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The Kiesha'ra #5
Wyvernhail
HAI HAS ALWAYS been an outsider. With a falcon mother and a deceased cobra father, she is considered a mongrel by most, an ally by some, and a friend by few. Hai's broken falcon wings are a painful reminder of the life she once led on the island of Ahnmik. And here in Wyvern's Court, the avian and serpiente royal family keep their distance, refusing to acknowledge her cobra bloodline. They know that Hai's magic is so volatile, she can barely control it, and images of the past and future threaten to overwhelm her.
When Hai's cousin, Oliza Shardae Cobriana, abdicates the throne of Wyvern's Court, Hai has visions only of destruction: the serpiente king Salem, dying in her arms; the dutiful guard, Nicias, unable to save a generation of children; and Wyvern's Court engulfed in flames.
Now Hai will do anything to protect her new home - even if it means betraying the very people who need her most.
From the Hardcover edition.
When Hai's cousin, Oliza Shardae Cobriana, abdicates the throne of Wyvern's Court, Hai has visions only of destruction: the serpiente king Salem, dying in her arms; the dutiful guard, Nicias, unable to save a generation of children; and Wyvern's Court engulfed in flames.
Now Hai will do anything to protect her new home - even if it means betraying the very people who need her most.
From the Hardcover edition.
174 pages, Library Binding
First published September 11, 2007
30 people are currently reading
2538 people want to read
About the author
Amelia Atwater-Rhodes
35 books3,432 followersI grew up in Concord, Massachusetts, where I matriculated through the public Concord-Carlisle school district from kindergarten until my graduation in 2001. The best part of school, from fifth grade until the year I graduated, was definitely chorus. I love music, and I love to sing, and though I never had the courage or the talent to participate in any of the high school plays as a performer, I enjoyed being involved at other levels; the music and drama community at CCHS was the highlight of my high school career. I was also on the fencing team for two years, an experience that actually inspired a couple storylines, and regret that I did not continue with that sport.
I now live in Massachusetts with several pets... as well as, of course, my family. I am a student at the University of Massachusetts, with an English/psychology double-major. I hope to work either as an English teacher at the secondary level, or in special education. I have strong opinions about literacy, education, and how our educational systems are treated- strong enough that most of my friends know not to get me started on the subject.
My non-writing hobbies are eclectic, and cover everything from rather domestic pastimes like cross-stitch and cooking to aquarium keeping, playing piano, gardening, carpentry, Harley-Davidsons, driving, and arguing- there are few things I enjoy more than a good debate with someone who knows how to argue, which might have something to do with a best friend who works in politics. I love to learn, so if I have down-time and nothing to do, it is not at all unusual to find me pouring over some book, website or video designed to teach me some new skill, from belly dancing (something I desperately want to learn but have not yet been brave enough to sign up for classes on) to JavaScript.
I now live in Massachusetts with several pets... as well as, of course, my family. I am a student at the University of Massachusetts, with an English/psychology double-major. I hope to work either as an English teacher at the secondary level, or in special education. I have strong opinions about literacy, education, and how our educational systems are treated- strong enough that most of my friends know not to get me started on the subject.
My non-writing hobbies are eclectic, and cover everything from rather domestic pastimes like cross-stitch and cooking to aquarium keeping, playing piano, gardening, carpentry, Harley-Davidsons, driving, and arguing- there are few things I enjoy more than a good debate with someone who knows how to argue, which might have something to do with a best friend who works in politics. I love to learn, so if I have down-time and nothing to do, it is not at all unusual to find me pouring over some book, website or video designed to teach me some new skill, from belly dancing (something I desperately want to learn but have not yet been brave enough to sign up for classes on) to JavaScript.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 157 reviews
October 11, 2019
This book convinced me I should have stopped reading at Hawksong.
There are unmarked spoilers below but this series came out in like, the early 2000's and it's obscure enough that probably no one cares.
Wyvernhail picks up immediately after Wolfcry, when Oliza abdicates the throne. And I mean immediately. Hai is just finding out about it, and spends the rest of the book having visions and walking around, as one does in a Kiesha'ra book until the plot kicks in.
Still, at the beginning, I was hopeful I'd enjoy this one as much as I did the previous installment. The writing felt a little weaker at some parts, but weirdly, stronger at other parts. I really enjoyed Hai's voice, but I have always enjoyed Hai as a character.
Then it became this game of Musical Thrones, with people abdicating, nearly dying, etc. in short succession. It was really chaotic and like the other books, this one could have done with some padding out and more detail. Events just came too quickly, and it was all so dramatic. Too many things happened in one book, especially one without the detail or craft to support all of it.
The other problem was that half of this book was made up of Hai's visions. So many words were devoted to things that never even happened, and while I understood why they were there, the visions soon outweighed the plot.
My biggest issue, however, that bumped this down to 2 stars was how this book butchered Zane and Danica's characters. The two character who began the series, who set everything into motion and sacrificed everything for their people, have long since been pushed to the background. And in Wyvernhail, they served as an antagonistic force for no reason other than contrived conflict.
I honestly cannot believe that Zane would challenge Hai immediately after she "usurped" Oliza's throne. Oliza had already stepped down. That made no sense to me. It's like the author no longer knew what to do with their characters and so had them fulfill this antagonistic role. Are you telling me that Zane wouldn't come to support his niece if he knew how important it was, if she'd actually explained? (Is that why the author didn't have Hai actually explain?) Oh, and the random Obsidian guy brings up Adelina's or whatever her name was' execution as a jab at Zane, as if she didn't betray Zane and murder his mother and almost kill Danica. And we're expected to be like yeah, dick move Zane? It was honestly infuriating.
And are you kidding me? Danica fucking punched Hai and called her a "soulless mongrel"? Her character arc had been about acceptance and growing out of her prejudice. She was the most composed character, and you're telling me that she just punched her niece-by-marriage? Called her a mogrel? That's such bullshit.
The entire thing was so contrived. Hai really could have discussed her claim to the throne beforehand, but the author had to make it overdramatic. The narrative wanted me to support Hai, but she could have handled it in a much more reasonable way that would have prevented a lot of what happened.
