10 books for fans of The Blade Itself
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The Heroes
First Law World • Book 5
Why this book?
Steven Pacey's masterful narration brings the same morally complex characters and gritty humor to life, deepening the dark fantasy atmosphere that made *The Blade Itself* compelling. *The Heroes* expands Abercrombie's signature brutality and subversion of fantasy tropes with an even more intricate narrative structure, rewarding listeners invested in his cynical, character-driven storytelling.
★ 4.35 Goodreads (77.8K ratings) - 2
Red Country
First Law World • Book 6
Why this book?
Red Country delivers the same sharp wit and morally gray characters that define The Blade Itself, while Steven Pacey's masterful narration captures Abercrombie's darkly comedic dialogue with equal brilliance across both epics. The western-tinged setting offers fresh scenery without sacrificing the gritty tone and character-driven storytelling that made the first book compelling.
★ 4.32 Goodreads (66.8K ratings) - 3
Best Served Cold
First Law World • Book 4
Why this book?
Best Served Cold delivers the same morally complex characters and dark humor that define The Blade Itself, while Steven Pacey's masterful narration brings an even richer cast of antiheroes to life across a sprawling tale of revenge and betrayal.
★ 4.25 Goodreads (113.4K ratings) - 4
The Devils
The Devils • Book 1
Why this book?
Steven Pacey's masterful narration captures Abercrombie's signature blend of dark humor and morally complex characters with equal brilliance, while *The Devils* deepens the gritty, introspective tone that made *The Blade Itself* so compelling. The extended runtime allows for even richer character development and world-building within Abercrombie's cynical fantasy universe.
★ 4.22 Goodreads (62.8K ratings) - 5
Sharp Ends
First Law World • Book 7
Why this book?
Sharp Ends delivers the same morally gray characters and dark humor that made The Blade Itself compelling, but in a collection of shorter stories that lets Steven Pacey showcase his vocal range across different perspectives and settings. The cynical tone and gritty world-building remain intact, offering a perfect bridge between longer narrative arcs or a rewarding supplement to the main series.
★ 4.11 Goodreads (27.7K ratings) - 6
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
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Complete creative freedom yields twenty-three original tales spanning fantasy's full emotional spectrum. Some stories will devastate you while others demand late-night page-turning in this unthemed anthology.
★ 3.96 Goodreads (1.0K ratings) - 7
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
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Fantasy heavyweights and crime writers unite to explore women who kill, scheme, and survive, including a new Dresden Files adventure and tales from Westeros.
★ 3.67 Goodreads (13.2K ratings) - 8
Empire of Storms
Throne of Glass • Book 5
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Aelin must unite kingdoms against Erawan's approaching army while grappling with the full cost of her fire magic and the keys needed to lock away evil forever.
★ 4.63 Goodreads (1.3M ratings) - 9
Queen of Shadows
Throne of Glass • Book 4
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Maas escalates the stakes as Aelin embraces her royal identity, orchestrating elaborate schemes to free her allies while preparing for magical war against tyrannical rule.
★ 4.62 Goodreads (1.4M ratings) - 10
The Final Empire
The Mistborn Saga • Book 1
Why this book?
The Final Empire matches The Blade Itself's gritty fantasy foundation with complex moral ambiguity and unreliable perspectives, while Michael Kramer's narration delivers the same immersive character work that makes Steven Pacey's performance so compelling. Both audiobooks build intricate worlds through dialogue and character development rather than exposition, rewarding close listening with deeply layered storytelling.
★ 4.49 Goodreads (999.3K ratings)