. The artworks in The Great Change (and Other Lies) , cover art included, are all beautifully drawn montages of the main scenes, or titles in the case of the cover art, inside each respective short story. On top of Abercrombie’s excellent writing, I believe John’s contributions did augment my enjoyment of The Great Change (and Other Lies) . Try to observe each interior art after you read each short story. You will see what I am talking about. The details are exquisite.

“Ah, the curse and the blessing of parenthood, that can coax a sentimental tear from the pitiless eye of even a monster like me… Filling this place of death and pain and bloodless paperwork with hope, and beauty, and potential… And to think, I was once a main with nothing to lose.”

If I have to mention a downside or pain of reading this collection, it would be the craving for more of Abercrombie’s books and The First Law that comes after. This is inescapable. If it happens, it will be years before Abercrombie writes another novel or series in The First Law World , but his newest book in a different series, The Devils , is coming in 2025. The pain of waiting for it will be torturous, but I have no doubt it will be worth it. Until then, if you are a fan of The First Law World and The Age of Madness trilogy, read The Great Change (and Other Lies) . It is a delightful dessert to The Age of Madness trilogy.

Picture: The Great Change (and Other Lies) by John Anthony di Giovanni

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The Great Change (and Other Lies) Kindle Edition

The Great Change (and Other Lies) is a novella-length collection that gathers four short stories related to Joe Abercrombie’s The Age of Madness , featuring old friends and new: from smugglers to kings, from diamond-cutters to dress-makers, from the most apparently insignificant of slaves to the most feared man in the Union, Old Sticks himself.

We follow the thread from the cotton-fields of Gurkhul to the heights of Aduan society, we follow a stone from the rivers of Kadir to the crown of the Union, we follow the iron from the prison-mines of Angland to a knife in the back of the old regime. And we follow the slow gestation of the Great Change itself, a revolution which will turn the whole world upside down…

• Print length 77 pages
• Language English
• Sticky notes On Kindle Scribe
• Publication date September 28, 2023
• File size 3332 KB
• Page Flip Enabled
• Word Wise Enabled
• Enhanced typesetting Enabled
• See all details

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Product details

• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CK4ZDDLZ
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Subterranean Press (September 28, 2023)
• Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 28, 2023
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• File size ‏ : ‎ 3332 KB
• Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
• Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
• Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
• Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
• X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
• Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
• Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
• Print length ‏ : ‎ 77 pages
• #59 in Two-Hour Science Fiction & Fantasy Short Reads
• #176 in Two-Hour Literature & Fiction Short Reads
• #494 in Dark Fantasy Horror

About the author

Joe abercrombie.

Joe Abercrombie is a freelance film editor, who works on documentaries and live music events. He lives and works in Bath. THE BLADE ITSELF, his debut novel, is the first novel of The First Law trilogy, followed by BEFORE THEY ARE HANGED and LAST ARGUMENT OF KINGS. His new stand-alone bestseller is BEST SERVED COLD.

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Books Reading Order

List of Authors and Books in Order of Publication and Chronology

Full List of Joe Abercrombie Books in Order

Joe Abercrombie is a British adult fantasy author, with bestselling series including First Law, First Law World, Shattered Sear, and Age of Madness. His books are known for his cynicism, dark humor, and violence. His debut novel, The Blade Itself, released in 2006, was initially sold for a five-figure deal to Gollancz.

What order should I read the Joe Abercrombie novels in? Here are the author’s books in order of reading and publication. Personally, I do recommend you read the Joe Abercrombie books in order, especially for his First Law books.

