Try free for 30 days
-
Half a King
- Shattered Sea, Book 1
- Narrated by: Ben Elliot
- Series: Shattered Sea, Book 1
- Length: 9 hrs and 25 mins
- Unabridged Audiobook
- Categories: Science Fiction & Fantasy, Fantasy
Add to basket failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from Wish List failed.
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
Listen with a free trial
Buy Now for $20.28
No valid payment method on file.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
Buy it with
-
Half the World
- Shattered Sea, Book 2
- By: Joe Abercrombie
- Narrated by: Ben Elliot
- Length: 12 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Sometimes a girl is touched by mother war. Thorn is such a girl. Desperate to avenge her dead father, she lives to fight. But she has been named murderer by the very man who trained her to kill. Sometimes a woman becomes a warrior Fate traps her in the schemes - and on the ship - of the deep-cunning minister Father Yarvi. Crossing half the world to find allies against the ruthless High King, she learns harsh lessons of blood and deceit.
-
-
Again fantastic
- By Anonymous User on 02-06-2021
-
Half a War
- Shattered Sea, Book 3
- By: Joe Abercrombie
- Narrated by: Ben Elliot
- Length: 12 hrs and 14 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
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.
-
-
entertaining
- By Sweetheart1 on 11-05-2020
-
The Wisdom of Crowds
- The Riotous Conclusion to The Age of Madness
- By: Joe Abercrombie
- Narrated by: Steven Pacey
- Length: 23 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Some say that to change the world you must first burn it down. Now that belief will be tested in the crucible of revolution: the Breakers and Burners have seized the levers of power, the smoke of riots has replaced the smog of industry and all must submit to the wisdom of crowds. With nothing left to lose, Citizen Brock is determined to become a new hero for the new age, while Citizeness Savine must turn her talents from profit to survival before she can claw her way to redemption. Orso will find that when the world is turned upside down, no one is lower than a monarch.
-
-
Almost
- By Anonymous User on 16-09-2021
-
Sharp Ends
- Stories from the World of The First Law
- By: Joe Abercrombie
- Narrated by: Steven Pacey, Joe Abercrombie
- Length: 11 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Union army may be full of bastards, but there's only one who thinks he can save the day singlehanded when the Gurkish come calling: the incomparable Colonel Sand dan Glokta. Curnden Craw and his dozen are out to recover a mysterious item from beyond the Crinna. Only one small problem: no one seems to know what the item is. Shevedieh, the self-styled best thief in Styria, lurches from disaster to catastrophe alongside her best friend and greatest enemy, Javre, Lioness of Hoskopp.
-
-
Amazing
- By Anonymous User on 01-12-2020
-
Red Country
- By: Joe Abercrombie
- Narrated by: Steven Pacey
- Length: 19 hrs and 52 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Shy South comes home to her farm to find a blackened shell; her brother and sister have been stolen and she's going to have to return to her bad old ways if she's ever going to see them again. She sets off in grim pursuit with only her cowardly old step-father Lamb for company. But it turns out he's hiding a bloody past of his own. None bloodier.
-
-
Western didn’t quite work
- By Anonymous User on 26-12-2020
-
The Trouble with Peace
- The Gripping Sunday Times Bestselling Fantasy
- By: Joe Abercrombie
- Narrated by: Steven Pacey
- Length: 21 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Savine dan Glokta, once Adua's most powerful investor, finds her judgement, fortune and reputation in tatters. But she still has all her ambitions, and no scruple will be permitted to stand in her way. For heroes like Leo dan Brock and Stour Nightfall, only happy with swords drawn, peace is an ordeal to end as soon as possible. But grievances must be nursed, power seized and allies gathered first, while Rikke must master the power of the Long Eye...before it kills her.
-
-
Absolutely outstanding and exceeding expectations
- By Hawk on 17-09-2020
-
Half the World
- Shattered Sea, Book 2
- By: Joe Abercrombie
- Narrated by: Ben Elliot
- Length: 12 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Sometimes a girl is touched by mother war. Thorn is such a girl. Desperate to avenge her dead father, she lives to fight. But she has been named murderer by the very man who trained her to kill. Sometimes a woman becomes a warrior Fate traps her in the schemes - and on the ship - of the deep-cunning minister Father Yarvi. Crossing half the world to find allies against the ruthless High King, she learns harsh lessons of blood and deceit.