It felt like a slap in the face when this book called back to Hawksong because it was just a reminder of how far this series veered off course. It became The Falcon Show; everything was already decided by them, even when this book tried to convince you that fate can be changed. The Wyvern's Court, the serpents and avians, felt like pawns to the the political machinations of the falcons. It took away all the impact of the first book. It made me feel so distant to the Wyvern's Courts struggles because we only saw them through people with no real connection to it, people who were outsiders.
Nicias had falcon parents, and as loyal as he was to Oliza, his personal struggles overshadowed those of the Court; and I was much more invested in that then I was this character. Oliza spent most of her book kidnapped. And now Hai, who is also an outsider, narrated this one. She had such disdain for both the avians and serpents. The series just continued to remove the reader more and more from the Court, and from the people who we went into this series to read about.
It makes me wonder what could have been had the story actually focused on the Wyvern's Court and the falcons hadn't come into play. Not that I dislike any of the mythology, or the characters, but I liked the series so much better when it was about struggling to find peace between two warring peoples and not how the falcons fuck everything up.
Wyvernhail pushed the main characters of the first two books to the side, then brought them back to be massive assholes, and finally ended the series on a variation of a song that started it all. It felt like a slap to the face. And it's so weird to me. Danica and Zane were still the rulers throughout this series; why didn't they get more shine? Why didn't the avians and serpents get more limelight? Why not have the books of this series narrated by serpents or avians, so that we actually felt connected to the overarching plot?
Honestly, this series disrespected the first book so much and I'm too fond of it to forgive the rest of this series. It just didn't know what to do with their main character or the Wyvern's Court.
I've never felt so burned by anything. I honestly was going to give it at least 3 stars before about 70% in, when all that bullshit happened. The series deserved a better ending than this, especially since the book felt so short and lackluster.
I am seriously considering dropping a star but hey, one good thing that I got out of this is that I finished it in one night. Now to go read Hawksong again...
There are unmarked spoilers below but this series came out in like, the early 2000's and it's obscure enough that probably no one cares.
Wyvernhail picks up immediately after Wolfcry, when Oliza abdicates the throne. And I mean immediately. Hai is just finding out about it, and spends the rest of the book having visions and walking around, as one does in a Kiesha'ra book until the plot kicks in.
Still, at the beginning, I was hopeful I'd enjoy this one as much as I did the previous installment. The writing felt a little weaker at some parts, but weirdly, stronger at other parts. I really enjoyed Hai's voice, but I have always enjoyed Hai as a character.
Then it became this game of Musical Thrones, with people abdicating, nearly dying, etc. in short succession. It was really chaotic and like the other books, this one could have done with some padding out and more detail. Events just came too quickly, and it was all so dramatic. Too many things happened in one book, especially one without the detail or craft to support all of it.
The other problem was that half of this book was made up of Hai's visions. So many words were devoted to things that never even happened, and while I understood why they were there, the visions soon outweighed the plot.
My biggest issue, however, that bumped this down to 2 stars was how this book butchered Zane and Danica's characters. The two character who began the series, who set everything into motion and sacrificed everything for their people, have long since been pushed to the background. And in Wyvernhail, they served as an antagonistic force for no reason other than contrived conflict.
I honestly cannot believe that Zane would challenge Hai immediately after she "usurped" Oliza's throne. Oliza had already stepped down. That made no sense to me. It's like the author no longer knew what to do with their characters and so had them fulfill this antagonistic role. Are you telling me that Zane wouldn't come to support his niece if he knew how important it was, if she'd actually explained? (Is that why the author didn't have Hai actually explain?) Oh, and the random Obsidian guy brings up Adelina's or whatever her name was' execution as a jab at Zane, as if she didn't betray Zane and murder his mother and almost kill Danica. And we're expected to be like yeah, dick move Zane? It was honestly infuriating.
And are you kidding me? Danica fucking punched Hai and called her a "soulless mongrel"? Her character arc had been about acceptance and growing out of her prejudice. She was the most composed character, and you're telling me that she just punched her niece-by-marriage? Called her a mogrel? That's such bullshit.
The entire thing was so contrived. Hai really could have discussed her claim to the throne beforehand, but the author had to make it overdramatic. The narrative wanted me to support Hai, but she could have handled it in a much more reasonable way that would have prevented a lot of what happened.
It felt like a slap in the face when this book called back to Hawksong because it was just a reminder of how far this series veered off course. It became The Falcon Show; everything was already decided by them, even when this book tried to convince you that fate can be changed. The Wyvern's Court, the serpents and avians, felt like pawns to the the political machinations of the falcons. It took away all the impact of the first book. It made me feel so distant to the Wyvern's Courts struggles because we only saw them through people with no real connection to it, people who were outsiders.
Nicias had falcon parents, and as loyal as he was to Oliza, his personal struggles overshadowed those of the Court; and I was much more invested in that then I was this character. Oliza spent most of her book kidnapped. And now Hai, who is also an outsider, narrated this one. She had such disdain for both the avians and serpents. The series just continued to remove the reader more and more from the Court, and from the people who we went into this series to read about.
It makes me wonder what could have been had the story actually focused on the Wyvern's Court and the falcons hadn't come into play. Not that I dislike any of the mythology, or the characters, but I liked the series so much better when it was about struggling to find peace between two warring peoples and not how the falcons fuck everything up.
Wyvernhail pushed the main characters of the first two books to the side, then brought them back to be massive assholes, and finally ended the series on a variation of a song that started it all. It felt like a slap to the face. And it's so weird to me. Danica and Zane were still the rulers throughout this series; why didn't they get more shine? Why didn't the avians and serpents get more limelight? Why not have the books of this series narrated by serpents or avians, so that we actually felt connected to the overarching plot?
Honestly, this series disrespected the first book so much and I'm too fond of it to forgive the rest of this series. It just didn't know what to do with their main character or the Wyvern's Court.
I've never felt so burned by anything. I honestly was going to give it at least 3 stars before about 70% in, when all that bullshit happened. The series deserved a better ending than this, especially since the book felt so short and lackluster.