New Joe Abercrombie Books

The Trouble With Peace (Age of Madness #2), 2020

First Law Universe

The First Law Series

• The Blade Itself , 2006
• Before They Are Hanged , 2007
• Last Argument Of Kings , 2008

First Law World Series

• Best Served Cold , 2009
• The Heroes , 2011
• Red Country , 2012
• Sharp Ends , 2016 (collection of short stories)

Sharp Ends Short Stories (2016)

• A Beautiful Bastard
• Small Kindnesses
• The Fool Jobs
• Skipping Town
• Two’s Company
• Wrong Place, Wrong Time†
• Some Desperado
• Yesterday, Near a Village Called Barden…
• Three’s a Crowd†
• Tough Times All Over
• Made a Monster

Age of Madness Trilogy

• A Little Hatred , 2019
• The Trouble With Peace , 2020

Young Adult Series

Shattered Sea Series

• Half a King , 2014
• Half the World , 2015
• Half a War , 2015

Joe Abercrombie Biography

After graduating from the university, he moved to London where he began working for a TV Post-Production company. He remained there for two years before he left the corporate world to become a freelance film editor. As such, he worked on a whole range of projects, including documentaries, awards shows, music videos, and concerts with Barry White to Coldplay, to name just a few. In his early twenties, Joe started writing epic fantasy, but soon he realized that his writing was rather pompous, so he let that dream go for another decade.

In 2002, he once again began writing, and this time he started working on his first book in a series featuring Logan Ninefingers and his adventures, to be titled The First Law trilogy. He changed the tone of his books from epic adventures to a more humorous, dark but cynic style, where it showed that he took himself this time less seriously than before. After two years, in 2004 he finished the first book, but he couldn’t sell it for about a year, getting rejection after rejection. When a friend in publishing sent the manuscript to Gollancz, the Hachette science-fiction and fantasy imprint picked it up and in 2005 they signed him up for an initial First Law trilogy.

In an interview with The Guardian, he mentioned about this series

it was my take on Lord of the Rings, but bringing in all my weird preoccupations about how people work, the nature of violence. It’s a reaction against the shiny and optimistic heroic fantasy I read as a teenager. In trying to do the opposite, it becomes quite pessimistic and grim.

It took him until around 2008 for Joe Abercrombie to become a full-time writer who could support his family with his book sales. As the royalties from his book sales started coming in, he began cutting back on his TV editing work.

Over the last 15 years or so, the author wrote several additional novels, expanding the fantasy world of his initial First Law trilogy with a second series titled First Law World series which includes three standalone novels and a collection of short stories, including books such as Best Served Cold, The Heroes, Red Country , and a last one, the short story anthology titled Sharp Ends , released in 2016. The author also started a brand new trilogy in 2019 called Age of Madness. He also wrote a young-adult series. His books have sold over five million copies so far. He was nominated for several awards, including the World Fantasy Awards, British Fantasy Awards, Locus Awards, David Gemmel Legend Awards, John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer, Compton Crook Stephen Tall Memorial Award, and The Kitschies. He also won two awards, the Locus Award for best Young Adult Novel for Half a King and the Alex Awards for Half the World .

What is the next Joe Abercrombie book? The latest book by the popular British fantasy author is The Trouble With Peace , the second novel in his new Age of Madness series, which also takes place in The First Law world. Currently, Joe Abercrombie lives in London with his family, where he works on his next book (hopefully another First Law story) and does editing work in his spare time.

Joe Abercrombie and the Grimdark Fantasy

His books are classified under the grimdark fantasy subgrenre. Grimdark has its roots in the Warhammer 40k world where “in the grim darkness of the far future there is only WAR.” In fact, many readers and critics consider the author Joe Abercrombie the face of grimdark. The subgrene is also often called “scoundrel lit,” nuanced adult fiction,” “unheroic fantasy,” and even “dark fantasy.” Based on Joe’s view, this genre needs unheroic heroes, a cynical view of the world, and a blurring between good and evil, along with a stronger focus on characters rather than the world itself.

The world itself is rather dark and bleak, and the characters are on the disreputable side. There is an often strong focus on sex and violence in these worlds. These are not worlds of heroes in shining armor and damsels in distress being saved by them. These worlds are very complex, and the stories themselves are quite complex as well. Some might say they are more realistic than the usual epic, high fantasy, although they are not, of course, much based on the real world.

The worlds are usually unforgiving, and the characters often deeply flawed, antiheroes, really, which allows the authors to create some wonderful story and character arcs in their books. Often, in this genre, you’re not sure whether good or even will prevail, and the villain is never someone you can easily forget. Along with Joe Abercrombie, who is called the Lord of Grimdark, another great exampled of a grimdark fantasy author is G.R.R. Martin. Joe Abercrombie.

