Pornokitsch

Check out the difference between The Last Argument of Kings and Best Served Cold (apologies for the glare). That's the moment where the "Joe Abercrombie" brand hits its stride. Amongst all the fan debates about maps and cover art, the real change is the new hierarchy of author over title.

If his first three books were "The First Law Trilogy", his most recent works have each been billed as "the new Abercrombie". Marketing-wise, that's the sign of an author that's made it.

Also, we really like Joe Abercrombie.