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This topic is open for discussion of Half a King by Joe Abercrombie.


Book Synopsis:
“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...

Reserved

I'm in!

Hi Rachel! Let's do this!

This is going to be so good!!!

Just checking in if we're ready to start?

I've already started. I've read about 50 pages.

It's a good beginning. I already feel connected to Yarvi.

I'll play catch up soon.

I'm trying to get ahead of my BRs. I started this one yesterday, and I listened to 2 chapters of Fellowship today while doing housework. (I wish I could sit and listen to it all day. It's my favorite audiobook ever).

Okay I made it through Part I (view spoiler)[
Yarvi's mother Laithlin and his Uncle Odem are awful. I suspected them both early on. I think Odem murdered Yarvi's father and brother, or at least ordered it.

I think that Yarvi and Isriun had a chance at a good relationship. I wonder how they'll get back together, because you know they eventually will. (hide spoiler)]

Part II is around 60 pages. I'll read that tomorrow.

I haven't even started Part II. I thought I would set it aside until Rachel joined us. I think maybe she has decided not to read it.

I'll read it eventually, but it's a short book and I don't want to split it up. I think I'll enjoy it more if I read it all in one go, and this week is not the week for that.

I'm going to start this one within the next few days. It looks like a quick read :).

It does look like a quick one, and I need something quick. I'm off my game a bit after this flu.

I'll get back to it tomorrow night. I may end up re-reading the first part so I'm not lost.

Ok, so I finally started this one last night and then could not put it down!
I love Abecrombie's writing style a lot. I've read his First Law series before but this is my first time reading Half A King.

Is anyone else reading this?

I'm trying to finish Days of Blood & Starlighttonight. It' been almot 3 weeks since I read Part I. I'll probably have to at least skim it or I'll be totally lost. I did comment up-thread though.

You're right - it's fast paced and not overwhelmed with world building.

If you want to comment with spoilers I'll respond to them when I get to that section.

Finished Part II (view spoiler)[
Freedom! I hope Jaud lives and he finds Yarvi. And the girl, too. I want to know the story behind Nothing. He didn't learn to fight like that being a raider or a baker. He must be from someone's court or army. I bet he know things that will help Yarvi.
(hide spoiler)]

Cynthia wrote: "Finished Part II"

Sorry I didn't answer sooner! I've been sick.
(view spoiler)[
Finally freedom! :)
I think that even though being a slave was a terrible experience for Yarvi, it was probably necessary for him as a character. Before, a big part of his problem was that he didn't trust himself and believed he was as useless as others had said. I think the rowing not only made him stronger in body, but in mind and confidence.

I loved his friends on the ship. I was so curious about Nothing. He didn't seem to be what he was trying to pass himself off as...a docile/mad slave.

What did you think of the ship's captain? I can't remember her name right now, except that it started with an 's'. lol (hide spoiler)]

Ship's Captain?! Is this a test?! I'm terrible with names. I don't even remember the first letter.

If there are more than a couple of MCs with secondary relationships and blah blah I have to jot it down. So far this one's been pretty good. I may not be able to recall all of the names, but I recognize them in the book.

I'll read a few chapters tonight. I set it aside again for another book. I'm a book lover, but not a monogamous one.

Cynthia wrote: "Ship's Captain?! Is this a test?! I'm terrible with names. I don't even remember the first letter.

If there are more than a couple of MCs with secondary relationships and blah blah I have to jot ..."

No, not a test! lol I would fail if it was.
I don't remember her name, but she's the captain and is drunk all of the time. I just found it interesting that she can be constantly drunk, probably more than a little mad, and yet still be so dangerous.

Oh, absolutely mad. It was quite a picture. I imagine her with ratty grey hair and rotten teeth (some missing) and all the jewelry she owns on at once, next to her dingy dirty clothes. You know she stinks of sick and pee.

I was approved for the second book from Netgalley and I am so excited to read it! I thought I was going to have to wait for months to get my hands on a copy.

I never get approved for books from Netgalley. I think I need to do something better with my profile. And maybe review more books. You know. Look like I might actually write a review if they give me an ARC.

Cynthia wrote: "I never get approved for books from Netgalley. I think I need to do something better with my profile. And maybe review more books. You know. Look like I might actually write a review if they give m..."

LOL! I have so many outstanding ARCs that I'm surprised they don't blacklist me. I do plan on going back and reading them all but it's a little ridiculous to have so many. I don't have a great blog or anything, either.

Did you just link to your ŷ������ profile? I think I got an email from a publisher that it would help if I did that.

I may spend half a day writing some reviews and then add my profile. Eventually!

Yeah, I link to my GR profile. When I post a review I do it here and on my blog, then give them the links for both reviews.

