10 audiobooks for fans of A Little Hatred
- 1
Before They Are Hanged
The First Law • Book 2
Narrated by Steven Pacey
Steven Pacey's masterful narration captures the same morally complex characters and gritty world-building that made *A Little Hatred* compelling, while deepening the political intrigue and character arcs across a slightly longer runtime. The sequel maintains Abercrombie's signature blend of dark humor and brutal consequences, delivering the continuation listeners crave without losing the sharp narrative voice that made the first book so engaging.
★ 4.64 ABR Score (243.2K ratings)★ 4.36 Goodreads (221.5K) ★ 4.81 Audible (21.7K)22h 39m listening time • Released 2015Steven Pacey transforms a brutal, cynical fantasy into something unforgettable—his voice work makes each character so distinct and morally compromised that you'll find yourself rooting for the worst people imaginable.
- 2
Red Country
First Law World • Book 6
Narrated by Steven Pacey
Red Country delivers the same darkly witty, morally complex storytelling as A Little Hatred, with Steven Pacey's masterful narration bringing equally vivid characters to life across another sprawling fantasy narrative. Both works showcase Abercrombie's gift for blending brutal action with sharp dialogue and philosophical depth, making them equally rewarding listens for those seeking intelligent, character-driven fantasy.
★ 4.54 ABR Score (77.2K ratings)★ 4.32 Goodreads (66.8K) ★ 4.79 Audible (10.4K)19h 52m listening time • Released 2012Steven Pacey transforms Abercrombie's sprawling revenge epic into pure narrative gold, nailing every voice from hardened mercenary to desperate frontier widow with the precision that makes 20 hours vanish.
- 3
The Heroes
First Law World • Book 5
Narrated by Steven Pacey
Steven Pacey's masterful narration brings the same gritty, character-driven storytelling to life, capturing Abercrombie's dark humor and morally complex protagonists with equal brilliance. The Heroes delivers that same visceral blend of brutal action and intimate character moments that made A Little Hatred compelling, extended across an even richer tapestry of interconnected perspectives.
★ 4.53 ABR Score (87.1K ratings)★ 4.35 Goodreads (77.8K) ★ 4.76 Audible (9.3K)23h 5m listening time • Released 2016Steven Pacey elevates this three-day brutal siege into a masterclass in unreliable narration, giving each hardened warrior their own unforgettable voice while the carnage strips away every illusion of honor. The audiobook transforms what could be a straightforward battle into a darkly funny meditation on ambition and mortality.
- 4
The Blade Itself
The First Law Trilogy • Book 1
Narrated by Steven Pacey
Steven Pacey's masterful narration brings the same morally complex characters and dark humor to life, while Abercrombie's signature blend of cynical wit and brutal consequences deepens across an expansive world that rewards long-form listening. The Blade Itself establishes the foundational magic, politics, and character dynamics that make A Little Hatred's intricate plotting so satisfying, offering the complete arc that shaped this universe.
★ 4.50 ABR Score (344.3K ratings)★ 4.22 Goodreads (317.5K) ★ 4.7 Audible (26.8K)22h 15m listening time • Released 2015Abercrombie's grimdark debut is a deliberate subversion of fantasy tropes — morally compromised heroes, no clean victories, and some of the sharpest dialogue in the genre.
- 5
Last Argument of Kings
The First Law • Book 3
Narrated by Steven Pacey
Steven Pacey's masterful narration brings the same richly layered world and morally complex characters to life, while Abercrombie deepens the brutal themes of ambition and consequence that define the First Law series. The extended runtime allows for even more intricate plotting and character development, delivering the same darkly witty, unflinching storytelling that made *A Little Hatred* compelling.
★ 4.59 ABR Score (225.4K ratings)★ 4.37 Goodreads (204.4K) ★ 4.75 Audible (21.0K)27h 4m listening time • Released 2015Steven Pacey's narration transforms this brutal finale into something operatic—each character's voice so distinct and lived-in that you forget you're listening to one man performing 27 hours of morally broken people destroying each other.
- 6
Best Served Cold
First Law World • Book 4
Narrated by Steven Pacey
Best Served Cold delivers the same dark humor and morally complex characters that define A Little Hatred, with Steven Pacey's masterful narration bringing equal depth to a revenge narrative driven by character motivation rather than epic scope. The standalone structure offers a complete, self-contained story while maintaining Abercrombie's signature blend of gritty realism and sardonic wit.
