Half a King (2014) is the first of three books in Abercrombie’s Shattered Sea trilogy, a fantasy set in a Viking-type world of warriors and sailing ships. The other two books in the series are Half the World and Half a War. The trilogy is designed to be more accessible to young adults than Abercrombie’s First Law series.
As many readers have noted, the map of this world can easily be juxtaposed on modern-day Sweden and Denmark with far-flung cities on the eastern Baltic corresponding to Riga and Leningrad (St. Petersburg) and mighty rivers such as the Denied and the Divine leading across the Russian Steppes to the City of Cities corresponding to Istanbul. The technology is basically swords and axes and shields and horsemanship and archery with some exceptions. There is also a ministry of advisors led by one high “grandmother” and references to Mother War and Father Peace.
The attitude of the warriors is stoic. Death, we are told, comes to everyone. Ultimately, we learn that, for many, there are not too many differences between one ruler and the next. That life for most is nasty, brutish, and short. And, that half the battle is fought with swords, but the other half with words.
That is where Yarvi comes in. In an age of warriors, Yarvi is born with a crippled hand. He has not a warrior’s mentality and can barely duel. This story is his rise from that of a slight boy who everyone snickered at to someone who topples kingdoms. No one ever expected Yarvi to become involved in governing. He was expected to heal with plants. But, treachery reared its head and the young weakling boy is the only one left to ascend to the throne. As he ascends to the black chair and prepares to marry the woman who would have been his brother’s wife (had he survived), he pities himself and wonders if she will be okay marrying half a man, because that is how he thinks of himself. “He had always been weak, but he never felt truly powerless until they made him a king.” He would have made a fine jester, his uncle quipped.
Although this fantasy story is slow and predictable to start, it is a legend where Yarvi survives troubles and grows into a leader of men. We are told that the wise wait for their moment, but never let it pass. Somewhere in the trackless ice as Yarvi makes his way with a ragtag band of escaped slaves, he finds his will and life is breathed into him.
The story has a simple arc to it, but there are some twists and turns along the way.
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