Very late to the party but here nonetheless. I just started this morning and about to go into CHapter 3 but I wanted to pop in and say I wanted to hug Yarvi already. Poor Yarvi being thrust into the limelight against his will. I guess from hereon everything goes downhill.

Kathleen wrote: "Very late to the party but here nonetheless. I just started this morning and about to go into CHapter 3 but I wanted to pop in and say I wanted to hug Yarvi already. Poor Yarvi being thrust into th..."

Hi Kathleen and welcome to the party! :)
I love a good character study and I think Abercrombie set the story up perfectly. I wanted to give Yarvi a hug, too.

Amanda wrote: "I was approved for the second book from Netgalley and I am so excited to read it! I thought I was going to have to wait for months to get my hands on a copy."

Bah! I was not so lucky I got declined. Good thing there's less than a month left for the 2nd book. I may have placed in a pre-order with BookDepository already :) I read the synopsis and loved it.

Amanda wrote: "Hi Kathleen and welcome to the party! :)
I love a good character study and I think Abercrombie set the story up perfectly. I wanted to give Yarvi a hug, too. "

Thank you Amanda! Reading further on, I wish Yarvi get off the self-pity wagon soon because hey! it's starting to be annoying. Buckle up King!

I'm starting Part III tonight. After that section, with all the woe is me, it really picks up.

Amanda, I just put down the freakin book, walked over here, and can't remember the Captain's name. I do, however, know that it not only starts with an S but it ends with an A. Probably. I just cleaned out the fridge, and I think her name battled with 'sargento' cheese, and the cheese won.

This probably doesn't count as discussing the book, but it's a thought I wouldn't have had without the book...so maybe.

I read your spoilers! I couldn't help it.
(view spoiler)[I think I'm somewhere near freedom at last. I loved the part where Yarvi sang the whole night through and even the Captain was moved (somehow). It was a good chapter.

But goodness! The description for Skekenhouse was absolutely dreary and depressing. It made the High King seem like a very bad tyrant. I wonder if we'll be seeing more of him in the series. (hide spoiler)]

I'm a terrible person. I didn't start part III last night after all. I had this wonderful idea to read a few chapters of The Paying Guest and then start on this...well I couldn't stop reading The Paying Guest. I only have 60 pages left, so I will get to this today.

Cynthia wrote: "I'm starting Part III tonight. After that section, with all the woe is me, it really picks up.

Amanda, I just put down the freakin book, walked over here, and can't remember the Captain's name. I ..."

LOL! It does sound a little cheesy now that I think of it ;). I don't know why her name is so hard for me to remember!

Kathleen wrote: "I read your spoilers! I couldn't help it. "

I loved that part too! (view spoiler)[ I didn't expect that from Yarvi for some reason but I loved how other reacted to his singing. Especially the slaves. (hide spoiler)]

Shadikshirram I finally decided to put it in the thread so I'm not constantly hurting my brain trying to remember it. It's quite ridiculous and needlessly difficult to pronounce.

Just getting ready to start Part IV (view spoiler)[
Yarvi may be making a big mistake, because I think betraying Grom-gil-Gorm is worse than being his enemy outright. And I can't see any advantage to allying with him, just to become his subject later. Or is this some kind of true alliance he's proposing, where the two of them are equal but united kings? I don't know, but I suspect it won't end well.

So glad we haven't had to endure a bunch of romance! I am sad about she winter people getting killed (you know they're all dead and the village burned down). They were kind, and it melted my heart a little to see Nothing cry.

(hide spoiler)]

None of these notifications are showing up for me, so don't feel ignored! I'll check the thread when I'm done.

Finished!!! (view spoiler)[ I did not see that coming! It's one thing for Yarvi to come back from the dead, but his Uncle U-whatever? I should have been annoyed that he used the same trope twice, but I love it.

Also, good job killing Mother Gundring. Now get rid of the ex. She's a piece of work. Her dad's a lying murdering bastard and she wants revenge? Oh well, it seems like Yarvi's dad was a lying, murdering bastard too, so I get her point.

I hate that Jaud and Andran were killed. They were great. (hide spoiler)]

I can't wait to read the next one!

Cynthia wrote: "I'm starting Part III tonight. After that section, with all the woe is me, it really picks up.

Amanda, I just put down the freakin book, walked over here, and can't remember the Captain's name. I ..."


That captain's name is hard to memorize! Shadikshirram is such a mouthful. But seriously she was a crazy lady (view spoiler)[coming after our jolly band of troops even through the ice and all that just to get her revenge! It was stupid and crazy. But then her ship sunk so I guess she had nothing to lose anyway. (hide spoiler)]

(view spoiler)[ Ankran dead was a little okay but Jaud dead? I was all "WHATTT? NOOOO!" But then of course the author had to kill some characters. *sigh* Too bad that Mother Gundring had a skewed sense of choice with all her 'choose the lesser evil' mantra.