Praise for the Joe Abercrombie Books

Bloody and relentless. (George R. R. Martin on Best Served Cold) Bold and authentically original. (Jeff VanderMeer on The Blade Itself) Abercrombie continues to do what he does best . . . Buckle your seat belts for this one . . . . A vivid and jolting tale. (Robin Hobb) Imagine  The Lord of the Rings  as directed by Kurosawa. (Lev Grossman on The Heroes ) Abercrombie writes fantasy like no one else. (The Guardian) If you’re fond of bloodless, turgid fantasy with characters as thin as newspaper and as boring as plaster saints, Joe Abercrombie is really going to ruin your day. A long career for this guy would be a gift to our genre. (Scott Lynch) Abercrombie has written the finest epic fantasy trilogy in recent memory. He’s one writer that no one should miss. (Junot Diaz) The sword & sorcery trilogy that began with  The Blade Itself  and  Before They Are Hanged comes to a violent, sardonic, and brilliant conclusion. (Publishers Weekly on Last Argument of Kings)

• Joe Abercrombie author website
• Author Reddit AMA
• Author interview with The Guardian
• Joe Abercrombie publisher page

Keep Exploring

May 14, 2023 at

I am tearing through these like they are paper mache around a much awaited present. I am reading them so fast, my eyes can’t catch up.

March 30, 2022 at

I have read all of the First Law books, I loved them and could not put them down until finished. I came upon them by accident, I was in hospital when I read “Before they are Hanged”. It was not until I was almost at the end of the book that I realised it was the 2nd in the series. So, I had to buy myself the 1st and 3rd. I then went on to read the “First Law world series”, unputdownable. Is all I can say !!

January 11, 2022 at

Relentless grimness can be as tiresome as endless heroics, but the tales are leavened with clever dialogue and intricate political intrigue. I do long for a hero or heroine not too faulted to succeed. It would give hope in an age of political bastardry and viral pandemics, where humanity has proven itself to be delicate and subject to falsehoods. Only the imagination can take us to a better place.

February 28, 2021 at

Joe Abercrombie’s books are refreshingly “real” fantasy novels, with “heroes” and villains who you can instantly identify with, some you empathise with others you take a dislike to, but all are believable. More please.

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10 Underrated Fantasy Book Series That Should Be On Everyone's Radar

• The Chronicles of Prydain is an overlooked children's fantasy series with critical acclaim worth exploring for both children and adults.
• Liveship Traders by Robin Hobb promotes realism in exploring themes of gender equality, political turmoil, and slavery.
• The Riddle-Master Trilogy offers an underrated saga focused on riddles and shapeshifting with the final novel winning major awards.

There are a lot of great fantasy book series in the world, including 10 underrated sagas that should be on every fantasy fan's radar. Not every saga can become one of the best-selling fantasy book series of all time , but there is plenty of great fantasy literature that flies under the radar. People often look for names like Martin, Tolkien, Le Guin, or Sanderson when seeking out their next fantasy series, but there is an entire world of underappreciated fantasy out there.

The best fantasy book series have to immerse the reader in a new world, but still make connections to the world readers live in. Readers often prepare themselves to be swept away when reading a famous name like J.R.R. Tolkien, but with an open mind, any fantasy book can take the reader on an adventure. With that in mind, there are 10 great fantasy book series that don't get enough love and should be on every fantasy fan's to-be-read list.

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The Chronicles Of Prydain By Lloyd Alexander

A children's epic fantasy saga fit for all ages.

Lloyd Alexander's Chronicles of Prydain pentalogy is one of the most overlooked children's fantasy series ever. This Welsh-inspired fantasy world is rich and expansive, with plenty to offer to both children and adults. Notably, The Black Cauldron , book two in the series, won a Newberry Honor, while book five, The High King , won the Newberry Medal in 1969 , adding critical acclaim to a series that fully deserves it.

Walt Disney Productions released an animated film adaptation of the first two Prydain novels in 1985.

