Half a war - Joe Abercrombie

Words are weapons

Princess Skara has seen all she loved made blood and ashes. She is left with only words. But the right words can be as deadly as any blade. She must conquer her fears and sharpen her wits to a lethal edge if she is to reclaim her birthright.

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. He has made allies of old foes and stitched together an uneasy peace. But now the ruthless Grandmother Wexen has raised the greatest army since the elves made war on God, and put Bright Yilling at its head – a man who worships no god but Death.

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...

My thoughts:

I liked it, but I am also unsure and I felt that certain things...I will try to explain.

I was never a fan of Skara, one of the POVS in this one. She went from what I felt was naive princess to super speaker. Everyone adored her. I do not like people that everyone adores.

Yarvi, dang it, I disliked him at times, many times. And I hated that. He was book 1. Book 1 was the best in this trilogy, and here he is so changed. A fool.

Koll, apprentice POV, a bit meh. Thorn, warrior woman showed up for a few lines. She is cool. Yarvis mum the golden queen is always cool. Gorm the king was an idiot. Rathi's POV, meh.

Oh and this religion sucks ass. All the Mothers as they are called should be put into the ocean without a ship.

So the elves looked like them. Sigh. Fine, post apocalyptic world. But why is it always a Feudal Europe? I get that we would get thrown back when everything fails, but we would still remember and progress would be made.

I still liked it, but it was the weak one of the bunch. And everyone had a unhappy ending in my opninion. I get that he is grim and all, but most everyone be denied something?

I get that war is bad and revenge sucks, but hello, these are warriors and they learn that lesson now. HA, I know it, and I have never been to war.

I just feel like I have more neg things to say than pos one, it's just, the ending sucked...for everyone. 

Good, but with many flaws. Read book 1 and be done.

Cover

God, that fire is ugly

Hardcover, 500 pages
Published July 16th 2015 by Harper Voyager
Shattered Sea #3
Fantasy YA
Library

Half the world - Joe Abercrombie

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? (

My thoughts:

I was a bit disappointed that the book was not about Yarvi (and how much time had gone by, not a lot I guess?) Anyway so yes it is not about the main character from book 1. He is now the minister of his country. His uncle rules, his mum is preggers, and the book is not about him.

The book is about Thorn, a young woman who wants to be a warrior like her dad. And she fights hard for it. Others try to put her down but she does not give up. Sure she is stubborn to a fault, and rash, but she truly is a good warrior. And the man teaching her is an a-hole and that is why she ends up with Father Yarvi when he goes on a "trip" to sell things/get people on their side.

I do guess I like Abercrombie's YA books, but not his adult books. Go figure. I also like how they truly feel like fantasy. Sorry other YA books but really *eye roll*. Abercrombie has created a world, religion, history, I can see myself in that world. It's about a girl learning to be a warrior among men. It's a well written book about a strong woman, who does not let silly things like romance steal her away from her goal. Yes I have been burned on YA fantasy before.

Conclusion:

I look forward to book 3. I hope the library gets that one too, what? I am on a book ban! And my library is awesome *fingers crossed*. I can't wait to see how it all turns out.

Cover 

interesting

Hardcover, 366 pages
Published February 17th 2015 by Del Rey
Shattered Sea #2
Fantasy / YA
Library

Half a king - Joe Abercrombie

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...

My thoughts:

Wow, this did NOT take long to read. I am always such a cliche! But yes the pages flew by, sheesh, do you not get tired of me saying that? But it's true! I sat down, starting reading, took a break to watch a tv show, and then finished the book. All in one evening, cos it was light, easy and just...flew by.

It's the story of Yarvi, a prince with a crippled hand. So they send him to the church, but shit, his dad and brother are killed, better make him king then. He is not ready, people do not think him ready and then he swears an oath to kill those who killed his family.

And that is when the adventure starts. I will not say anything but he has an adventure. He learns to be a man and stand on his own. He meets some new friends and he gets his revenge.

The book seems to be a part of a series, I see that now. But it's also a stand alone. Yarvi has his adventure, gets his revenge and the end. I liked that. You can just read it like that and be happy for once that there is an ending to something.

As this was his YA book, I do think I should read his adult series, as I have book 1. I can only imagine how bloody that one will be. Abercrombie is not a nice author, he kills characters and is not afraid to be cruel, even in YA. Hey that's life. I like it.

Conclusion:

I'd read more.

cover

ok

Hardcover, First Edition, 373 pages
Published July 3rd 2014 by Harper Voyager
Shattered Sea #1
Fantasy / YA
Library