-
-
Again fantastic
- By Anonymous User on 02-06-2021
-
Half a War
- Shattered Sea, Book 3
- By: Joe Abercrombie
- Narrated by: Ben Elliot
- Length: 12 hrs and 14 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
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.
-
-
entertaining
- By Sweetheart1 on 11-05-2020
-
The Wisdom of Crowds
- The Riotous Conclusion to The Age of Madness
- By: Joe Abercrombie
- Narrated by: Steven Pacey
- Length: 23 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Some say that to change the world you must first burn it down. Now that belief will be tested in the crucible of revolution: the Breakers and Burners have seized the levers of power, the smoke of riots has replaced the smog of industry and all must submit to the wisdom of crowds. With nothing left to lose, Citizen Brock is determined to become a new hero for the new age, while Citizeness Savine must turn her talents from profit to survival before she can claw her way to redemption. Orso will find that when the world is turned upside down, no one is lower than a monarch.
-
-
Almost
- By Anonymous User on 16-09-2021
-
Sharp Ends
- Stories from the World of The First Law
- By: Joe Abercrombie
- Narrated by: Steven Pacey, Joe Abercrombie
- Length: 11 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Union army may be full of bastards, but there's only one who thinks he can save the day singlehanded when the Gurkish come calling: the incomparable Colonel Sand dan Glokta. Curnden Craw and his dozen are out to recover a mysterious item from beyond the Crinna. Only one small problem: no one seems to know what the item is. Shevedieh, the self-styled best thief in Styria, lurches from disaster to catastrophe alongside her best friend and greatest enemy, Javre, Lioness of Hoskopp.
-
-
Amazing
- By Anonymous User on 01-12-2020
-
Red Country
- By: Joe Abercrombie
- Narrated by: Steven Pacey
- Length: 19 hrs and 52 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Shy South comes home to her farm to find a blackened shell; her brother and sister have been stolen and she's going to have to return to her bad old ways if she's ever going to see them again. She sets off in grim pursuit with only her cowardly old step-father Lamb for company. But it turns out he's hiding a bloody past of his own. None bloodier.
-
-
Western didn’t quite work
- By Anonymous User on 26-12-2020
-
The Trouble with Peace
- The Gripping Sunday Times Bestselling Fantasy
- By: Joe Abercrombie
- Narrated by: Steven Pacey
- Length: 21 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Savine dan Glokta, once Adua's most powerful investor, finds her judgement, fortune and reputation in tatters. But she still has all her ambitions, and no scruple will be permitted to stand in her way. For heroes like Leo dan Brock and Stour Nightfall, only happy with swords drawn, peace is an ordeal to end as soon as possible. But grievances must be nursed, power seized and allies gathered first, while Rikke must master the power of the Long Eye...before it kills her.
-
-
Absolutely outstanding and exceeding expectations
- By Hawk on 17-09-2020
-
The Heroes
- By: Joe Abercrombie
- Narrated by: Steven Pacey
- Length: 23 hrs and 5 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
They say Black Dow's killed more men than winter, and clawed his way to the throne of the North up a hill of skulls. The King of the Union, ever a jealous neighbour, is not about to stand smiling by while he claws his way any higher. The orders have been given and the armies are toiling through the northern mud. Thousands of men are converging on a forgotten ring of stones, on a worthless hill, in an unimportant valley, and they've brought a lot of sharpened metal with them.
-
-
Abercrombie Pacey - ultimate author narrator combo
- By Daniel on 21-10-2019
-
A Little Hatred
- The First in the Epic Sunday Times Bestselling Series
- By: Joe Abercrombie
- Narrated by: Steven Pacey
- Length: 20 hrs and 19 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
On the blood-soaked borders of Angland, Leo dan Brock struggles to win fame on the battlefield and defeat the marauding armies of Stour Nightfall. He hopes for help from the crown. But King Jezal's son, the feckless Prince Orso, is a man who specialises in disappointments. Savine dan Glokta - socialite, investor and daughter of the most feared man in the Union - plans to claw her way to the top of the slag-heap of society by any means necessary. But the slums boil over with a rage that all the money in the world cannot control.
-
-
Fantastic book. A must listen.
