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The Heroes
- Narrated by: Steven Pacey
- Series: First Law World, Book 2
- Length: 23 hrs and 5 mins
- Unabridged Audiobook
- Categories: Science Fiction & Fantasy, Fantasy
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Red Country
- By: Joe Abercrombie
- Narrated by: Steven Pacey
- Length: 19 hrs and 52 mins
- Unabridged
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Shy South comes home to her farm to find a blackened shell; her brother and sister have been stolen and she's going to have to return to her bad old ways if she's ever going to see them again. She sets off in grim pursuit with only her cowardly old step-father Lamb for company. But it turns out he's hiding a bloody past of his own. None bloodier.
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Western didn’t quite work
- By Anonymous User on 26-12-2020
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Best Served Cold
- By: Joe Abercrombie
- Narrated by: Steven Pacey
- Length: 26 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
Springtime in Styria. And that means war. There have been nineteen years of blood. The ruthless Grand Duke Orso is locked in a vicious struggle with the squabbling League of Eight, and between them they have bled the land white. While armies march, heads roll and cities burn, behind the scenes bankers, priests and older, darker powers play a deadly game to choose who will be king.
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Wow! What an awesome read!👍
- By A fan on 10-06-2017
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Sharp Ends
- Stories from the World of The First Law
- By: Joe Abercrombie
- Narrated by: Steven Pacey, Joe Abercrombie
- Length: 11 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
The Union army may be full of bastards, but there's only one who thinks he can save the day singlehanded when the Gurkish come calling: the incomparable Colonel Sand dan Glokta. Curnden Craw and his dozen are out to recover a mysterious item from beyond the Crinna. Only one small problem: no one seems to know what the item is. Shevedieh, the self-styled best thief in Styria, lurches from disaster to catastrophe alongside her best friend and greatest enemy, Javre, Lioness of Hoskopp.
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Amazing
- By Anonymous User on 01-12-2020
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A Little Hatred
- The First in the Epic Sunday Times Bestselling Series
- By: Joe Abercrombie
- Narrated by: Steven Pacey
- Length: 20 hrs and 19 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
On the blood-soaked borders of Angland, Leo dan Brock struggles to win fame on the battlefield and defeat the marauding armies of Stour Nightfall. He hopes for help from the crown. But King Jezal's son, the feckless Prince Orso, is a man who specialises in disappointments. Savine dan Glokta - socialite, investor and daughter of the most feared man in the Union - plans to claw her way to the top of the slag-heap of society by any means necessary. But the slums boil over with a rage that all the money in the world cannot control.
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Fantastic book. A must listen.
- By Michael Q on 20-09-2019
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Last Argument of Kings
- The First Law: Book Three
- By: Joe Abercrombie
- Narrated by: Steven Pacey
- Length: 27 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
The end is coming. Logen Ninefingers might only have one more fight in him but it’s going to be a big one. Battle rages across the North, the King of the Northmen still stands firm and there’s only one man who can stop him. His oldest friend and his oldest enemy. It’s time for the Bloody-Nine to come home. With too many masters and too little time, Superior Glokta is fighting a different kind of war. A secret struggle in which no-one is safe and no-one can be trusted.
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Steven pacey does an amazing job
- By Mitchell on 24-01-2017
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The Trouble with Peace
- The Gripping Sunday Times Bestselling Fantasy
- By: Joe Abercrombie
- Narrated by: Steven Pacey
- Length: 21 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
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Performance
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Story
Savine dan Glokta, once Adua's most powerful investor, finds her judgement, fortune and reputation in tatters. But she still has all her ambitions, and no scruple will be permitted to stand in her way. For heroes like Leo dan Brock and Stour Nightfall, only happy with swords drawn, peace is an ordeal to end as soon as possible. But grievances must be nursed, power seized and allies gathered first, while Rikke must master the power of the Long Eye...before it kills her.
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Absolutely outstanding and exceeding expectations
- By Hawk on 17-09-2020
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Red Country
- By: Joe Abercrombie
- Narrated by: Steven Pacey
- Length: 19 hrs and 52 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Shy South comes home to her farm to find a blackened shell; her brother and sister have been stolen and she's going to have to return to her bad old ways if she's ever going to see them again. She sets off in grim pursuit with only her cowardly old step-father Lamb for company. But it turns out he's hiding a bloody past of his own. None bloodier.
