Book Preview There was a harsh gale blowing on the night Yarvi learned he was a king. Or half a king, at least. A seeking wind, the Gettlanders called it, for it found out every chink and keyhole, moaning Mother Sea’s dead chill into every dwelling, no matter how high the fires were banked or … Read more
Book Preview Dedication For Teddy The man who stands at a strange threshold Should be cautious before he cross it, Glance this way and that: Who knows beforehand what foes may sit Awaiting him in the hall? From Hávamál, the Speech of the High One The man who stands at a strange threshold Should be … Read more
Book Preview THE WORTHY He hesitated just an instant, but long enough for Thorn to club him in the balls with the rim of her shield. Even over the racket of the other lads all baying for her to lose, she heard Brand groan. Thorn’s father always said the moment you pause will be the … Read more
Book Preview There was a harsh gale blowing on the night Yarvi learned he was a king. Or half a king, at least. A seeking wind, the Gettlanders called it, for it found out every chink and keyhole, moaning Mother Sea’s dead chill into every dwelling, no matter how high the fires were banked or … Read more
Book Preview ‘Abercrombie has written the finest epic fantasy trilogy in recent memory. He’s one writer that no one should miss’ Junot Diaz, Pulitzer Prize winner ‘Joe Abercrombie is probably the brightest star among the new generation of British fantasy writers … Abercrombie never underestimates the horrors that people are prepared to inflict on one … Read more
Book Preview Acknowledgments PART I The Poison Trade Being Chief This Noble Business The New Man Feeding Time So Much in Common Honesty Ghosts Bad Debts A Ragged Multitude Beloved of the Moon Flowers and Plaudits Too Many Knives Best of Enemies Fortunes of War The Kingmaker The Trap Horrible Old Men Prepared for the … Read more
Book Preview Four people without whom… Bren Abercrombie, whose eyes are sore from reading it Nick Abcrcrombie, whose ears are sore from hearing about it Rob Abercrombic, whose fingers are sore from turning the pages Lou Abercrombie, whose arms are sore from holding me up Jon Weir, for putting the word out Simon Spanton, for not … Read more
Book Preview Four people without whom… Bren Abercrombie, whose eyes are sore from reading it Nick Abercrombie, whose ears are sore from hearing about it Rob Abercrombie, whose fingers are sore from turning the pages Lou Abercrombie, whose arms are sore from holding me up Matthew Amos, for solid advice at a shaky time Gillian … Read more
Book Preview The World’s Wrongs “I hope no one minds if we dispense with this for now?” Orso tossed his circlet down, gold twinkling in a dusty shaft of spring sunlight as it spun around and around. “Damn thing chafes rather.” He rubbed at the sore spots it had left above his temples. There was … Read more
Book Preview Blessings and Curses “Rikke.” She prised one eye open. A slit of stabbing, sickening brightness. “Come back.” She pushed the spit-wet dowel out of her mouth with her tongue and croaked the one word she could think of. “Fuck.” “There’s my girl!” Isern squatted beside her, necklace of runes and finger bones dangling, … Read more
Book Preview Praise for Joe Abercrombie ‘The Heroes is an indictment of war and the duplicity that corrupts men striving for total power: bloody and violent, but never gratuitously so, it’s imbued with cutting humour, acute characterisation and world-weary wisdom about the weaknesses of the human race. Brilliant’ ‘The futility of settling arguments by violence … Read more
Book Preview The sunrise was the colour of bad blood. It leaked out of the east and stained the dark sky red, marked the scraps of cloud with stolen gold. Underneath it the road twisted up the mountainside towards the fortress of Fontezarmo—a cluster of sharp towers, ash-black against the wounded heavens. The sunrise was … Read more
Book Preview In the prison under the castle Allaze, in the dark, moldy cells where the greatest criminals in Mellinor spent the remainder of their lives counting rocks to stave off madness, Eli Monpress was trying to wake up a door. It was a heavy oak door with an iron frame, created centuries ago by … Read more