- By Michael Q on 20-09-2019
-
Best Served Cold
- By: Joe Abercrombie
- Narrated by: Steven Pacey
- Length: 26 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Springtime in Styria. And that means war. There have been nineteen years of blood. The ruthless Grand Duke Orso is locked in a vicious struggle with the squabbling League of Eight, and between them they have bled the land white. While armies march, heads roll and cities burn, behind the scenes bankers, priests and older, darker powers play a deadly game to choose who will be king.
-
-
Wow! What an awesome read!👍
- By A fan on 10-06-2017
-
Last Argument of Kings
- The First Law: Book Three
- By: Joe Abercrombie
- Narrated by: Steven Pacey
- Length: 27 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The end is coming. Logen Ninefingers might only have one more fight in him but it’s going to be a big one. Battle rages across the North, the King of the Northmen still stands firm and there’s only one man who can stop him. His oldest friend and his oldest enemy. It’s time for the Bloody-Nine to come home. With too many masters and too little time, Superior Glokta is fighting a different kind of war. A secret struggle in which no-one is safe and no-one can be trusted.
-
-
Steven pacey does an amazing job
- By Mitchell on 24-01-2017
-
Before They Are Hanged
- The First Law: Book Two
- By: Joe Abercrombie
- Narrated by: Steven Pacey
- Length: 22 hrs and 38 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Bitter and merciless war is coming to the frozen north. It's bloody and dangerous and the Union army, split by politics and hamstrung by incompetence, is unprepared for the slaughter that's coming. Lacking experience, training, and in some cases even weapons, the army is scarcely equipped to repel Bethod's scouts, let alone his elite forces. In the heat-ravaged south, the Gurkish are massing to assault the city of Dagoska, defended by Inquisitor Glokta.
-
-
Outstanding
- By Chris on 28-05-2016
-
The Blade Itself
- The First Law: Book One
- By: Joe Abercrombie
- Narrated by: Steven Pacey
- Length: 22 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Inquisitor Glokta, a crippled and bitter relic of the last war, former fencing champion turned torturer, is trapped in a twisted and broken body - not that he allows it to distract him from his daily routine of torturing smugglers.Nobleman, dashing officer and would-be fencing champion Captain Jezal dan Luthar is living a life of ease by cheating his friends at cards. Vain and shallow, the biggest blot on his horizon is having to get out of bed in the morning to train with obsessive and boring old men.
-
-
Gritty, violent, dark..... And hilarious. Enjoy
- By Marc on 15-11-2015
-
Dawnshard
- Stormlight Archive
- By: Brandon Sanderson
- Narrated by: Kate Reading, Michael Kramer
- Length: 7 hrs and 5 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
When a ghost ship is discovered, its crew presumed dead after trying to reach the storm-shrouded island Akina, Navani Kholin must send an expedition to make sure the island hasn't fallen into enemy hands. Knights Radiant who fly too near find their Stormlight suddenly drained, so the voyage must be by sea. Shipowner Rysn Ftori lost the use of her legs but gained the companionship of Chiri-Chiri, a Stormlight-ingesting winged larkin, a species once thought extinct. Now Rysn's pet is ill, and any hope for Chiri-Chiri’s recovery can be found only at the ancestral home of the larkin.
-
The Pariah
- The Covenant of Steel, Book 1
- By: Anthony Ryan
- Narrated by: Steven Brand
- Length: 19 hrs and 57 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Born into the troubled kingdom of Albermaine, Alwyn Scribe is raised as an outlaw. Quick of wit and deft with a blade, Alwyn is content with the freedom of the woods and the comradeship of his fellow thieves. But an act of betrayal sets him on a new path - one of blood and vengeance, which eventually leads him to a soldier's life in the king's army. Fighting under the command of Lady Evadine Courlain, a noblewoman beset by visions of a demonic apocalypse, Alwyn must survive war and the deadly intrigues of the nobility if he hopes to claim his vengeance.
-
-
simply amazing
- By Boris on 31-08-2021
-
The Shadow of the Gods
- By: John Gwynne
- Narrated by: Colin Mace
- Length: 18 hrs and 13 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
After the gods warred and drove themselves to extinction, the cataclysm of their fall shattered the land of Vigrið. Now a new world is rising, where power-hungry jarls feud and monsters stalk the woods and mountains. A world where the bones of the dead gods still hold great power for those brave - or desperate - enough to seek them out. As whispers of war echo across the mountains and fjords, fate follows in the footsteps of three people.
