Half a King is a rollickingly fun read, about a prince in a Viking-like kingdom who was born with a deformed hand, so he can't hold sword and shield and be a proper warrior. He trains as a minister and adviser, but is thrust onto the throne when his father and older brother are assassinated. Not to give too much away, but thus begins his adventure that starts on a creaky merchant vessel and goes to a cross-country journey in a frozen tundra and ends in an abandoned keep with the odds stacked against the characters. The book is laced with Abercrombie's knack for memorable characters and crackling dialogue, and feels like a cross between Game of Thrones and The Count of Monte Cristo, and is both a look at level-headed politics and a piece of swashbuckling adventure. The rambunctious plot never goes where you expect it to and has more twists and turns than a malfunctioning GPS. Great for people who hate fantasy (no elves, wizards, or magic swords here!) This is also a great YA crossover and works as a coming-of-age novel. Appropriate for both teens and adults.