I agree Cynthia! I hope Yarvi could get rid of the ex soon because she may pose a big threat too! She swore a whole oath to get revenge. (hide spoiler)]

The 2nd book is out soon. Can't wait!

It's King Uthil I think? ;)

Yes, you're right. It is Uthil. The 2 brothers had similar names and I couldn't keep them straight. I wonder why Odem has such a different name? Are there only so many king-worthy U names?

February 17 - I've tried to reserve it at my library, but it looks like they aren't ordering it. Maybe they'll get enough requests. If not, I'll find it somewhere! It would be great to buddy up and get some of the new releases and loan them back and forth, but this one isn't lendable. Grrr

Maybe it will be available in your digital library? The series is pretty popular I think. Bah I pre-ordered from Book Depository already. The cover looks gorgeous!

I don't know if 3M will show books that haven't been released. I know my library doesn't have any Abercrombie e-books at all, just a handful of physical books. I'll ask about it next time I go in. I have 3 books to pick up Monday:
and maybe .

I'm so overwhelmed! I have almost 800 points of books sitting here already and I'm picking up more. What's wrong with me?!?!?

I hope you fare better with Queen of the Tearling. One of the most frustrating books I read last year. I got Golden Son too, sitting waiting to be read. I'm putting it off just a little longer. Maybe Kindle will drop Half A world to $1.99 when release date comes to a near like they did with Red Rising?

I'm a little confused with the title though. Some say Half a World some Half the World. Even Google is confused.

Amazon says 'Half the World', but I think 'Half a World' goes better with 'Half a King'.

I hope Queen of the Tearling isn't awful. I haven't read any reviews. I mainly decided to read it because I loved the cover. I don't think I need for a challenge anywhere. I don't remember seeing it on the GCA. (Why I bother with the GCA challenge, I don't know. The books generally range from really bad to very ordinary, with a random great book thrown in to shake it up).

Red Rising was lowered for the release of Golden Son, but I think that was mainly because Pierce Brown is a new author and they wanted people to grab up RR and then spend the $ for Golden Son. Abercrombie is established. I think his book prices will follow the usual model. I could be wrong - they're both Random House books.

I think so too, Half A World sounds better. The last book starts with a 'HALF A ---' too. I read somewhere that the main character in the 2nd book was mentioned albeit in passing somewhere in Half A King.

From the description on Amazon:
"Sometimes a girl is touched by Mother War.

Thorn is such a girl. Desperate to avenge her dead father, she lives to fight. But she has been named a murderer by the very man who trained her to kill.

Sometimes a woman becomes a warrior.

She finds herself caught up in the schemes of Father Yarvi, Gettland’s deeply cunning minister. Crossing half the world to find allies against the ruthless High King, she learns harsh lessons of blood and deceit.

Sometimes a warrior becomes a weapon.

Beside her on the journey is Brand, a young warrior who hates to kill, a failure in his eyes and hers, but with one chance at redemption.

And weapons are made for one purpose.

Will Thorn forever be a pawn in the hands of the powerful, or can she carve her own path?"

I don't recognize the name Thorn or Brand, and who could her father be?

Cynthia wrote: "Shadikshirram I finally decided to put it in the thread so I'm not constantly hurting my brain trying to remember it. It's quite ridiculous and needlessly difficult to pronounce.

Just getting rea..."

I'm wondering is Abercrombie expected anyone to ever remember her name. It's impossible to pronounce and I can't see how anyone could remember it. lol

(view spoiler)[
I thought that Yarvi made a bad decision, too. It was probably his only choice at the time, but I can't see how leading the enemy to slaughter your own people is a good choice.

I hated that Jaud died! I really liked him. I wonder why Yarvi was so insistent that Jaud went with them? It's not like one baker would have made much of a difference in the fight. (hide spoiler)]

Cynthia wrote: "From the description on Amazon:
"Sometimes a girl is touched by Mother War.

Thorn is such a girl. Desperate to avenge her dead father, she lives to fight. But she has been named a murderer by th..."

That synopsis sounds so good! I can't wait to read it.

This may be my first book purchase of the year. I'll find a physical copy though, so I can donate it and someone else can read it.

You can donate it to me Cynthia ;) Plus the covers are gorgeous.

HA! Shipping is so cheap from the states to the Philippines. We should swap all of our books back and forth. Or I can send you books and you can send me tamarind candy.

I will work extra hard on the library. I would say at least half of the 'new books' list are books at least 4 years old. The truly 'new' books are mostly cozies, romances, chick-lit stuff. They have to order what's most requested, I guess. Or the fact that the librarians are all older is a factor. Only the resource librarian and the YA librarian are under 60. The resource librarian told me she had to push for The Winter People.

I feel guilty griping when you don't have a public library. Bad me!