Book Review: Half a King by Joe Abercrombie

This is a engaging, fast paced fantasy with good twists.
Half a King
by Joe Abercrombie

• File Size: 1770 KB
• Print Length: 354 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0804178321
• Publisher: Del Rey (July 15, 2014)
• Sold by: Random House LLC
• ASIN: B00HBQWGYO

Genre: Fantasy Adventure
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Book Description
Publication Date: July 15, 2014
“A fast-paced tale of betrayal and revenge that grabbed me from page 1 and refused to let go.”—George R. R. Martin
“I swore an oath to avenge the death of my father. I may be half a man, but I swore a whole oath.”

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. And he must do it all with only one good hand.

The deceived will become the deceiver.
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.

The betrayed will become the betrayer.
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.

Will the usurped become the usurper?
But even with loyal friends at his side, Yarvi finds that his path may end as it began—in twists, and traps, and tragedy.

Review:
Prince Yarvi is a younger son and not expected to become the King. He was born with a deformity and has always been a disappointment to his father, brother and those who value the warrior brawn over brain. Only his mother, his uncle and his tutor, Mother Gundring have shown love and encouragement. Yarvi has trained to become a minister but right before he is to test as a noble scholar his father and brother are ambushed. Yarvi is troubled to become King (or half a King as many consider him) but, with the encouragement of his Uncle, he accepts. As one of his first acts he vows vengeance on those who murdered his father.

Yarvi and a small army go to face the alleged enemy. Although they didn’t find the leader of the clan, his men slaughtered many innocent villagers. As they were returning to their ship to go home Prince Yarvi meets betrayal and is left for dead in the carnage. Unexpectedly he lives and falls into the hands of his enemy. He can’t tell them who he truly is so he claims to be a ship’s cook and he is sold to a slaver.

Yarvi ends up as an oarsman with other slaves. His companions help him to learn to do one stroke at a time. Yarvi struggles to row, managing to grow muscles and strength as he plots escape and reclaiming his throne.

Yarvi’s learning comes in handy and he gains a promotion to supply officer. He manages better than his predecessor and provides better food and conditions for the other slaves who appreciate his efforts. Eventually Yarvi and some of his friends escape. Of course they face more hardships as they try to stay ahead of the ship’s Captain who pursues. Yarvi finally reveals his identity and a group of his friends agree to help him sneak into the castle to capture the false king. Clues picked up along the way reveal how extended the betrayal was and, before the band faces the impostor king, there are more secrets and twists to surprise everyone and to challenge Yarvi once again.

Yarvi is not the usual handsome, strong hero. Instead he is a deformed, weak, scholarly nerd who is scorned in his society of warriors. But Yarvi is shrewd and remembers the wisdom shared by his teacher. His friends are a wonderful mix of characters who have suffered through hardships and share different talents for the obstacles they face. I enjoyed the characters, the fast paced adventure and was pleased with the twists at the end. I recommend this to those who enjoy engaging fantasy.

I received this from Del Rey through NetGalley.

Book Review: Hammer of Angels: A Novel of Shadowstorm by G. T. Almasi

This story is high octane action and impressive sci-fi alternate history.
Hammer of Angels: A Novel of Shadowstorm
by G. T. Almasi

• Print Length: 336 pages
• Publisher: Del Rey (November 25, 2014)
• Sold by: Random House Digital, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B009JU6UQU

Genre: Action, Alternate History, Sci Fi
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Book Description
Publication Date: November 25, 2014
In G. T. Almasi’s thrilling alternate reality, the United States, the USSR, and the Republic of China share a fragile balance of power with Greater Germany, which emerged from World War II in control of Europe and half of the Middle East. To avoid nuclear Armageddon, the four superpowers pursue their ambitions with elite spies known as Levels, who are modified with mechanical and chemical enhancements.

Nineteen-year-old Alix Nico, code-named Scarlet, is a kick-ass superheroine with killer Mods and an attitude to match. She’s considered one of America’s top Levels, even though her last mission nearly precipitated World War III. So now Scarlet and her new partner, Darwin, have been sent to Greater Germany to help sow the seeds of anarchy and prevent Germany’s defection to Russia and China.

But where Scarlet goes, chaos follows—and when her mission takes an unexpected turn, she and Darwin must go ever deeper into enemy territory. As Scarlet grapples with a troubling attraction to her new partner, explosive information comes to light about the German cloning program and one of its prisoners—a legendary American Level who just happens to be Scarlet’s father.

“First-rate . . . a hell-bent-for-leather mash-up of spy novel and SF.”—Eric Van Lustbader, on Blades of Winter.

Review:
Alix aka Scarlet is a nineteen year old, bionic, medically-enhanced, kick-butt spy-agent. She has recovered from her last assignment (Blades of Winter) where she lost her partner and lover, Trick.  Now a new partner arrives shocking her until she learns he is Trick's 'brother', one of a triplet of clones. Brando, aka Darwin, has been programmed with most of Trick’s memories so that he can help Scarlet on their new assignment.

Scarlet wants to hunt down a man she believes is a traitor. But Fredericks is high up in the program and the government doesn’t want him disturbed. The assignment she and Darwin are given is to incite a slave revolt by the Jewish slave community in Greater Germany.  Although there is a fine line for US involvement, this action is designed to help keep Germany from seeking alliances with Russia and China.

