Is The First Law finished?
Mostly yes, with room to grow. The two core trilogies are complete, the original First Law trilogy (2006 to 2008) and the Age of Madness trilogy (2019 to 2021), along with three standalone novels set between them. Joe Abercrombie has since moved on to a new, separate series, so no new First Law book is in the works, but the world’s main stories all reach endings.
The books, in order
- 1. The Blade Itself (2006)
- 2. Before They Are Hanged (2007)
- 3. Last Argument of Kings (2008)
- 4. Best Served Cold (2009)
- 5. The Heroes (2011)
- 6. Red Country (2012)
- 7. A Little Hatred (2019)
- 8. The Trouble With Peace (2020)
- 9. The Wisdom of Crowds (2021)
Start with the original trilogy, The Blade Itself through Last Argument of Kings. Then the three standalones, Best Served Cold, The Heroes, and Red Country. Then the Age of Madness trilogy, A Little Hatred through The Wisdom of Crowds. There are also short-story collections you can save for later.
Where it stands
- Joe Abercrombie’s newest novel, The Devils (2025), begins a different trilogy in a different world, not First Law. No new First Law book is announced.
Read it without spoilers: set how far you are and every page filters to exactly that point.
The First Law wiki + timeline are coming to Without Spoilers.
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Sources
Facts last verified July 2026.