The Chronicles of Prydain focuses on the protagonist, Taran, who grows up on a farm but dreams of becoming a hero one day. Over the course of the series, Taran confronts all sorts of evils as he goes on numerous adventures to protect the people of Prydain. This fantasy book series makes the essential connections between the real world and its own fictional world that make it a satisfying read for children and adults alike, and the expansive lore makes it thoroughly engrossing.

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Liveship Traders By Robin Hobb

A richly detailed nautical fantasy trilogy.

While Robin Hobb is likely better known for her iconic Farseer trilogy, the Liveship Traders trilogy is just as good, if not better, than its predecessor. Liveship Traders is the second trilogy set in Hobb's Realm of the Elderlings , which allows it to draw on the previous trilogy to expand and enrich the world. As one of the seminal authors of modern fantasy, Hobb's books are must-reads for any die-hard fans of the genre , and Liveship Traders might just be her best work.

Although the Farseer trilogy was written before Liveship Traders and takes place in the same world, the trilogies can be enjoyed in either order.

The trilogy begins by following Althea Vestrit, who sets out to reclaim her family's Liveship after it's given to her sister instead of her. Hobb's impressive realism has often been compared to that of George R.R. Martin, the author of the iconic Song of Ice and Fire series , which is the inspiration for HBO's Game of Thrones . Liveship Traders uses that realism to explore themes of gender equality, gender fluidity, political turmoil, and slavery, making it a deeply profound entry in the fantasy genre.

The Riddle-Master Trilogy By Patricia A. McKillip

A hidden gem from the 1970s fantasy scene.

The Riddle-Master trilogy by Patricia A. McKillip is another underrated fantasy book series that deserves to be on fantasy fans' radars. Set in a world ruled by people with a mystical awareness of everything in their lands, this series heavily features riddles and various shapeshifting magics. The trilogy focuses on the titular Riddle-Master, Morgon, who is the prince of a small island known as Hed, hence the title of the first book in the series: The Riddle-Master of Hed .

Harpist in the Wind , the final novel in The Riddle-Master trilogy, was nominated for a Hugo award in 1980, while it won the Locus Award for Best Fantasy Novel that same year. The previous two books in the series might not have any major awards or nominations like that to laud, but the brilliance of the final novel could not exist without the first two. This is a trilogy that's well worth a read for any fantasy fans intrigued by worldplay and riddles.

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The Divine Cities By Robert Jackson Bennett

A mystical fantasy world grounded by layered characters.

Robert Jackson Bennett's The Divine Cities trilogy is a fascinating series set in a land that was once ruled by a group of divinities, until the enslaved people of Saypur rose up and overthrew the divinities. The fall of the divinities that once ruled the continent causes their magic to stop working, which sends the continent spiraling into chaos. City of Stairs , the first novel in the trilogy, follows a young Saypuri spy named Shara Komayd.

City of Stairs was a finalist for the 2015 World Fantasy Award.

The Divine Cities made the 2018 shortlist for the Best Series Hugo Award , and the individual novels have been subject to numerous awards and nominations. The series is celebrated for the richness of its world and the meaningful characters that inhabit it, and although it hasn't been popularized by a film or television adaptation, this is a terrific series for any fantasy fans who haven't stumbled upon it yet.

The First Law By Joe Abercrombie

A gritty character-driven noir fantasy.

Joe Abercrombie's First Law series is an expansive noir-style fantasy series with a good mix of mysticism and structure. Abercrombie's gritty style brings to life a cast of fascinating characters who fall firmly into the gray area between good and evil. The series is split into two trilogies and three standalone novels, complemented by several short stories. The first book in the series, The Blade Itself , follows Logen Ninefingers and several other characters as they navigate the various conflicts between the Union, the North, and the Gurkish Empire.

Best Served Cold , the first standalone novel after the original First Law trilogy, is currently undergoing pre-production for a film adaptation at Skydance Media.

The series has garnered praise from literary greats like George R.R. Martin and Jeff VanderMeer , emphasizing the contribution it represents to the fantasy genre. The First Law is not a series for the faint of heart — blood and sorrow are plentiful in these novels — but for fans who enjoy medieval realism and characters as flawed as they are intriguing, it's a home run.

