Robin (Bridge Four)'s Reviews > Half a King
Half a King (Shattered Sea, #1)
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by
Robin (Bridge Four)'s review
bookshelves: fantastic-fantasy, kick-ass-heroines, 4-5-stars, ya, super-sidekicks, o-captain-my-captain, bro-mantic
May 05, 2014
bookshelves: fantastic-fantasy, kick-ass-heroines, 4-5-stars, ya, super-sidekicks, o-captain-my-captain, bro-mantic
Read 2 times. Last read June 3, 2014 to June 8, 2014.
on sale 9/30/17 at amazon for $2.99
Just as good the second time through. Still a 4.5 star read.
4.5 Stars
This is my very first Joe Ambercrombie book and as an avid high fantasy reader I can’t believe I haven’t stumbled onto him before. He does a great job at blending a great world with fantastic characters and story without getting caught up in the drudgery of over explaining everything. After finishing this I was sure of three things, I will anxiously await the next installment of this series, I will read anything else Joe Ambercrombie has written and Nothing was surprisingly one of my favorite secondary characters in a fantasy.
“Pick you enemies more carefully than your friends,” Nothing was muttering at the flames. “They will be with you longer.”
In a world where men make war and you are only as good as your use with a weapon Yarvi is useless. He has a deformed hand and can’t hold a shield, can’t protect the men at his side and his father has reminded him of all his failures as a man all of his life. That’s fine Yarvi has avoided them all and lost himself in books and learning, until the fates intervened and both his father and brother are slaughtered making him the king. But it isn’t that easy and Yarvi has a lot to learn about what it really takes to be a man and a king, after being betrayed and tossed into slavery he has to find a way back to his kingdom to take back the throne he didn’t want until it was taken away from him.
Once, after his father had hit him in a rage, Yarvi’s mother had found him crying. The fool strikes, she had said, The wise man smiles, and watches, and learns.
Then strikes.
Yarvi is the smart hero, it isn’t all about battles and fighting. It is about reacting wisely and waiting for the perfect moment to turn a disadvantage into an advantage. Sometimes words will get you more than a sword and I love those moments in books.
The story and journey are amazing. The band of unlikely friends that Yarvi finds and the comradery he has with them is fantastic. I will not give away the journey they take and the unexpected twists along the way. I will say that this had one of the best reveals in a fantasy novel that I’ve read this year. I was shocked and amazed when it happened and might have punched my fist in the air because I was that happy to be totally surprised.
As a female fantasy reader sometimes I get a little miffed about the one dimensional aspect that a lot of writers give to their female characters. They are damsels in distress, overly emotional or serve only as a love interest. I’m so happy that all of the female characters in this are fierce in one way or another; The Queen manages the finances of the country better than any man before her. Samael a slave girl on the ship is the best navigator and friend Yarvi could have. Shadikshirram the slave ship captain was an admiral of a fleet during war and while she is a monster of a woman she is complex, strong and a worthy opponent.
This is a perfect blend of a smart story with enough action and fight scenes to keep things really interesting without overdoing it and losing the reader in similar sequences. There is a very minor hint of romance to it as well enough to keep the girly girl in me contented.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Del Ray for an ARC of this book for an honest review.
Just as good the second time through. Still a 4.5 star read.
4.5 Stars
This is my very first Joe Ambercrombie book and as an avid high fantasy reader I can’t believe I haven’t stumbled onto him before. He does a great job at blending a great world with fantastic characters and story without getting caught up in the drudgery of over explaining everything. After finishing this I was sure of three things, I will anxiously await the next installment of this series, I will read anything else Joe Ambercrombie has written and Nothing was surprisingly one of my favorite secondary characters in a fantasy.
“Pick you enemies more carefully than your friends,” Nothing was muttering at the flames. “They will be with you longer.”
In a world where men make war and you are only as good as your use with a weapon Yarvi is useless. He has a deformed hand and can’t hold a shield, can’t protect the men at his side and his father has reminded him of all his failures as a man all of his life. That’s fine Yarvi has avoided them all and lost himself in books and learning, until the fates intervened and both his father and brother are slaughtered making him the king. But it isn’t that easy and Yarvi has a lot to learn about what it really takes to be a man and a king, after being betrayed and tossed into slavery he has to find a way back to his kingdom to take back the throne he didn’t want until it was taken away from him.
