Rate this book

Half A King (2014)

by Joe Abercrombie(Favorite Author)

4.01 of 5 Votes: 4

ISBN

0804178321 (ISBN13: 9780804178327)

languge

English

genre

Fantasy

publisher

Del Rey

series

Shattered Sea

review 1: I feel a bit bad giving this only 3 stars. It probably deserves more like 3.5, but it falls a bit short of 4 for me. Overall, I enjoyed the book mostly for its characters. The main character is extremely likable and sympathetic, and the bond between him and the other characters in the novel rings true. What it lacks is depth. The world, the characterization, even the plot lack the depth and intricacy that I've seen in many other epic fantasies. Though I rather like that it's rooted in the mundane and human, not in gods or magic or anything, the world completely lacked history. We're really limited to two or three major areas throughout the story, and none of them are well-explored. I didn't get a feel for the layout of the world, and the interactions between different peop... moreles was rather one-sided and simple. The lack of history might have to do with the rather simple plot (but maybe it'll be explored more in the sequel?). Regarding the characters, Yarvi is well-developed but the others and the relationships between characters are not. This is likely not a book that I'll re-read, or a series that I'll wait for eagerly as the sequels come out. Still, it's an enjoyable read for anyone with some extra time on their hands.
review 2: Half a King was announced as a Young Adult title, but the marketing plan in that regard seems to have changed. There's nothing indicating a YA title on the hardcover. The clearest sign of the initial YA-ness is that Half a King is Joe Abercrombie's most straight forward fantasy novel yet. After six novels of genre experimentation, Abercrombie presents us here with his take on the fantasy classics. We have boy kings, betrayal and revenge, father figures, slave ships, and ever changing fortunes. Early on, the book is fairly predictable, elevated mostly by Abercrombie's gift for action and dialogue, and his refusal to use stock characters even when they will do. The twists do come, leaving the reader with an ending that I challenge anyone to see coming. (Although I do have to ping the novel a bit for hinging so much of its ending on an frankly preposterous coincidence.) To my surprise the novel, technically the first of a trilogy, could easily be read as a standalone. Joe Abercrombie is by far the most consistent fantasy writer of the post-GRRM generation. His books are very good and this one is no exception. less

Download links for: Half a King

Advertising