The main character is Yarvi, initially presented as a crippled, intellectual man forced to exist in a society where valour with a sword or axe is praised above everything else. There isn't much swearing and no sex at all, but beyond that the only way you'd know this was a YA novel is because the author said so on his website. This is still very much a Joe Abercrombie novel, meaning there's an air of both cynicism and humour to proceedings and there's a fair amount of violence. Those hoping for a radical change in direction or prose style will be disappointed, though conversely those hoping he'd stick doing at what he does best will be overjoyed. It's a change of gears for the British author, and there's a fair bit riding on how he manages to pull it off. It's also his first novel for a new publisher and the first set outside his signature First Law world, not to mention his first Young Adult novel. Half a King is the first novel in a new trilogy by Joe Abercrombie. Thrust onto the throne, Yarvi must instead take up the sword to avenge his dead kin and defeat his kingdom's enemies, from within and without. It's not something he ever wanted: born with only half a hand, he's spent his life training to become a Minister, a man of learning and science. The abrupt death of his father and elder brother puts Prince Yarvi on the throne of Gettland.
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