Half a King

by Joe Abercrombie · 2014

Prince Yarvi swears a whole oath to avenge his father's death, even though he is crippled by a missing hand and dismissed as a weakling. Cast out by his own family, he is thrust into the brutal world of the Shattered Sea, where strength and cruelty rule. With no shield to lift and no axe to swing, Yarvi must sharpen his mind into a weapon, gathering a rag‑tag fellowship of outcasts and fugitives who teach him that power can be forged in unexpected ways. As betrayals multiply and loyalties shift, the once‑deceived prince becomes the deceiver, and the usurped may become the usurper. In this gritty coming‑of‑age fantasy, survival hinges on wit, resolve, and the fragile bonds of friendship, leading to a climax as twisted and tragic as the seas themselves.