Joe Abercrombie is in a class of his own when it come to phantasy novels that kick you in the tooth . And it ’s been right smart , right smart too long since his last novel , Red Country . So we ’re aroused to play you the exclusive first look at the cover ofhis young novel , Half a King , plus an excerpt !
Half a King is a classic “ coming of age ” storey about Yarvi , the youngest son of a warrior king . Because Yarvi is born with one disabled hand , he ’s involve as “ half a man , ” and he ca n’t ever live up to his father ’s expectations of what a real man ought to be . He ’s have a bun in the oven to go into the ministry or else of becoming a soldier or an heir to the throne — but after his father and sidekick are killed , he ’s thrust onto the throne ( the Black Chair ) where he has to encounter a way to rule . But of course his journey does n’t twist out to be that promiscuous .
Here ’s the concealment , revealed for the first time at io9 :
And here ’s an undivided excerpt from the book , to go with it :
1.
The GreaterGood
There was a harshgale blow on the night Yarvi hear he was a king . Or half a king , atleast .
A seeking wind , the Gettlanders prognosticate it , for it find out everychink and keyhole , groan Mother Sea ’s dead chill into every domicile , nomatter how high the fervour were banked or how end the folk were huddle together .
It tore at the shutter in the minute window of Mother Gundring’schambers and rattled even the smoothing iron - restrict door in its anatomy . It taunted theflames in the firepit and they spat and crackled in their choler , castingclawing shadow from the dried herbs hang , cast flickering light uponthe root that Mother Gundring reserve up in her knobbled fingers .
‘ And this ? ’
It looked like nothing so much as a gawk of grime , but Yarvi had learnedbetter . ‘ Black - tongue root . ’
‘ And why might a pastor reach for it , my prince ? ’
‘ A diplomatic minister hop-skip they wo n’t have to . Boiled in water it ca n’t beseen or taste , but is a most deadly poisonous substance . ’
Mother Gundring tossed the root aside . ‘ Ministers must sometimesreach for non-white thing . ’
‘ pastor must find the lesser evil , ’ say Yarvi .
‘ And weigh the greater good . Five in good order from five . ’ Mother Gundringgave a single approve nod and Yarvi flushed with pride . The approval ofGettland ’s pastor was not easily acquire . ‘ And the riddles on the test will beeasier . ’
‘ The test . ’ Yarvi rubbed nervously at the asymmetrical ribbon of his badhand with the ovolo of his good .
‘ You will pass . ’
‘ You ca n’t be indisputable . ’
‘ It is a minister of religion ’s place always to doubt — ’
‘ But always to seem certain , ’ he finished for her .
‘ See ? I know you . ’ That was true . No one knew him better , even inhis own sept . specially in his own family . ‘ I have never had a sharperpupil . You will pass at the first asking . ’
‘ And I ’ll be Prince Yarvi no more . ’ All he feel at that remember wasrelief . ‘ I ’ll have no family unit and no patrimony . ’
‘ You will be Brother Yarvi , and your menage will be the Ministry . ’The firelight found the line about Mother Gundring ’s eye as she smiled . ‘Your birthright will be the plant and the books and the soft word spoken . Youwill remember and advise , heal and talk truth , know the mystical way and smooththe track for Father Peace in every natural language . As I have tried to do . There is nonobler body of work , whatever gimcrackery the muscle - smothered jester spout in the trainingsquare . ’
‘ The muscularity - suffocate saphead are hard to ignore when you ’re in thesquare with them . ’
‘ Huh . ’ She curled her tongue and spat into the flak . ‘ Once you passthe test you only need go there to tend a broken head when the play get under one’s skin toorough . One day you will carry my stave . ’ She nodded towards the tapering lengthof studded and slot elf - metal which tilt against the bulwark . ‘ One Clarence Day youwill model beside the Black Chair , and be Father Yarvi . ’
‘ Father Yarvi . ’ He squirmed on his stool at that thought . ‘ I lackthe wisdom . ’ He meant he lacked the courageousness , but miss the courage to admitit .
‘ soundness can be get a line , my prince . ’
He held his remaining hand , such as it was , up to the twinkle . ‘ And hands?Can you instruct those ? ’
‘ You may miss a hand , but the immortal have given you rarer gift . ’
He snorted . ‘ My fine singing voice , you mean ? ’
‘ Why not ? And a quick mind , and empathy , and strength . Only the kindof strong point that makes a capital minister , rather than a capital king . You havebeen touched by Father Peace , Yarvi . Always remember : strong men are many , wisemen are few . ’
‘ No doubt why women make better ministers . ’
‘ And better tea , in general . ’ Gundring slurped from the cup hebrought her every eventide , and nodded approving again . ‘ But the making of tea isanother of your mighty talents . ’
‘ Hero ’s work indeed . Will you give me less flattery when I ’ve turnedfrom prince into minister ? ’
‘ You will get such flattery as you deserve , and my infantry in your arsethe rest of the time . ’
Yarvi sighed . ‘ Some thing never interchange . ’
‘ Now to history . ’ Mother Gundring slide one of the leger from itsshelf , stone set into the gilded spine blink bolshy and green .
‘ Now ? I have to be up with Mother Sun to feed your Columba . I washoping to get some rest before — ’
‘ I ’ll let you slumber when you ’ve fall the test . ’
‘ No you wo n’t . ’
‘ You ’re right , I wo n’t . ’ She licked one finger , ancient papercrackling as she turn the page . ‘ Tell me , my prince , into how many splintersdid the elves break God ? ’
‘ Four hundred and nine . The four hundred Small Gods , the six TallGods , the first valet and cleaning woman , and demise , who guards the Last Door . But isn’tthis more the patronage of a prayer - weaver than a rector ? ’
Mother Gundring click her clapper . ‘ All cognition is the businessof the diplomatic minister , for only what is known can be ensure . Name the six TallGods . ’
‘ Mother Sea and Father Earth , Mother Sun and Father Moon , Mother Warand — ’
The door banged astray and that seek malarky tore through the sleeping room . The flames in the firepit jumped as Yarvi did , dancing distorted in the hundredhundred shock and feeding bottle on the shelves . A figure blundered up the steps , setting the bunches of plants sway like hanged man behind him .
It was Yarvi ’s Uncle Odem , pilus plaster to his pale face with therain and his chest heave . He stared at Yarvi , eyes broad , and opened his mouthbut made no sound . One needed no talent of empathy to see he was weighed down byheavy news .
‘ What is it ? ’ croaked Yarvi , his pharynx close with fear .
His uncle dropped to his knees , manus on the greasy straw . He bowedhis psyche , and spoke two word of honor , low and raw .
‘ My king . ’
And Yarvi knew his father and brother were dead .
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