-
-
non believable female characters
- By Anonymous User on 01-08-2021
-
The Lies of Locke Lamora
- By: Scott Lynch
- Narrated by: Michael Page
- Length: 21 hrs and 59 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
They say that the Thorn of Camorr can beat anyone in a fight. They say he steals from the rich and gives to the poor. They say he's part man, part myth, and mostly street-corner rumor. And they are wrong on every count. Only averagely tall, slender, and god-awful with a sword, Locke Lamora is the fabled Thorn, and the greatest weapons at his disposal are his wit and cunning. He steals from the rich - they're the only ones worth stealing from - but the poor can go steal for themselves.
-
-
best performace ive ever experienced. superb.
- By Ollie on 28-05-2018
-
The Hunger of the Gods
- Book Two of the Bloodsworn Saga
- By: John Gwynne
- Narrated by: Colin Mace
- Length: 22 hrs and 57 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Lik-Rifa, the dragon god of legend, has been freed from her eternal prison. Now she plots a new age of blood and conquest. As Orka continues the hunt for her missing son, the Bloodsworn sweep south in a desperate race to save one of their own - and Varg takes the first steps on the path of vengeance. Elvar has sworn to fulfil her blood oath and rescue a prisoner from the clutches of Lik-Rifa and her dragonborn followers, but first she must persuade the Battle-Grim to follow her. Yet even the might of the Bloodsworn and Battle-Grim cannot stand alone against a dragon god.
-
-
Incredible
- By Telmach on 24-04-2022
-
Prince of Thorns: Broken Empire 1
- By: Mark Lawrence
- Narrated by: Joe Jameson
- Length: 8 hrs and 57 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Prince of Thorns is the first volume in a powerful new epic fantasy trilogy, original, absorbing and challenging. Before the thorns taught me their sharp lessons and bled weakness from me I had but one brother, and I loved him well. But those days are gone and what is left of them lies in my mother's tomb. Now I have many brothers, quick with knife and sword, and as evil as you please. We ride this broken empire and loot its corpse.
-
-
Brutal
- By stephanie joanne on 22-09-2017
Editorial Reviews
Publisher's Summary
A classic coming-of-age tale set in a vivid and richly-imagined world from Sunday Times bestselling author Joe Abercrombie.
Prince Yarvi has vowed to regain a throne he never wanted. But first he must survive cruelty, chains and the bitter waters of the Shattered Sea itself. And he must do it all with only one good hand.
Born a weakling in the eyes of his father, Yarvi is alone in a world where a strong arm and a cold heart rule. He cannot grip a shield or swing an axe, so he must sharpen his mind to a deadly edge.
Gathering a strange fellowship of the outcast and the lost, he finds they can do more to help him become the man he needs to be than any court of nobles could.
But even with loyal friends at his side, Yarvi's path may end as it began - in twists, and traps and tragedy…
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)
" Half a King can be summed up in a single word: Masterpiece" ( Myke Cole)
"With eye-popping plot twists and rollicking good action, Half a King is definitely a full adventure" ( Rick Riodan)
More from the same
Narrator
What listeners say about Half a King
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Anonymous User
- 06-04-2021
Where oh where is Steven Pacey?
Awesome story with some easter eggs. Would of been oh so much better if Steven Pacey was narrating.
3 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- hisham elkiki
- 26-06-2021
Narrator is terrible but the story is impeccable.
Gutted that Steven Pacey didn't narrate this one. I understand it is designed to appeal to a different demographic than the First Law but why fix what's not broken? Abercrombie is my favorite author and Steven Pacey is one of my favorite narrators but this collaboration with Ben Elliott doesn't have the diversity, range or depth required to bring this beautiful story to life and do it the justice it deserves. A little bit of effort or a re-recording with a superior narrator would change the common disappointed theme I'm hearing due to this production choice. Nothing should be taken away from Joe Abercrombie here simply take the microphone away from Ben Elliott's monotony and the masterpiece will shine as It should
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Simon
- 29-03-2017
great but short
loved this book it's was a little short. it was a bad choice for my free book I should have picked something that would go on and on so I could get my money's worth. otherwise really fun book
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Thomas
- 23-11-2018
Buy this book. It is very well done.