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Western didn’t quite work
- By Anonymous User on 26-12-2020
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Best Served Cold
- By: Joe Abercrombie
- Narrated by: Steven Pacey
- Length: 26 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
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Performance
-
Story
Springtime in Styria. And that means war. There have been nineteen years of blood. The ruthless Grand Duke Orso is locked in a vicious struggle with the squabbling League of Eight, and between them they have bled the land white. While armies march, heads roll and cities burn, behind the scenes bankers, priests and older, darker powers play a deadly game to choose who will be king.
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Wow! What an awesome read!👍
- By A fan on 10-06-2017
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Sharp Ends
- Stories from the World of The First Law
- By: Joe Abercrombie
- Narrated by: Steven Pacey, Joe Abercrombie
- Length: 11 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Union army may be full of bastards, but there's only one who thinks he can save the day singlehanded when the Gurkish come calling: the incomparable Colonel Sand dan Glokta. Curnden Craw and his dozen are out to recover a mysterious item from beyond the Crinna. Only one small problem: no one seems to know what the item is. Shevedieh, the self-styled best thief in Styria, lurches from disaster to catastrophe alongside her best friend and greatest enemy, Javre, Lioness of Hoskopp.
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Amazing
- By Anonymous User on 01-12-2020
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A Little Hatred
- The First in the Epic Sunday Times Bestselling Series
- By: Joe Abercrombie
- Narrated by: Steven Pacey
- Length: 20 hrs and 19 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
On the blood-soaked borders of Angland, Leo dan Brock struggles to win fame on the battlefield and defeat the marauding armies of Stour Nightfall. He hopes for help from the crown. But King Jezal's son, the feckless Prince Orso, is a man who specialises in disappointments. Savine dan Glokta - socialite, investor and daughter of the most feared man in the Union - plans to claw her way to the top of the slag-heap of society by any means necessary. But the slums boil over with a rage that all the money in the world cannot control.
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Fantastic book. A must listen.
- By Michael Q on 20-09-2019
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Last Argument of Kings
- The First Law: Book Three
- By: Joe Abercrombie
- Narrated by: Steven Pacey
- Length: 27 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
The end is coming. Logen Ninefingers might only have one more fight in him but it’s going to be a big one. Battle rages across the North, the King of the Northmen still stands firm and there’s only one man who can stop him. His oldest friend and his oldest enemy. It’s time for the Bloody-Nine to come home. With too many masters and too little time, Superior Glokta is fighting a different kind of war. A secret struggle in which no-one is safe and no-one can be trusted.
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Steven pacey does an amazing job
- By Mitchell on 24-01-2017
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The Trouble with Peace
- The Gripping Sunday Times Bestselling Fantasy
- By: Joe Abercrombie
- Narrated by: Steven Pacey
- Length: 21 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
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Performance
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Story
Savine dan Glokta, once Adua's most powerful investor, finds her judgement, fortune and reputation in tatters. But she still has all her ambitions, and no scruple will be permitted to stand in her way. For heroes like Leo dan Brock and Stour Nightfall, only happy with swords drawn, peace is an ordeal to end as soon as possible. But grievances must be nursed, power seized and allies gathered first, while Rikke must master the power of the Long Eye...before it kills her.
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Absolutely outstanding and exceeding expectations
- By Hawk on 17-09-2020
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The Wisdom of Crowds
- The Riotous Conclusion to The Age of Madness
- By: Joe Abercrombie
- Narrated by: Steven Pacey
- Length: 23 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged
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Some say that to change the world you must first burn it down. Now that belief will be tested in the crucible of revolution: the Breakers and Burners have seized the levers of power, the smoke of riots has replaced the smog of industry and all must submit to the wisdom of crowds. With nothing left to lose, Citizen Brock is determined to become a new hero for the new age, while Citizeness Savine must turn her talents from profit to survival before she can claw her way to redemption. Orso will find that when the world is turned upside down, no one is lower than a monarch.
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Almost
- By Anonymous User on 16-09-2021
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Before They Are Hanged
- The First Law: Book Two
- By: Joe Abercrombie
- Narrated by: Steven Pacey
- Length: 22 hrs and 38 mins
- Unabridged
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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.
