The Kestrel

Westmark #2

by Lloyd Alexander

Theo is traveling through Westmark, learning about the country of which he will soon be Prince Consort. He is not surprised to find great poverty-Mickle (now known as Princess Augusta) could have told him that from her years on the street. His friend Florian could have told him about the aristocracy's graft and corruption. But neither could have foreseen a loaded pistol in the practiced hand of the assassin Skeit. The echoes of that shot ring from the muskets and cannons of a Westmark suddenly at war-a war that turns simple, honest men into cold-blooded killers, Mickle into a military commander, and Theo himself into a stranger...

With war in Westmark and the assumption of the throne by Mickle, all Theo's talents are needed, as well as those of his former companions.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Fiction, Adventure, Childrens, Science Fiction Fantasy, Middle Grade

244 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published April 15, 1982

About the author

Lloyd Chudley Alexander was an influential American author of more than forty books, mostly fantasy novels for children and adolescents, as well as several adult books. His most famous contribution to the field of children's literature is the fantasy series The Chronicles of Prydain. The concluding book of the series, The High King , was awarded the Newbery Medal in 1969. Alexander's other books have also won the National Book Award and the American Book Award. He was also one of the creators of Cricket Magazine.

Reviews

[Bernadette · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second in Lloyd Alexander's Westmark Trilogy is an absolute emotional trainwreck of a story. It flawlessly takes the lovable characters of the first story and embroils them in the most intense and traumatic conflict, pushing character and reader alike to their breaking point. Where Westmark dealt with the questions of how do men live virtuously in the face of injustice and, in particular, warfare, The Kestrel throws you into the thick of it and shows what types of moral dilemmas man will face in a state of complete chaos and hatred. Despite being a children's and a fantasy story, The Kestrel was one of the most powerful and realistic war stories I have ever read.

In The Kestrel, Westmark finds itself suddenly embroiled in war as wicked and greedy aristocrats betray their country to the neighbouring Kingdom of Regia, where the exiled Cabbarus takes up residence, hoping to ruin those who took him out of power and reclaim a seat of authority. Mickle, as new Princess Augusta, throws herself into the thick of the battle, proving herself to be a capable military commander. Florian and his revolutionaries agree to provide aid to the Queen of Westmark, but only under the conditions that Theo swear his allegiance first to their cause, and that the Queen will also consider their conditions for a constitutionalized government. Theo joins Justin as a detachment of raiders, weakening the Regia supply lines. In the face of violent death and the loss of friends, Theo must learn whether or not it is possible to retain a sense of morality and humanity; and, if he cannot, he must determine whether he can ever go back to being the person he thought he was.

The Kestrel realistically shows what happens to men in battle. Lloyd Alexander simply and accurately depicts noble men descend to bloodthirsty killers. At the same time, he does it in such a way that you do not hate the character, but rather mourn and ache for the loss; he writes such a compelling narrative that you understand why they become the way they do, but the change from noble and masculine men to violent animals is nothing but heartbreaking.

Knowing that Lloyd Alexander himself took part in World War II helps to understand how it is that he creates the war dynamic so well. Every part of the story feels so real. The characters are real, with great qualities and skills and shocking flaws. Watching characters like Theo and Stock, who have such high moral compasses, slowly give in to less noble temptations in the face of hunger, despair, and murder all around them is believable and personal. Lloyd Alexander makes the reader feel the shame but also the desperation in their actions. If he didn't give an answer to whether war is worth waging for a just cause in Westmark, he presents the reality of war plainly enough to shock you into finding an answer for yourself. No character is safe; you will move through grief with the characters in this story as friend and foe fall all around you. And, at the end of the day, what you have left is a charred kingdom and traumatized men.

