Half a King (Shattered Sea)
NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY TIME ANDÂ THE WASHINGTON POST
“A fast-paced tale of betrayal and revenge that grabbed me from page 1 and refused to let go.â€â€”George R. R. Martin
“I swore an oath to avenge the death of my father. I may be half a man, but I swore a whole oath.â€
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Prince Yarvi has vowed to regain a throne he never wanted. But first he must survive cruelty, chains, and the bitter waters of the Shattered Sea. And he must do it all with only one good hand.
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The deceived will become the deceiver.
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Born a weakling in the eyes of his father, Yarvi is alone in a world where a strong arm and a cold heart rule. He cannot grip a shield or swing an axe, so he must sharpen his mind to a deadly edge.
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The betrayed will become the betrayer.
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Gathering a strange fellowship of the outcast and the lost, he finds they can do more to help him become the man he needs to be than any court of nobles could.
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Will the usurped become the usurper?
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But even with loyal friends at his side, Yarvi finds that his path may end as it began—in twists, and traps, and tragedy.
Praise for Half a King
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“Tremendously entertaining . . . lightning-fast and filled with a wonderful collection of rogues, villains and two-faced bastards . . . From the first chapter [Joe Abercrombie] wastes no time as the reader is swept up in a gripping tale of betrayal and revenge.â€â€”SciFi Now
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“Once this plot has its teeth in you, it will not let go. . . . Abercrombie’s masterful storytelling means that everything, from the characters that you come to love and despise, to the sprawling world that is explored, is enthralling.â€â€”Fantasy Book Review
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“Abercrombie’s Shattered Sea is a fantastic yet believable backdrop to Yarvi’s struggle, a vivid imaginary land.â€â€”The Seattle Times
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“Intriguing characters . . . nonstop action.â€â€”Chicago Tribune
“Half a King is my favorite book by Joe Abercrombie so far, and that’s saying something.â€â€”Patrick Rothfuss
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“As in all Abercrombie’s books, friends turn out to be enemies, enemies turn out to be friends; the line between good and evil is murky indeed; and nothing goes quite as we expect. With eye-popping plot twists and rollicking good action, Half a King is definitely a full adventure.â€â€”Rick Riordan
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“Enthralling! An up-all-night read.â€â€”Robin Hobb
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“Polished and sharp, perhaps his most technically proficient novel yet . . . I dare you to read the first chapter and try not to turn the next page.â€â€”Brent Weeks
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“Half a King can be summed up in a single word: masterpiece. It’s a coming-of-age story. It’s a Viking saga. It’s a revenge tale and family drama and the return of the prodigal son. But most of all, it’s this: a short time alongside people as weak and blundering as we are and, in the midst of it all, as heroic. Far too short a time, as it turns out. What a wonderful book.â€â€”Myke Cole
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“Half a King is full of all the adventure I’ve come to expect from Abercrombie and a tenderness I never knew he had.â€â€”Sam Sykes