Joe Abercrombie has fast become one of my favourite fantasy authors. This is a great book
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Graeme
- 13-07-2015
Just Not Abercrombie
I couldn't finish this book. Got close, but couldn't quite limp across the finish line, it was just that hard going. Let me setup this review by firstly stating that I'm a huge Abrecrombie fan and I'd probably class him, along with a handful of other writers such as Martin, Sanderson, McClellan and Watson, as one of the best, if not the best, of the modern fantasy genre. If I listened to this book without knowing the author I wouldn't have been able to guess who it was after a multitude of attempts, this book is just so far removed from his previous works. I know this new series is aimed at the YA market, but I still had high hopes and had been hanging out for anything new from him for an age. I was bitterly disappointed that this is what I'd waited so long for.
I found that all characters lacked depth and the lead character was simply unlikable. The real, gritty, interesting, if deeply flawed, characters of the 'The First Law' world were missing from this book. You may not have liked or were able to relate to all of the characters from this world, but they generally intrigued and always kept you coming back for more. I found the lead character of this book so irritating and annoying that I was hoping he'd be killed off, but no such luck.
I also found the narration mediocre at best. I've only listened to one of his books previously, I read all the others, but Steven Pacey was outstanding. This performance was not even close to that standard.
I will not be purchasing the rest of the series and will now need to wait until Joe, hopefully, returns to the world and/or style that made him one of my favourite authors. Let's hope he churns out the rest of this series nice and quick so that this occurs sooner rather than later. I want my old Joe back!
3 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- david
- 17-05-2015
Always the Shattered hero
Joe Abercrombie always talks about the shattered hero. Or is this really saying we all have to make do with what we have.
A brilliant writter who takes me on a journey
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Craig kennedy
- 17-04-2022
IS THIS A JOKE?
I've listenned to all of the first law audio books and absolutely loved them. Abercrombie read by steven Pacey = awesome.
I originally thought that this was a mistake, and I had downloaded something THINKING it was Joe Abercrombie, but wasn't... i was wrong.
Then I thought, maybe it was just the Horrid Narration by Ben Elliot which made me hate everything about this book, then i realised it wasn't... only that... the character building is awful, i hated the main character straight off the bat, and that never changed, the rest of them all blended into one, partly because there was nothing significant about any of them, and partly because regardless of age, sex or demographic, Ben Elliot made them sound all identical!
The story was Boring with ridiculous attempts at plot twists that just made me roll my eyes and keep getting angry at myself for continually pushing through to the next chapter, and the "world building" seemed like it all happened in the span of a circle in the back yard.
If you love Abercrombie, leave this one out, its a mistake.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Anjella
- 09-06-2021
Another great Abercrombie book
I’d left this sitting in my audible library after reading all the negative reviews of the narrator. I don’t know what everyone’s moaning about! Of course he’s no Steven Pacey (well who else is!) but he’s still damn good. He reads fluently and smoothly and you still feel the characters living. This trilogy is a little simpler than the others and seems a little more aimed at the YA readers, but I’m up to the 3rd now and still every bit as invested in the characters and plot.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Amazon Customer
- 18-05-2020
Narrator is the worst
I could not deal with this narrator. So incredibly slow and boring. I sped it up but it just ruined the story for me, which I think otherwise would have been good. I love the Abercrombie books narrated by Steven Pacey, bring him back!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Paul
- 13-05-2020
Not Worthy of Joe
Very Disappointing when compared to his other books. Would not recommend it to an enemy.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Elina Makhalova
- 27-07-2021
Loved it!
Great book. I was hungering for Viking fantasy with a twist, and by God, it delivered.
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Anonymous User
- 05-02-2020
A fun adventure
Was a pleasant read. Not too long and not too short. Requires a little bit of an attention span, if english isn't your 1st language.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Anonymous User
- 26-09-2019
Superb
Fantastic. Loved it. Abercrombie does it again. Great work by Ben Eliott aswell. 5/5 stars.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Anonymous User
- 17-04-2019
horrible narrative
I have no doubt the book is good since I've read most of the authors books. Sadly I couldent stand the narrator. A voice that shall haunt my mind for all time.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Ivan
- 23-05-2016
Great story. Mediocre reader.
Abercrombie doesn't disappoint. Good story, if a bit rudimentary. The speak is not great. But ok.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Warren
- 28-07-2015
Good Story, OKish performance
Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?
