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The Hound and the Falcon #2
Det Gyldne Horn
Alfred af Sankt Ruans Kloster har aflagt sin munkekutte.
Paven har løst ham fra hans klosterløfter, men Alfred lever stadig efter dem- til stor ærgrelse for den smukke Thea, som stadig følger ham, hjælper ham og frister ham.
Parret opholder sig i byernes by, Konstantinopel, da Det Fjerde Korstogs styrker i stedet for at fortsætte mod Det Hellige Land vender våbnene mod deres kristne trosfæller og løber verdens smukkeste og rigeste by overende.
Alfred bruger sine magiske evner for at redde liv.
Rygtet om ham breder sig både blandt forsvarere og angribere og skaffer ham venner og mægtige fjender i begge lejre.
Paven har løst ham fra hans klosterløfter, men Alfred lever stadig efter dem- til stor ærgrelse for den smukke Thea, som stadig følger ham, hjælper ham og frister ham.
Parret opholder sig i byernes by, Konstantinopel, da Det Fjerde Korstogs styrker i stedet for at fortsætte mod Det Hellige Land vender våbnene mod deres kristne trosfæller og løber verdens smukkeste og rigeste by overende.
Alfred bruger sine magiske evner for at redde liv.
Rygtet om ham breder sig både blandt forsvarere og angribere og skaffer ham venner og mægtige fjender i begge lejre.
Paperback
First published January 1, 1985
24 people are currently reading
246 people want to read
About the author
Judith Tarr
121 books419 followersAKA Caitlin Brennan, Kathleen Bryan.
Judith Tarr (born 1955) is an American author, best known for her fantasy books. She received her B.A. in Latin and English from Mount Holyoke College in 1976, and has an M.A. in Classics from Cambridge University, and an M.A. and Ph.D. in Medieval Studies from Yale University. She taught Latin and writing at Wesleyan University from 1988-1992, and taught at the Clarion science-fiction-writing workshops in 1996 and 1999.
She raises and trains Lipizzan horses at Dancing Horse Farm, her home in Vail, Arizona. The romantic fantasies that she writes under the name Caitlin Brennan feature dancing horses modeled on those that she raises.
Judith Tarr (born 1955) is an American author, best known for her fantasy books. She received her B.A. in Latin and English from Mount Holyoke College in 1976, and has an M.A. in Classics from Cambridge University, and an M.A. and Ph.D. in Medieval Studies from Yale University. She taught Latin and writing at Wesleyan University from 1988-1992, and taught at the Clarion science-fiction-writing workshops in 1996 and 1999.
She raises and trains Lipizzan horses at Dancing Horse Farm, her home in Vail, Arizona. The romantic fantasies that she writes under the name Caitlin Brennan feature dancing horses modeled on those that she raises.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
July 26, 2009
The problem with a continuation of an Alf-centered storyline is that I don't like Alf. He's not a good, interesting character and I want him to get struck by lightning.
May 20, 2016
This book is confounding. I appreciate historical novels because they show us how people in different times and places responded to the unique circumstances of their lives. And I appreciate fantasy novels which bring to life an imaginary society. But this novel is an odd combination of the two that doesn't work for me. The book vividly describes the shameful Fourth Crusade and the sack of Constantinople about 1200. As a historical novel, it works; both the Greek and Latin characters engaged my interest and I have a better understanding of the human impact of the war. However, the "hero" of our story is an elf, not the cute little Santa's helper kind but the handsome immortal warrior Legolas kind, The fantasy components detract from the history, because they're so implausible, but the book doesn't really work as a fantasy because, despite his extraordinary powers our hero is helpless to change the course of events. The author seems to have used him more as a device to link together events and characters from both sides of the conflict who would otherwise never have known one another.
July 10, 2014
I found this book only so-so because Alf was a Marty Stu and didn't engage me *at all*. He was good, kind, patient, noble. Boring. The other characters, Jehan and the family he ends up adopting, were much more interesting.
