Half a King (Shattered Sea, #1) in Sword & Sorcery: "An earthier sort of fantasy"

Jan 03, 2019 Benji Glaab rated it really liked it · review of another edition

4.5 🌟's

Hmmmm well this was much better than I anticipated. I checked this one out as a digital audiobook from my library. So I read the first Law trilogy and have to say it was a fine piece of fantasy filled with twisted individuals. So while I wait for Abercrombie's new trilogy I thought I would try his YA series out. And it's possible I enjoyed half a king even more than First Law.

Yarvi's father and older brother are murdered in an ambush leaving Yarvi to sit the black chair. " A man pulls the 4.5 🌟's

Hmmmm well this was much better than I anticipated. I checked this one out as a digital audiobook from my library. So I read the first Law trilogy and have to say it was a fine piece of fantasy filled with twisted individuals. So while I wait for Abercrombie's new trilogy I thought I would try his YA series out. And it's possible I enjoyed half a king even more than First Law.

Yarvi's father and older brother are murdered in an ambush leaving Yarvi to sit the black chair. " A man pulls the oar and makes fast the knot. Most of all a man holds his shield, A man holds the line A man stands by his shoulder man. What kind of man can do none of these things" I never asked for half a hand" Yarvi said " and I never asked for half a son"

Instead of a life of spreading father peace to the world by way of the ministry Yarvi is forced by events to swear an oath to mother war seeking vengeance on his families killers. Only to be betrayed himself shortly after finding himself in a cruel harsh life with a slaves iron links about his neck. Yarvi will swear a new oath... will steel be the answer? Steel is always the answer.

"A king must win, the rest is dust"

First of all I love cheering for Yarvi. He was born with a malformed hand. You would think he drew the short straw, given kind of a raw deal in this brutal world, but he turns out to be quite resilient, resourceful, and just plain cunning.

" you may need two hands to fight someone, but need only one to stab them in the back"

I love the narration Abercrombie writes. It feels like the way someone would tell a story orally. The story is straight forward, and kept simple with single pov, and was quite short somewhere around 8 hrs audio. I like how J.A uses repetion of phrases in all his writing. As with the First Law trilogy there are so many quotable lines.

This is set in a brutal medieval Vikingesque era though there are hints that this is actually a post apocalyptic timeline where civilization has regressed, and is building itself back up again. Kind of sparse but gets the job done regardless. This kind of reminds me of Stephen kings dark tower, or Gene Wolfe's new sun series.

I am currently listening to half a world and it's a good go. I will likely be finishing this trilogy out on audio this month. Great stuff I recommend to anyone looking for medieval feel fantasy with a young protagonist/straight up quality story. Disregard the YA label I believe most adults would find this engaging.

Half a World -4🌟
Half a War -4🌟 ...more

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Jul 30, 2015 Frank rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy, young-adult

No Spoilers.

I really enjoyed this one about Prince Yarvi, who becomes king only for it to be taken away from him, and his journey back.
Abercrombie gives us a Norse like developed world. Mostly, there was good character development, I enjoyed the development of our main player, Yarvi as the story progressed. For a supposedly a YA, which I question, I was surprised by several of the twists in the ending.

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Sep 08, 2018 Jeff Henrikson rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

A great book. Well worth your time. The main character is as unique as Tyrion Lannister from game of thrones. The world is well crafted.

Great creation Joe

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