(Other Book Appreciation Posts can be found on The Reading Corner.)
As the crippled second son of a ruthless warrior-king, Yarvi never imagined he’d become the ruler of his people. He could never earn their respect and loyalty in battle—not when he could barely hold the weapons of war that the line of kings carried. Not when his own family viewed him as inferior because of his deformity.
Instead, Yarvi had every intention of denouncing his birthright and title as prince to become a minister, serving his people in a way that better suited his talents.
But when his father and older brother are unexpectedly murdered, and the heavy crown is placed upon his head, Yarvi is forced into a position of leadership. He soon discovers the weight of responsibility, the burden of fulfilling oaths, the hurt of betrayal, and the drive for retribution as never before…
The first book in Joe Abercrombie’s “The Shattered Seas” trilogy, Half a King is a fast-paced, gritty, witty adventure. It’s got betrayal, revenge, philosophical musings on leadership and authority, political intrigue, heroes, villains, and so much more. It’s literally a page turner—Mr. Abercrombie keeps his readers on the edge of their seats, waiting to find out what happens next.
Mr. Abercrombie’s worldbuilding and storytelling are superb. His world has thematic elements of Norse and Viking culture, making it recognizable and yet unique at the same time. His narrative pacing and character development are simply excellent. I read this book back in 2014 or so when it first came out. Rereading it twelve years later did not disappoint. Not one bit. If anything, I appreciated it all the more.
What else is there to say?
I can’t speak for the rest of the trilogy (I still need to read them), but if the next two books are anything like the first, they’re sure to be included among young adult fantasy at its best.
Until next time,
Al