And his burns? He's in a hot dry climate and he forgets to protect himself? This was just an excuse for him to be "rescued" and meet the other main characters.
I will start the next book for the sake of completeness.
And his burns? He's in a hot dry climate and he forgets to protect himself? This was just an excuse for him to be "rescued" and meet the other main characters.
I will start the next book for the sake of completeness.
November 25, 2025
So at the end of The Isle of Glass, Brother Alfred (fey and functionally immortal, who'd spent the past 60+ years comfortably hiding in a cell in St. Ruan's Abbey before getting involved with the events of the first book) was told to make pilgrimage to Jerusalem.
This book picks up several years after that, a good while after the pilgrimage has been completed, as Alf (shadowed, to his chagrin, by fellow elf Thea) arrives just outside of Constantinopolis, most noble of cities.
Also arriving, by coincidence, is Alfred's friend Brother Jehan, but Jehan comes as part of an army of Crusaders en route to free the Holy Land; and if I tell you that this particular army is led by the blind Doge of Venice and the year is 1203 AD, you'll probably have a good idea of how things are going to end. .
But before that happens, Alf will fall in with a very nice Byzantine family, reunite with Jehan, be dragged into complex, dare I say Byzantine, political intrigues, both in terms of royal succession and in terms of trying to keep the peace between Greeks and Crusaders, and try to resolve his equally complex, dare I say Byzantine, feelings towards Althea.
And, as with the first book, this was an unalloyed joy to read.
This book picks up several years after that, a good while after the pilgrimage has been completed, as Alf (shadowed, to his chagrin, by fellow elf Thea) arrives just outside of Constantinopolis, most noble of cities.
Also arriving, by coincidence, is Alfred's friend Brother Jehan, but Jehan comes as part of an army of Crusaders en route to free the Holy Land; and if I tell you that this particular army is led by the blind Doge of Venice and the year is 1203 AD, you'll probably have a good idea of how things are going to end. .
But before that happens, Alf will fall in with a very nice Byzantine family, reunite with Jehan, be dragged into complex, dare I say Byzantine, political intrigues, both in terms of royal succession and in terms of trying to keep the peace between Greeks and Crusaders, and try to resolve his equally complex, dare I say Byzantine, feelings towards Althea.
And, as with the first book, this was an unalloyed joy to read.
May 27, 2021
I found this a fairly disappointing follow-up to the wonderful 'Isle of Glass'. There's nothing wrong with it per se, it just didn't compare well.
I didn't warm to it on account of the setting (which I've always considered one of the more repellent parts of medieval history.) Also I found Alf's personal journey in the first book was much more compelling than his character growth here.
Hoping the next book is less miserable!
I didn't warm to it on account of the setting (which I've always considered one of the more repellent parts of medieval history.) Also I found Alf's personal journey in the first book was much more compelling than his character growth here.
Hoping the next book is less miserable!
May 5, 2023
Not very much to say about this one. Everything was okay, mildly interesting but the magical dimension was sadly weak... oh well.
July 24, 2012
Alfred is a monk of St. Ruan’s Abbey- devoted to his Brothers and his God, a scholar of rare talent, and very much more than a man. A foundling, he was taken in and raised by the Abbey as one of their own, and while his colleagues have grown to old men, he remains no more than a youth.
The quiet Abbey life that Alfred clings to is pulled away from him as he is sent out to the world, carrying a message of violence to the Richard Coeur de Leon. Once out of the Abbey’s comforting walls, Alfred cannot help but acknowledge something other than human blood runs through his veins. His eerie beauty and otherworldly skills catch the eye of the Hounds of God, who swear to purge him and all others like him from the Church, as well as the world itself.
From the temperate north to the sweltering heat of the Crusades, the Hound and the Falcon trilogy is a magnificent journey. There is a beauty, an acknowledgement of the sublime, that swells through every page. Pausing and closing the book was like coming up for air, almost disorienting, definitely displeasing as I wanted nothing more than to keep reading. Rarely have I been touched so by a book, but there is something bare, brutal and honest to Alfred and his search for identity and meaning that I could not help but be moved.