The Book Of The New Sun By Gene Wolfe

An apocalyptic science fantasy series.

The Book of the New Sun , by Gene Wolfe, is a four-part science fantasy series that kicks off the author's larger "Solar Cycle" fantasy world. It is set on Earth in the distant future when the sun is dimming, causing the Earth to cool. The story follows a torturer named Severian, who was trained by the Order of the Seekers for Truth and Penitence. The first-person narrative begins in the nation known as the Commonwealth, which is warring with the neighboring kingdom of Ascia.

The Book of the New Sun is followed by two more series in the world it begins: The Book of the Long Sun and The Book of the Short Sun . The fact that there was enough of an appetite from fans for two more series after The Book of the New Sun speaks to the quality of the original saga. With that in mind, Wolfe's tetralogy is worth a read for all hard-core fans of fantasy literature .

Elric Of Melnibon By Michael Moorcock

A series of influential stories about the titular antihero.

Michael Moorcock's Elric of Melniboné series is one of the most influential fantasy sagas of the 20th century, often credited with inspiring the fantasy movement of the 1960s. The series is set on an alternative Earth full of dragons and magic of all kinds, and it focuses on the titular antihero, an Emperor of incredible strength. While attempts to adapt the series for film and video games have largely fallen flat, New Republic Pictures announced development of a TV series based on Elric of Melniboné in 2019.

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Unfortunately, nothing has materialized by way of an Elric TV show, but these novels are still hugely important to the fantasy world and are essential reading for fans of the genre. Further, the fact that there have been so many attempts to adapt the series speaks to its understated popularity , and with epic fantasy TV series trending up in recent years, there may well be a successful Elric of Melniboné adaptation in the near future.

The Death Gate Cycle By Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman

An imaginative post-apocalyptic fantasy series in a massive world.

The Death Gate Cycle is an engrossing post-apocalyptic fantasy series that follows the conflict between two powerful races known as the Sartan and the Patryns. The intricate world exists in the aftermath of a nuclear holocaust hundreds of years prior to the main story, which resulted in the split between Sartan and Patryns. The Sartan trapped the Patryns in a realm known as the Labyrinth, and the series follows their quest to escape the Labyrinth and conquer the four elemental realms created by the Sartan.

This immersive series also includes the classic fantasy races of elves and dwarves, providing a level of familiarity in a largely original world.

The Death Gate Cycle follows a Patryn spy named Haplo who ventures into the elemental realms on a scouting mission. This series is incredibly detailed, as the authors actually created five unique fantasy worlds — one each for the elemental realms and the Labyrinth. This immersive series also includes the classic fantasy races of elves and dwarves, providing a level of familiarity in a largely original world. Ultimately, fantasy fans can't go wrong with The Death Gate Cycle .

The Sun Sword Series By Michelle West

A modern fantasy tale with the trappings of a classic.

The Sun Sword series is the second set of novels published by Michelle West in the Essalieyan universe, which has expanded to include 20 novels and counting. This immersive world is expertly crafted with clear inspiration from Tolkien, but a strong dose of modern fantasy themes to freshen the narrative . The Sun Sword follows a war between the Empire of Essalieyan and the Dominion of Annagar, facilitated by the scheming Kialli.

Further, The Sun Sword is a great point to jump into the world of Essalieyan, which can provide years worth of entertainment over the 20+ books now set in this expansive fantasy universe.

The Sacred Hunt , a fantasy duology set sixteen years before The Sun Sword , provides extra background and worldbuilding for the series, but it's not necessary to read the duology before diving into The Sun Sword . Further, The Sun Sword is a great point to jump into the world of Essalieyan, which can provide years worth of entertainment over the 20+ books now set in this expansive fantasy universe.

The Coldfire Trilogy By Celia S. Friedman

A seismic fantasy series set on the planet of erna.

The Coldfire Trilogy is an incredibly imaginative fantasy series by Celia S. Friedman, set on a planet called Erna, which was populated by humans fleeing Earth more than a thousand years before the events depicted in the trilogy. Erna, which is roughly as hospitable to human life as Earth, is bothered by constant earthquakes and surrounded by a magical field of energy known as the Fae.