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Outstanding
- By Chris on 28-05-2016
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The Blade Itself
- The First Law: Book One
- By: Joe Abercrombie
- Narrated by: Steven Pacey
- Length: 22 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
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Inquisitor Glokta, a crippled and bitter relic of the last war, former fencing champion turned torturer, is trapped in a twisted and broken body - not that he allows it to distract him from his daily routine of torturing smugglers.Nobleman, dashing officer and would-be fencing champion Captain Jezal dan Luthar is living a life of ease by cheating his friends at cards. Vain and shallow, the biggest blot on his horizon is having to get out of bed in the morning to train with obsessive and boring old men.
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Gritty, violent, dark..... And hilarious. Enjoy
- By Marc on 15-11-2015
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Half a King
- Shattered Sea, Book 1
- By: Joe Abercrombie
- Narrated by: Ben Elliot
- Length: 9 hrs and 25 mins
- Unabridged
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Prince Yarvi has vowed to regain a throne he never wanted. But first he must survive cruelty, chains and the bitter waters of the Shattered Sea itself. And he must do it all with only one good hand. Born a weakling in the eyes of his father, Yarvi is alone in a world where a strong arm and a cold heart rule. He cannot grip a shield or swing an axe, so he must sharpen his mind to a deadly edge.
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Where oh where is Steven Pacey?
- By Anonymous User on 06-04-2021
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Half the World
- Shattered Sea, Book 2
- By: Joe Abercrombie
- Narrated by: Ben Elliot
- Length: 12 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
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Sometimes a girl is touched by mother war. Thorn is such a girl. Desperate to avenge her dead father, she lives to fight. But she has been named murderer by the very man who trained her to kill. Sometimes a woman becomes a warrior Fate traps her in the schemes - and on the ship - of the deep-cunning minister Father Yarvi. Crossing half the world to find allies against the ruthless High King, she learns harsh lessons of blood and deceit.
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Again fantastic
- By Anonymous User on 02-06-2021
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Half a War
- Shattered Sea, Book 3
- By: Joe Abercrombie
- Narrated by: Ben Elliot
- Length: 12 hrs and 14 mins
- Unabridged
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A classic coming-of-age tale set in a vivid and richly imagined world from Sunday Times best-selling author Joe Abercrombie. Words are weapons. Princess Skara has seen all she loved made blood and ashes. She is left with only words. But the right words can be as deadly as any blade. She must conquer her fears and sharpen her wits to a lethal edge if she is to reclaim her birthright.
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entertaining
- By Sweetheart1 on 11-05-2020
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Dawnshard
- Stormlight Archive
- By: Brandon Sanderson
- Narrated by: Kate Reading, Michael Kramer
- Length: 7 hrs and 5 mins
- Unabridged
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When a ghost ship is discovered, its crew presumed dead after trying to reach the storm-shrouded island Akina, Navani Kholin must send an expedition to make sure the island hasn't fallen into enemy hands. Knights Radiant who fly too near find their Stormlight suddenly drained, so the voyage must be by sea. Shipowner Rysn Ftori lost the use of her legs but gained the companionship of Chiri-Chiri, a Stormlight-ingesting winged larkin, a species once thought extinct. Now Rysn's pet is ill, and any hope for Chiri-Chiri’s recovery can be found only at the ancestral home of the larkin.
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The Lies of Locke Lamora
- By: Scott Lynch
- Narrated by: Michael Page
- Length: 21 hrs and 59 mins
- Unabridged
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They say that the Thorn of Camorr can beat anyone in a fight. They say he steals from the rich and gives to the poor. They say he's part man, part myth, and mostly street-corner rumor. And they are wrong on every count. Only averagely tall, slender, and god-awful with a sword, Locke Lamora is the fabled Thorn, and the greatest weapons at his disposal are his wit and cunning. He steals from the rich - they're the only ones worth stealing from - but the poor can go steal for themselves.
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best performace ive ever experienced. superb.
- By Ollie on 28-05-2018
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The Hunger of the Gods
- Book Two of the Bloodsworn Saga
- By: John Gwynne
- Narrated by: Colin Mace
- Length: 22 hrs and 57 mins
- Unabridged
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Lik-Rifa, the dragon god of legend, has been freed from her eternal prison. Now she plots a new age of blood and conquest. As Orka continues the hunt for her missing son, the Bloodsworn sweep south in a desperate race to save one of their own - and Varg takes the first steps on the path of vengeance. Elvar has sworn to fulfil her blood oath and rescue a prisoner from the clutches of Lik-Rifa and her dragonborn followers, but first she must persuade the Battle-Grim to follow her. Yet even the might of the Bloodsworn and Battle-Grim cannot stand alone against a dragon god.
