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