Review:
Title: Half Bad
Series: The Half Bad Trilogy #1
Author: Sally Green
Publication: March 4th 2014 by Viking Books for Young Readers
Literary Award(s): YA Book Prize Nominee 2015
Format: Hardcover
Source: Library
Genre: YA, Fantasy
Sixteen-year-old Nathan lives in a cage: beaten, shackled, trained to kill. In a modern-day England where two warring factions of witches live amongst humans, Nathan is an abomination, the illegitimate son of the world’s most terrifying and violent witch, Marcus. Nathan’s only hope for survival is to escape his captors, track down Marcus, and receive the three gifts that will bring him into his own magical powers—before it’s too late. But how can Nathan find his father when there is no one safe to trust, not even family, not even the girl he loves?
Thoughts:
I was recommended this book by Lauren at The Paperback Palace for my March Epic Recs.
When I first started this book, I was startled by the second person narrative. Immediately I was drawn into the story, not only because second person narrative is grabbing by nature, but also because I began to get closer with the protagonist, Nathan.
As the story went on, I grew to appreciate the little details in Green’s writing; the matriarchal society (which is uncommon in fantasy), as well as the Harry Potter-esque magic to ‘muggle’ situation (where witches live amongst commoners). However, as much as I enjoyed the beginning of the book, the middle is where things get dicey. First of all, we have this huge stretch of pages (split up by time skips) that is straight up angst. I love angst, good angst, but not all angst. And it got a little much for me.
After the angsty part the plot really picks up, to the point where suddenly we are ambushed as the reader with a slew of characters that we didn’t have before. I’m good at remembering characters, and it was strange/disappointing that Green spent time introducing us to people that mattered very little and weren’t around all that long.
The book closes on the edge of an action sequence, with a slightly rushed ‘there’ll be more in the next book’ type of final words.
Final Thoughts:
Although strikingly different from other YA fantasy, Half Bad is painfully underwhelming as a singular book. That being said, it has promise and I predict that Green’s work will transfer over better to overarching series plots, rather than individual books. For all of it’s misgivings, Half Bad is endearing, hopeful, and a strange read. For fans of high or regular fantasy who want an out of box experience, or for readers who enjoy long buildups and lots of one on one protagonist action. Fans of Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo will likely enjoy this fantasy novel.
Prose:
“Every breath has to be precious and worth it and something important” (172).