For fans of structured magic systems, like in The Wheel of Time or Mistborn series, The Coldfire Trilogy is the perfect choice.

Inspired by the Earth's magnetic field, the Fae is the source of magic in this epic world, but it is governed by strict rules of nature. Friedman's Coldfire trilogy is a fantastic example of how to make a naturalistic magic system with strict boundaries , rather than the mystical, undefined systems found in many series. For fans of structured magic systems, like in The Wheel of Time or Mistborn series, The Coldfire Trilogy is the perfect choice.

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With the fantasy craze still in effect from Game of Thrones, it's a surprise that these fantasy novels haven't made it to TV or film yet.

2021 in Review

December 31st, 2021

What’s that you say? It’s New Year’s Eve, I must be 47 goddamn years old today, and ANOTHER year passes under the bridge? Those bastards keep coming, don’t they? And this one has, I think it’s fair to say, been particularly hard work on the whole. I don’t think any of us really imagined a couple of years back when this pandemic started that we’d still be in its grip two years on, but here we are, hoping for better times soon…

A YEAR IN BOOKSELLING –  As I was saying last time around (with a considerable feel of groundhog day), publishing is faring an awful lot better than many industries, and I’m hugely lucky to be able to work from home, without too much practical disruption to my routines, such as they are. I was also lucky that my latest book,  The Wisdom of Crowds , dropped in September when restrictions were at least a little bit relaxed, and (unlike with the previous book) I could get out on the road and look some readers in the eye (if not the lower half of the face). Still a lot of online events going on, which is a trend I’m sure will continue even when (if) things open all the way up again. The Wisdom of Crowds did very nicely in a very competitive week, making 5 on the UK bestseller list and just clipping the US one at 15. But I’m actually now selling as many e-books in that first week as hardcovers, and actually somewhat more  audiobooks than that – which is testament to the ongoing big growth in that area of the market as well as the magisterial reading skills of Mr. Steven Pacey, of course…

A YEAR IN BOOK WRITING –  Well, the Age of Madness is written, published, and out the door. A 5 year or so project already dwindling into the past. Counting a collection of short stories, I now have 13 books in print, if you believe that. There was some finishing off to do on  The Wisdom of Crowds  but most of this year’s book efforts have been spent on my next project, a new thing, new world, new characters, new tone, with the working title of  The Devils.  I’m now about half way through a highly tentative first draft but I want to sit with it, let it marinate and stew in its own juices for a while. It was meant to be shortish (of course) but it’s not turned out that way (of course). Currently a shade over 100,000 words so it would be a profound shock if the finished article was any shorter than 200,000, which is much the same length as my last couple of books. However I try, I always seem to end up there or thereabouts…

TV AND FILM – Again film has very much played second fiddle with the cinemas being largely closed up. The two that stand out in the SF&F realm were  Spiderman, No Way Home , which I found thoroughly fresh and enjoyable and even a little bit moving after a few rather uninspiring Marvel efforts, and  Dune  which – though I thought it could’ve focussed a bit less on Paul and a bit more on the setting and secondary characters – was overall a highly watchable adaptation with some stunning design and visuals.

On the TV side I always forget about 50 things I’ve watched, so this is by no means exhaustive, but some things that stand out:  Dark was a magnificent piece of gloomy German sci-fi that slides effortlessly from small town soap opera into apocalyptic tangled time-travel epic across the dimensions.  Bosch  I’ve watched and thoroughly enjoyed all 7 seasons of and could probably have watched another 7.  Raised by Wolves  was weird but interesting.  Ted Lasso  was highly entertaining and a rare life-affirming property in a grim landscape, though I wondered if there were signs of it losing its way in the 2nd season.  Money Heist  was a nice, fresh, twisty robbery caper with lots of strong ideas and good characters. The Terror  and  The North Water  were two gripping complimentary takes on the fundamental inhumanity of man set against ships trapped in ice.  The Witcher  I think got better in its second season, with some stronger background cast and more focus on overarching plots, but it still has some slightly cardboard-y moments. The second season of  Warrior  remained fast-moving and highly watchable.  Gomorrah  has been a stand-out favourite of mine for the past few years but I felt this last season was rather a let down. Seemed that they’d run out of ideas, became increasingly stiff and unconvincing, with old characters feeling ill-served and the new intake of brooding thugs failing to make much of a mark. I still think the first three seasons are brilliant, mind you. The last season of  Narcos was still good but felt like it didn’t have much new to offer, with sad stubbly men once again failing to shift the needle on systemic corruption.  Succession  I felt had gone off the boil slightly at the start of its third season but the last few episodes were savagely, almost unwatchably good. The biggest surprise for me was Arcane  – I don’t always connect to animation but this was just great, involving fantasy, bursting with energy and invention. Cracking world building without being laborious, strong writing, and brilliant characters, character designs and attention to detail.

