Half a King cover blurb

[Brian G Turner]

Not seen this elsewhere, but just found it on his agent site:
Joe Abercrombie | United Agents

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 neighbour-ing 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 ecape, 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. 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 . . .

 

[Culhwch]

Abercrombie's novels always sound great in the blurb, but never has one actually grabbed me enough to hold my attention for long. From the sound of it I take it this is a standalone? I'll definitely give it a shot - hopefully this is the one that sticks!

 

[Grunkins]

Thanks. This is the first bit of detail I've heard of the novel.

 

[Brian G Turner]

From the sound of it I take it this is a standalone?

It's the first book in a YA trilogy.

Have you tried reading one of his standalone books, such as Best Served Cold or The Heroes?

 

[ratsy]

This is awesome...that doesn't sound YA. I wonder why so many of these authors are hitting that market? Is it because they know their hardcore fans will buy anything they write and then they can grow sales with a new market as well?

I love Abercrombie. He is close to the pinnacle of storytelling to me. Dirty characters who you just love to follow.

 

[RMP]

Sounds good, retains that Abercrombie edge even though it's YA.

I'm hoping that writing for a different audience with sharpen Joe's focus a bit - I felt Red Country was pretty average, and not a patch on The Heroes or the First Law trilogy.

I'm definitely looking forward to this though, as well as the various shorts he's got coming out soon.

 

[Culhwch]

Have you tried reading one of his standalone books, such as Best Served Cold or The Heroes?

Best Served Cold I tried, but not The Heroes. Will probably get around to it eventually, though, if I spy it on my library's shelves.

 

[nubins]

Best Served Cold I tried, but not The Heroes. Will probably get around to it eventually, though, if I spy it on my library's shelves.

The Heroes is vastly superior. I personally feel that Best Served Cold was the weakest of his books - i ran out of steam on it a couple of chapters before the end, which was the opposite experience to all his other books.

 

[RMP]

I didn't get on with Best Served Cold too well either. It felt like it could have been half the length it was, the final third was a real slog.

But The Heroes is a brilliant piece of work, just superb

 

[Ransonwrites]

Is it just me, or does this blurb read more like a synopsis? By the end of the paragraph we're already at least halfway through the plot, if not two thirds! It's like Hollywood movie trailers: shows you all the best explosions and dramatic moments in advance and leaves nothing for the cinema-goer.

If I read this, I would want Yarvi's descent into a mere slave (after having already sunk about as low as you could imagine he could go) to be a surprise, one that would keep me reading on to see how he deals with this, or simply in anticipation of the next twist. Instead, the marketing men have handed me a big spoiler.

Or could it be that I have finally become jaded?

Agree, however, that this doesn't sound YA. Unless the text itself is dumbed down in some way, there's nothing in the blurb to suggest that we so-called adults wouldn't go for it. Has it any steamy one-handed sex?

 

[Ice fyre]

Sounds interesting, Best served Cold started in the middle of a story that could have been two books at least, and I rather enjoyed it. Most of the story might be told in flash back. Yeah, looking forward to this one, could be good. Was hoping for Gurkish, not more Viking types, but hey ho, shall give it a go! I do like his books generally, got Red country to start. ANy idea when its out Brian?

 

[alchemist]

Joe read from this at World Fantasy Con and certainly picked the right scene -- I'll be buying it when it comes out next summer (July, I think). There seemed plenty for the adult reader to get their teeth into and I didn't hear anything that meant youngsters couldn't read it.

 

[Jo Zebedee]

Yep, his reading convinced me to have a go. I might order a library copy, though - the Blade Itself I enjoyed, but not enough to buy another.

Now, if Joe could turn up in my living room and read it all to me...

 

[alchemist]

Yep, his reading convinced me to have a go. I might order a library copy, though - the Blade Itself I enjoyed, but not enough to buy another.

Now, if Joe could turn up in my living room and read it all to me...

I see a National Lottery ad in the making here...