Once, after his father had hit him in a rage, Yarvi’s mother had found him crying. The fool strikes, she had said, The wise man smiles, and watches, and learns.
Then strikes.
Yarvi is the smart hero, it isn’t all about battles and fighting. It is about reacting wisely and waiting for the perfect moment to turn a disadvantage into an advantage. Sometimes words will get you more than a sword and I love those moments in books.
The story and journey are amazing. The band of unlikely friends that Yarvi finds and the comradery he has with them is fantastic. I will not give away the journey they take and the unexpected twists along the way. I will say that this had one of the best reveals in a fantasy novel that I’ve read this year. I was shocked and amazed when it happened and might have punched my fist in the air because I was that happy to be totally surprised.
As a female fantasy reader sometimes I get a little miffed about the one dimensional aspect that a lot of writers give to their female characters. They are damsels in distress, overly emotional or serve only as a love interest. I’m so happy that all of the female characters in this are fierce in one way or another; The Queen manages the finances of the country better than any man before her. Samael a slave girl on the ship is the best navigator and friend Yarvi could have. Shadikshirram the slave ship captain was an admiral of a fleet during war and while she is a monster of a woman she is complex, strong and a worthy opponent.
This is a perfect blend of a smart story with enough action and fight scenes to keep things really interesting without overdoing it and losing the reader in similar sequences. There is a very minor hint of romance to it as well enough to keep the girly girl in me contented.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Del Ray for an ARC of this book for an honest review.
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Reading Progress
Finished Reading
May 5, 2014
– Shelved
May 5, 2014
– Shelved as:
to-read
June 3, 2014
–
Started Reading
June 3, 2014
–
6.0%
"Yarvi could see Keimdal's disgust as he touched the twisted thing, and made sure to give him a parting tickle with the stub of his finger. A petty gesture, perhaps, but the weak must thrive on small revenges.
hehe I'm touching you....I'm touching you."
hehe I'm touching you....I'm touching you."
June 4, 2014
–
21.0%
"“You prayed for help, didn’t you?” said the southerner, without looking around. “Here is help.”
“I prayed for help with two hands.”
“Be thankful for half of what you prayed for,” said Yarvi. “Believe me, I prayed for none of this.”
One mans answered prayer is another mans nightmare."
“I prayed for help with two hands.”
“Be thankful for half of what you prayed for,” said Yarvi. “Believe me, I prayed for none of this.”
One mans answered prayer is another mans nightmare."
June 5, 2014
–
31.0%
"Once, after his father had hit hit in a rage, Yarvi's mother had found him crying. 'The fool strikes', she had said. 'The wis man smiles, and watches, and learns.
Then strikes.'
Revenge will be sweet."
Then strikes.'
Revenge will be sweet."
June 5, 2014
–
44.0%
"
"Death waits for us all."
Nothing --- I'm glad Yarvi was nice to you. You are bad-ass."
Nothing --- I'm glad Yarvi was nice to you. You are bad-ass."
June 6, 2014
–
65.0%
"When you're in hell," murmured Yarvi, "only a devil can point the way out."
*rubs hands* and waits for the kick-assery to commence"
*rubs hands* and waits for the kick-assery to commence"
June 8, 2014
–
Finished Reading
June 11, 2014
– Shelved as:
fantastic-fantasy
June 11, 2014
– Shelved as:
kick-ass-heroines
June 11, 2014
– Shelved as:
4-5-stars
June 11, 2014
– Shelved as:
ya
June 23, 2014
– Shelved as:
super-sidekicks
June 23, 2014
– Shelved as:
o-captain-my-captain
July 14, 2014
– Shelved as:
bro-mantic
February 12, 2015
–
7.0%
"A fool is his anger’s slave, Mother Gundring once told him. The wise man’s anger is his tool.
Yarvi...I'm so ready to relive your story."
Yarvi...I'm so ready to relive your story."
February 12, 2015
–
31.0%
"Time might be slipping through his fingers. He lacked a full set, after all. But he had to be patient. Patient as the winter.
