The Trouble with Peace

The Trouble with Peace is the second novel in the Age of Madness trilogy, so you should at minimum read its predecessor, A Little Hatred (2019), first. While set in the same world as the original First Law trilogy, the Age of Madness introduces new principal characters and enough fresh context that the earlier trilogy is helpful but not strictly required. Returning readers will recognize returning figures like Sand dan Glokta and Logen Ninefingers referenced throughout.

The novel builds to a major military confrontation and political upheaval that fundamentally reshapes the Union, and several key characters face dramatic turning points. While it does not end on a simple cliffhanger, it leaves significant threads unresolved that carry directly into the final book, The Wisdom of the Crowds (2021). Abercrombie's signature grimdark twists ensure the finale is anything but tidy.

The novel follows multiple POV characters including King Orso, the well-meaning but beleaguered ruler of the Union; Rikke, a seer navigating the chaos of the North; Leo dan Brock, a noble whose ambitions drive much of the plot; and Savine dan Glokta, a ruthless businesswoman. Abercrombie weaves their storylines together around themes of industrial unrest, rebellion, and class conflict.

The Trouble with Peace intensifies the grimdark tone established in A Little Hatred, with higher stakes, greater brutality, and deeper moral compromises for the principal characters. The political intrigue tightens as the Union's internal fractures escalate toward open civil war. Many readers consider it the strongest book in the Age of Madness trilogy for its pacing and payoff.