{"title":"Series: World of the First Law","description":"\u003cp\u003eWelcome to the intricate and enthralling 'World of the First Law' series—a captivating collection that stands tall in the realms of \u003cem\u003eSci-Fi \u0026amp; Fantasy\u003c\/em\u003e. Crafted by the renowned author Joe Abercrombie, these books offer readers a gripping journey through a world filled with complex characters, political intrigue, and battles that test the very fibre of humanity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAmong this dynamic series, you will encounter titles such as \u003cem\u003eThe Heroes\u003c\/em\u003e, where war and its harsh realities take centre stage. Abercrombie's storytelling seamlessly blends gritty realism with fantastical elements, inviting readers to explore a richly detailed world that constantly blurs the lines between good and evil.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eEach book within the 'World of the First Law' series stands as a testament to Abercrombie’s masterful ability to create immersive narratives. Whether you're a long-time fan of fantasy or new to the genre, this collection promises to engage and captivate, offering something truly extraordinary for every adventurer and dreamer.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"red-country","title":"Red Country","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\nThey burned her home. They stole her brother and sister. But vengeance is coming.\n\nShy South tried to escape her brutal and bloody past, dreaming of a quiet life. However, when her family is taken from her, she realises she must resurrect her old, deadly skills to get them back. Determined and relentless, Shy sets off on a perilous journey, accompanied by only a pair of oxen and her cowardly stepfather, Lamb. Unknown to Shy, Lamb also harbours a dark and violent history, which soon resurfaces in the unforgiving, lawless Far Country. In this harsh and untamed land, the past never truly stays buried.\n\nTheir quest for vengeance leads them across barren plains, through dangerous feud-ridden territories, and into the heart of a frontier town consumed by gold fever. The journey forces Shy and Lamb to confront numerous perils, including fierce duels, gruesome massacres, and treacherous mountain terrain that hides even greater threats.\n\nAlong the way, they find themselves in an uneasy alliance with Nicomo Cosca, a notorious soldier of fortune known for his unpredictable and ruthless behaviour, and his dubious lawyer, Temple. These two men, infamous for their treachery and deceit, are the last people anyone would choose to rely on.\n\n\u003cem\u003eRed Country\u003c\/em\u003e immerses readers in a riveting and grim dark fantasy world where every step towards vengeance is fraught with danger and uncertainty. Joe Abercrombie crafts an engaging and gritty tale that explores themes of redemption, survival, and the unrelenting grip of the past. Fans of epic fantasy and intense character-driven stories will find themselves captivated by Shy's harrowing but compelling journey.\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Alliance Distribution Services Pty Ltd","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45712840786156,"sku":"9780575095847","price":18.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9780575095847.jpg?v=1725991594"},{"product_id":"sharp-ends","title":"Sharp Ends","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\nImmerse yourself in the gritty, treacherous world of \u003cem\u003eSharp Ends\u003c\/em\u003e by Joe Abercrombie, a masterful collection of short stories that delve into the nooks and crannies of the First Law universe, where violence and cunning reign supreme. \n\n\u003cp\u003eThe Union army may be overrun with scoundrels, but there's one man, Colonel Sand dan Glokta, who arrogantly believes he can single-handedly stand against the Gurkish horde. His story is just a taste of the biting wit and brutal action that \u003cem\u003eSharp Ends\u003c\/em\u003e offers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eMeanwhile, Curnden Craw and his band of misfit warriors are on a mission to retrieve a mysterious object from beyond the Crinna. The only hitch? No one actually knows what they're looking for, leading them into a quagmire of chaos and uncertainty.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn another part of Abercrombie's ruthless world, Shevedieh, who fancies herself the finest thief in Styria, finds herself stumbling from one calamity to the next, dragging along her best friend and worst foe, Javre, the unstoppable Lioness of Hoskopp. Their tale is one of irony and unexpected twists, as alliances and enmities blur.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThen there's Bethod, an idealistic chieftain worn out by years of relentless bloodshed. His one remaining obstacle to peace in the North is his own deranged and terrifying champion, the Bloody-Nine, a man whose very name strikes fear into the hearts of many.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eCombine these riveting narratives with previously published award-winning tales and exclusive new stories, and you have \u003cem\u003eSharp Ends\u003c\/em\u003e, a compelling compilation where words cut as sharply as swords and treachery lurks in every shadow. Abercrombie's rogue's gallery of characters will enthral both devoted fans and new readers alike, offering a deeper plunge into the caustic, captivating world of the First Law.