Fantasy · Adventure · Science fiction
Before They Are Hanged
Second in the First Law trilogy. A crippled torturer is sent to defend a besieged southern city, while a wizard leads a mismatched band on a quest to the edge of the known world.
Facts last checked 2026-10-16
- First published
- 2007
- Pace
- Medium
- Length
- Long
- Pages
- 441
- Format
- Book 2 of 3 in The First Law
Read this if you like bleak, funny fantasy where nobody is purely good and violence is never glamorous.
Skip this if you haven't read the first book, since the characters and their alliances arrive already formed.
The feel
Content warnings
Quick answers about Before They Are Hanged
- What is Before They Are Hanged about?
- Second in the First Law trilogy. A crippled torturer is sent to defend a besieged southern city, while a wizard leads a mismatched band on a quest to the edge of the known world.
- Who should read Before They Are Hanged?
- Read it if you like bleak, funny fantasy where nobody is purely good and violence is never glamorous. Skip it if you haven't read the first book, since the characters and their alliances arrive already formed.
- How long and how fast is Before They Are Hanged?
- It is a medium-paced, long read of about 441 pages, first published in 2007.
- Does Before They Are Hanged have content warnings?
- Content we flag: Violence, Torture, War, Death.
- Can I borrow Before They Are Hanged for free?
- Often, yes. Check Libby (OverDrive) to see whether your library lends Before They Are Hanged; the borrow button above searches it for you.
- What should I read after Before They Are Hanged?
- Readers who liked it often move on to The Blade Itself, The Lies of Locke Lamora, The Black Company.
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Where to get it
| Store | Price | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Borrow free | ||
| Libby / OverDrive | Free with a library card | Borrow free with Libby from Libby / OverDrive |
| Print, new | ||
| Amazon | Check price | Buy new from Amazon |
| Ebook | ||
| Kobo | Check price | Buy ebook from Kobo |
| Google Play Books | Check price | Buy ebook from Google Play Books |
| Audiobook | ||
| Audible | Check price | Buy audiobook from Audible |
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Because you might love it
If you loved Before They Are Hanged
-
The Blade Itself The opening book of this trilogy, which sets up the characters and tone you are picking up here.
-
The Lies of Locke Lamora
Shares the sardonic voice and a crew of flawed people, with more heist and less war.
-
The Black Company
A weary, cynical mercenary fantasy narrated from deep inside the dirty side of a war.
Fantasy