One of the more subtle, but beautiful aspects of The Kestrel, however, is how Lloyd Alexander has Theo find consolation and a way back to reality through art. It is only when Theo is able to draw his experiences, to put them down on paper, that he can bring himself to face his friends again. He draws places and people, even those that he only saw once in passing that no one but his memory remembers. Art is Theo's way of coming to terms with the things he's seen and the things he's done. It not only makes them more real, but also helps him to be more than the sum of that experience. Theo's skill at drawing seems throughout both books as a simple hobby and character quirk, but the way Lloyd Alexander brings it back as Theo's way back into reality was stunningly beautiful. It made me wonder if there was some glimpsing into the author--perhaps The Westmark Trilogy was Lloyd Alexander's way back home after his own war experiences. Overall, the book is an absolutely breathtaking and incredible war story that is both realistic and compelling. 5/5.

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally reviewed here.

A couple of weeks ago, I was fortunate enough to attend a Shakespeare Festival in a small town down south. DH and I have gone three times in the last few years, as children and time off work permitted, and each time it's been an utter delight. This year we went with some good friends so it was twice as fun. One afternoon we were in between plays, and I was determined to get back to this little used bookstore we'd visited the last time we made it down. For many years now, I have been involved in a prolonged and illustrious love affair with used bookstores. This one is my latest crush. I walked in the door, wandered over to the YA section, and lo and behold the exact edition of Lloyd Alexander's The Black Cauldron that I have been searching for for what feels like forever--the one missing from my collection--was sitting there on the shelf in gorgeous condition with a price tag of two dollars. Needless to say I snatched it up immediately and the smile it put on my face has lasted. It also put me in mind of another Alexander book I wanted to review. I love all his books (as you know), and the Chronicles of Prydain will always hold a place of honor in my heart as they were the first of his I read and I'm finishing up the last one with my son right now. But the Westmark series is something special. I reviewed book one awhile back (it's actually the only Alexander book I've reviewed here which fills me with shock and dismay), so today you get book two. And you may be getting more in the near future.

Warning: It's always a bit hard avoiding spoilers when reviewing sequels. So please proceed with caution if you have not yet read Westmark. Instead ask yourself, "Whyever have I not read Westmark?" And then go remedy the situation immediately.

Theo is lost. Geographically he knows exactly where he is. He's crisscrossing the country, getting to know every nook and cranny of the land he is to rule over with Mickle. Mickle--the girl who was nothing more than a guttersnipe thief. The girl he fell in love with who turned out to be a princess and heir to the throne of the beleaguered kingdom of Westmark. Now he is set to become prince-consort, and Theo is as far from knowing where he is or being sure that's who he should be as is humanly possible. Mickle (or rather the Princess Augusta) is stuck in the capital city, regaining the life she lost as a small girl, while Theo is forced to see his nation and his people for what they really are--toppling over the brink of revolution. Tasked with reporting the findings of his wanderings to the royal family, Theo soon realizes he will be fortunate to survive at all. And before long, he isn't at all sure he wants to as his life is changed irrevocably by a single gunshot. Little does he know, back at the capital Mickle's life has been equally as altered. Determined to find Theo, she sets off on a dangerous adventure of her own. By the time she locates him, however, Theo is changed far beyond recognition. Whether they will be able to return to some sort of common ground is only one of a thousand questions raging along with the war.

First published in 1982, THE KESTREL is the best kind of historical fantasy. It is also everything the middle novel in a trilogy should be. And by that I mean it is darker, more ambiguous, painstakingly layered, more political, just altogether more. I remember the first time I read it being so afraid for Theo. He was one thing in the first book, and here he was being violently forced into being another thing. I was so afraid he wouldn't survive. Lloyd Alexander is a master of character evolution and at asking the hard questions. Theo begins to believe he is the Kestrel, that the feared soldier, the learned and later craved violence, is the real him. That the printer's apprentice of his youth is a mere memory, a boy he thought he was. It was one of the first times I came up against a character confronting himself and not being sure which facet of his personality was the genuine one. I have not forgotten the experience and only learned to appreciate it more for its brutal honesty in the years since. Fortunately, Mr. Alexander is brilliant at wry humor and love as well. So you're never left entirely without recourse when the demons come calling. Mickle is pure gold in this book, and she will always be one of my very favorite fictional thieves. Her ability to know who she is and meld the two aspects of her broken life provide inspiration and lifeline to Theo and the reader as the tale wends its way to its excellent close. I always recommend this for those in the mood for some more mature character-driven YA fantasy with an emphasis on the political rather than the fantastical.