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003ePrepare yourself for an onslaught of action, wit, and unexpected turns. With its explosive violence and intricate storytelling, \u003cem\u003eSharp Ends\u003c\/em\u003e is an unmissable addition to the library of anyone who loves dark fantasy with razor-sharp edges.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Alliance Distribution Services Pty Ltd","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45713144479980,"sku":"9780575104693","price":18.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9780575104693.jpg?v=1725993706"},{"product_id":"the-heroes","title":"The Heroes","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn the frozen and unforgiving North, where might is right and power is wrested through sheer brutality, Black Dow has etched his name in blood and violence. Known as a man who has killed more foes than winter itself, he has ascended to the throne of the North by leaving a trail of skulls in his wake. But consolidation of power is never straightforward; it draws the ire of rivals like the King of the Union, who watches with jealous eyes and clenched fists.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe tension escalates into open warfare, with the Union’s formidable army trudging through the northern mud, eager to challenge Dow’s reign. These thousands of soldiers, armed to the teeth, converge on a seemingly insignificant ring of stones atop a hill in an unimportant valley. Yet, it is here that the destiny of the North will be sealed. Over the span of three excruciatingly bloody days, scores of men will shed blood and lives to claim dominance, each armed with a deadly array of sharpened metal.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIntrigue, personal vendettas, and petty feuds litter the battlefield, twisting the path to victory into a labyrinth of treachery. The nobles and the strong are embroiled in a struggle not just against their enemies but also against their allies’ hidden agendas. In such a chaotic waltz of war, where treasures are trifles and ambitions run amok, it is seldom the noblest or the mightiest who triumph. Instead, cunning and treachery may well determine the future of the North.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Heroes\u003c\/em\u003e by Joe Abercrombie masterfully portrays the grim reality of war and human nature, devoid of romanticisation. Every character, be they warrior or statesman, is etched with depth and intricacy, making the web of battles and politics as enthralling as it is brutal. Fans of high fantasy and intricate narratives will find themselves absorbed by the raw and unfiltered depiction of war in this dark and compelling tale.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Hachette New Zealand Ltd","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45714014339308,"sku":"9780575083851","price":24.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9780575083851_c1a0649e-5be4-4951-aeaa-c2235ffe4c1b.jpg?v=1731293105"},{"product_id":"best-served-cold","title":"Best Served Cold","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn \u003cem\u003eBest Served Cold\u003c\/em\u003e, Joe Abercrombie crafts a gripping tale of betrayal, vengeance, and survival in a brutal, war-torn world. At its heart is Monza Murcatto, also known as the Snake of Talins, a ruthless and formidable mercenary who has earned the title of the most feared and respected warrior in the employ of Grand Duke Orso. Blood and victory have been her companions, and through them, she has gained wealth and fame.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eHowever, Monza's success comes at a price. Her growing popularity becomes a threat to her employer, leading to a brutal act of treachery. Thrown from a mountain and left for dead, Monza survives the ordeal, scarred in body and soul, clinging to a singular purpose: revenge. Her odyssey of retribution sets her on a path where allies and enemies weave a tangled web.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eJoining Monza in her quest are an unlikely band of allies: Styria's least reliable drunkard, a treacherous poisoner with a penchant for duplicity, a mass-murderer beset by an obsession with numbers, and a barbarian whose sole desire is to do the right thing. Each brings their own skills and flaws to the table, forming a volatile mix that threatens to unravel at any moment.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eMonza's journey is fraught with danger and deception as she moves against the better half of the nation. Her list of targets grows longer, and with each name comes new trials and tribulations. To make matters more perilous, the deadliest man in the world is dispatched to track her down and finish the deadly job that Duke Orso had started.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eBest Served Cold\u003c\/em\u003e is a dark, gritty, and unrelentingly intense tale set in the world of Styria. Abercrombie's masterful storytelling immerses readers in a richly developed universe where ambitions clash, and the quest for vengeance can consume one's soul. The intricate plot, complex characters, and unpredictable twists make this novel a must-read for fans of grimdark fantasy and epic tales of survival and revenge.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Hachette New Zealand Ltd","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45744942448876,"sku":"9780575082489","price":19.