HALF A WAR

Yarvi is the unlikely heir to the throne--a clever, thoughtful boy with a crippled hand who feels out of place in a violent, Viking-like society. Thorn is a young girl, determined to follow in the footsteps of her dead father and become a famous warrior, whatever it takes. Now Yarvi has avenged the murder of his father, and sets out on an epic journey with Thorn that will embroil his kingdom in all-out war. 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. If she is to reclaim her birthright, she must conquer her fears and sharpen her wits to a lethal edge. Only half a war is fought with swords. The deeply cunning Father Yarvi has walked a long road from crippled slave to king's minister. He has made allies of old foes and stitched together an uneasy peace. But now the ruthless Grandmother Wexen has raised the greatest army since the elves made war on God, and put Bright Yilling at its head-a man who worships only Death. Sometimes one must fight evil with evil. Some-like Thorn Bathu and the sword-bearer Raith-are born to fight, perhaps to die. Others- like Brand the smith and Koll the wood-carver- would rather stand in the light. But when Mother War spreads her irons wings, she may cast the whole Shattered Sea into darkness.