All else, all grand crusading and conflict aside, it reaches down to the root of identity and poses questions there that inflict an almost sympathetic bout of introspection upon the reader. And it is perfect.
Ms. Tarr has woven a depth of history and cultural detail in her books that make the world breathe. The characters and settings are whole, believable, and obviously lovingly researched.
Highly recommended.
The quiet Abbey life that Alfred clings to is pulled away from him as he is sent out to the world, carrying a message of violence to the Richard Coeur de Leon. Once out of the Abbey’s comforting walls, Alfred cannot help but acknowledge something other than human blood runs through his veins. His eerie beauty and otherworldly skills catch the eye of the Hounds of God, who swear to purge him and all others like him from the Church, as well as the world itself.
From the temperate north to the sweltering heat of the Crusades, the Hound and the Falcon trilogy is a magnificent journey. There is a beauty, an acknowledgement of the sublime, that swells through every page. Pausing and closing the book was like coming up for air, almost disorienting, definitely displeasing as I wanted nothing more than to keep reading. Rarely have I been touched so by a book, but there is something bare, brutal and honest to Alfred and his search for identity and meaning that I could not help but be moved.
All else, all grand crusading and conflict aside, it reaches down to the root of identity and poses questions there that inflict an almost sympathetic bout of introspection upon the reader. And it is perfect.
Ms. Tarr has woven a depth of history and cultural detail in her books that make the world breathe. The characters and settings are whole, believable, and obviously lovingly researched.
Highly recommended.
February 6, 2021
Picks up serveral years after the first book of the trilogy - Alf has visited Jerusalem and is now based on Constantinople. There's wealth of info about the life in Constantinople during the (IIRC) 4th Crusade, and the sack of the city which is brought vividly to life.
There's a sub plot I particularly enjoyed featuring one of the children of the family that Alf is now living with - which I really would have liked to have seen expanded (but which would have been worthy of a novel of it's own to elaborate how magic works in this universe).
There's considerably more action than in the first novel - and a whole host of very well fleshed out characters we are introduced to. The origins of the Kindred are explored in more detail and it becomes apparent that they're not your traditional fanasty elves - which makes the whole series a lot more engaging.
There's a sub plot I particularly enjoyed featuring one of the children of the family that Alf is now living with - which I really would have liked to have seen expanded (but which would have been worthy of a novel of it's own to elaborate how magic works in this universe).
There's considerably more action than in the first novel - and a whole host of very well fleshed out characters we are introduced to. The origins of the Kindred are explored in more detail and it becomes apparent that they're not your traditional fanasty elves - which makes the whole series a lot more engaging.
July 10, 2019
The new characters were just as lovable as the old, this book was phenomenal. The battling was much more exciting in this book than the first, and any issues people had with Alf’s angst and timidity in the first book, rest assured they were finally resolved. He is not the focus as much in this book, which I liked. Constantinople was a beautifully vivid city, and the battle all the more horrifying and devastating. Thea absolutely shines in this book, I love her character. And so does Jehan. I’m very excited to read book 3 next.
September 11, 2017
Ok, so this is where the self-sacrificial aspect of the main character started weighing on me. He appears to have not learned any survival or self-preservation skills outside of emotional outbursts - which I didn't appreciate. The writing was still good; still fresh, I just didn't appreciate Alfred's actions as much.
April 29, 2021
Unputdownable.
Somewhat hard to get through because of the setting, knowing it accurately depicts what happened to Byzantium in 1204. But the worst of the atrocities happen offstage, I am thankful to say. What saves it from direness (I'm a lightweight when it comes to Grim) is the characters whom we come to love.
Very grateful there are two more books in the series.
