Half a King

Shattered Sea, Book 1

De: Joe Abercrombie

Narrado por: John Keating

Yarvi, second son of the feared King Uthrik and the ruthless Queen Laithlin of Gettland, was born with a useless hand, and cannot hold a shield, or make fast a knot, or pull an oar, or do any of the things expected from a man. Left an outcast, he's surrendered his birthright and been given a woman's place as apprentice to Mother Gundring, Gettland's Minister, training to be an adviser, diplomat, healer and translator.

But when his father and brother are murdered by Grom-gil-Gorm, King of neighboring Vansterland, Yarvi is forced to take the Black Chair and become king himself - or half a king, at least - swear an oath of vengeance against the killers of his father, and lead a raid against the Vanstermen. Betrayed, left for dead, and enslaved on a rotting trading galley, Yarvi will need all his Minister's wit and cunning to escape, and all his diplomacy and knowledge to keep a rag-tag band of other slaves together on a month long trek across the frozen wastes of the utmost north. Among them are Sumael, the ship's single-minded navigator, Rulf, an ex-raide, Jaud, an ex-baker, and Nothing, a mad old man with a mysterious past and an almost magical skill with a sword. And their owner, the brutal Captain Shadikshirram, will be dogging their heels at every step. Father Peace may be the patron god of Ministers, but to reclaim the Black Chair, Yarvi will have to strike a deal with Mother War, and once you've invited the mother of crows to be your guest, there can be no telling whose blood will be spilled.

©2014 Joe Abercrombie (P)2014 Recorded Books

Oh, Joe. What happened?

I was, up until listening to this, a huge fan of Joe Abercrombie. I've listened to everything I could find on Audible he had written and found all of it first rate. The lowest rating I've ever given his work was 4 stars. Then, I listened to this and was keenly disappointed. Abercrombie is, in my opinion, the best fantasy writer on the block, bar none. He was never trite, never seemed to rely on gimmicks, never appeared to cater to current fads or political correctness. And always wrote with a sly wit. With this book, instead of listening to his muse, he seemed to be listening to some PR person from the publisher who told him how to write for the pop audience by using all the tinny devices so many "fantasy" authors employ to attract an audience brought up on "graphic novels" and superhero movies. Nor was there much wit, if any, demonstrated in the writing. Although this novel disappointed me badly, perhaps I am too harsh. Some of the problem for me definitely lies with the narrator, John Keating, who I do not care to listen to. I don't think that he is a bad narrator. I just find his voice wheedling and unpleasant. Many listeners do not share my opinion and that is fine. It is just a personal preference or matter of personal taste in narrators. I have already bought the other two books in the series and, will comment on them, if either is something that reads more like the Joe Abercrombie I used to like.

not as great as the adult series

I listened this as a stop-gap while waiting on more of my favorite characters from Aberceombies other series. It was solid, but when you are used to the raw reality of, say, Logan Ninefingers, this feels like a step in the wrong direction.

New Narrator Please

Barely comprehends a dialogue tag. Don’t let him narrate any more Abercrombie. Story was pretty good.

Meh

Kind of a nothing story for me. Well written, but story and characters i really didnt care about.

Good all round,

Not Joes best book but still well worth the read. Great ending and great characters.