Before They Are Hanged (The First Law Trilogy Book 2)

Before They Are Hanged (The First Law Trilogy Book 2)

by Abercrombie, Joe

4.6 (20,297)

4.6 stars from 20,297 reviews. One of the highest rated Fantasy books we track.

223 pages~3.7 hr readPublished by McFarland

$11.99At peak price

Last checked: Apr 8, 2026

Must ReadHighly rated with thousands of reviews. A proven favourite.
Price history: $2.99 $11.99

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Fans of these authors will like this...

  • George R.R. Martin
  • Mark Lawrence
  • Brandon Sanderson

Fans of these books will like this...

  • A Game of Thrones
  • Prince of Thorns
  • The Name of the Wind

Perfect for you if...

  • You love grimdark fantasy where morally grey characters stumble through impossible situations and win through cunning rather than heroism.
  • You enjoy sprawling ensemble casts where multiple viewpoint characters intersect in unexpected ways.
  • You appreciate dark humour and snark delivered through internal monologue, especially from deeply flawed protagonists.

Maybe not for you if...

  • You want clear-cut heroes and villains or traditional good-versus-evil narratives.
  • You prefer fast-paced plots without lengthy character introspection and political scheming.
  • You're squeamish about torture, casual cruelty, and graphic violence woven into the story fabric.

About this book

The second novel in the First Law Trilogy, Before They Are Hanged follows Superior Glokta as he faces the challenge of defending a city surrounded by enemies and filled with traitors, while his allies prove unreliable and his predecessor has disappeared. As a torturer who can barely walk without a stick, Glokta must find a way to hold the city together. Meanwhile, Northmen have invaded Angland, spreading destruction across the frozen landscape. Crown Prince Ladisla prepares to drive them back and claim glory, but commands an army that is poorly armed, trained, and led. Simultaneously, Bayaz, the First of the Magi, leads a group of adventurers on a dangerous journey through ancient ruins. These three forces—the most hated woman in the South, the most feared man in the North, and the most selfish boy in the Union—form an unlikely and dangerous alliance. Their goal is to save mankind from the Eaters, though their mutual hatred threatens their mission. The novel features uncovered ancient secrets, decisive battles, and the forgiveness of bitter enemies.

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Price History

Kindle price over time. Green zones = periods when the book was free.

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Free$6.00$11.99Apr '20Dec '22Dec '23Feb '26
$2.99$11.99

Price has dropped 3 times over the last 6 years. Goes on sale roughly every 569 days.

Sales Rank

Amazon sales rank: lower number = better selling book. #1 is the bestseller.

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#538#20,600#40,662Apr '18Jul '23Feb '25Mar '26

Currently #7,466 in the Kindle store — a top-10K bestseller. Climbing the charts — 52% improvement recently.

Rating & Reviews

Purple line = star rating over time. Blue area = total review count growth.

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4.0★4.5★5.0★May '23May '23RatingReviews

Currently 4.6★ from 20,297 reviews

Review activity has been quiet recently. Rating has remained stable at 4.6 over the tracking period.

Sale Prediction

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Free$6.00$11.99Apr '20Dec '22Dec '23Feb '26PredictedFeb '26

Actual Predicted

This book goes on sale roughly every 569 days. Next drop estimated in about 66 weeks. Typical discount: 75% off.

Prices shown in USD from Amazon US. We continuously pull new data to improve tracking. If dates look old, it usually means there has been no significant change since the last data point.

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Abercrombie, Joe

3 books on Vagrant Press

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