Audiobooks Like Red Country

Steven Pacey narrates Red Country across 20 hours with the same dirty-road authority he's brought to Joe Abercrombie's First Law world throughout — the grimdark-western hybrid requires a narrator who can play frontier violence without glamorizing it, and Pacey's performance keeps both the bleakness and the dark humor in the same register, never letting either overwhelm the other. Eight of these ten recommendations are also narrated by Pacey, nine come from Abercrombie's catalog, and the list effectively maps the First Law world for listeners who want to continue through it.

10 audiobooks for fans of Red Country

  1. 1
    The Trouble with Peace cover

    The Trouble with Peace

    The Age of Madness • Book 2

    by Joe Abercrombie

    Narrated by Steven Pacey

    The Trouble with Peace continues Abercrombie's signature blend of dark humor and morally complex characters with the same masterful narration from Steven Pacey, whose distinctive voice work becomes even richer across the expanded runtime. The novel deepens the themes of ambition and disillusionment that drive Red Country, delivering the same gritty, character-driven storytelling that makes these audiobooks so compulsively listenable.

    4.70 ABR Score (56.1K ratings)
    ★ 4.6 Goodreads (46.4K) ★ 4.86 Audible (9.8K)
    21h 57m listening time • Released 2020

    Steven Pacey's narration transforms this political dark fantasy into something almost Shakespearean—his voice work elevates already sharp character writing into genuinely unforgettable performances you'll hear in your head for months.

  2. 2
    The Wisdom of Crowds cover

    The Wisdom of Crowds

    The Age of Madness • Book 3

    by Joe Abercrombie

    Narrated by Steven Pacey

    Steven Pacey's masterful narration captures Abercrombie's signature blend of dark humor and morally complex characters in both works, making *The Wisdom of Crowds* a natural continuation for listeners who appreciated *Red Country*'s gritty, character-driven storytelling. The extended runtime deepens the intricate plotting and cynical wit that define Abercrombie's style, rewarding devoted listeners with richer world-building and equally flawed protagonists navigating impossible choices.

    4.69 ABR Score (50.2K ratings)
    ★ 4.6 Goodreads (41.3K) ★ 4.85 Audible (8.9K)
    23h 37m listening time • Released 2021

    Steven Pacey transforms Abercrombie's sprawling revolution into a masterclass in character voices, making each schemer's descent through chaos feel devastatingly personal across 24 hours of pure narrative grip.

  3. 3
    Before They Are Hanged cover

    Before They Are Hanged

    The First Law • Book 2

    by Joe Abercrombie

    Narrated by Steven Pacey

    Steven Pacey's masterful narration brings the same dark humor and morally complex characters to life, deepening the gritty, character-driven storytelling that makes Red Country so compelling. Before They Are Hanged expands Abercrombie's world with equally cynical wit and brutal consequences, delivering a listening experience that rewards the trust you've already placed in both creator and narrator.

    4.64 ABR Score (243.2K ratings)
    ★ 4.36 Goodreads (221.5K) ★ 4.81 Audible (21.7K)
    22h 39m listening time • Released 2015

    Steven 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.

  4. 4
    A Little Hatred cover

    A Little Hatred

    The Age of Madness • Book 1

    by Joe Abercrombie

    Narrated by Steven Pacey

    Steven Pacey's masterful narration brings the same gritty, darkly comedic voice to *A Little Hatred*, capturing Abercrombie's morally complex characters and brutal world-building with the same intensity that made *Red Country* so compelling. The sequel deepens the themes of violence, ambition, and moral compromise across an equally immersive 20-hour listening experience.

    4.57 ABR Score (72.8K ratings)
    ★ 4.45 Goodreads (61.8K) ★ 4.76 Audible (11.1K)
    20h 20m listening time • Released 2019

    Steven Pacey turns Abercrombie's grimy, morally bankrupt world into something genuinely alive—his voice work makes you feel the desperation of each character's climb, and the political scheming lands with brutal comic timing.

  5. 5
    The Blade Itself cover

    The Blade Itself

    The First Law Trilogy • Book 1

    by Joe Abercrombie

    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 Blade Itself establishes the First Law world with the same cynical tone and visceral action that makes Red Country compelling, while offering a deeper exploration of how violence and ambition corrupt even the most well-intentioned characters.

    4.50 ABR Score (344.3K ratings)
    ★ 4.22 Goodreads (317.5K) ★ 4.7 Audible (26.8K)
    22h 15m listening time • Released 2015

    Abercrombie'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.

  6. 6
    Last Argument of Kings cover

    Last Argument of Kings

    The First Law • Book 3

    by Joe Abercrombie

    Narrated by Steven Pacey

    Steven Pacey's masterful narration brings the same morally complex characters and dark humor to life, deepening the cynical tone that defines Abercrombie's world. Last Argument of Kings expands on the brutal themes of ambition and consequence established in Red Country, offering a richer narrative landscape across its extended runtime.

    4.59 ABR Score (225.4K ratings)
    ★ 4.37 Goodreads (204.4K) ★ 4.75 Audible (21.0K)
    27h 4m listening time • Released 2015

    Steven 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.

  7. 7
    The Devils cover

    The Devils

    The Devils • Book 1

    by Joe Abercrombie

    Narrated by Steven Pacey

    Steven Pacey's masterful narration brings the same dark humor and morally complex characters to life in *The Devils*, while Abercrombie deepens his exploration of ambition and betrayal across an even grander scope. The audiobook's extended runtime allows for richer world-building and character development that rewards listeners already attuned to Abercrombie's cynical, propulsive storytelling style.

    4.42 ABR Score (69.7K ratings)
    ★ 4.22 Goodreads (62.8K) ★ 4.72 Audible (6.9K)
    25h 6m listening time • Released 2025

    Steven 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. 8
    Unbound cover

    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 2016

    A 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.

  9. 9
    The Sound of Change cover

    The Sound of Change

    The Bards and Dragons Saga • Book 2

    by Steve D. Wall

    Narrated by Steven Pacey

    Steven Pacey's masterful narration brings the same gritty, character-driven storytelling to *The Sound of Change*, delivering a richly immersive fantasy experience that rewards deep listening over its expansive runtime. Both works explore morally complex protagonists navigating dark, transformative worlds where personal stakes matter far more than grand heroics.

    3.93 ABR Score (207 ratings)
    ★ 4.32 Goodreads (95) ★ 4.73 Audible (112)
    23h 34m listening time • Released 2025

    Steven 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.

  10. 10
    Dangerous Women cover

    Dangerous Women

    The Dresden Files #13.1 - Bombshells

    by George R.R. Martin, Gardner Dozois, Carrie Vaughn, Lev Gossman, Joe R. Lansdale, Megan Lindholm, Lawrence Block, Brandon Sanderson, Sharon Kay Penman, Lev Grossman, Nancy Kress, Diana Rowland, Diana Gabaldon, S.M. Stirling, Sam Sykes, Pat Cadigan, Caroline Spector, Joe Abercrombie, Megan Abbott, Cecelia Holland, Jim Butcher, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Melinda M. Snodgrass

    Narrated by Scott Brick, Jonathan Frakes, Stana Katic, Inna Korobkina, Lee Meriwether, Claudia Black, Sophie Turner, Janis Ian, Iain Glen, Karen Dotrice, Various

    3.56 ABR Score (14.9K ratings)
    ★ 3.67 Goodreads (13.2K) ★ 4.02 Audible (1.7K)
    32h 47m listening time • Released 2013

    A stacked anthology where Abercrombie, Sanderson, Butcher, and Gabaldon deliver knockout stories, anchored by an all-star narrator cast that elevates every twist—32 hours that justify the hype.

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.

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