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Red Country

A First Law Novel

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Red Country

By: Joe Abercrombie
Narrated by: Steven Pacey
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They burned her home.

They stole her brother and sister.

But vengeance is following.

Shy South hoped to bury her bloody past and ride away smiling, but she'll have to sharpen up some bad old ways to get her family back, and she's not a woman to flinch from what needs doing. She sets off in pursuit with only a pair of oxen and her cowardly old stepfather Lamb for company. But it turns out Lamb's buried a bloody past of his own, and out in the lawless Far Country, the past never stays buried.

Their journey will take them across the barren plains to a frontier town gripped by gold fever, through feud, duel and massacre, high into the unmapped mountains to a reckoning with the Ghosts. Even worse, it will force them into alliance with Nicomo Cosca, infamous soldier of fortune, and his feckless lawyer Temple, two men no one should ever have to trust...

The past never stays buried...©2012 Joe Abercrombie Adventure Epic Fantasy Fiction Science Fiction Scary Thought-Provoking
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Critic reviews

Highly recommended - a funny, finely-wrought, terrifically energetic work of high fantasy. Seek it out (Joe Hill)
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Yay! Logen's back!!!

I thoroughly enjoyed the First Law trilogy, and although Best Served Cold was equally good, I was a little disappointed by Heroes (just a personal taste thing, as I know other reviewers have raved about it) - but for me, Red Country was a return to the earlier style/ story, which I so enjoyed. Admittedly, I might be slightly biased because old Logen is back, and he's been my favourite character since the beginning, however there are some great new characters in this instalment too - most notably, Temple!

As always, Abercrombie's characters are well developed and all unique, and his story telling is gritty and engaging. A great bit of entertainment.
Steven Pacey's narration is, as usual, flawless.

If you're new to the series, treat yourself by starting at the beginning with the Blade (First Law Trilogy), and be entertained through all 6 books. It never gets "samey" - well worth each and every credit used on these books.

My favourite character's back!

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I am in awe of Joe Abercrombie, he writes stories that are visceral, filthy, grim, philosophical and funny, balancing high and low fantasy (mostly low in this case) on the fulcrum of a gripping narrative. And the bodycount is astounding.



You might be better off starting with the First Law Trilogy (as the resonances here will make you smile) but Red Country is a fine stand alone tale. It channels the spirit of the Wild West, but never feels like a clash of genre's, more as if you have wandered off the edge of the map of his previous fantasy world and are blundering around in the Far Country. For that skilful mix alone this is worth a read, I've never seen anyone do it better.



Narration by Steven Pacey is excellent again, capturing just the right levels of weight and levity.



The new characters are interesting, well-rounded and sometimes even survive. Abercrombie is building up quite the cast list. But the old characters are always welcome, and two in particular will have you laughing and grimacing in turn.



So a welcome addition to the canon and well worth a five-star rating. Recommended!

Bloody funny

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I loved this book and the surprises throughout and when the main reveal came it had me grinning from ear to ear! a brilliant listen and a must buy!

the best stand alone novel yet!

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A whole new cast of characters and a welcome return of a few old ones... The narration and characterisation is as ever superb and draws you into this new world making you care what happens to the various factions in the story as the strands become knotted together towards a conclusion which left me sitting in the car in the dark not wanting to stop listening until I knew who was left standing at the end. Pure brilliance.

A welcome return

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Outstanding. Really engaging story, fantastic characters, and great endings for some characters first seen in the First Law. As ever, Pacey's narration and characterisation is absolute top drawer. Loved it.

Probably his best book

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