I am seriously considering dropping a star but hey, one good thing that I got out of this is that I finished it in one night. Now to go read Hawksong again...
February 12, 2015
And so it ends. Five years of me reading, twenty years of things happening in-universe, more than a thousand years of conspiracy theories leading up to this ending, and... well, when you put it that way, the ending actually seems pretty anticlimatic. Nevertheless, this was a fitting ending to a fairly solid fantasy series. While it had its weak points, just like pretty much every Atwater-Rhodes book I can think of, it certainly could've been a lot worse.
The best thing about this book was obviously Hai, our protagonist. Atwater-Rhodes isn't exactly known for her dynamic protagonists - in fact, if I had to give one central criticism to her writing in general, it would be the monotony to it. But Hai has an interesting twist: her visions. The story is fused with Hai's visions of the distant past and a probable future. It adds a lot of dynamic to the story, heightening the tension in a way that's rare for Atwater-Rhodes. There isn't actually much that happens in the story, but Hai's characterization and her visions are what kept things interesting. Hai is probably the most interesting narrator in the entire series, simply because of how unusual she is. She was a minor character in Falcondance and Wolfcry, and in both, she seemed snarky, but kind of mentally unhinged. We get a lot of insight on both of those aspects here.
The writing is, of course, top notch. Atwater-Rhodes' prose is smooth, efficient, and yet still fancy. It perfectly suits the formal, almost stilted mood of the novel. It evokes both a general atmosphere and the emotions of Atwater-Rhodes' characters. And the most infuriating part is that she's been writing like this since she was younger than I am now. It makes me mad, dammit. I wanna write like that!
I'm not finding much to say about this book, really, that I haven't said about the rest of this series. I do feel like the ending could've been more complete, and I had a lot of trouble remembering all the mythology to the series, hence the four-star rating. But this was still a nice ending to a very good series, and I'm sad to see the series go.
The best thing about this book was obviously Hai, our protagonist. Atwater-Rhodes isn't exactly known for her dynamic protagonists - in fact, if I had to give one central criticism to her writing in general, it would be the monotony to it. But Hai has an interesting twist: her visions. The story is fused with Hai's visions of the distant past and a probable future. It adds a lot of dynamic to the story, heightening the tension in a way that's rare for Atwater-Rhodes. There isn't actually much that happens in the story, but Hai's characterization and her visions are what kept things interesting. Hai is probably the most interesting narrator in the entire series, simply because of how unusual she is. She was a minor character in Falcondance and Wolfcry, and in both, she seemed snarky, but kind of mentally unhinged. We get a lot of insight on both of those aspects here.
The writing is, of course, top notch. Atwater-Rhodes' prose is smooth, efficient, and yet still fancy. It perfectly suits the formal, almost stilted mood of the novel. It evokes both a general atmosphere and the emotions of Atwater-Rhodes' characters. And the most infuriating part is that she's been writing like this since she was younger than I am now. It makes me mad, dammit. I wanna write like that!
I'm not finding much to say about this book, really, that I haven't said about the rest of this series. I do feel like the ending could've been more complete, and I had a lot of trouble remembering all the mythology to the series, hence the four-star rating. But this was still a nice ending to a very good series, and I'm sad to see the series go.
March 31, 2014
This one was the worst of all!
This is the stori of Hai - a half falcon-half cobra girl Nicias has saved from Ahnmik's asylum.
She's deemed crazy and shunned by everyone because of her visions tha do not permit her to interact normally with anyone.
OK, said this way it seems interesting enough, but believe me it's not!
I understood her problems, but I didn't liked her and didn't care about what heppens to her or to anybody else...
This is the best proof that in certain series the best books are the first ones... then it just die little by little and the last book is the worst... I'm so sorry to write this review, since I loved book one and two, but it is the truth...
This is the stori of Hai - a half falcon-half cobra girl Nicias has saved from Ahnmik's asylum.
She's deemed crazy and shunned by everyone because of her visions tha do not permit her to interact normally with anyone.
OK, said this way it seems interesting enough, but believe me it's not!
I understood her problems, but I didn't liked her and didn't care about what heppens to her or to anybody else...
This is the best proof that in certain series the best books are the first ones... then it just die little by little and the last book is the worst... I'm so sorry to write this review, since I loved book one and two, but it is the truth...
August 19, 2015
So Wyvernhail, the final book in Amelia Atwater-Rhodes The Kiesha'ra series ended up being a one day read! Yay? Yes, sadly, this book brought upon more confusion for myself. Even though it picks up pretty much where Wolfcry left off, this time with Hai at the helm.
Hai was a difficult character to get a grasp of. She wasn't insane, but she did have visions nearly every time she touched someone, or even just a vision of its own occurrence. And these sometimes made it hard to discern vision from reality. Then there were her dreams which made it even more confusion.
Basically, we still has dissension in the ranks of Wyvern Hall. Oliza is off living with the Obsidian with her new mate, and a new Serpiente ruler has been chosen as well as Avian. But nearly right away, Hai has a vision of the Serpiente ruler being murdered. And before she can do anything to prevent it, it happens and more chaos ensues among the people.
This becomes a very political type read as Hai realizes she will have to do things in order to save the people she's grown to consider her own. And friends just might become enemies.
I think one of the reasons why this series has been so hard for me with its later titles, is that world gets overly detailed. There are sooo many vocab words that I never know the meaning of. They just get tossed out and I trip up several times trying to figure out what's going on. And since the language is used sporadically throughout the book, it makes the entire book a bit of a pickle to read! Let alone trying to keep all the names straight and what "side" they are on.
There was a bit of romance in this one as well, but it was brief and fleeting. I barely had time to be swept up in a lingering moment before more confusion puddles up!
I can't honestly say I'd recommend reading this series. Though I did really, really enjoy the first installment Hawksong! And Snakecharm was a pretty good followup. I think it was the introduction of new characters that led me astray from enjoying the series. The people who were once the main characters are barely side characters here. And I was quite upset with how things turned out with them. I like to say things ended happily, but this is one where I am just left utterly confused. I read this one mainly to finish the series and out of loyalty to an author who literally began my paranormal obsession. I plan to read her new series and hope that since a few years are between this one and the new one, language barriers won't be a problem and I will fall in love with a new world and characters like I did once before long ago!
