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.