[conor · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a remarkably profound, nuanced look at revolution and war and violence for being aimed at teens.

Radically shaped my own ideology and perspective on all of those things!

[Zaara · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars but still a jolly good read
Riddled with convention but oh so likeable despite it, this series pulls off the most outrageous things with a dead straight face and total belief in its seriousness...reminds me of those Youtube videos of kids with chocolate smeared faces trying to convince Mama that Batman ate the cookies.
Or maybe I was just in the mood for pixelated 1D fantasy.

[W.R. Gingell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read Westmark #2 first because I haven't been able to get my hands on the first or third book. In fact, I had to source this one from the library (the only one they have, alas!) and I will now be scouring book shops until I find all three and bear them off triumphant.

I actually don't know where to start. Because I can't seem to grapple with all the feelings that this book brought up, I'll be brief.

I'm shattered. In awe. I've read the Prydain Chronicles and consider them the best of the best, but Westmark #2, in my opinion, manages to be better.

It's the closest thing to grimdark that I've read--or will read--and I was sobbing at least twice as I read it. I don't make a habit of sobbing over books. I've had a sniffle once or twice with other books, but that's it.

Lloyd Alexander has what I consider to be an unparalleled ability to create flawed, striving, achingly real characters with actual moral goodness to them. And he does it so well that I wept along with the other characters to see Theo's innocence begin to be lost.

That's all. Read at your peril--but DO read.

[Alicia Beale · Rating 5 out of 5]

The ending blew me away. The whole series was my introduction to political science. I love this book. It is a deep passionate love.

[Vendela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Harrowing in parts. Alexander is good at writing adventure without shying away from the reality of war.

[Rick Stuckwisch · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm thoroughly enjoying this trilogy by Lloyd Alexander, one that I've actually owned for many years, but which I had not managed to read until now. Really didn't know what to expect, and it is rather different than any of his other books. Yet, it exhibits the same masterful writing craft that he has employed in his many other works, and he puts them to good effect her. It's not historical fiction, leastwise not in the usual sense; nor is it alternative history, as it is entirely set within a fictional literary world. It's not "fantasy" in the usual sense, either, since nothing happens that couldn't happen in the actual world as we know it. For all that, it reads like historical fiction, recognizably "based" or at least "inspired" by the French and American Revolutions. And it is a gripping tale, with lots of adventure, intrigue, and politics (both personal and governmental). One certainly does get a sense of Lloyd Alexander's own thoughts and opinions on warfare and government, but he's more thoughtful and philosophical about it than arrogant or hamfisted. Part of what makes the story so compelling, aside from how well it is told, is the struggles involved (internal and external) in trying to discern what is good and right in a fallen, messed up world. A good series of books -- this second one as good or better than the first -- and well worth reading.

[Juho Pohjalainen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first book of the trilogy struggled a little, in my mind, in finding itself theme and identity. The second one manages much better - it deals with horrors of war, lines even good people are willing to cross when pushed, and a good deal of moral greys. It's not nearly as funny as Prydain's early books could be, but it's rather more harrowing to compensate, without needing to go into grisly details to really shove it in our faces. It's subtle and lets us fill the blanks. Many adult authors - reveling in blood and rape and swear words - take note.

It ends a little bleaker than Westmark did, for that matter. I'm not sure anything was truly fixed, and it's all just delaying the inevitable - as the second acts often tend to do. It turns out that Theo sparing a life in the first book only brought them all harm, but did this one do him any better when he tried taking lives for a change? It doesn't look like he's any happier for it.

[Addyson Huneke · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book! It makes so much more sense reading it in order. This time I wasn't completely lost, unlike the first time I read it, which was my first introduction to The Westmark Trilogy. I really like the mature aspects it handles about war and politics.