Overall Rating 2/5 stars
Hai was a difficult character to get a grasp of. She wasn't insane, but she did have visions nearly every time she touched someone, or even just a vision of its own occurrence. And these sometimes made it hard to discern vision from reality. Then there were her dreams which made it even more confusion.
Basically, we still has dissension in the ranks of Wyvern Hall. Oliza is off living with the Obsidian with her new mate, and a new Serpiente ruler has been chosen as well as Avian. But nearly right away, Hai has a vision of the Serpiente ruler being murdered. And before she can do anything to prevent it, it happens and more chaos ensues among the people.
This becomes a very political type read as Hai realizes she will have to do things in order to save the people she's grown to consider her own. And friends just might become enemies.
I think one of the reasons why this series has been so hard for me with its later titles, is that world gets overly detailed. There are sooo many vocab words that I never know the meaning of. They just get tossed out and I trip up several times trying to figure out what's going on. And since the language is used sporadically throughout the book, it makes the entire book a bit of a pickle to read! Let alone trying to keep all the names straight and what "side" they are on.
There was a bit of romance in this one as well, but it was brief and fleeting. I barely had time to be swept up in a lingering moment before more confusion puddles up!
I can't honestly say I'd recommend reading this series. Though I did really, really enjoy the first installment Hawksong! And Snakecharm was a pretty good followup. I think it was the introduction of new characters that led me astray from enjoying the series. The people who were once the main characters are barely side characters here. And I was quite upset with how things turned out with them. I like to say things ended happily, but this is one where I am just left utterly confused. I read this one mainly to finish the series and out of loyalty to an author who literally began my paranormal obsession. I plan to read her new series and hope that since a few years are between this one and the new one, language barriers won't be a problem and I will fall in love with a new world and characters like I did once before long ago!
Overall Rating 2/5 stars
July 24, 2024
Ok This book was weird and confusing. I didn't like the character of Hai. She evoked no emotion from me except dislike. I could have cared less if she had died during the book (which she didnt). Half the time I didn't even understand what I was reading and had to reread the same passages over and over. There was too much myth in this book that got slammed into its pages, that should have be delved out throughout the course of the series. The constant visions that Hai has are confusing and start to get a little bit annoying. And when Hai declared herself Queen of the serppiente? Oh no I was not happy and I did not like how the author portrayed Zane and Danica during that scene or how their people reacted to them.
By this book I was just reading it to see how the series ended. The last three books of this series just wasn't up to par with how Amelia Atwater Rhodes writing and stories are. She is such a good author and I love all her other books but these just weren't as amazing as the other ones. I really like the first two book of this series "Hawksong" and "Snakcharm" and I think she should have stopped this series with those two books. That's just my opinion
By this book I was just reading it to see how the series ended. The last three books of this series just wasn't up to par with how Amelia Atwater Rhodes writing and stories are. She is such a good author and I love all her other books but these just weren't as amazing as the other ones. I really like the first two book of this series "Hawksong" and "Snakcharm" and I think she should have stopped this series with those two books. That's just my opinion
March 24, 2020
Wow, I had imagined so many endings, but none were quite as meaningful as the ending. I don't really know what to say because this made me cry, and I know for a FACT that people will disagree with me, but I love this book and thought the entire thing was amazing and couldn't have been better. It was meaningful, with it's magic, politics, love, loyalty, and just about everything. If someone asked me for a fantasy book, I would recommend them this series without hesitation.
February 2, 2019
I don’t remember this ending the first time I read this series; perhaps I didn’t even finish this book last time. But I have to say, it was a great ending to the shapeshifter series.
Hai was a great narrator, possibly my favourite, to read from. Her ability to see the possible futures could have been boring or exhausting to read, but instead I think it worked really well. The way it was set up, with four books of back story, and Oliza’s visions in Wolfcry, made it a lot easier to follow than it would have been.
I was also glad to see more of Nicias again, and I loved his relationship with Hai. It was very beautiful. I wonder what their child would be like; considering Hai doesn’t have her Serpiente magic anymore. Would it be like Nicias’s parents, where their falcon magic was passed on to their child even though they themselves couldn’t access it? If so, the child would be a quarter Serpiente, which would be interesting.
I honestly would have loved another story from Sive’s perspective, she’s so amazing. So I’m assuming from the final vision that she has a Viper Alistair and that their child is like Oliza, only this time they are able to control their magic? Either that, or this is in the distant future, centuries later.
That would also be an interesting concept - what became of all the shapeshifters in the modern world? Also, how did the wolves, lions, and tigers become shapeshifters? While I don’t feel like these were great big plotholes, it would definitely be interesting to learn more about them.
I am really glad we saw Ahnmik, Darien, and Empress Cjarsa from Hai’s perspective. She had the opposite feelings to Nicias on all three, but by the end she shared his negative feelings for Ahnmik and Empress Cjarsa.
Overall it was a solid finale. We had the threat of the falcons and the knowledge from Nicias’s story playing a large part, but I was glad that all of the events took place in Wyvern’s Court, which had been the goal from Hawksong.
Furthermore, all of the main characters got some sort of happy ending. Danica and Zane are alive and well, living in a peaceful Wyvern’s Court once again. Nicias and Hai are presumably together and happy in Wyvern’s Court. And Oliza gets revenge on Velyo and rules the Frektane with Betia. These are all very satisfying endings.
Though the fact that Oliza, Danica, and Zane all possibly still resent Hai is a little annoying, it’s understandable and now that they’re in peace, hopefully they will make amends over time.
Overall I really enjoyed this book. It was great to get to know Hai, to feel her desperation and her realisation that she did actually care about Wyvern’s Court. Also I love Salem and Sive. The only thing missing was Urban and Marus - did they elope? I’m going to assume they did because that would be amazing.