Once, after his father had hit him in a rage, Yarvi’s mother had found him crying. The fool strikes, she had said. The wise man smiles, and watches, and learns. Then strikes."
Once, after his father had hit him in a rage, Yarvi’s mother had found him crying. The fool strikes, she had said. The wise man smiles, and watches, and learns. Then strikes."
February 13, 2015
–
43.0%
"Nothing shrugged. “Death waits for us all.”….”today she waits for you. She reaches for her key, *****. She unlocks the Last Door.”
NOTHING!!!
"
NOTHING!!!
February 15, 2015
–
68.0%
"“Pick your enemies more carefully than your friends,”Nothing was muttering at the flames. “They will be with you longer.”"
February 15, 2015
–
89.0%
"And suddenly Yarvi was no longer sure who this man was that he had traveled beside, fought beside, slept beside. No longer sure what he had brought with him
"
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Mindy
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09 juin 2014 02:15
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I'm just trying to figure out my review since I don't want to give anything away. There are some really great moments in this though.
I don't know how you guys even write reviews. I find it so hard. I just finished In the Woods and I have no idea what to say, besides how much I liked it. :)
I do..."
Well since you are already a Joe Abercrombie fan I don't need to tell you to read this one it is so good but.....
Seriously your only fantasy reads....OMG, I feel like I've failed you as a fantasy reader/reviewer. Okay Mindy your mission if you choose to accept it is to read
There are romances all over the place and a fantastic story in this series and I ship them all!!! Plus it is completed and many others I'm currently reading are not. I'm doing a re-read of it in December and you are more than welcome to join in.
I really liked it. It is smart like Sanderson fantasies and the Oar crew Yarvi ends up on reminded me a little of Kaladin and Bridge Four on a much smaller scale and the Twist....was WOW!!!
Thanks Brandi...I hope you like it.
AHHH I squealed while reading your review. Love it on all fronts! :D
Thanks Kat....This is a really fun read and an easy fantasy read for those who aren't into books with 1000 pages and extra world building.
JA did a great job of giving enough details and enough story that you aren't over run with extras you don't need.
Yes. Most fantasy definitely overwhelm you :) so glad it didn't do that in this case.
I also liked the smudge of romance and hopefully there's a bit more in the next one
I also liked the smudge of romance and hopefully there's a bit more in the next one
I also liked the smudge of romance and hopefully there's a bit more in the next one"
I live for stuff like that but not everyone does. But how many 1000 page fantasy's can you fit in your reading schedule. So it is great when a fantasy writer can tell a great story in 350 pages.
The itsy bitsy romance *sigh* I really hope there is more in the next book of that. I really do like when authors build stuff like that over multiple books so there isn't that whole insta love thing.
@ Mich Thanks Lol...maybe I overdid it and that was all I needed then :P
Nice. Yep sometimes a sum up is just what you need to bring it all home.
Robin wrote: "Kat Stark wrote: "Yes. Most fantasy definitely overwhelm you :) so glad it didn't do that in this case.
I also liked the smudge of romance and hopefully there's a bit more in the next one"
I live..."
I never thought of it been short, but yeah, compared to other epic fantasies, I can see that. I also like it when the romance builds up over time. I guess we'll see :D for sure
I also liked the smudge of romance and hopefully there's a bit more in the next one"
I live..."
I never thought of it been short, but yeah, compared to other epic fantasies, I can see that. I also like it when the romance builds up over time. I guess we'll see :D for sure
I also liked the smudge of romance and hopefully there's a bit more in the nex..."
*crosses fingers* forbidden love is the best.
OMG. We are on the same page!! Those are my favorite in any story!
Well...aside from pedophilia.
Well...aside from pedophilia.
OMG...I read that and diet Dr. Pepper squirted out of my nose. I was ill prepared for your comment.
Fantastic review, Robin!
I was going to try to reread the first book as well...best laid plans, lol. I'm just hoping I remember enough of book #1 to make sense of book #2
I was going to try to reread the first book as well....."
I'm sure I'll do a full series reread before the 3rd book comes out I just can't find anywhere to put it in. I will have to take a look at my notes to remember all the key points.
I hope I remember enough :)
Sweet...it ends at a great place so you can either continue along with the series or end right there.