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Incredible
- By Telmach on 24-04-2022
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Red Seas Under Red Skies
- By: Scott Lynch
- Narrated by: Michael Page
- Length: 25 hrs and 34 mins
- Unabridged
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Escaping from the attentions of the Bondsmagi Locke Lamora, the estwhile Thorn of Camorr and Jean Tannen have fled their home city. Taking ship they arrive in the city state of Tal Varrar where they are soon planning their most spectacular heist yet; they will take the luxurious gaming house, The Sinspire, for all of its countless riches.No-one has ever taken even a single coin from the Sinspire that wasn't won on the tables or in the other games of chance on offer there.
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great fun. casino swindling revenge
- By Andrew Soos on 15-04-2019
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The Shadow of the Gods
- By: John Gwynne
- Narrated by: Colin Mace
- Length: 18 hrs and 13 mins
- Unabridged
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After the gods warred and drove themselves to extinction, the cataclysm of their fall shattered the land of Vigrið. Now a new world is rising, where power-hungry jarls feud and monsters stalk the woods and mountains. A world where the bones of the dead gods still hold great power for those brave - or desperate - enough to seek them out. As whispers of war echo across the mountains and fjords, fate follows in the footsteps of three people.
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non believable female characters
- By Anonymous User on 01-08-2021
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The Republic of Thieves
- By: Scott Lynch
- Narrated by: Michael Page
- Length: 23 hrs and 43 mins
- Unabridged
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He's back! The long-awaited return of the most exciting new commercial fantasy writer of the 21st century. After their adventures on the high seas, Locke and Jean are brought back to earth with a thump. Jean is mourning the loss of his lover and Locke must live with the fallout of crossing the all-powerful magical assassins, the Bonds Magi. It is a fallout that will pit both men against Locke's own long lost love. Sabetha is Locke's childhood sweetheart, the love of Locke's life and now it is time for them to meet again.
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Good, but not great
- By Anonymous User on 17-02-2020
Editorial Reviews
Publisher's Summary
They say Black Dow's killed more men than winter, and clawed his way to the throne of the North up a hill of skulls. The King of the Union, ever a jealous neighbour, is not about to stand smiling by while he claws his way any higher. The orders have been given and the armies are toiling through the northern mud. Thousands of men are converging on a forgotten ring of stones, on a worthless hill, in an unimportant valley, and they've brought a lot of sharpened metal with them.
Over three bloody days of battle, the fate of the North will be decided. But with both sides riddled by intrigues, follies, feuds and petty jealousies, it is unlikely to be the noblest hearts or even the strongest arms that prevail.
Three men. One battle. No Heroes.
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What listeners say about The Heroes
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Daniel
- 21-10-2019
Abercrombie Pacey - ultimate author narrator combo
Another amazingly entertaining audiobook by Joe Abercrombie and narrator Steven Pacey. I can't get enough of these books, this being the 5th in this fantasy world.
This book is told from characters on both sides and every one of them is fascinating to listen to and the interactions between them leave you hanging for more. Abercrombie creates the depth of the characters, the heroic traits, the flaws and the realism, and Pacey brings them to life with his range of voices and perfect delivery. Pacey is in a class of his own when it comes to narrators and this is no exception.
You really must listen to The First Law trilogy and Best Served Cold before listening to this audiobook, so do yourself a favour - go and listen to them and then listen to this one! Then after that listen to Red Country, Sharp Ends and A Little Hatred.
If you want more reasons to listen to this audiobook, please see my review below of 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.
7 people found this helpful
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- Russell
- 30-10-2018
his best book yet
possibly his best book in the series. funny, gripping and as always steven pacey is unbelievable
4 people found this helpful
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- Artyom
- 10-10-2018
Straightforward message, well executed.
Very well written and read. Wish more people read this novel, it would certainly reap away any illusions one has on war, glory, noble sacrifices and other state-based ideals. The story and themes explored are straightforward, but are looked at from different angles, with a multitude of points of view presented.
