Cover art and excerpt for Abercrombie's Half a King

Half a King, the next book by Joe Abercrombie will be released in July 2014.  io9 posted the cover art and an excerpt of the book (here). The first look is the first chapter of the more "YA-ish" and shorter book set in a world different from the world of all his other books.

Here's the blurb:

“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 his path may end as it began—in twists, and traps, and tragedy.