It was a good story, and i would like hear the rest of the shattered see novels. Yes time well spent!
Would you be willing to try another one of Ben Elliot’s performances?
Not really, i thought he was dead pan and missed some of Joe Abercrombies humor
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- ola
- 16-04-2015
Perfect
Just love his books. Hope Joe will continue write his dark fantasy with all his fantastic characters from that evil world he has created
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- May-Helen Flatstrand
- 13-11-2014
Enjoyable start to a new series.
What did you love best about Half a King?
The setting. Abercrombie have created a world that seem slightly more inspired by norse culture and nordic history than the average fantasy book. There are for example hints of parallels to the centralization of power which happened in Scandinavia during the Viking age. Not by any means to the extent of giving anyone a lesson in history, but it makes the book more enjoyable to those who already have an interest in norse history I think.
What did you like best about this story?
The ending. It might be argued that this is a much lighter read than what Abercrombie usually serves and the characters are not quite as strong or memorable as some of the others he have created, but as establishing a new world with new characters for a new series I think it works well.
I gave an extra star for giving the book an ending that creates anticipation of what comes next without making a cliffhanger. Reading George R.R. Martin have given me a deep aversion of cliffhangers.
Any additional comments?
Bloody good entertainment.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Viv
- 29-08-2014
Sadly repetitive
As an enthusiastic listener to Joe Abercrombie's stories I was sadly disappointed by this one. The story is quite 'thin' and the characters largely a rehash of the ones you find in his other books. Despite that I am hopeful that it is an opening for a much better story line as the series proceeds. The narration, whilst good, is not as captivating as the narration in his other audio works by (I think) Stephen Pacey.
16 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- a
- 28-12-2014
An Enjoyable Story... shame about the performance
Any additional comments?
I liked the story, though I much prefer Abercrombie's First Law World. Unfortunately the performance really lets the side down. Bring back Steven Pacey. Where Elliot burbles his narration in a monotone drone, Pacey has the emotional range to bring the words to life. Where Elliot's character voices all sound the same, Pacey imbues each character with a unique identity capable of expressing complex emotions. I will buy Half a Land when it is released, but I don't think I'll buy the audio companion, not if it's narrated by Ben Elliot at any rate.
10 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Paul
- 24-07-2014
Least good of Abercrombie's books
when I finished a long non fantasy talking book I was pleased to see that Abercrombie had a new book out on audible and just downloaded it. Should have checked more carefully. This is clearly for Young Adults / teens as opposed to his normal output. That's not to say it's bad, it's just that compared to his usual excellent novels this one is obvious where it's going, no great depth or complexity to the characters. If you don't know Joe Abercrombie's work then it's fine and I listened to it to the end but if you have listened to the heroes, before they are hanged etc you will be disappointed.
8 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Robyn
- 14-09-2014
Great stuff
This is supposed to be Abercrombie for the young adult market. Well this "older adult" is quite happy with it too!
Not quite as gritty as the First Law Trilogy, but equally engaging and raw, and still enough blood and guts to satisfy an Abercrombie fan.
Roll on book 2......
15 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Karen
- 10-07-2014
Not just for YA or (Joe you had me worried)
Any additional comments?
I love Abercrombies books, so had to listen/read this one when it came out, despite it being tagged a young adult story. I figured it would lose so much without his usual dark and gritty story telling.
But happy to be proved wrong, although I didn't enjoy it as much as his adult books I still enjoyed the story, it has his wonderfully deep and complex characters and as ever strong and capable female characters (thanks Joe) loads of plot twists and turns, humour and adventure.
Although a lot subtler and more condensed then in his adult books, the violence is still there just a lot less graphic, so if you like your fantasy gore free this is a safe bet.
Overall an enjoyable viking-esque fantasy story that sucked me in enough that I had to listen to it in one sitting.
Sum it up as a timeless adventure suitable for young adult and old fogeys alike.
And I can't wait for book two.
9 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Ashley Sharif
- 13-07-2020
Adolescent Abercombie
This is a good story, but not of the depth, darkness and immersiveness of adult Abercrombie. Unfortunately this narrator is not up to the high standards of Pacey (narrator of first law trilogy and first book of new trilogy). I will listen to the next two though as quite frankly it's Abercrombie and in my mind, he can do no wrong. The best 21st century fantasy author bar none. Abercombie would be outranked by Rothfuss if Patrick had actually bothered to finish his trilogy but that's a discussion for another thread.
