New Releases by Joe Abercrombie

Joe Abercrombie, jove promesa de la literatura fantàstica, inicia amb aquesta addictiva novel·la la nova i emocionant trilogia «El mar Trencat» «Una història trepidant de traïció i venjança que em va atrapar des de la primera pàgina, i de la qual ja no me n''he pogut desenganxar.» George R.R. Martin «Aquest és el meu llibre preferit d''Abercrombie.» Patrick Rothfuss En Iarvi, el fill petit del rei, va néixer amb una malformació en una mà que fa que tothom, fins i tot el seu pare, el considerés «mig home». Per això, en lloc de formar-se per esdevenir un guerrer, com la resta dels homes de la seva estrip, s''ha dedicat a estudiar per convertir-se en un dels clergues del regne. Però la vigília de l''última prova per ingressar en aquest ordre de savis, en Iarvi rep la notícia que el seu pare i el seu germà han estat assassinats. Ell és el nou rei. Després d''una terrible traïció ordida pels seus éssers estimats, en Iarvi es trobarà de sobte tot sol en un món governat per la força física i els cors freds. Incapaç de dur una armadura o d''aixecar una destral, haurà d''afilar i aguditzar la seva intel·ligència. Però una estranya germandat d''ànimes perdudes s''aplega al seu voltant i ell descobrirà que aquests companys inesperats poden ajudar-lo a convertir-se en l''home que li agradaria ser. «Vaig jurar que em venjaria dels assassins del meu pare. Pot ser sóc mig home, però vaig fer un jurament sencer.» Grans autors han dit... «Amb increïbles girs i una trama repleta de diversió, Mig rei és, definitivament, una gran aventura.» Rick Riordan « Mig rei és un assoliment extraordinari, emocionant, fascinant i impecable. L''acció és frenètica; els personatges afilats com les espases que branden, i l''humor, mordaç.» Derek Landy, autor de Detective esqueleto Y la prensa ha comentat... «Trepidant, descarnat i violent.» The Guardian «La prosa estel·lar d''Abercrombie, així com els seus intel·ligents girs argumentals, agradaran tant al públic adult com als lectors més joves.» Publishers Weekly «Abercrombie sap relacionar de forma magnífica les motivacions dels seus personatges amb els temes més actuals.» The Washington Post

Science fiction and fantasy has never been more diverse or vibrant, and 2014 has provided a bountiful crop of extraordinary stories. These stories are about the future, worlds beyond our own, the realms of our imaginations and dreams but, more importantly, they are the stories of ourselves. Featuring best-selling writers and emerging talents, here are some of the most exciting genre writers working today. Multi-award winning editor Jonathan Strahan once again brings you the best stories from the past year. Within you will find twenty-eight amazing tales from authors across the globe, displaying why science fiction and fantasy are genres increasingly relevant to our turbulent world. Featuring Kelly Link • Holly Black • Ken Liu • Usman T. Malik • Lauren Beukes • Paolo Bacigalupi • Joe Abercrombie • Genevieve Valentine • Nicola Griffith • Caitlín R. Kiernan • Greg Egan • K. J. Parker • Rachel Swirsky • Alice Sola Kim • Garth Nix • Karl Schroeder • Ellen Klages • Kai Ashante Wilson • Michael Swanwick • Eleanor Arnason • James Patrick Kelly • Ian Mcdonald • Amal El-Mohtar • Tim Maughan • Elizabeth Bear • Theodora Goss • Peter Watts

NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY BUZZFEED • ALEX AWARD WINNER • New York Times bestselling author Joe Abercrombie’s thrilling series continues in the follow-up to Half a King, which George R. R. Martin hailed as “a fast-paced tale of betrayal and revenge that grabbed me from page 1 and refused to let go.” “The Shattered Seas trilogy has worked its way into a very exclusive group of my favorite fantasy novels of all time.”—James Dashner, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Maze Runner 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 a murderer by the very man who trained her to kill. Sometimes a woman becomes a warrior. She finds herself caught up in the schemes of Father Yarvi, Gettland’s deeply cunning minister. Crossing half the world to find allies against the ruthless High King, she learns harsh lessons of blood and deceit. Sometimes a warrior becomes a weapon. Beside her on the journey is Brand, a young warrior who hates to kill, a failure in his eyes and hers, but with one chance at redemption. And weapons are made for one purpose. Will Thorn forever be a pawn in the hands of the powerful, or can she carve her own path? Praise for Half the World “An excellent page-turner . . . full of drama and energy.”—New York Daily News “Another entertaining burst of battle, magic and political machinations from the always reliable Joe Abercrombie . . . a thoroughgoing blast, a violent, beautiful rabbit hole of craft that is well worth disappearing into.”—Shelf Awareness “Compelling . . . [Thorn] makes Katniss Everdeen look like Dorothy Gale.”—Chicago Tribune “Splendid . . . Abercrombie has a knack for building characters with pathos and wit. . . . The fast-paced story draws readers along while setting up what promises to be an explosive final showdown.”—Publishers Weekly “Clever, exciting and unexpected.”—SFF World Praise for Joe Abercrombie’s Half a King “Half a King is my favorite book by Joe Abercrombie so far, and that’s saying something.”—Patrick Rothfuss “As in all Abercrombie’s books, friends turn out to be enemies, enemies turn out to be friends; the line between good and evil is murky indeed; and nothing goes quite as we expect. With eye-popping plot twists and rollicking good action, Half a King is definitely a full adventure.”—Rick Riordan “Enthralling! An up-all-night read.”—Robin Hobb “Polished and sharp, perhaps his most technically proficient novel yet . . . I dare you to read the first chapter and try not to turn the next page.”—Brent Weeks “Half a King can be summed up in a single word: masterpiece. It’s a coming-of-age story. It’s a Viking saga. It’s a revenge tale and family drama and the return of the prodigal son. But most of all, it’s this: a short time alongside people as weak and blundering as we are and, in the midst of it all, as heroic. Far too short a time, as it turns out. What a wonderful book.”—Myke Cole “Half a King is full of all the adventure I’ve come to expect from Abercrombie and a tenderness I never knew he had.”—Sam Sykes

Yarvi non aveva mai pensato che sarebbe potuto salire al trono. Nato con una mano deforme è inadatto al combattimento e, nel disprezzo del padre, il re del Gettland, il suo destino è diventare uno dei "ministranti", l''ordine di potenti sacerdoti consiglieri della corona. Ma, proprio la notte che precede l''ultimo esame, Yarvi e la sua maestra, Madre Gundring, sono raggiunti dalla notizia: il padre e il fratello di Yarvi sono morti, uccisi in un agguato ordito da Grom-gil-Gorm, sovrano del Vansterland, regno confinante e nemico. Adesso il re è lui. O mezzo re, per lo meno. Ma la sua vendetta dovrà essere intera. Spinto anche dal volere della madre, la bella e inflessibile Laithlin, Yarvi giura che farà giustizia contro gli assassini di padre e fratello e parte per Vansterland, pronto a dare battaglia. Ma subito cade vittima di un''imboscata e, salvatosi miracolosamente in mare, viene portato al mercato degli schiavi. Qui viene venduto per prestare servizio sulla nave capitanata da Shadikshirram, mercantessa dal cuore nero e la lingua affilata. Solo, nel mare ghiacciato, spogliato del suo lignaggio e incapace di reggere un''ascia o uno scudo, Yarvi potrà contare su una squadra di compagni improbabili e su un''unica vera arma: la sua mente. Basterà per ritornare a casa e portare a compimento la sua vendetta? Definito da più parti "il vero erede di George R.R. Martin", Abercrombie è uno dei più importanti autori fantasy delle nuove generazioni, un vero fenomeno editoriale in Inghilterra. I suoi libri, che sanno unire alla perfezione immaginazione, profondità e ironia, hanno meritato gli elogi dei principali autori di letteratura fantastica del mondo, da Rick Riordan e Robin Hobb fino a Martin stesso. Il Mezzo Re inaugura la "Trilogia del Mare Infranto", e segna il debutto di nuovi personaggi di cui è impossibile non innamorarsi, veloci col cervello e con la spada, sempre complessi e disegnati con filo misto, buono e cattivo insieme.

NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY TIME AND THE WASHINGTON POST • LOCUS AWARD WINNER “The Shattered Seas trilogy has worked its way into a very exclusive group of my favorite fantasy novels of all time.”—James Dashner, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Maze Runner “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. BONUS: This edition includes an excerpt from Joe Abercrombie’s Half the World. “Tremendously entertaining . . . lightning-fast and filled with a wonderful collection of rogues, villains and two-faced bastards . . . From the first chapter [Joe Abercrombie] wastes no time as the reader is swept up in a gripping tale of betrayal and revenge.”—SciFi Now “Once this plot has its teeth in you, it will not let go. . . . Abercrombie’s masterful storytelling means that everything, from the characters that you come to love and despise, to the sprawling world that is explored, is enthralling.”—Fantasy Book Review “Abercrombie’s Shattered Sea is a fantastic yet believable backdrop to Yarvi’s struggle, a vivid imaginary land.”—The Seattle Times “Intriguing characters . . . nonstop action.”—Chicago Tribune “Half a King is my favorite book by Joe Abercrombie so far, and that’s saying something.”—Patrick Rothfuss “As in all Abercrombie’s books, friends turn out to be enemies, enemies turn out to be friends; the line between good and evil is murky indeed; and nothing goes quite as we expect. With eye-popping plot twists and rollicking good action, Half a King is definitely a full adventure.”—Rick Riordan “Enthralling! An up-all-night read.”—Robin Hobb “Polished and sharp, perhaps his most technically proficient novel yet . . . I dare you to read the first chapter and try not to turn the next page.”—Brent Weeks “Half a King can be summed up in a single word: masterpiece. It’s a coming-of-age story. It’s a Viking saga. It’s a revenge tale and family drama and the return of the prodigal son. But most of all, it’s this: a short time alongside people as weak and blundering as we are and, in the midst of it all, as heroic. Far too short a time, as it turns out. What a wonderful book.”—Myke Cole “Half a King is full of all the adventure I’ve come to expect from Abercrombie and a tenderness I never knew he had.”—Sam Sykes

"Você não vai conseguir parar de virar as páginas." – George R. R. Martin, autor de A guerra dos tronos Nesta ardilosa sequência de O poder da espada, o futuro da União está em três frentes de batalha – e nenhuma delas parece nem perto da vitória. Sand dan Glokta se tornou o todo-poderoso de Dagoska e tem de impedir que ela seja tomada pelos inimigos – tarefa difícil em uma cidade com muralhas decadentes e escassez de soldados. Além disso, o ex-torturador também precisa desvendar uma conspiração no conselho governante e salvar a própria pele. Enquanto isso, nas terras congeladas de Angland, o coronel West tem pela frente uma complicada missão: proteger o príncipe herdeiro no campo de batalha e evitar que a inexperiência e a arrogância dele levem todos para a morte. Ao mesmo tempo, Bayaz, o Primeiro dos Magos, lidera uma expedição que cruzará o continente até a borda do Mundo. Passando por terras amaldiçoadas e esquecidas no passado, ele precisa encontrar a Semente – uma relíquia do Tempo Antigo que poderia pôr um fim à guerra, ao exército de comedores que se multiplica no Sul e aos bandos de shankas que atacam no Norte. Nessa trama inteligente e de personagens complexos, antigos segredos são revelados, batalhas sangrentas são travadas, inimigos mortais são perdoados – mas não antes de estarem na forca.

‘A fast-paced tale of betrayal and revenge that grabbed me from page one and refused to let go’ GEORGE R.R. MARTIN Read the first seven chapters of Joe Abercrombie’s fantastic new book!

Le passé ne reste jamais enterré... Farouche Sud aurait aimé oublier son passé une fois pour toutes. Mais lorsque son frère et sa sœur sont enlevés et sa ferme réduite en cendres par une bande de hors-la-loi, il est temps pour elle de reprendre ses anciennes habitudes. En compagnie du vieux Nordique qui l’a adoptée, un homme lui aussi marqué par ses démons, Farouche entame un long voyage à travers les plaines désertiques. Un voyage qui les emmène jusqu’aux bas-fonds d’une ville cauchemardesque, frappée par la ruée vers l’or, puis dans les montagnes inexplorées, qu’on dit hantées. Sur leur chemin, règlements de compte, alliances douteuses et trahisons amères se succèdent à la vitesse d’une flèche de barbare. Car même lorsqu’on croit avoir déjà tout perdu, au Pays Lointain le passé ne reste jamais enterré... « Des scènes de combat époustouflantes, des personnages cultes (les vieilles connaissances comme les nouveaux venus), et un style toujours aussi frappant. Abercrombie au sommet de sa forme. » Publishers Weekly « Acéré, incisif, impitoyable. » Locus « Entre western et Fantasy, un réjouissant mélange de réalisme brut, d’étude de caractère fascinante et de violence déchaînée. Personne ne fait de la Fantasy comme Joe Abercrombie. » The Guardian