Four stars for a great finale.
Hai was a great narrator, possibly my favourite, to read from. Her ability to see the possible futures could have been boring or exhausting to read, but instead I think it worked really well. The way it was set up, with four books of back story, and Oliza’s visions in Wolfcry, made it a lot easier to follow than it would have been.
I was also glad to see more of Nicias again, and I loved his relationship with Hai. It was very beautiful. I wonder what their child would be like; considering Hai doesn’t have her Serpiente magic anymore. Would it be like Nicias’s parents, where their falcon magic was passed on to their child even though they themselves couldn’t access it? If so, the child would be a quarter Serpiente, which would be interesting.
I honestly would have loved another story from Sive’s perspective, she’s so amazing. So I’m assuming from the final vision that she has a Viper Alistair and that their child is like Oliza, only this time they are able to control their magic? Either that, or this is in the distant future, centuries later.
That would also be an interesting concept - what became of all the shapeshifters in the modern world? Also, how did the wolves, lions, and tigers become shapeshifters? While I don’t feel like these were great big plotholes, it would definitely be interesting to learn more about them.
I am really glad we saw Ahnmik, Darien, and Empress Cjarsa from Hai’s perspective. She had the opposite feelings to Nicias on all three, but by the end she shared his negative feelings for Ahnmik and Empress Cjarsa.
Overall it was a solid finale. We had the threat of the falcons and the knowledge from Nicias’s story playing a large part, but I was glad that all of the events took place in Wyvern’s Court, which had been the goal from Hawksong.
Furthermore, all of the main characters got some sort of happy ending. Danica and Zane are alive and well, living in a peaceful Wyvern’s Court once again. Nicias and Hai are presumably together and happy in Wyvern’s Court. And Oliza gets revenge on Velyo and rules the Frektane with Betia. These are all very satisfying endings.
Though the fact that Oliza, Danica, and Zane all possibly still resent Hai is a little annoying, it’s understandable and now that they’re in peace, hopefully they will make amends over time.
Overall I really enjoyed this book. It was great to get to know Hai, to feel her desperation and her realisation that she did actually care about Wyvern’s Court. Also I love Salem and Sive. The only thing missing was Urban and Marus - did they elope? I’m going to assume they did because that would be amazing.
Four stars for a great finale.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 24, 2024
This book and Wolfcry were the best in the series. I really loved Hai after this story. Sorry to the Hai haters, but she’s great.
December 16, 2024
It's fine I'm just crying at the end of a book series I read when I was a youth. I'm fine. You're not fine.
March 24, 2018
Emotional whiplash. But ultimately satisfying. I still hate the falcons. I'm glad that Hai finds peace.
December 27, 2009
My actual vote for this is a 3.5 star. I also think I'm super static because I finally finished the series! Yes! Many told me I would not like the last three as much as the first two. That was very true! I loved the first two books. I was very happy that my library bought a new third copy, which I never told anyone that I was reading the libraries copies and never bought the series.
My review:
I loved Hai's mind. She was trying so hard to make everything right, and everyone kept punishing her for it, saying she was cruel. I'm so glad that Nicias and Oliza healed her wings, Hai deserved that so much. I wish she would've put in the part where she explained it to the court, or at least to Oliza. And as much as it's against me to support Oliza and Betia's relationship, I felt horrible when Oliza was practically forced to come back to the Wyvern's Court. I thought for the longest time that after Oliza saw the child and left the thorne that Hai was seeing Keyi and thought it was Oliza's but was actually hers. (That the visions she kept having of the child running around, before Hai dethroned Oliza, was Hai's child.) I guess it wasn't so until she took the throne. I was a little too ahead of myself there.
Hai went through a lot, and I was glad that I finally got to read her story. I knew I was going crazy when it was through Nicias's mind and Oliza's mind because I really did want to know what she was thinking. I feel horrible that Oliza, Zane, and Danica will probably never, or will probably take a long time to forgive Hai. Hai was only trying to help. I was happy Hai finally got to be a full breed in the end, even if it took the Mercy to tell her so. I'm so glad Salem lived though, I was cheering for him the WHOLE book. I also knew that would hurt Sive because of her blaming herself for the death. I'm glad Hai found the traitors who caused all of it. No one ever mentioned Sive's new mate's name though, I really wish it would've. Even if she had to go with something like Henry. Okay, maybe not Henry.
I think that things will be forgiven though, or Oliza would not have helped with Hai's wings. Her explanation will finally be understood and they will all get along. I was totally like go Danica when she punched Hai though, it was too funny not to be on her side! And now I understand the cover, it is so appropriate! It really was a good book, and I would probably reread the books again someday. I recommend them! Still a lot of blanks though, but it kind of leaves it to your imagination!
My review:
I loved Hai's mind. She was trying so hard to make everything right, and everyone kept punishing her for it, saying she was cruel. I'm so glad that Nicias and Oliza healed her wings, Hai deserved that so much. I wish she would've put in the part where she explained it to the court, or at least to Oliza. And as much as it's against me to support Oliza and Betia's relationship, I felt horrible when Oliza was practically forced to come back to the Wyvern's Court. I thought for the longest time that after Oliza saw the child and left the thorne that Hai was seeing Keyi and thought it was Oliza's but was actually hers. (That the visions she kept having of the child running around, before Hai dethroned Oliza, was Hai's child.) I guess it wasn't so until she took the throne. I was a little too ahead of myself there.
Hai went through a lot, and I was glad that I finally got to read her story. I knew I was going crazy when it was through Nicias's mind and Oliza's mind because I really did want to know what she was thinking. I feel horrible that Oliza, Zane, and Danica will probably never, or will probably take a long time to forgive Hai. Hai was only trying to help. I was happy Hai finally got to be a full breed in the end, even if it took the Mercy to tell her so. I'm so glad Salem lived though, I was cheering for him the WHOLE book. I also knew that would hurt Sive because of her blaming herself for the death. I'm glad Hai found the traitors who caused all of it. No one ever mentioned Sive's new mate's name though, I really wish it would've. Even if she had to go with something like Henry. Okay, maybe not Henry.
