I finally got my hands on a Joe Abercrombie novel. His work has been on my TBR list for a few years now and I'm happy to say that I finally read one of his books.
'Half a King' was a dark and gritty fantasy about a crippled boy who becomes a king after the deaths of his father and brother. Betrayal sends Yarvi to the benches as an oarslave, there Yarvi learns strength and determination and what it means to be a true leader.
I couldn't put it down.
5/5 stars
The blurb:
“I swore an oath to be avenged on the killers of my father. I may be half a man, but I swore a whole oath”
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 itself. And he must do it all with only one good hand.
The deceived will become the deceiver
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.
The betrayed will become the betrayer
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.
Will the usurped become the usurper?
But even with loyal friends at his side, Yarvi’s path may end as it began – in twists, and traps and tragedy...
