Shortlisted for the Best Fantasy Novel at the British Fantasy Awards 2016.
With a harsh simplicity, ’Half a War’, the last in the ‘Shattered Sea’ trilogy, offers plenty of mystery and mayhem. While each successive book focuses on new main characters, to tie the full story together it is best to start with ‘Half a King’. Old favourites reappear and have more than a hand in events, however the focus is on Skara, Raith and Koll, who are literally thrown into the deepest depths of war and tested to their limits. As certain aspects of the tale unfold, previous thoughts on the lie of this particular land may alter. Joe Abercrombie writes with such a beautifully easy readable style, the lands, the customs, the history are all described without overt embellishment yet are painted vividly. Young adults through to seasoned epic fantasy lovers will find plenty of combative action, lurking surprises and a cunningly imagined land in this bright and bold tale. ~ Liz Robinson
A classic coming-of-age tale set in a vivid and richly-imagined world from Sunday Times bestselling author Joe Abercrombie.
'Joe Abercrombie is doing some terrific work' GEORGE R.R. MARTIN
WORDS ARE WEAPONS
Princess Skara has seen all she loved turned to ashes. She is left with only words. But the right words can be as deadly as any blade.
ONLY HALF A WAR IS FOUGHT WITH SWORDS
The deep-cunning Father Yarvi has walked a long road from crippled slave to king's minister. But now he faces the greatest army since the elves made war on God.
SOMETIMES ONE MUST FIGHT EVIL WITH EVIL
Some - like Thorn Bathu and the sword-bearer Raith - are born to fight, perhaps to die. Others - like Brand the smith and Koll the wood-carver - would rather stand in the light. But when Mother War spreads her iron wings, she may cast the whole Shattered Sea into darkness…
'Abercrombie writes fantasy like no one else' Guardian
'This is my favourite Abercrombie book yet' PATRICK ROTHFUSS
'Joe Abercrombie is fast becoming my favourite writer. HALF A KING is a remarkable achievement - thrilling, enthralling, and relentless. The action is frenetic, the characters are as sharp as the blades they wield, and the humour is biting. It's sure to garner him a whole new legion of fans' DEREK LANDY
'Enthralling. An up-all-night read' ROBIN HOBB
'HALF A KING can be summed up in a single word: Masterpiece' MYKE COLE
'With eye-popping plot twists and rollicking good action, HALF A KING is definitely a full adventure' RICK RIORDAN
Author
About Joe Abercrombie
Joe Abercrombie was born in Lancaster on the last day of 1974, the son of an English teacher and a sociologist. He spent much of his youth in imaginary worlds, and left school with a good idea of how to make stuff up. He moved to the big city, learned to brew tea, and ended up as a TV editor, working on documentaries, events and concerts for bands from Iron Maiden to Coldplay. But in the darkness of the night he was still making stuff up, and his first book, The Blade Itself, was published in 2006. He now lives in Bath with his wife Lou and their three children Grace, Eve and Teddy and makes stuff up full-time.