3 people found this helpful
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- Anonymous User
- 17-06-2021
My favourite of Joe's standalone books
Arguably Abercrombie best book, the story of a 3 day battle is well paced with very interesting characters and exciting moments, love the return of Bayaz and thoroughly enjoyed Black dow. Seeing returning characters such as Shivers, Calder, Kroy and Ghorst is a treat. The new characters are also fun, Tunny especially. Shout out the Stevo Pacey for another sublime performance, 9/10
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- Anonymous User
- 15-06-2021
One of the best books from one of the best writers
A really good book. The sort of book that makes you sad when it is finished
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- Anonymous User
- 17-02-2021
Worst book so far of First Law
Love the first law series, found this one a chore to get through.
Great performance by Steven Pacey as always
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- Anonymous User
- 13-02-2021
Best book ever
I love Abercrombie books . But this is his best bar none .
Can’t get enough of it .
An absolute must read .
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- Anonymous User
- 22-12-2020
Joe's wildlings
not quite as good as previous books but still very enjoyable. good narration, though Pacey does reuse voices occasionally which can be confusing at times. very excited for the next book.
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- Anonymous User
- 14-12-2020
Excellent
Steven nails his voices so well I couldn't imagine hearing Joes work from another voice.
This book is perfect and shines a light into wars darkest corners
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- Zakk
- 23-11-2020
Strongly recommend
The review needs 15 words when all I can say is amazing, just amazing.
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- Jason
- 09-03-2011
Great Book , Great Author, Great narrator.
This book is an treasure. Joe Abercrombie delivers another masterpiece of a novel. Get the books in order, but get them all. This is the latest one.
Michael Page does an smashing job of narration, as always. He is one of the best .
8 people found this helpful
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- J. Baars
- 27-04-2011
People in battle
As in real life, all characters are trying to stay afloat, while being pulled down by their past, their weaknesses and ambitions. Although the story is about a bloody battle, with wizards fighting at both sides, to me this is the most memorable theme of the book, It sets it apart from the black and white characters usually found in epic fantasy novels. Well done, looking forward to the next book
4 people found this helpful
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- matty
- 24-03-2011
Outstanding
Joe Abercrombie continues to shine. The story was well crafted and truely gripping. The plot twists and turns, making you feel as though you know where the story is going, only to surprise you with all manner of surprises. The language is as gritty as battle scenes described. The characters are despised, but in equal measure captivating. The battle between good and evil is played out through the eyes of the little man as much as the grotesque hero. There are real parallels between the heartlessness and self interest of the characters in the book and the people of the 21st century. This, for me, was one of the best books I have listened to in the last 12 months. Highly recommended.
4 people found this helpful
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- Brent
- 18-06-2013
Excellent books, Excellent Narration
I thoroughly enjoyed this story, having read Joe Abercrombie's other books, I decided to listen to this one on audible.
The story is excellent and you get involved with the main characters. The narration and his portrayal of voices and description of battles is excellent, one of the best narrations I have ever listened too.
3 people found this helpful
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- Marcelo
- 03-11-2011
Mr. Abercrombie, you're the best.
Cunning, funny, fast! I love the language, the plot and, most of all, the characters!
Really amazing read!
3 people found this helpful
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- NielsToft
- 18-03-2013
Abercrombie tells an amazing story
If you could sum up The Heroes in three words, what would they be?
Dark gritty fantasy
What did you like best about this story?
Seeing some of the protagonists battle against their own demons as much as the enemy, only to be undermined or revealed by those demons.
Which scene was your favorite?
The charge of Osrung was memorable as was the first skirmish at the Heroes.
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
Yes.
Any additional comments?
Stephen Pacey is a wonderful narrator and thankfully reads all of the Abercrombie books on Audible. His many voices, accents and intonations the gives the characters a life and adds or underscores dimensions that might otherwise be missed.
2 people found this helpful
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- Chris
- 09-11-2012
Entertaining, but leaves you thirsting for more.
The Heroes is once again a very well written book and supported by the excellent narration from Steven Pacey. I rate this book above Best Served Cold (BSC) as it gets back to the meat and potatoes of his world and gives us a further insight into the large scheme.
If you like the general Abercrombie style: raw, bloody, full of human failings and no real happy endings you'll like this book. His style cuts closer to the real world than one expects, but has a whole lot more entertainment and is bolder to boot.
There aren't any real surprises in this book, much as Best Served Cold, but it has the usual excellent character development, lots of bloody action, remarkably little sex (he's getting better at it ;) ) and some nice twists in the plot. More so than BSC but a lot less than his First Law trilogy.