Somewhat hard to get through because of the setting, knowing it accurately depicts what happened to Byzantium in 1204. But the worst of the atrocities happen offstage, I am thankful to say. What saves it from direness (I'm a lightweight when it comes to Grim) is the characters whom we come to love.
Very grateful there are two more books in the series.
February 1, 2023
I really enjoyed The Golden Horn, more than The Isle of Glass. Tarr did a magnificent job with her characters. Her writing made me feel invested in her characters. Just as with the first book, I couldn't put the book down. I couldn't help but be reminded of Noah Gordon's The Physician and Shaman. This and both of those books did a stunning job of weaving a fictional narrative in a real historical event.
The Golden Horn is an amazing and beautiful sequel to the Isle of Glass, and I'm really glad that I got to discover Judith Tarr's The Hound and the Falcon.
The Golden Horn is an amazing and beautiful sequel to the Isle of Glass, and I'm really glad that I got to discover Judith Tarr's The Hound and the Falcon.
September 15, 2020
I liked the Isle of Glass better and I think I am done with this series -- not going to read the Hound of Glass. Same problem I mentioned with Kay's Song for Arbonne -- sometimes when authors play with history and I know too much about the actual version, their imaginings seem less interesting to me.
April 7, 2018
I've realized that Alf is an interesting character in terms of who/what he is and his actions but he has a dull personality - what he says and what he thinks are sometimes are big ol' yawn fest. I found the other characters much more interesting but Jehan seemed a bit more different to my taste.
August 20, 2018
A gripping story.
I was worried at first because the book started out with a fraught quarrel, and I was afraid this was going to be angsty. I shouldn't have worried. This was a gripping story and I look forward to the next installment.
I was worried at first because the book started out with a fraught quarrel, and I was afraid this was going to be angsty. I shouldn't have worried. This was a gripping story and I look forward to the next installment.
August 13, 2022
the pacing was just...nowhere to be found. uhhh she had her boring moments. I'm not convinced that I like Alf. I love Nikki and I hope he is the MC of the next book because I think Alf's story has come to an end.
October 13, 2019
Great follow on to first book
January 22, 2021
Loved and Enjoyed this book. Ups and Downs. Twists and Turns. Page turner.
December 19, 2022
I really enjoyed this one too!
January 11, 2024
DNF - didn't have the depth or charm of the first book.
June 23, 2014
The 1204 sack of Constantinople and three day pillage and rape of the beautiful city and it's inhabitants is never easy to read. The author is too fine a historian to gloss over the brutality of that terrible event. Despite its bits of magical fiction the history is solid and these battle accounts are not for the wee ones. Another good story of Constantinople is Jill Paton Walsh's _The Emperor's Winding Sheet_ which gives a more thorough look at the intricate rituals of the Eastern church.
May 28, 2020
This series is the Crusades, only with magic and elves, but it's much better than that sounds, and it's a past that feels very realistic and lived in. But some readers may find the self-tormented Alfred and especially Thea to be too Mary Sue.
April 6, 2014
Alf's adventures continue in Constantinople at the time of the Fourth Crusade. I am continuing to enjoy the vivid picture Tarr paints with her words. Historical fiction/ fantasy is not my typical genre, but this trilogy has been well worth it.
April 23, 2011
This was so much better than the first one. I loved the story line. Ready for the last one
December 29, 2012
Heartbreaking account of the Sack of Constantinople in the 4th Crusade. Good story with believable characters and character development; really well-researched.
June 8, 2013
Always enjoy books about Constantinople, although 'enjoy' is probably not the correct word. Perhaps 'fascinating' would be better. Thought this was the best book in the trilogy
April 2, 2015
Constantinople
While this one,mostly history,the building of the characters moves on.Getting to know the new people and the parts they play.
While this one,mostly history,the building of the characters moves on.Getting to know the new people and the parts they play.
September 24, 2016
I know I read this near the time it was first published, and I know I really liked it, but the details are a little fuzzy this many years later. I'll have to read it again.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews