10 audiobooks for fans of The Heroes
- 1
The Trouble with Peace
The Age of Madness • Book 2
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 makes the political intrigue and character dynamics feel immediate and deeply engaging. Those drawn to The Heroes' unflinching examination of war's brutality and futility will find the same unflinching cynicism about power and human nature, now set against the machinations of fragile peace.
★ 4.70 ABR Score (56.1K ratings)★ 4.6 Goodreads (46.4K) ★ 4.86 Audible (9.8K)21h 57m listening time • Released 2020Steven 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
The Wisdom of Crowds
The Age of Madness • Book 3
Narrated by Steven Pacey
Steven Pacey's masterful narration brings the same gritty, character-driven storytelling to life in both works, seamlessly capturing Abercrombie's dark humor and morally complex protagonists across similarly immersive 23+ hour listening experiences. The Wisdom of Crowds deepens the author's exploration of ambition, power, and human nature with the same unflinching wit and visceral prose that made The Heroes compelling.
★ 4.69 ABR Score (50.2K ratings)★ 4.6 Goodreads (41.3K) ★ 4.85 Audible (8.9K)23h 37m listening time • Released 2021Steven 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
Before They Are Hanged
The First Law • Book 2
Narrated by Steven Pacey
Steven Pacey's masterful narration brings the same gritty, morally complex world to life with equal intensity, while Abercrombie's trademark dark humor and character-driven storytelling deepen across a similarly epic runtime. The cynical tone and themes of ambition, betrayal, and the corruption of war that define The Heroes continue to resonate throughout this companion work, offering the same immersive listening experience.
★ 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.
- 4
Last Argument of Kings
The First Law • Book 3
Narrated by Steven Pacey
Steven Pacey's masterful narration brings the same darkly witty, morally complex characters to life in this epic conclusion, deepening the cynical humor and brutal introspection that defines Abercrombie's world. The extended runtime allows for even richer character development and world-building, rewarding listeners who appreciated The Heroes' unflinching examination of war's human cost with a more expansive exploration of ambition and consequence.
★ 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.
- 5
A Little Hatred
The Age of Madness • Book 1
Narrated by Steven Pacey
Steven Pacey's masterful narration returns to bring Abercrombie's signature blend of dark humor, moral ambiguity, and visceral action to life once more, while *A Little Hatred* deepens the author's exploration of how ambition and violence corrupt even the most well-intentioned characters. The same witty, brutal voice that made *The Heroes* compelling carries through with undiminished intensity across a slightly more compact runtime.
★ 4.57 ABR Score (72.8K ratings)★ 4.45 Goodreads (61.8K) ★ 4.76 Audible (11.1K)20h 20m listening time • Released 2019Steven 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.
- 6
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 unflinching examination of violence and ambition creates an equally gripping listening experience. The Blade Itself establishes the brutal world and philosophical cynicism that makes The Heroes so compelling, offering the perfect entry point to understand how these themes evolve throughout the series.
★ 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.
- 7
The Devils
The Devils • Book 1
Narrated by Steven Pacey
Steven Pacey's commanding narration brings the same gritty intensity and darkly comedic voice work to *The Devils*, while Abercrombie's unflinching exploration of moral compromise and the cost of ambition deepens across both works. The continuation of his signature cynical worldbuilding and complex character arcs makes this a natural progression for listeners invested in his brutal, character-driven fantasy.
★ 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
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.
- 9
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 immersive fantasy experience that rewards careful listening across a similarly epic runtime. Both audiobooks showcase Pacey's ability to deepen complex themes through his distinctive vocal performances, making them ideal for listeners who value narrator artistry as much as narrative depth.
★ 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.
- 10
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 2013A 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.
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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.