This is where I feel that Abercrombie is falling down. Yes the individual books are good, a nice diversion, but frankly he's set such a high bar with First Law that the following novels just don't match the majesty of the trilogy. An individual novel just doesn't give the room to expand grand ideas and create marvelous intricate plots.
This book, much more so than the last at least gives more in the way of the trilogy, but it still pales by comparison. We get reacquainted with some old characters, but essentially we don't know much more about his world nearly a decade on.
Frankly, I'd like to see his talent put back into a First Law effort. This is what he is best at.
This is a good book, but in context of the world he has created, just a little slice of the pie to keep you going.
1 person found this helpful
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- Bruno
- 13-08-2012
Joe Abercrombie At His Best!
read it!
...or the BLOODY-NINE will get you!
Or will he? Whatever happen to him? That is one of the question left hanging in the other books, this book brings you one step closer to finding out the truth. A great story with multiple plots and fantastic storytelling!
1 person found this helpful
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- Jefferson
- 10-07-2011
"Heroes" Give the Great Leveler Plenty of Work!
Joe Abercrombie's The Heroes was a can't stop listening to audiobook, wonderfully read by Michael Page. It is full of humor and terror; exciting and horrific battle scenes; and believably flawed characters. Abercrombie creates a vivid fantasy world that exists in its own terms with its own history and cultures and that also sharply comments on our own violent real world, through epigraphs about heroes and war by the likes of Berthold Brecht, Will Rogers, and Mickey Mantle, as well as through its depiction of the unheroic folly of "the Black Business" of war, fought by canon-fodder commoners (from ignorant new recruits to cynical grizzled veterans) led by incompetent, arrogant, jealous, and overly bold commanders, everything clotted with the devastating and wasteful cost of bodies, lives, land, and resources. What is war for, finally? Money? Glory? Xenophobia? Patriotism? Power? Boredom?
The novel is an unsparing investigation of martial heroism, asking from a variety of points of view what is a hero: the man who is an insanely brave and monstrously capable killer? The man who is a "straight edge" who strives "to do the right thing" no matter what? The man who is killed outside a battle by friendly fire? The man who leads from the front? The man who leads from the rear? The man who gives up war for life on a farm?
And in addition to all that, Abercrombie writes many memorable characters, witty lines, cool similes, vivid descriptions, and page-turning set piece scenes.
Michael Page was great, doing all sorts of different voices, all with perfect pitch and emotion and intention, bringing the book even more to life. My favorite is his high-pitched and nasal Gorst, his utterances never failing to surprise me by how mis-matched they are with his hulking body and cynical thoughts.
If you like the epic fantasies of Steven Erickson and George R. R. Martin, you'd probably enjoy this one.
1 person found this helpful
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- Anonymous User
- 26-07-2022
Bloody Amazing
Fantastic story writen by a great Author. ready by a master of his craft
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- Paul
- 24-04-2013
The best of Joe Abercrombie's books
some of the reviews put me off initially about how this was set over too short a period of time and it was an experiment by the author, however I found it the most enjoyable of all of Joe Abercrombie's books (which I stumbled across whilst feeling lost, looking for something to replace the whole game of thrones series which I'd just listened to back to back NB Game of Thrones series is fantastic but Steven Pacey is a far superior narrator). I like the lack of magic and I like the 'heroes' on each side of the battle. The work is thought provoking. I'm missing Steven Pacey's voice already and will now no doubt download something else he's narrated with my credit that's just arrived.
23 people found this helpful
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- Gavin
- 21-01-2012
New recording with the original narrator
This book was originally sold with a change of narrator from the First Law books however the publisher has taken note and re-recorded this title and the following book with Steven Pacey. If you bought this with the other narrator you can re-download the title and it will be the new version with Steven Pacey. Excellant news given his brilliant performance.
21 people found this helpful
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- Peter
- 24-01-2012
Bloodthirsty antiwar adventure
I have now listened to this for the third time each time understanding a bit more of the complexities of the plot and understanding more of the character of the major protagonists. A grand yarn that I cane to before the First Law but I corrected that to find out more of the history. The enjoyment of the book is enhanced tremendously by the masterful narration of Stephen Pacey: a man with a hundred accents.
