Synopsis: 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.
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.
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.
But even with loyal friends at his side, Yarvi’s path may end as it began – in twists, and traps and tragedy…
Title: Half A King
Author: Joe Abercrombie
Pub Date: 3rd July 2014
Publisher: Voyager, HarperCollins
Pages: 384
ISBN: 9780007550203
Rating: 
I’m always hesitant to start reading a new fantasy series, especially when it’s from an author I’ve never come across before. Writing a story is hard enough without having to build an entire world around it too. So, granted, I got an ARC copy of this book but waited till after it published to actually read it.
I think it’s safe to say I was pretty blown away by this book – it’s not half bad for being Half a King (sorry – that will be my one and only attempt at a joke!). The plot twists and turns in unexpected ways and, by the end of the book, I had experienced every emotion from shock to anger; from dread to sheer excitement.
Half A King is a brilliant first book and I dare you to read the first chapter and try to put it down. It doesn’t get 5 stars simply because I want to read the second book right now.
A Literary Mind 