An anthology of all original stories written to honour the memory of one of Britain''s greatest fantasy authors. Determined warriors, hideous creatures, wicked sorceries, tricksy villains and cunning lovers abound as fantasy''s finest imaginations do their best... and their worst. James Barclay reveals the origins of The Raven, Adrian Tchaikovsky unveils new aspects of the realm of the Apt, Tanith Lee, Joe Abercrombie, Storm Constantine, Stan Nicholls, Juliet E McKenna and more weave their magic as only they can. Produced in cooperation with the David Gemmell Awards, Legends will, in part, act as a fund-raiser for the awards. Steel yourself, throw caution to the wind, and dare to enter the realm of Legends

För Monza Murcatto är nåd detsamma som feghet och en vän bara en potentiell fiende. Att ha henne som fiende rekommenderas inte … Krig må vara ett helvete, men för Monza Murcatto, den mest fruktade och firade legosoldaten i storhertig Orsos armé, är det ett väldigt bra sätt att tjäna pengar på. Hennes segrar har gjort henne populär – lite för populär för storhertigens smak. Förrådd, slängd utför ett stup och lämnad som död, har Monza bara en sak kvar att leva för: Hämnd. För att lyckas anlitar Monza Styrias minst pålitliga fyllo, Styrias mest förrädiska giftblandare, en massmördare besatt av siffror och en barbar som bara vill göra det rätta. Deras uppgift – att mörda sju av Styrias mäktigaste män.

Helden zwischen Gut und Böse, Action wie im Kino und spannend bis zum Schluss Jenseits der Grenze zum Königreich der Union beginnt das Land der Gesetzlosen. Ein Land, in dem jeder sich selbst der Nächste ist und in dem nur das schnellste Schwert oder die härteste Faust überlebt. Doch nun wurde hier Gold gefunden, und im großen Sturm auf die einst verlassenen Berge treffen Tausende Goldsucher, zwei rachedurstige Nordmänner, eine Bande von Mördern und die Agenten des Königreiches zusammen – und Blut, Gold und Tränen fließen in Strömen ...

A New York Times bestseller! They burned her home. They stole her brother and sister. But vengeance is following. Shy South hoped to bury her bloody past and ride away smiling, but she''ll have to sharpen up some bad old ways to get her family back, and she''s not a woman to flinch from what needs doing. She sets off in pursuit with only a pair of oxen and her cowardly old step father Lamb for company. But it turns out Lamb''s buried a bloody past of his own. And out in the lawless Far Country the past never stays buried. Their journey will take them across the barren plains to a frontier town gripped by gold fever, through feud, duel and massacre, high into the unmapped mountains to a reckoning with the Ghosts. Even worse, it will force them into an alliance with Nicomo Cosca, infamous soldier of fortune, and his feckless lawyer Temple, two men no one should ever have to trust . . . Red Country takes place in the same world as the First Law trilogy, Best Served Cold, andThe Heroes. This novel also represents the return of Logen Ninefingers, one of Abercrombie''s most beloved characters.

LA PRIMERA LEY: LIBRO III El rey de los hombres del Norte se mantiene y sólo hay un guerrero que le pueda detener. Su viejo amigo y su enemigo más antiguo: ha llegado la hora de que el Sanguinario vuelva a casa... Glokta está librando una lucha secreta en la que nadie está seguro y nadie es de fiar. Y como sus días de guerrero están lejos, utiliza las armas que le quedan: chantaje, tortura... Jezal dan Luthar ha decidido que la gloria es demasiado dolorosa y prefiere una vida sencilla con la mujer a la que ama. Pero el amor también puede ser doloroso y la gloria tiene la desagradable costumbre de aferrarse a un hombre cuando menos la desea... El Rey de la Unión ha muerto, los campesinos se rebelan y los nobles luchan por su corona. Sólo el primero de los Magos tiene un plan para salvar el mundo, pero esta vez hay riesgos. Y no hay un riesgo más terrible que romper la Primera Ley... El volumen que cierra la impresionante trilogía de una voz que ya es imprescindible en la fantasía moderna.