16 people found this helpful
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- Christopher
- 04-04-2014
Can't get enough
Very different to the other JA novels, but he just keeps getting better and better
Story – 5/5
Joe Abercrombie has taken a different approach to this story – he has removed pretty much all of the plot, and created an entire story based on a single battle between the Union and the North which spans a few days.
What this story does concentrate on though is the character development and how different people cope with a bloody battle from both sides and all officer levels (including new recruits). He does this superbly, incorporating his usual sharp whit and ensuring that all characters are extremely likeable; both the good and the bad ones. I especially loved Wirren of Blye’s character (apologies if I have spelt that wrong), even though he wasn’t a main character in the story. As usual with JA, I found myself laughing out loud on a regular basis.
As you can expect with a story-long battle, there is plenty of action – probably the most I have come across in a single novel before. There was no confusion for what was happening, even though the small interwoven sections of each day of the battle make it an extremely complex story to tell. This shows masterful writing on JA’s part, and a very well deserved 5/5 stars
Performance – 5/5
Steven Pacey is one of the best narrators out there. His character acting was flawless, each having a distinctive and believable voice. His narration enhanced the dark comedy and whit of Joe Abercrombie’s writing, and I felt myself absorbed into the action scenes/battles.
Music/sound effects between scenes/chapters was a nice touch as well, although it would have been nicer to not re-use sound effects from the previous books.
Overall – 5/5
12 people found this helpful
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- Lorna
- 15-05-2013
Nothing like his previous work
Quite predictable, none of the knife edge moments where the story can go either way like in the last two novels. The relationship developed with most of the characters feels superficial. Especially as most of them seem to do little that is significant. I simply listened to the end to say that I had finished it. Not because I was curious to discover the plot as in the former four stories. Not recommended.
10 people found this helpful
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- Martin
- 06-01-2012
Dissapointed
Having listened to all the other books from Joe Abercrombie this was the first and only one I have not really liked. Its OK is about all I could say, It seemed almost like an experimental writing spanning just a few days in the timeline of the book, just not quite enough story for me there I am afraid and really felt a bit slow.
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- Ian
- 21-03-2011
Great book, sad to see it end.
I?ve just finished The Heroes and would strongly recommend it - terrific, gritty battle scenes and some great gallows humour from the soldiers help to make it an audiobook you can really get immersed it. By the time I finished it, I felt like I was waving goodbye to old friends.
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- Steve Kirkwood
- 16-01-2013
Disapointing after the First Law Trilogy
I loved the First Law Trilogy by the same Author, and Stephen Pacey is my favourite narrator, so I eagerly downloaded this title and started to listen with relish.
Overall I was somewhat disappointed with the story, it has none of the character development that the First Law had, and as one reviewer here points out - the characters names and titles are not important. And this is its failing.
You feel no real empathy with the characters, and although the book is set over a very short period it seems to drag to its conclusion. One of the rare times that an abridged version may be preferable.
Can we have another story focused on Glokter please!!!
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- Walter
- 18-12-2015
Maybe it's just me but I'm sure I've read this already...
A wronged man, a fallen outsider, saying one thing and thinking another.
Battling Union generals.
Young people on each side discovering themselves.
It's all just far too similar to many other Joe Abercrombie books. Maybe it's the way Steven Pacey reads it, but Gorst in this book is spouting the thoughts of Glokta from the First Law books.
And two army officers who think each other 'a***s' is Poulder vs Kroy and then quelle suprise, when Mitterick replaces Kroy he too suddenly gains wisdom and reason, just like Kroy did.
This is good writing, but it smacks of the publisher telling the author to just knock out the same plot again because the readers liked it last time.
I have bought Red Country but if it's also just a rehash of something else then it will be the last Joe Abercrombie book I buy.
9 people found this helpful
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- Andrew
- 12-05-2011
Masterly
This is great stuff. Ok, a lot of swearing is involved but some is extremely funny. This book is an exploration of what is a hero, if indeed any such thing actually exists, and - even where it does - does the person subject to that label think of themselves as such.
To maintain a narrative of a battle lasting just 3 days and maintain interest is a feat in itself. Back are some old charaters that minored in the First Law Trilogy, Gorst being the most obvious and of course Caul Shivers from Best Served Cold. The story looks at war generally, why wars are fought, considers if they ever serve any real purpose and, provided you 'look' as you read, you find many other issues to occupy your mind. The battle scenes are excellent as always and this is a superb adition to Joe's already impressive publications.
8 people found this helpful
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