Half a King

Не можу однозначно пояснити, чому, але книга та загалом світ, описаний в ній, дуже нагадала книги про Конана-Варвара (хоча здебільшого головні герої дуже не схожі між собою) в найкращому їх сенсі.

Темп оповіді досить швидкий, але має місце для невеликих простих взаємодій між персонажами, що ефективно розвиває їх стосунки та дозволяє глибше їх розкрити.

Ярві дуже імпонує як персонаж, ефективно використовує свої сильні і слабкі сторони. Загалом на базовому рівні - це класична історія про помсту, але виконана дуже якісно і цікаво, особливо сподобається фанатам темного фентезі та грімдарку.

Using Goodread's definition for star ratings this book was simply okay. When I see Joe Abercrombie and the words epic fantasy my expectations may have been placed a bit too high.

The First Law trilogy was excellent and I was expecting a story similar to that. While it was, Shattered Sea has YA attached to the genre and that may have minimized the grit and brutality that I enjoyed with The First Law.

I like Abercrombie as an author, he has an excellent way with prose and his characters are unique so I will read on to Half a World and make my decision about continuing at that time.

A decent, if uncomplicated, tale of revenge.

What do you do when you are the second son of a king, and one born with a crippled hand, to boot? Well, you think you would take your vows and join the ministry. However, life seldom works out as you planned. Your father and brother are both killed, and you must step up and take the crown. Wait...what's that? Betrayal and treachery lie dead ahead? Well, that's life giving you lemons once again. Poor Prince Yarvi!

Good solid entry to the series. We journey with Yarvi as he travels the road and determines where his loyalties, and choices lie. What is more important? Revenge? Family? Friendship? Read it and find out what he decides. 3 1/2 stars.

Il contenuto del libro è anche bello, ma il modo in cui è raccontato non mi ha minimamente coinvolto, nè è riuscito a catturare il mio interesse. Solo alcuni momenti di azione ad esempio il tentato omicidio di Yarvi, la fuga dalla nave o il raggiungimento da parte di Shadikshirram - nome più complicato no, eh - oppure il cliffhanger finale hanno acceso la mia curiosità, ma per il resto ho faticato ad entrare in sintonia col protagonista è col suo modo di pensare.

Il fatto che abbia una minima voglia di leggere il secondo è determinata solamente dal cliffhanger finale. Per me rimane un libro piatto e insipido. Spero che l'altra sua trilogia sia più avvincente.

A quick, enjoyable read, but the last quarter of the book doesn't live up to the potential of the earlier portions of the book. Abercrombie does a fantastic job of crafting the character Yarvi's journey from a neglected weakling to a cunning champion-of-sorts, but when the novel turns to more traditional, blood-and-steel fantasy storytelling, that intriguing character is lost in the shuffle of predictable deaths and Scooby Doo plot twists.

Audiobook narrated by John Keating. Very well done.

I've read Abercrombie's First Law Series and loved it, hoped this YA book would not disappoint. It did not. I very much enjoyed following Yarvi on his adventure. Not as grimdark as Abercrombie's other books but still has that edge to it that I like.

I thought this was a bit of a mixed bag... a slight step back from his recent novels which I enjoyed a bit more.

http://fedpeaches.blogspot.com/2014/07/hey-i-didnt-say-grimdark-even-once.html