Tres hombres. Una batalla. Ningún héroe Cuentan que Dow el Negro ha llegado al trono del Norte sobre una montaña de calaveras. Mientras, el rey de la Unión ha decidido que hay que pararle los pies y sus ejércitos ya han invadido el Norte. Miles de hombres están convergiendo en un antiguo círculo de rocas -los Héroes-, en un valle anónimo que se convertirá en escenario de una de las batallas más sangrientas que el Norte ha presenciado. Al mismo tiempo, los dos bandos están infestados de intrigas, rencillas y envidias, que hacen el final imprevisible... "Abercrombie ha llegado en poco tiempo a la cumbre de la fantasía heroica... "Los Héroes" es una brillante y vertiginosa novela en la que una devastadora y absurda batalla muestra a los supervivientes tal como son realmente... Con frecuencia resulta sombría, pero sólo porque es honesta." SF Reviews "Un extraordinario y entretenido relato de una batalla de tres días -coreografiada como una película de Kurosawa- que no deja héroes tras de sí; sólo supervivientes." Lev Grossman, Time Magazine ""Los Héroes" es una denuncia de la guerra y de la duplicidad de los hombres que aspiran al poder absoluto... Brillante. " Eric Brown, The Guardian

THE FIRST LAW trilogy is a fantasy masterpiece, now available in a stunning box set. It''s a perfect gift for fans of A GAME OF THRONES; a must-have for fans of Joe Abercrombie; and a great way for new readers to discover one of the most highly acclaimed fantasy trilogies of the past decade.

Le tocsin de la guerre résonne aux portes de l''Union. L''armée du monde libre, inexpérimentée, semble inconsciente du danger qui la guette. Face à elle, sur le front du Nord, les barbares de Bethod se chauffent d''un tout autre bois... Au sud, les forces du Gorkhul se massent au pied de la cité de Dagoska. Alors que la ville bouillonne des préparatifs de la bataille, Glotka découvre une conspiration visant à livrer la ville à l''ennemi sans combat. Menacé à chaque instant, l''Inquisiteur a besoin de réponses, et vite. Pendant ce temps, la poignée de héros réunie par Bayaz progresse vers le bord du Monde. Le Mage espère y trouver la Graine, une relique jadis responsable de la destruction d''un empire et, peut-être aujourd''hui, l''unique voie de salut pour l''Union...

An epic battle that will decide the fate of the North unfolds in this novel set in the world of the First Law from NYT bestselling author Joe Abercrombie. Three men. One Battle. No Heroes. 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 neighbor, 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. Bremer dan Gorst, disgraced master swordsman, has sworn to reclaim his stolen honor on the battlefield. Obsessed with redemption and addicted to violence, he''s far past caring how much blood gets spilled in the attempt. Even if it''s his own. Prince Calder isn''t interested in honor, and still less in getting himself killed. All he wants is power, and he''ll tell any lie, use any trick, and betray any friend to get it. Just as long as he doesn''t have to fight for it himself. Curnden Craw, the last honest man in the North, has gained nothing from a life of warfare but swollen knees and frayed nerves. He hardly even cares who wins any more, he just wants to do the right thing. But can he even tell what that is with the world burning down around him? Over three bloody days of battle, the fate of the North will be decided. But with both sides riddled by intrigues, follies, feuds and petty jealousies, it is unlikely to be the noblest hearts, or even the strongest arms that prevail. For glory, for victory, for staying alive. For more by Joe Abercrombie, check out: First Law Trilogy The Blade Itself Before They Are Hanged Last Argument of Kings Novels in the First Law world Best Served ColdThe HeroesRed Country

