Best Fantasy Books Like Joe Abercrombie (2026): 4 Compared

Readers looking for the best fantasy books like joe abercrombie have a clear starting point: Abercrombie’s own First Law trilogy, collected here as a set. The rest of the list keeps close company: Michael J. Sullivan’s The Crown Tower pairs a warrior with a thieving assassin, and Nicholas Eames’s Kings of the Wyld opens The Band series. We compared four fantasies by series position, publication date, page count and what each description says.

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The picks

#	Product	Shelf Score	Buy
1	First Law Set by Abercrombie	9.8/10	Buy on Amazon
2	The First Law Trilogy	9.7/10	Buy on Amazon
3	The Crown Tower by Sullivan	9.6/10	Buy on Amazon
4	Kings of the Wyld by Eames	9.6/10	Buy on Amazon

1

First Law Set by Abercrombie

Joe Abercrombie·9.8/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

The complete First Law trilogy in one 1500-page collection, for readers who want Abercrombie's own books first.

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Pros

• 1500 pages collecting all three First Law novels
• Published January 1, 2020 by Gollancz
• The benchmark for this list: Abercrombie himself

Cons

• No reading age or grade level stated
• 1500 pages is a long commitment
• Collection packaging; not the individual volumes

2

The First Law Trilogy

Joe Abercrombie·9.7/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

The complete First Law trilogy: The Blade Itself, Before They Are Hanged, The Last Argument of the Kings.

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Pros

• Complete trilogy in one set
• 1680 pages stated
• Grimdark noir fantasy

Cons

• Dark tone will not suit every reader
• No reading age stated
• No grade level stated

3

The Crown Tower by Sullivan

Michael J. Sullivan·9.6/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

Book 1 of the Riyria Chronicles, pairing a warrior and an assassin on an impossible heist, for readers who like banter and blades.

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Pros

• Book 1 of 5 in the Riyria Chronicles
• Published August 6, 2013 by Orbit
• Assassin-and-warrior duo on a heist

Cons

• No page count stated
• No reading age or grade level stated
• Description names an assassin and killing; for adult readers

4

Kings of the Wyld by Eames

Nicholas Eames·9.6/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A retired band of mercenaries reunites for one last mission, suited to adult readers who like team quests.

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Pros

• Print length of 544 pages is stated, so the time commitment is clear
• A reunion of aging mercenaries suits readers who like team-based quests
• Book 1 of 3 is a shorter run than the Book 1 of 9 series in this list

Cons

• No reading age or grade level is stated, so the fit rests on the description
• The description mentions mercenary work and characters who are drunk, so preview it for younger readers
• At 544 pages it is a long read for someone who wants a quick book

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Compare the picks

Book details as published on each listing, collected 22 October 2026.

How we scored them

The Shelf Score weighs fit for the reader, contents and edition, value, and the listed reading age or level where one is given. None of the four listings states a reading age or grade level. How we pick explains the weights.

Scores run from 9.2 to 9.8: each book’s point total is placed on that range, so more points always means a higher score. Reading age or level counts on a list where at least one listing gives one, and a book whose listing gives none then scores zero on it. Where no listing gives one, the score is taken over the other 85 points. Books carry no warranty, so warranty is not scored.

How to choose the best fantasy books like joe abercrombie

Start with Abercrombie himself

The list’s anchor is Abercrombie’s own work: the collection gathers The Blade Itself, Before They Are Hanged and Last Argument of Kings. If you have not read them, start there. The standalone First Law Trilogy pick is the same trilogy in different packaging.

Check the series position

The Crown Tower is Book 1 of 5 in the Riyria Chronicles; Kings of the Wyld is Book 1 of The Band. Starting at book one matters in fantasy. For darker fare in the same spirit, our grimdark fantasy books list goes further.

Know what you are getting into

The Crown Tower’s description names a thieving assassin and a mission to steal a treasure: expect heists and blades. Readers who prefer their fantasy without the grit can try our clean fantasy books list instead.

Before you buy

• Check the series order: The Crown Tower is Book 1 of 5; Kings of the Wyld is Book 1 of The Band.
• Note the format: the First Law set is a 1500-page three-book collection.
• The First Law Trilogy pick and the collection set are the same trilogy; pick one.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the First Law trilogy about?

The collection gathers The Blade Itself, Before They Are Hanged and Last Argument of Kings across 1500 pages. Start with The Blade Itself.

Do I need to read Abercrombie’s books in order?

The trilogy reads in order: The Blade Itself, then Before They Are Hanged, then Last Argument of Kings. The collection set keeps them together.

What should I read after Joe Abercrombie?

Try Sullivan’s The Crown Tower for an assassin-and-warrior duo, or Eames’s Kings of the Wyld, Book 1 of The Band. Both start their series.

Still deciding? Our top pickFirst Law Set by Abercrombie

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