In Half a King by Joe Abercrombie, Yarvi, a young boy with a deformed hand, becomes king when his father and brother are killed. He doesn’t want the crown but has no choice. Though he feels that no one will ever accept him as king, he takes the throne under the auspices of his strong but harsh mother and supportive uncle. Immediately, they send him to war to avenge his father. But when he reaches the battlefield, Yarvi is betrayed by someone close to him and is sold into slavery.
Wanting nothing more than to regain his throne and have his revenge, Yarvi finds a set of unlikely comrades to assist him in his long journey back to his home. Along the way, the companions face dangers from weather, disease, and sword.
Although Half a King has not been marketed as young adult, but simply a fantasy novel, it has many elements of YA. The protagonist is young, and he faces many challenges. Uncertain of himself in the beginning, he grows enough during the book to consider this a coming-of-age story.
I would recommend this book for young adults and adults. It reads very fast and will maintain your attention throughout. Pick up the book and enjoy.