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Before They Are Hanged

The First Law: Book Two

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Before They Are Hanged

By: Joe Abercrombie
Narrated by: Steven Pacey
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About this listen

Bitter and merciless war is coming to the frozen north. It's bloody and dangerous, and the Union army, split by politics and hamstrung by incompetence, is unprepared for the slaughter that's coming. Lacking experience, training, and in some cases even weapons, the army is scarcely equipped to repel Bethod's scouts, let alone his elite forces.

In the heat-ravaged south, the Gurkish are massing to assault the city of Dagoska, defended by Inquisitor Glokta. The city is braced for the inevitable defeat and massacre to come... but a plot is festering to hand the city to its besiegers without a fight, and the previous Inquisitor of Dagoska vanished without trace. Threatened from within and without the city, Glokta needs answers, and he needs them soon.

And to the east, a small band of malefactors travel to the edge of the world to reclaim a device from history - a Seed, hidden for generations - with tremendous destructive potential. A device which could put a end to war, to the army of Eaters in the South, to the invasion of Shanka from the North - but only if it can be found, and only if its power can be controlled.

©2007 Joe Abercrombie (P)2010 Orion Publishing Group Limited Fantasy Fiction Scary War
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the story itself isnt anything new but it is written very well. told even better.

a gripping tale.

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A fast moving, page-tuning, grimoire, full of action and surprise. It’s a fabulous follow-up to Abercrombie’s First Law Series. Am looking forward to immediately reading the next, “Lost Argument of Kings”.

Stars deducted for Steven Pacey’s utterly bizarre pronunciation of the word ‘GRIMACE’ … the usage of which becomes so more the noticeable (a whole lot more than you’d reasonably consider), when the narrator pronounces it, “GRIM-ace” (rhymes with:
Dim Face)!

This is my only issues with the book. For a Narrator as accomplished as Pacey, it seems inconceivable that he’s never heard the word, “grimace” pronounced correctly. (i.e. with the “a” as a “schwa” sound.)
Let’s see what the next book brings🤗

Before They Are Hanged

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Up there with the best narrators around.
Epic, engaging and viscerally written. Do yourself a favour and get the whole series

fantastically dark, draws you in

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This guy reading it is 40 characters at a time. He's so damn good. Nearly as good at reading and acting the story out than Joe is at writing them

Cant wait to get stuck into the 3rd book

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the reasing in this audio book is exceptional. breathes such depth into the story. i have read all Joe Abercrombies novels and hearing them while i paintwarhammer is exceptional. I never realised how much of the lore from Byaz i missed on my first reading.

Amazing such a great tale cant wait for the third.

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A gripping sequel and a great trilogy but that is my favourite performer by far!

5/5

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Amazing, great book and series. First series I have I listened to and it's great

Great book and series

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Fantastic story and even better storytelling. The narration by Steven Pacry truly sets this apart and sucks you in, giving a brilliant fire to all the cast.

Fantastic story and awesome narration

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I love the characters that Joe Abercrombe has built. The story is written through the eyes of these characters and the language of the storytelling has been adapted to suit each one. However it is the superb voices and narration of Steven Pacey that takes it from story telling to feeling like you are in the world itself!

This book continues the tale from The Blade Itself - you need to listen to that audiobook before starting Before They Are Hanged as the same characters continue their journey and you need to have lived through their backstories. Trust me though, you won't regret listening to either of these books or the books that follow.

If you want more reasons to listen to this audiobook and Joe's other books set in this world, please check out my review below from The Blade Itself:

These books are far and away my favourite Audiobooks, and I have listened to some excellent ones such as Red Rising, The Name of the Wind, A Game of Thrones, The Way of Kings, The Lies of Locke Lamora, Harry Potter, etc.

The reason they are so good is the combination of Joe Abercrombie (author) and Steven Pacey (narrator). You couldn't get a better pairing.

Joe creates characters that are real, with heroic and flawed traits, that result in never quite knowing what they are going to do, but leave you hanging to see just what they are going to do. Add to that the very entertaining humour interspersed throughout, the catchy little favourite sayings of the characters, gripping fight scenes, dark deeds, intricate plots and you have the foundation for a thoroughly enjoyable read.

However, my recommendation is not read these books (sorry Joe!), but to listen to the Audiobooks. And the reason for that is Steven Pacey.

This is a phenomenal narrative by Steven Pacey that is so perfectly matched to the book and the characters you could not imagine one without the other. This is not an audiobook, this is an audio theatre so masterful is his performance. He brings each character to life and sucks you into the story so that when it finishes you want to dive straight into the next one.

As good as The Blade Itself!

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The story is gritty. It's violent. It's sad. it's angry. And I can't stop listening to it.
I am yet to decide what's better the story or the Narrator but he was made to read this book.
On to Book 3!

Addictive is an understatement.

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