Stirring up trouble comes rather easily to Scarlet. Several other agents, including Raj from the first book and Grey, a new “invisible” agent, come along to help keep Scarlet safe from the government and Purity League forces. There are new friends too, including a resistance leader, underground collaborators and a surprise sniper, Falcon, who could be Scarlet’s father when he was young! This gets Scarlet and her team side tracked on a renewed hunt for her father, code name Big Bertha, who has apparently been captured and used in a major German cloning program. Scarlet races at full steam but she stumbles as her upgrades and med doses begin to impact her system.

The layout in the first book continues in this one with informative journal entry sections interspersed with the action.  I love all of the intense battle action with unique ammo for different purposes and enemies.  This book tends to have carnage scenes that are a bit more graphic than the first book.  There is mystery and the tension of betrayal with the continued suspicion of a mole in the agency. There is a light tease of new romance and humor that includes a prayer with a touch of irreverence. I really enjoy the alternative history, with ‘Floating Railroads’ and circumstances that mirror images of real life.

Unfortunately I was distracted during the story by the liberal, unnecessary, use of the “f” word.  (A search shows the word 32 times so that would be about every tenth page in 336 pages.) I think this is an early ARC version of the title and maybe it will be toned down before release in November 2014. As much as I enjoy Scarlet and this wonderful sci-fi world of action I am truly conflicted as to whether I would read the next in the series. However, if you love high action sci-fi, I do recommend picking up the first book and, if you can read past and around the unpleasant word, put this highly entertaining sequel on pre-order or your wish list for when it releases.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Brando/Darwin explains part of their orders to Scarlet:

“You shall create a chaotic and confused situation wherever possible.”
Story of my life.             Location 1123.

I received this title from Del Rey/Random House Digital through NetGalley.

Book Review: Blades of Winter by G. T. Almasi

What a "nonstop jolt-o-matic thrill ride"! This jumps into action and barely slows to let you (or the heroine) catch a breath.
Blades of Winter: A Novel of the Shadowstorm 
by G. T. Almasi

• Mass Market Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Del Rey (August 28, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0440423546
• ISBN-13: 978-0440423546

Genre: Action, Sci Fi, Fantasy
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

Book Description
Release Date: August 28, 2012 | Series: Shadowstorm
In one of the most exciting debuts in years, G. T. Almasi has fused the intricate cat-and-mouse games of a John le Carré novel with the brash style of comic book superheroes to create a kick-ass alternate history that reimagines the Cold War as a clash of spies with biological, chemical, and technological enhancements.

Nineteen-year-old Alix Nico, a self-described “million-dollar murder machine,” is a rising star in ExOps, a covert-action agency that aggressively shields the United States from its three great enemies: the Soviet Union, Greater Germany, and the Nationalist Republic of China. Rather than risk another all-out war, the four superpowers have poured their resources into creating superspies known as Levels.

Alix is one of the hottest young American Levels. That’s no surprise: Her dad was America’s top Level before he was captured and killed eight years ago. But when an impulsive decision explodes—literally—in her face, Alix uncovers a conspiracy that pushes her to her limits and could upset the global balance of power forever.

“Smart, sassy, and seriously appealing: a stunning debut.”—Jeff Long, New York Times bestselling author of The Descent

Review:
Alix is not your usual 19 year old. She has upgraded eyes, ears and other body parts along with built in adrenaline and kalmers – all ‘mods and enhances’ designed to help her as a covert-action spy.  In this alternate world super-powered spies are the main fighting source to keep the four super powers from war. ExOps is the covert spy agency for the United States.  Alix started training when she was 12 after her top Level father, “Big Bertha”, was believed killed on a mission in Germany.

Alix had a bit of a head start in training as she spent hours learning how to fight and shoot from her father as well as listening to tales of his dangerous missions. She has moved up quickly in the Levels. Although she is a valuable bionic asset with her fearless dedication, her youth and immaturity cause some impulsiveness in her actions. This creates more damage and risk than her superiors might like. On the other hand they are astonished as she snatches herself out of one death threat situation after another!

Alix, (code name Scarlet), is the spy in the field paired with her intelligence office, Patrick, (code name Trick).  They are a team, professionally and personally.  While Alix often allows headstrong emotional reactions to lead her, Patrick provides calm and logic. When Alix begins to face unexpected hostiles in her missions, it quickly becomes clear that there is a mole in the operations and Alix is a target although the motive is unknown.

The story is laid out well with intense action broken up with journal type entries. The CORE (Catalogue of Records, ExOps) entries explain the history of the wars that divided the super powers, the current politics, the bionic development, the mods, enhances and Levels and other world building details. Although these chapters are less intense, they are short bursts of information needed to better understand Alix’ world.

I loved the underlying humor, the intriguing world building, the high paced action and the suspenseful twists.  Things don’t always make sense and Alix’ flaws sometimes have her stumbling to success leaving a wake of carnage and collateral damage. The ending is a (not completely unexpected) surprise and left me with an “Ack! It ends now?” Mr. Almasi - bring on the next one!  If you like fun sci fi and action I highly recommend this title.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Levels:

Each series of modifications and enhancements brings the operative a new level of performance, hence the name for these agents: Levels.  Location 410.

Explaining the limitations of clones:

It turns out the experiences that shape our characters still have to be lived through. There’s no shortcut. For now. Location 5584.

I received this from Del Rey on NetGalley for an honest review.

This is set partly in Virginia for my Where Are You Reading Challenge.  I will also include it with the New Author challenge list.