I think that things will be forgiven though, or Oliza would not have helped with Hai's wings. Her explanation will finally be understood and they will all get along. I was totally like go Danica when she punched Hai though, it was too funny not to be on her side! And now I understand the cover, it is so appropriate! It really was a good book, and I would probably reread the books again someday. I recommend them! Still a lot of blanks though, but it kind of leaves it to your imagination!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 29, 2021
"I've tried and tried and I can't keep this land from burning."
Yeah, I'm leaving that five-star rating in place. I still love this book, for all its messiness, and I left it feeling satisfied and yet still half-immersed in this world. It brought back a bit of the feeling of my teenage obsession with the series, which is kind of a melancholy feeling now, but not a bad one.
There are still flaws. The pacing, both narratively and in-world, is frankly pretty crap. (Did Oliza get even a week off from drama?) Things happen way too fast, with very little time for the import of one major event to set in before another occurs. Another review points out that Zane and Danica seem out of character, and I think that's a fair criticism, though as someone who's always been more fascinated by the falcons it doesn't bother me as much. The Idiot Ball of Hai not telling people why she does things, though - that gets frustrating.
And yet, I still love it. I wonder if what resonates is best captured in that line quoted above - the desperation of feeling like there's no way to build a desirable future out of the material of the present. As a Millennial, that is an uncomfortably familiar sentiment, and so the way that Hai keeps trying, increasingly acknowledging to herself that she does it out of love for her world and its people, is particularly uplifting.
Partly, too, it's that I find the plot conceit fascinating. Not only because the varied futures Hai sees add a frisson of horror, a feeling of implacable threat, but also because it's a classic Appointment in Samarra setup - everything Hai does to avoid the futures she sees is futile, because she just ends up on another path to the same destination. Her struggles are twofold: first to find the right series of choices, and second to avoid giving in to hopelessness as catastrophe seems to creep closer and closer.
Huh. Writing that out, maybe it's a depression thing. In retrospect, "Did you always over-identify with a character who had to be dragged kicking and spitting back into the real world" might be a salient diagnostic question. Anyhow!
With all that said - this isn't a five-star book in the same way or for the same reasons that I've rated other books five stars... but it still has that value for me, so I'm sticking to this evaluation.
Yeah, I'm leaving that five-star rating in place. I still love this book, for all its messiness, and I left it feeling satisfied and yet still half-immersed in this world. It brought back a bit of the feeling of my teenage obsession with the series, which is kind of a melancholy feeling now, but not a bad one.
There are still flaws. The pacing, both narratively and in-world, is frankly pretty crap. (Did Oliza get even a week off from drama?) Things happen way too fast, with very little time for the import of one major event to set in before another occurs. Another review points out that Zane and Danica seem out of character, and I think that's a fair criticism, though as someone who's always been more fascinated by the falcons it doesn't bother me as much. The Idiot Ball of Hai not telling people why she does things, though - that gets frustrating.
And yet, I still love it. I wonder if what resonates is best captured in that line quoted above - the desperation of feeling like there's no way to build a desirable future out of the material of the present. As a Millennial, that is an uncomfortably familiar sentiment, and so the way that Hai keeps trying, increasingly acknowledging to herself that she does it out of love for her world and its people, is particularly uplifting.
Partly, too, it's that I find the plot conceit fascinating. Not only because the varied futures Hai sees add a frisson of horror, a feeling of implacable threat, but also because it's a classic Appointment in Samarra setup - everything Hai does to avoid the futures she sees is futile, because she just ends up on another path to the same destination. Her struggles are twofold: first to find the right series of choices, and second to avoid giving in to hopelessness as catastrophe seems to creep closer and closer.
Huh. Writing that out, maybe it's a depression thing. In retrospect, "Did you always over-identify with a character who had to be dragged kicking and spitting back into the real world" might be a salient diagnostic question. Anyhow!
With all that said - this isn't a five-star book in the same way or for the same reasons that I've rated other books five stars... but it still has that value for me, so I'm sticking to this evaluation.
May 1, 2016
Rating for the series: 3.4/5
Holy crap, that was amazing!
SO many questions answered! So many things clarified! So much content!
The Keisha'ra series has never been easy for me to read. There is a secondary set of characters of gods and goddesses whose lives are narrated alongside the main plot, and many times I got confused. But so many varied endings for our couples in the last five books! It's a miracle that the avian and serpiente people were able to keep their freedom after all the sacrifices and struggles the main characters had to do.
Hai's story was very appropriate for the finishing book, as she'd always seemed to me full of potential.
And wow, that epilogue. Who do you think the cobra and hawk were? I think it was Rosalind and Sive, or maybe that epilogue was set much farther into the future?
An excellent book to finish off an incredibly unique and wholly understated series.
Holy crap, that was amazing!
SO many questions answered! So many things clarified! So much content!
The Keisha'ra series has never been easy for me to read. There is a secondary set of characters of gods and goddesses whose lives are narrated alongside the main plot, and many times I got confused. But so many varied endings for our couples in the last five books! It's a miracle that the avian and serpiente people were able to keep their freedom after all the sacrifices and struggles the main characters had to do.
Hai's story was very appropriate for the finishing book, as she'd always seemed to me full of potential.
And wow, that epilogue. Who do you think the cobra and hawk were? I think it was Rosalind and Sive, or maybe that epilogue was set much farther into the future?
An excellent book to finish off an incredibly unique and wholly understated series.
September 23, 2007
Wyvernhail is the fifth and final book in the Kiesha'ra series. It tells the story of Hai, a half-falcon, half-cobra shapeshifter, and her attempts to keep peace in Wyvern's Court. With Wyvernhail, Amelia Atwater-Rhodes continues to grow and mature as a writer. Hai is a complex and interesting narrator, but many of the secondary characters (such as Opal) appear as if they need some serious fleshing out. The best part about this book is the ending, which surprises me, because Amy's endings have always seemed rushed and unsatisfying with me. With this book she appears to have learned to write a throughly satisfying ending, as it manages to tie up not only many of the loose ends in the book, but the entire series.