★ 4.46 ABR Score (126.0K ratings)★ 4.25 Goodreads (113.4K) ★ 4.7 Audible (12.7K)26h 29m listening time • Released 2016Steven Pacey transforms a revenge epic into pure theater—his vocal range and timing make every scheming bastard feel like a fully realized antagonist, and the 26-hour runtime gives you time to savor the brutality.
- 7
The Devils
The Devils • Book 1
Narrated by Steven Pacey
Steven Pacey's masterful narration captures Abercrombie's signature blend of dark humor and morally complex characters with even greater depth across the expanded runtime, while *The Devils* deepens the gritty, character-driven storytelling that made *A Little Hatred* compelling. The same unflinching examination of ambition, corruption, and human frailty continues, but with a richer tapestry of interconnected narratives that rewards the immersive audiobook experience.
★ 4.42 ABR Score (69.7K ratings)★ 4.22 Goodreads (62.8K) ★ 4.72 Audible (6.9K)25h 6m listening time • Released 2025Steven Pacey transforms a morally fractured cast of monsters into characters you'll actually root for—Abercrombie's darkest work gets its perfect voice match.
- 8
Sharp Ends
First Law World • Book 7
Narrated by Steven Pacey
Sharp Ends delivers the same darkly witty, character-driven storytelling and morally complex world-building that defines A Little Hatred, with Steven Pacey's masterful narration bringing equal depth to this collection of interconnected short stories. The shorter format offers a perfect way to revisit Abercrombie's First Law universe while maintaining the gritty tone and sharp dialogue that make his work compelling.
★ 4.33 ABR Score (32.0K ratings)★ 4.11 Goodreads (27.7K) ★ 4.71 Audible (4.3K)11h 49m listening time • Released 2016Steven Pacey's voices elevate these interconnected First Law stories into something sharper than the sum of their parts—each character becomes instantly distinct, making the violence and treachery cut deeper.
- 9
Unbound
Annwn Cycle #The Dead's Revenant • Book 1
by Shawn Speakman, Terry Brooks, Seanan McGuire, Mark Lawrence, Anthony Ryan, Tim Marquitz, Brian Staveley, Michael J. Sullivan, John Marco, Peter Orullian, Kat Richardson, Sam Sykes, Kristen Britain, Mazarkis Williams, Jim Butcher, Rachel Caine, Harry Connolly, Delilah S. Dawson, David Anthony Durham, Jason M. Hough, Mary Robinette Kowal, Joe Abercrombie
Narrated by Dick Hill, Tim Gerard Reynolds, Nick Podehl, Allyson Johnson, Christian Rodska, Emily Bauer
★ 3.74 ABR Score (1.3K ratings)★ 3.96 Goodreads (1.0K) ★ 4.13 Audible (246)20h 55m listening time • Released 2016A star-studded anthology where twenty-three fantasy masters tell exactly the stories they want, each perfectly matched to a narrator who elevates the prose—Dick Hill's gravitas, Tim Gerard Reynolds' intensity—making this feel less like a collection and more like a curated experience.
- 10
The Sound of Change
The Bards and Dragons Saga • Book 2
by Steve D. Wall
Narrated by Steven Pacey
★ 3.93 ABR Score (207 ratings)★ 4.32 Goodreads (95) ★ 4.73 Audible (112)23h 34m listening time • Released 2025Steven Pacey's narration elevates this flintlock fantasy sequel into something genuinely immersive—his range across multiple perspectives keeps the tangled plot moving even through its longest stretches.
Browse Related Lists
How We Rank Audiobooks
Rankings are driven by listener ratings and review counts from Audible and Goodreads. Books with high ratings across a large number of listeners rank higher — a 4.5 with 50,000 ratings says more than a 4.8 with 200.
Unlike most book lists, we weight audiobook-specific factors: narrator performance, production quality, and how well a story translates to audio. A great book with a poor narration isn't a great audiobook.
We don't accept paid placements or prioritize new releases. These rankings reflect what listeners actually enjoy, not what's being promoted.
Rankings update periodically as new ratings come in and new titles are added to the collection.