‘Abercrombie heeft een van de beste epische fantasyreeksen van de laatste jaren geschreven. Hij is een schrijver die niemand mag missen.’ Junot Díaz, auteur van Zo raak je haar kwijt Er is maar één persoon die de koning van Het Noorden nog kan tegenhouden: zijn oudste vriend en vijand, Logen Negenvinger. De oude held heeft nog kracht voor één strijd en dit gaat hem worden. Superior Glokta moet een heel ander soort gevecht leveren. Een geheime strijd waarin niemand veilig is en iedereen een vijand. Gelukkig is hij een meester in bedreiging, afpersing en omkoping. Kapitein Jezal dan Luthar heeft besloten dat het slagveld hem te gevaarlijk is, en probeert een rustig leven op te bouwen met de vrouw van wie hij houdt. Maar de koning van de Unie ligt op sterven, het volk komt in opstand en de edelen verdringen zich om de macht over te nemen. Er is een plan om de wereld te redden, maar daar zijn risico’s aan verbonden. En er is geen risico zo groot als het overtreden van de Eerste Wet...

Ein Barbar, ein Inquisitor und ein Magier kämpfen um das Schicksal ihrer Welt In einer düsteren Welt, die von Kämpfen gezeichnet und von Magie durchdrungen ist, lebt es sich besser als Held. Oder Magier. Alle anderen müssen sehen, wo sie bleiben. So auch Inquisitor Glokta, dessen eigene schmerzvolle Vergangenheit ihn nicht daran hindert, seine Feinde grausam zu verfolgen. Oder Barbarenkrieger Logen Neunfinger, der eigentlich die Nase voll von Schlachten hat und dem die größte noch bevorsteht, als er auf den alten Magier Bayaz trifft, der ganz eigene Pläne verfolgt ...

Der Meister der modernen Abenteuer-Fantasy Die Söldnerin Monzcarro Mercatto hat alles, was sie sich wünschen kann: einen Geliebten, Geld im Überfluss und Ansehen beim Volk von Styrien. Dem Großherzog ist ihr Erfolg jedoch ein Dorn im Auge, und so lässt er sie kurzerhand beseitigen – denkt er. Doch Monzcarro überlebt wie durch ein Wunder und kennt nur noch ein Ziel: Rache. Nach seinem triumphalen Erfolg mit den Romanen um den Barbaren, den Inquisitor und den Magier kehrt Joe Abercrombie in „Racheklingen“ erneut in die fantastische Welt seiner Helden zurück. Action, Spannung und Humor garantiert!

Logen Neuf-Doigts, le barbare le plus redouté du Nord, a finalement vu sa chance tourner: son dernier combat risque bien d''être celui de trop. La perspective de ne laisser - à ses ennemis hilares qu''une poignée de mauvaises chansons ne l''enchante guère; aussi, quand les esprits lui révèlent qu''un mystérieux mage l''attend au Sud, se met-il en route. Après tout, qu''a-t-il de mieux à faire ? Jeune et fringant officier, le capitaine Jezal dan Luthar n''a rien de plus dangereux en tête qu''arnaquer ses amis aux cartes, s''enivrer et remporter le tournoi annuel d''escrime. Mais la guerre gronde, et les batailles qu''on livre sur le front du Nord ne s''interrompent pas au premier sang. Tortionnaire accompli, l''Inquisiteur Glotka ne rêve que de voir l''arrogant capitaine tomber entre ses mains. Mais lui ou un autre... Glotka déteste tout le monde: obtenir des aveux de traîtrise à longueur de journée laisse peu de place à l''amitié. Sa dernière enquête pourrait bien le conduire droit au coeur du gouvernement corrompu... si toutefois il vit assez longtemps pour la suivre. Alors que de funestes complots sont sur le point d''être révélés, que des querelles millénaires remontent à la surface, la ligne qui sépare les héros des traîtres est assez fine pour faire couler le sang.

''As brilliant as its predecessor'' SF REVU 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 utterly 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 the cream of his forces. In the heat-ravaged south the Gurkish are massing to assault the city of Dagoska, defended by Inquisitor Glokta. The city is braced for the inevitable defeat and massacre to come, preparations are made to make the Gurkish pay for every inch of land ... but a plot is festering to hand the city to its beseigers without a fight, and the previous Inquisitor of Dagoska vanished without trace. Threatened from within and without the city, Glokta needs answers, and he needs them soon. And to the east a small band of malefactors travel to the edge of the world to reclaim a device from history - a Seed, hidden for generations - with tremendous destructive potential. A device which could put a end to war, to the army of Eaters in the South, to the invasion of Shanka from the North - but only if it can be found, and only if its power can be controlled ...