Now that the series is finished, apparently the author is going to turn back to vampires. I am very curious as to how her future books will turn out.
Now that the series is finished, apparently the author is going to turn back to vampires. I am very curious as to how her future books will turn out.
March 22, 2023
As usual, this was a good read. I feel like I'm just repeating myself, but I love Amelia's world-building. It was fascinating being in Hai's mind, and I enjoyed seeing her heal and grow to love Wyvern's Court. Oliza irritated me a bunch in this one. Personally, if my cousin stepped up to take a throne that I had just recently abdicated so I could be with the woman I loved, I'd be thrilled. But no, Oliza was a fuckin' hypocrite along with her mom when they called her a mongrel. Oliza is technically one, too, is she not? I'm glad that Nicias and Hai got together; I sensed that coming after reading Falcondance, and I'm happy I was right. I think the last two books in the series were far more satisfying when they concluded. Everything was tied up nicely.
February 27, 2008
I think Wyvernhail would have been a great end to the series, if there had more coherency in the last three books. Its not that it kept switching "voices", or that it was even inside Hai's warped mind. What I think went wrong was the lack of substance and lack of description of how events went along. It seems we went from an assassination to everything being fine within three pages. As for description, it was odd to see Hai so defensive of Wyvern's Court, or even Nicias. In the last two novels, she did not portray the emotion she did beforehand.
It was a good book, just not great. I think there needs to be a lot more substance and description in her books.
It was a good book, just not great. I think there needs to be a lot more substance and description in her books.
August 4, 2016
Well, this book does finally pair everyone off, with the exception of Sive's alistair being exiled for treason. Even Hai and Nicias finally figure things out. Other than that, it's a huge mess. There's really no other description for it. We go from Zane to Oliza, to Salem, back to Oliza, to Hai and back to Salem just on the side of the Serpiente alone. That doesn't even factor in trying to keep all of Hai's visions straight as things in the real world play out. It's just too much and too scrambled. I still love the first book, and the second is enjoyable to me, though not as much as the first. After that, the series really just fell apart.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 8, 2011
Once again, an interesting story, but I had a major problem with the characterization in this one. I appreciate the attempt to make the reader connect with Hai, the voice of this book, but it comes at the cost of COMPLETELY CHANGING her personality from the previous book-- which supposedly occurred immediately before this one. There is no character development whatsoever to bring Hai to the passion and personality she shows by the end. It's like the author just realized she'd made an unlikeable character, and so wrote someone else entirely for this novel. If you can ignore that, though, it's a good read.
August 15, 2010
This book was horrible, yet beautiful. It was by far the darkest of the series. I still think Wolfcry is my favorite, but boy this one sure does come close. I'm really glad that Hai got her own book because her visions are interesting to read about. And all the internal struggles she had to deal with in this book were really sad. I loved all the twists in this book and I'm kind of sad that I've finished this series. I'm also happy that I've read yet another satisfying series by Amelia, and I look forward to read all of her other books.
July 28, 2013
I really liked the first three books of this series, very my disliked the 4th one and this one was not a lot better It was confusing, weird, and I did not care for Hai in any of the books, and this is her story in the first person. A good part of it is her in a vision and half the time I really didn't know if what was happening was real or in her head. I so liked Nicias in the first three books and then it all went downhill from there. I still like him but I wanted better for him. I'd recommend reading the first three books and then forgetting the last two.
December 19, 2008
The last and my favorite. Even though the one before was amazing, this tops it all off. I never particularly cared for the character that becomes the main character in this book, but she became my favorite. Quite simply, I LOVE THIS BOOK. Oh, and I read it in a day. Which says a lot for a book (even tho the last one I read in about 3 days).
March 21, 2017
Yay for a non-traditional love story.
May 19, 2025
Wyvernhail is the fastest paced of these five books. Hai's desperation to save the future from the flames of the unborn Keyi is palpable. She, no overt spoilers, does manage to save everything and tie a neat bow on the whole series. Wyvernhail is also a book of self-discovery for Hai, though I don't think she realizes it until the very end.
I'm not entirely sure how I feel about Wyvernhail personally. On the one hand, I am again frustrated by the way Wyvern's Court is still super segregated, though that is both less and more of an issue in Wyvernhail. I am annoyed by the falcon interference. I am pleased that Hai, despite being pulled this way and that by her magic, is able to have some adult relationships that are implied to be... well... less than healthy. And to be clear, I'm not pleased by the less-than-healthy aspects of this, but by the fact her character isn't infantilized.
Wyvernhail also does a lot of heavy lifting, as far as the World Building for the entire series. There's been bits a pieces of the past scattered throughout the series, but Wyvernhail comes right out and explains what happened with Maeve and Keisha and Alasdair and the falcons. It feels cathartic, but I also doubt Hai really explains any of this to her compatriots, so I'm not sure whether or not it's helpful to the people of Wyvern's Court.
I do like Wyvernhail well enough. Definitely not as up on it as I was on first read, but then, I've grown since then so... yeah.
I'm not entirely sure how I feel about Wyvernhail personally. On the one hand, I am again frustrated by the way Wyvern's Court is still super segregated, though that is both less and more of an issue in Wyvernhail. I am annoyed by the falcon interference. I am pleased that Hai, despite being pulled this way and that by her magic, is able to have some adult relationships that are implied to be... well... less than healthy. And to be clear, I'm not pleased by the less-than-healthy aspects of this, but by the fact her character isn't infantilized.
Wyvernhail also does a lot of heavy lifting, as far as the World Building for the entire series. There's been bits a pieces of the past scattered throughout the series, but Wyvernhail comes right out and explains what happened with Maeve and Keisha and Alasdair and the falcons. It feels cathartic, but I also doubt Hai really explains any of this to her compatriots, so I'm not sure whether or not it's helpful to the people of Wyvern's Court.
I do like Wyvernhail well enough. Definitely not as up on it as I was on first read, but then, I've grown since then so... yeah.
