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Half a War
- Shattered Sea, Book 3
- Narrated by: Ben Elliot
- Series: Shattered Sea, Book 3
- Length: 12 hrs and 14 mins
- Unabridged Audiobook
- Categories: Literature & Fiction, Classics
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Summary
A classic coming-of-age tale set in a vivid and richly imagined world from Sunday Times best-selling author Joe Abercrombie.
Words are weapons.
Princess Skara has seen all she loved made blood and ashes. She is left with only words. But the right words can be as deadly as any blade. She must conquer her fears and sharpen her wits to a lethal edge if she is to reclaim her birthright.
Only half a war is fought with swords.
The deep-cunning Father Yarvi has walked a long road from crippled slave to king’s minister. He has made allies of old foes and stitched together an uneasy peace. But now the ruthless Grandmother Wexen has raised the greatest army since the elves made war on God and put Bright Yilling at its head - a man who worships only Death.
Sometimes one must fight evil with evil.
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Critic reviews
"Abercrombie writes fantasy like no one else." ( Guardian)
"This is my favourite Abercrombie book yet." (Patrick Rothfuss)
"Joe Abercrombie is fast becoming my favourite writer. Half a King is a remarkable achievement - thrilling, enthralling, and relentless. The action is frenetic, the characters are as sharp as the blades they wield, and the humour is biting. It's sure to garner him a whole new legion of fans." (Derek Landy)
"Enthralling. An up-all-night read." (Robin Hobb)
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What listeners say about Half a War
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Performance
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- Robyn
- 11-10-15
ok
Yes, it's a little predictable, and a few disappointments with the characters, but overall still a worthy spend of a credit and as good as any wrap-up to the series (naturally, there are a few threads which have been left open).
Abercrombie's gritty style continues, and there's enough blood and gore to satisfy if that's what you're after - this story just doesn't have the same depth as his adult series usually offer.
Narration is good, and consistent with the previous books in the series.
6 people found this helpful
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- Brian
- 21-07-15
Not his usual Genius
I know this was aimed at young adults but even at that it was a very predictable storyline with overly childlike narration. Ben Elliot is a disastrous choice of reader. While the first two books were ok, this last one just didn't do it for me at all. It felt full of half answered questions, like he was rushing to wind it up.
I hope he will return to form with another adult book, hopefully featuring Sand dan Glokta. Joe was a breath of fresh air in the fantasy world and I hope this is just a blip on the way to greater things.
3 people found this helpful
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- joe
- 20-01-21
quite childish
it was an ok read , but I'd recommend it mostly for 14 -16 year olds
1 person found this helpful
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- Amazon Customer
- 12-11-20
Disappointed in the plot.
I love Joes writing with a CAPITAL “L” only discovered him recently as was looking for a new author. His writing is strong and the characters are relatable which makes his storytelling a pleasure to partake of.
I tried a Mark Lawrence book before buying this one and enjoyed his writing too but the story launched into the much over-played post-apocalyptic thread, what a groaner! so I returned his book straight away and bought this instead. Only to find Joe has thread similar into this otherwise amazing story, so I would humbly state “Joe! you are far too good to launch your characters down the same tired route that so many others have trod before, I have been reading Sci-Fi fantasy novels since a nipper, your writing is so fresh and honest it is an absolute joy to read. But and it is a big, but to find that them walking through a deserted post-apocalyptic city having taken radiation medication........ I’m so disappointed..... I’m sad
1 person found this helpful
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- P. A. Pajor
- 05-02-18
Something less predictable, please.
Acceptable plot spoiled by heavy handed activism.
I wish at least one, literally one, character’s “likeability” wasn’t entirely predictable and based on his/her gender, age, ambition level.
Recipe:
Women are more virtuous than men.
Young and passionate are more moral than cunning oldies. Ambition leads to corruption. Few romantic events. Few diplomatic events. Few military events. Reversal of archetypes (pantheon: “caring” male gods, “dynamic” female goddesses). And that’s it.
1 person found this helpful
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- Amazon Customer
- 12-05-16
A boring end to a boring trilogy!
Any additional comments?
I had read this was a different kind of story, aimed at a different target audience etc, and for a while I avoided this series, but eventually I was won over by all the good reviews and bought all three, now I wish I had just bought the first so I didn't feel obliged to suffer through all three. In a bloated fantasy market, these three novels are average at the very best, a million miles away from the brilliant First Law series, they lack in every department. The story plods and a lot of the time is downright boring. The speech is often robotic. The characters are so flat and uninteresting. After the genius of the First Law, of Inquisitor Glokta in particular, the depth of the characters and the great story, this trilogy was such a let down! Maybe it was my own fault, but my trust in an author let me down badly this time.
1 person found this helpful
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- Justin Coyne
- 26-02-16
very good
good conclusion to the trilogy, themes of the first law trilogy all over this trilogy, but different in a lot of ways. if you have read the draft law trilogy you will enjoy this (read the books in sequence of course)
1 person found this helpful
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- Thursday Week
- 03-08-15
A tad disappointed
Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?
I fully understand it is a book aimed at young adults, but with the rather 'choice' language used Mr Abercrombie is setting the age appropriate bar rather high. I felt the story in the first two books justified this but here it seemed to run out of steam. I really enjoyed the fact that Father Yarvi had was not the main character, allowing him to go off and do his dark deeds but, sadly thought it ended with a whimper not a bang.
Would you be willing to try another book from Joe Abercrombie? Why or why not?
Yes! I have loved all his books bar this one.
Who might you have cast as narrator instead of Ben Elliot?
Steven Pacey, no brainer.....
Any additional comments?
The Hunger Games needed no swearing....
1 person found this helpful
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- Jon Hardman
- 04-04-22
Contrived
Not up to JA's usual standard. Somewhat contrived plot with some less than credible about turns in characterisation. JA still undoubtedly a matter of his craft, but this was one of his weaker efforts.
Narration decent, but not up to Stephen Pacey's standards.
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- Wendy
- 22-06-21
never disappoints
I live all of Joe Abercrobies books... heroes, kings and queens a little bit of magic / science and you have great entertainment. Wonderful narrator who helps bring the story to life.
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- Marco Selmo
- 23-04-21
Great conclusion for a great trilogy
Joe Abercrombie deliveres once again. I'm a huge fan, probably my favourite author of late so I might be biased.
Shattered Sea was added to my library only after listening to the First Law, Standalones and Age of Madness audiobooks, so I was a bit worried I might not enjoy it as much, given being the first, the setting and voice actor are different.
Well, I was wrong.
Ben Elliot delivered a great and consinstant performace throughout the serie and most certainly I will check out more of his work. The range of voices is surprising, given there are a Lot of characters. Comparison with Stephen Pacey is inevitable but Mr. Elliot surpassed my expectation greatly.
Storywise, the conclusion is fitting to Joe's other books (or perhaps the other way round). If you are familiar with First Law you'll know what I mean. Just finished the book and my mind is surging, drawing my own conclusions and generally super exited for the whole journey.
Character work is superb. The cast is interesting, complex, well written and never boring.
Each book has interesting people to care about. In the latest entry, Skara amongst my favourites.
Cannot reccomend it enough.