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9780575082489.jpg?v=1726664157"},{"product_id":"best-served-cold-by-joe-abercrombie-9781399614481","title":"Best Served Cold","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSpringtime in Styria. And that means war.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThere have been nineteen years of blood. The ruthless Grand Duke Orso is locked in a vicious struggle with the squabbling League of Eight, and between them they have bled the land white. While armies march, heads roll and cities burn, behind the scenes bankers, priests and older, darker powers play a deadly game to choose who will be king.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWar may be hell, but for Monza Murcatto, the Snake of Talins, the most feared and famous mercenary in Duke Orso's employ, it's a damn good way of making money too. Her victories have made her popular – a shade too popular for her employer's taste. Betrayed, thrown down a mountain and left for dead, Murcatto's reward is a broken body and a burning hunger for vengeance. Whatever the cost, seven men must die.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eHer allies include Styria's least reliable drunkard, Styria's most treacherous poisoner, a mass-murderer obsessed with numbers and a Northman who just wants to do the right thing. Her enemies number the better half of the nation. And that's all before the most dangerous man in the world is dispatched to hunt her down and finish the job Duke Orso started...\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eSpringtime in Styria. And that means revenge.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eBest Served Cold\u003c\/em\u003e is a gripping tale of betrayal and vengeance, where the line between friend and foe is as sharp as a sword's edge.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Hachette Aotearoa New Zealand","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46417573806316,"sku":"9781399614481","price":54.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9781399614481.jpg?v=1746445484"},{"product_id":"red-country-by-joe-abercrombie-9781399614511","title":"Red Country","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTHE PAST NEVER STAYS BURIED.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThey burned her home.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThey stole her brother and sister.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eBut vengeance is following.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eShy 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eTheir 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...\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe past never stays buried...\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Hachette Aotearoa New Zealand","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46452526842092,"sku":"9781399614511","price":54.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9781399614511.jpg?v=1747602049"},{"product_id":"the-heroes-by-joe-abercrombie-9781399614498","title":"The Heroes","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThree men. One battle. No Heroes.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThey say Black Dow's killed more men than winter, and clawed his way to the throne of the North up a hill of skulls. The King of the Union, ever a jealous neighbour, is not about to stand smiling by while he claws his way any higher. The orders have been given and the armies are toiling through the northern mud.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThousands of men are converging on a forgotten ring of stones, on a worthless hill, in an unimportant valley, and they've brought a lot of sharpened metal with them.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eBremer dan Gorst, disgraced master swordsman, has sworn to reclaim his stolen honour on the battlefield. Obsessed with redemption and addicted to violence, he's far past caring how much blood gets spilled in the attempt. Even if it's his own.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003ePrince Calder isn't interested in honour, and still less in getting himself killed. All he wants is power, and he'll tell any lie, use any trick, and betray any friend to get it. Just as long as he doesn't have to fight for it himself.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eCurnden Craw, the last honest man in the North, has gained nothing from a life of warfare but swollen knees and frayed nerves. He hardly even cares who wins any more, he just wants to do the right thing. But can he even tell what that is with the world burning down around him?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eOver three bloody days of battle, the fate of the North will be decided. But with both sides riddled by intrigues, follies, feuds and petty jealousies, it is unlikely to be the noblest hearts, or even the strongest arms that prevail.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThree men. One battle. No Heroes.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Hachette Aotearoa New Zealand","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46708322369772,"sku":"9781399614498","price":60.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9781399614498.jpg?v=1754054226"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.pro\/collections\/series-world-of-the-first-law.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}