GAMES –  Unusually for me I’ve played very little on console over the last year. The only notable thing was a brief, nostalgic, and quite enjoyable flirtation with Elite Dangerous.  Lack of availability and lack of anything I’ve felt I really  needed  to play has meant I haven’t got a next generation console yet. But I discovered, to my cost, that my laptop will run Total War: Warhammer and Three Kingdoms  pretty adequately, so I’ve mostly been playing those, if I’m honest. Oldies but very, very goodies, and I really can flush a lot of hours down the Total War toilet still…

THE YEAR AHEAD –   There’ll be no new novel from me in 2022, sadly, though writing will continue on  The Devils  and I hope we’ll have a pub date in due course. There are, as ever, other pots on the boil so it’s possible one or other of them will finally bubble over in the meantime. We will see. There should, however, be some exciting news for fans of limited illustrated editions in the new year, and I believe Subterranean Press are aiming to package the three stories I wrote for special editions of the Age of Madness  (called The Thread, The Stone  and  The Point ) along with a fourth, already written but as yet unpublished, to make a little novella with illustrations by John Anthony Giovanni, titled The Great Change (and Other Lies) . More news on the possible publication of that when I have it, but hopefully around September. Then I’d like to take some of the trips I’ve long planned but not been able to follow through on because of pandemic issues – to France, Portugal, and in particular another visit to Aviles in Spain for Celsius festival in the summer. Fingers crossed things will open up enough for those to be possible as the year wears on…

Happy New Year, you beautiful bastards, and (once again) let’s just hope this one is better than the last…

Posted in announcements , appearances , film and tv , games , news , progress by Joe Abercrombie on December 31st, 2021.

29 comments so far

You are the best. Happy trip around the sun you beautiful bastard!

Overall, 2021 has been slightly better than 2020 so why can’t 2022 be better than 2021. Happy new year, Joe.

“There’ll be no new novel from me in 2022, sadly” – saddest thing I’ve read today. But I guess you really need a break after Age of Madness. Happy new year, dear Joe!

Half way through Wisdom of Crowds. Are there any history books you drew from? Or was it all made up from imagination and half remembered schoolboy history?

No new novel for 2022… You deserve a rest …and it will be an other round with the the first law from the beginning to the end happy birthday dear Joe

Wisdom of Crowds is the best book I’d read this year. Thank you, Mr. Abercrombie for ripping my heart out!

Say one thing about Joe Abercrombie, say even his year reviews are a fun read. Happy new Year, you beautyful bastard!

I’m curious have you ever played the crusader Kings games, the mix of political subterfuge, backstabbing and general role-playing makes it such a unique grand strategy game, I also think that you would live some of the things you find yourself doing such as plotting to have your wife’s kid from a previous marriage assassinated so your son inherits her land will really appeal to you

Happy birthday to you, you beautiful bastard. Thank you for all the dark places you let us travel with you (which is still better than our everyday life). Happy New Years and good luck with all your endeavors. Cheers!

The Wisdom of Crowds may have been my favorite book this year – a truly satisfying conclusion to a well-crafted series. Thanks for that and, as you say, here’s to better days. Very curious as to what you’re up to with The Devils!