January 7, 2018
A satisfying end to an utterly satisfying reread of this series. I’ve seen negative reviews of these books, and while some of them make valid points- odd narration in the second book, not enough explanation of the magic system- ultimately this story deserves no less that 5/5 ⭐️. Atwater-Rhodes incorporates strong female roles, unconventional relationships and a truly delightful and unique fantasy realm that it is far too easy to immerse oneself in. Also can we talk about the rampant homophobia in some of the past reviews? It’s my humble opinion that it is gay and lesbian relationships just like the one portrayed here and in wolfcry that we as a culture and that young readers need to see. There is no massive coming out revelation, there is simply love and the choice to be with the one you love.
May 6, 2022
"What could a mortal say to the merciless Fate?
I forced myself to my feet.
A'le-Ahnleh was the traditional end to a prayer. By the will of Fate.
"A'le-la," I whispered defiantly.
By my will." - Hai
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The last book of the Keisha'ra series. I'm feeling both happy and sad because it ended. Hai was first introduced to us in the third book by Nicias when he saved her from Ecl. Her story finally came to us and out of all the characters she was the most powerful one. Not only because her magic was stronger but because of what she endured. She was mix of a falcon and a cobra. The magic that the two sides have drove her into Ecl but she managed through. I feel as if wyvernhail, which is Hai, calls to me. Her voice and shriek are in my dreams, promising of strength that will help pass these moments.
This is my favorite book and I don't think I'll be able to forget this story! ❤
I forced myself to my feet.
A'le-Ahnleh was the traditional end to a prayer. By the will of Fate.
"A'le-la," I whispered defiantly.
By my will." - Hai
📚
📚
📚
The last book of the Keisha'ra series. I'm feeling both happy and sad because it ended. Hai was first introduced to us in the third book by Nicias when he saved her from Ecl. Her story finally came to us and out of all the characters she was the most powerful one. Not only because her magic was stronger but because of what she endured. She was mix of a falcon and a cobra. The magic that the two sides have drove her into Ecl but she managed through. I feel as if wyvernhail, which is Hai, calls to me. Her voice and shriek are in my dreams, promising of strength that will help pass these moments.
This is my favorite book and I don't think I'll be able to forget this story! ❤
December 26, 2024
I fell into a reading slump after book 4. Call it stress in my life or call it I didn't want this world to end, it's probably both.
The ending was exactly as it was meant to be. Did I want more? Of course I did. I'm never satisfied.
This could be a beautiful world to return to some day but I also love preserving the memory as it is.
My only critique is that it felt a little rushed in some places, but it only felt rushed as the previous books took their time more. I understand the sense of urgency in relation to the context of the book.
So many comparisons to mental health conditions that I can draw relation to. The complexity and depth of this book is more than words can explain.
This book is exactly what it's meant to be. The right time, the right narrator, the right outcome.
Not everyone will be happy but once they finish they will understand exactly why this happened.
The ending was exactly as it was meant to be. Did I want more? Of course I did. I'm never satisfied.
This could be a beautiful world to return to some day but I also love preserving the memory as it is.
My only critique is that it felt a little rushed in some places, but it only felt rushed as the previous books took their time more. I understand the sense of urgency in relation to the context of the book.
So many comparisons to mental health conditions that I can draw relation to. The complexity and depth of this book is more than words can explain.
This book is exactly what it's meant to be. The right time, the right narrator, the right outcome.
Not everyone will be happy but once they finish they will understand exactly why this happened.
December 9, 2023
The series as a whole I had some qualms about. Specifically each book being a different characters point of view. However, thinking about it each book gives those characters their own voice. This book I rated higher because it had me on edge. A slow burn from previous books and then all at once you see the possibility of the destruction of this world and the characters I came to enjoy. I was hoping things would work out, but wasn’t positive they would. They did not without their sacrifices. A part of me wishes the books had been longer, but the other part of me found it refreshing to read a fantasy series that I could actually finish without the burden of thousands of pages. All in all this series is a 4 star for me and I did enjoy it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 3, 2025
This book was written from the POV of a character who struggles with mental clarity. I think Amelia did an amazing job writing the characters perspective and it felt very much true to the character however at times it did make the book a little hard to follow. I also loved the character development in this book. Whilst the books in this series are on the shorter side, I am amazed at how easy it was to become invested in the stories and also how vast the world building and complex the magic system is. This series was definitely a hidden gem. If you would love a fantasy which has a very unique take on shifters then I would definitely recommend it. The series I would say is closest to its vibes is The Others series by Anne Bishop.
June 8, 2018
Re-reading favorites from my teen years for comfort.
The end of this series wraps up so much plot, so much back story, and so many questions, while playing with time and visions and madness, and it’s always a blur to try and sort out. Hai’s story doesn’t really include romance, even though she does end up with someone, because she’s much more focused on larger implications for the survival of the two kingdoms. In this way, it’s part two of Wolfcry, as the next generation tries to figure out the path to a future without violence or war or death. And it’s so worth the difficult brain work of reading it.
The end of this series wraps up so much plot, so much back story, and so many questions, while playing with time and visions and madness, and it’s always a blur to try and sort out. Hai’s story doesn’t really include romance, even though she does end up with someone, because she’s much more focused on larger implications for the survival of the two kingdoms. In this way, it’s part two of Wolfcry, as the next generation tries to figure out the path to a future without violence or war or death. And it’s so worth the difficult brain work of reading it.
June 9, 2019
Hai is constantly being bombarded with visions of the future and each one is worse than before. She desperately works to prevent the terrible future she sees.
This was interesting because we finally see Hai's side of the story. We see how out of control her magic is and how much it pains her. Her visions are fascinating and terrifying, which I'm sure would be true for anyone who can see the future.
Overall, I enjoyed the Hai's story and the conclusion of this series. I do wish we had more books of just Danica and Zane's though because they were my favorites.
This was interesting because we finally see Hai's side of the story. We see how out of control her magic is and how much it pains her. Her visions are fascinating and terrifying, which I'm sure would be true for anyone who can see the future.
Overall, I enjoyed the Hai's story and the conclusion of this series. I do wish we had more books of just Danica and Zane's though because they were my favorites.
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