By Joe Abercrombie
Narrated by Steven Pacey
Reviewed by Gabby
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Before They Are Hanged Overview:
Superior Glokta has a problem. How do you defend a city surrounded by enemies and riddled with traitors, when your allies can by no means be trusted, and your predecessor vanished without a trace? It’s enough to make a torturer want to run — if he could even walk without a stick.
Northmen have spilled over the border of Angland and are spreading fire and death across the frozen country. Crown Prince Ladisla is poised to drive them back and win undying glory. There is only one problem — he commands the worst-armed, worst-trained, worst-led army in the world.
And Bayaz, the First of the Magi, is leading a party of bold adventurers on a perilous mission through the ruins of the past. The most hated woman in the South, the most feared man in the North, and the most selfish boy in the Union make a strange alliance, but a deadly one. They might even stand a chance of saving mankind from the Eaters — if they didn’t hate each other quite so much.
Ancient secrets will be uncovered. Bloody battles will be won and lost. Bitter enemies will be forgiven — but not before they are hanged.
Before They Are Hanged Audiobook Review:
STORY
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The Good:
This audiobook is fantastic. One of the best epic fantasy audiobooks i’ve listened to. Before They are Hanged hits the ground running and everyone is in trouble. Which is just how we like it. Abercrombie makes storylines that would normally be considered cliché seem fresh and exciting. A quest, a war, bad guys and a mystery? Nothing new here one might think. But no. Abercrombie breathes life into these storylines and makes them so entertaining, you don’t want the story to end. The characters are fabulous.
The twists and turns will have you sitting motionless with your earbuds in your ears, absolutely rapt. I cannot recommend this audiobook highly enough, it was such a pleasure to listen to from start to finish. If you’re up for a bit of gore and black humour then I suggest you go listen to this now.
[/span6][span6]The Bad:
Nothing of note.
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CHARACTERS
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The Good:
I thoroughly enjoy Pacey’s interpretation of Prince Ladisla. He sounds just like the jumped up, stuffy, arrogant man you imagine him to be. Abercrombie’s characters are just so… human. You can’t help but like most of them. Collem West I especially feel sorry for. Sure he has a few issues and could probably do with some Prozaac now and again, but he’s also a good man and a solid character. I think the story would be a lot weaker without him as a character.
Most people will enjoy the black comedy scattered throughout this audiobook. Abercrombie’s witty dialogue plays out perfectly and some of the humorous scenes are so well described it makes me wonder why this book hasn’t become a movie already. Brother Longfoot and Jezal Dan Luthar were always a good laugh, especially since they are the two most arrogant characters in the series. Listening to Steven Pacey narrate Jezal’s internal dialogue is priceless. He’s all about that self pity.
[/span6][span6]The Bad:
To be honest, i have no real critiques in this area for this instalment of the trilogy.
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NARRATOR
[columns] [span6] The Good:
Steven Pacey is an English born actor and voice artist. For fantasy listening, especially that presented in a historical, yet paralleled time I believe the English accent really adds value, and that is evident in this instalment.
Pacey is a real voice artist, and has added the perfect amount of dramatization into ‘Before They Are Hanged’. To further elaborate on this, his range and character diversification is just on point while at the same time he does not go over the top adding inflection where there should be none.
Pacey’s diversification also translates well to a woman’s voice, and accents, this is evident through his dipiction of the character Pharaoh. I find quite often this is a major struggle. His female voice, is a little more natural than most, quite often you get the high-pitched voices from male narrators that can make you cringe at times.
[/span6][span6] The Bad:Nothing of note.
[/span6][/columns]I hope you enjoyed our Before They Are Hanged Audiobook Review, come back soon!