Happy Birthday, Joe! And Happy New Year too. Well my wife & me finished a bloody journey into the Age of Madness. An author should be realistic after all and you did your best. Some ugly moments of European history keep on lurking from the pages… By the way – was there a real protagonist of the Judge? We suppose one person in Paris could be. Wish you a productive & quiet year! Anna & Igor

Happy birthday! Thanks for the fun post! Loved the Age of Madness. I hope there will be more First Law words stories in the future. Looking forward to your new world too!

Ps. Bosch is awesome. There will be a sequel in 2022, Bosch: Legacy

Take as much time as you need, maestro.

As to hoping that the next year will be better – let’s just be realistic for now.

Happy Birthday Joe thank you for the bloody marvellous reading. Keep em coming chuck x

Joe, heartfelt thanks for letting me escape into the worlds of your creation, I fell in love with the first law series many years ago and ever since you’ve been my favourite author, consistently giving me my fix book after book, year after year. You have a real gift telling those stories the way you do, something that goes beyond words. Enough blabbering, Happy birthday ya beautiful bastard, can’t wait to read whatever you’ve got stewing in those many pots.

A new world sounds exciting, although I‘ve grown quite attached to the current ones (but I still have most of the wisdom of the crowds to content me). All the best!

Happy Birthday Joe! Thanks for your continued commitment to story telling. You’ve made me laugh out loud so many times with your books that I’ve read and re-read them, which is extremely rare for me. Keep up the good fight from a fellow Lancastrian!!

Happy New Year! Already looking forward to ‘The Devils’, or whatever you scrape off the hob, find under the fridge, down the back of the sofa…

Just finished The Wisdom of Crowds – it was my holiday vacation read and I really enjoyed it! I’m very much looking forward to your next world.

Was listening to Victorian-themed adventure game soundtrack while reading Wisdom and this track stuck so much to me while reading the last few chapters that it is now intrinsically linked to my experience with the book and it truly made for an unforgettable feeling.

https://youtu.be/uPxfMh8ZLIE

Thanks for the year in review. Loved the Age of Madness, especially the Reign of Terror theme. Excited for ‘The Devils.’ Best Wishes for the New Year….

Have a great year, Joe. I enjoyed the Age of Madness. And take your time to relax. I look forward to “The Devils” and I do hope for a lot of grim, dark, adult fantasy.

At a shitty time we all have to endure, keep it coming. You have created some of my favourite characters along side some of the Greats. Tolkien, Gemmell, Salvatore, Hobb and Martin, to name a few, have all brought their magic to the fore. I hope you many years of inspiration and unique imagination. This is completely selfish of me, as I can not get enough of your characters. More please…but don’t flog yourself… have the occasional brew once in a while … then get back to it, sharpish! Good luck and best wishes.

Thank you for all the great work you’ve given us over the years. Ive loved the Age of Madness books and they’ve really been a highlight for me during these rough times in the pandemic. Hope you have a great year and enjoy some well deserved traveling.

The Age of Madness books brightened my last year considerably. Thanks for those wonderful (and terrible for their characters) books. Very curious about the direction for The Devils.

Do you have a particular favored army in Total War: Warhammer?

Another year and another ton of fun either reading your new books, or re-reading the old ones.

Hope you’re able to have an even better 2022, spend some good time with the family and get some travel in as well.

Thanks for the fun books and good times as always, Joe!

I know it’s a bit late since publication but had to re-read everything before I could read this. Glad I did as forgotten how you weave minor characters into positions where they affect others, eg Pike, Vick etc

Also glad that Hilde looks like she will become a player

I did guess the real “weaver” but great plotting, plus guessed what Zuri was but not who she was

Brilliant twists and revelations in the final chapters

Thank you for the beautiful trips in your masterful books (and audiobooks). Read and listen to them all twice (damn I love Steve voice!) and the second pass is always been even more enjoyable then the first. Only one thing I do not understand, why did you kill Orso? Well I know why, but.. really!?! 🙁 I hate hangings.

I have to keep reminding myself there are characters left to love in the age of madness… the loss of orso, forest and gorst broke me mentally… although mostly for forest as he seemed to be really growing into an amazing character and got no last laugh like orso and gorst did…

Love your writing and you’ve inspired me to write. Cant get enough of your books! Enjoy your year you beautiful bastard

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