3 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Andrew J Chamberlain
- 26-01-2015
A decent enough story, a passable performance
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
Worth a listen if you are a Joe Abercrombie fan, interesting sory with the rich background that we expect from Joe
Who was your favorite character and why?
The characters didn't quite reach the exceptionally high standards of the First Law Trilogy but were interesting enough
How did the narrator detract from the book?
Audible askes the rather loaded and unhelpful question "how did the narrator detract from the book" especially unfair for some of the great narrators I've heard. Ben Elliot makes a passable effort of this book, not as good as the excellent Stephen Pacey who did The Frsot Law but reasonable enough. Maybe Ben is more of a "YA" narrator, maybe he's new to Audible. It wasn't bad certainly, but theres room for improvement
3 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Milad
- 22-05-2015
Could have been better
Would you try another book written by Joe Abercrombie or narrated by Ben Elliot?
I loved the first law trilogy by Joe Abercrombie but this one is a lot shorter, the story is much milder (not necessarily a bad thing) but more importantly the narrator was not up to the job. Most voices sounded the same and/or were not suited to the characters. They were done in a way that made me feel as if I was listening to a children's book.
What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)
I found the ending to be interesting.
Who might you have cast as narrator instead of Ben Elliot?
To be honest, the first one that comes to mind when it comes to Mr Abercrombie's books is Steven Pacey. He did such a fantastic job on the other books that I would want to cast him for all of Mr Abercrombie's.
Was Half a King worth the listening time?
hmmmm...
Any additional comments?
Please redo these books with a different narrator.
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Mike
- 12-03-2015
Gripping from the first page
I just finished this today and I'm sitting here slightly stunned. It's been a long, long time since I read something so packed with betrayal, violence, and dramatic plot twists which is also written by someone who draws vivid characters, creates a whole new mythology and has an ear for language and rhythm that lifts his prose almost into a song at times.
The plot of "Half A King", at least as it was described by the publishers, sounded like "Game of Thrones" without the dragons and the nudity. I didn't find that encouraging. I never got past the third chapter of the first "Game of Thrones" book, I listened to a sample of "Half A King" found it well-written and narrated and decided to give it try.
I was gripped from the first page, not so much by the plot as by the tone and pace of the thing: unhurried but focused, like a performer at the beginning of a contemporary ballet, full of controlled energy and potential passion.
Fortunately for me, I had a long commute this week, a round trip drive of nearly 700 miles, during which I could listen to "Half A King". I drank it in: a strange future world, fallen back into feudalism, murder and intrigue at court, a crippled prince unexpectedly becoming a king.
I thought to myself, "Ah, I know where this goes but I'll listen because I'm enjoying the ride". I did enjoy the ride but it turned out that I had no idea where the book was going. After the first plot twist, the ground my complacency was standing on fell away and I tumbled into the unexpected. Then it happened again. And again. And each time without me feeling cheater or tricked. It was more like opening one of those Matryoshka dolls from Russia and finding another doll within and then another within that.
"Half A King" is filled with violence, cruelty, death, betrayal, slavery and, above all, revenge. Yet it does not glory in these things but rather wades through them with the grim determination of someone who's only safe path is through the midden. What it rejoices at is freedom and courage and loyalty, if only because they are so rare.
This was my first Joe Abercrombie book. It won't be my last. Read it, preferably when you can give yourself up to it and let real life fade.
5 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Graham
- 28-07-2014
Well Preformed
What did you like best about Half a King? What did you like least?
I thought the book was short however well structured. The story itself was disappointing and basically followed the story of the Lion King!
What will your next listen be?
Currently listening to Blood Song by Anthony Ryan
What about Ben Elliot’s performance did you like?
Well voiced and good distinction between characters
Could you see Half a King being made into a movie or a TV series? Who would the stars be?
nope
2 people found this helpful
16 Best Audiobooks by Aboriginal Authors
Across genres, there’s no shortage of brilliant titles from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander writers of Australia.



16 Audiobooks Full of Life Hacks to Live By
Looking to improve yourself mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually? This is where to start.



14 Feel-Good Audiobooks to Brighten Up Your Day
The Audible library is packed with feel-good audiobooks that will lighten the soul and fill the heart with joy.