[DoRena · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice page turner to bring on vacation. Looking forward to the final outcome of the story in "The Beggar Queen."

[Deborah · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very interesting read, and deals with some really great questions about self-worth, finding or losing yourself in a cause, etc. I would say the level of violence and really heavy themes make this one for older teenagers/ adults.

[Joshua Van Dereck · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a peculiar book. As I long-time fan of the chronicles of Prydain, I decided this year to take a look at some of Alexander's other writing. The Westmark trilogy made sense as a place to begin, and so I dutifully read Westmark. I found that book to be decidedly mediocre. It wasn't terrible, but it was disjointed, silly, even rather superficial--a series of anecdotal experiences strung together haphazardly with too many characters, too little development, and a tidy ending that strained credulity. That left me reluctant to continue on with this second book in the series (it took me several months to return to it).

Imagine my surprise then at this novel. Picking up with the characters from Westmark (all employed to rather more concerted effect here) but utterly abandoning the tone and structure of that book, here is a novel about war. This is not an adventure story, not a frolicsome romp through misadventures, but a full-fledged war story that sometimes seems directly inspired by the squeamish questions of morality in guerrilla combat raised by Vietnam. There are, of course, some sillier sections, some light-fare back and forths with some of the characters from Westmark, and the conclusion is typically tidy, and even a touch frivolous. Nevertheless, Alexander achieves a level of seriousness and depth through the heart of this novel that I think he has only elsewhere achieved in The Black Cauldron (which I still contend is a far superior novel to The High King).

Where does that leave this book then? Well, it's a fairly personal story about soul-searching and struggling with morality against the backdrop of a brutal war. The themes are thought-provoking, and the characters do not disappoint. There is still a disjointed quality, as not all of the characters and concepts from the first novel mesh with the material in this one, and the ending is certainly weaker than the middle and early sections. If this book stood on its own (and it doesn't--you really have to read the first one first) I would heartily recommend it, to young people and perhaps even to older people. Since you have to slog through Westmark to appreciate this novel though, I'm not sure. It's a pity really, as the two novels have very little to do with each other in theme and scope. For its own sake though, I greatly enjoyed this novel, and I think it's up there with Lloyd Alexander's finest work.

[Gwendolyn Grace · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was another good book by Lloyd Alexander, the second chapter in the Westmark trilogy, chronicling the war between Westmark and its neighbour, Regia. Maybe due to this, it was much darker in tone than any of his other books I have read.

There was indeed marked character development - however, much of it was negative. Theo did come back to his senses towards the end of act three, but it wasn't easy to see how he reacted to the war or how he became the Kestrel. There were other good characters introduced, such as King Constantine (again, he was likable mostly towards the end), and some of the other characters fleshed out, such as Florian, but the character who I most wanted to read about and who I liked the most - Mickle - did not show up much at all.

However, Lloyd Alexander gets full marks for creating two of the most lovable, lively, and interesting secondary characters (well, tertiary characters) in fiction, Sparrow and Weasel. These 'water rats', with their unswerving devotion to Keller, their innocence, and their oblivious practicality, were a welcome relief from the tension of the war and Theo's path to the dark side.

The writing, as usual, was good.

Over all, it was a hard book to read. Its main focus was the war and Theo becoming the Kestrel - both of which were rather depressing topics, and necessary to set up the third book, the Beggar Queen. And it needed more Mickle.

[LobsterQuadrille · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first time I read it, I initially had trouble getting into The Kestrel, since it started out with a lot of talking about war and politics. But now that I've finished my second re-read, I have found so much more to appreciate in this story, so much that I changed my rating from four stars to five! There is a real sense of growth in the characters and the story since the first book: we see a drastically different side of both Theo and Mickle as they are placed in new and dangerous situations, and there is a new intensity in the writing. The scene where Theo discovers Stock's body is brutal and jarring, but absolutely brilliant in the way it captures Theo's sense of disbelief and unreality. Alexander's depiction of war and its effects on people is never sugarcoated or romanticized, making it a starkly believable war story despite its being fiction.

The character development extends beyond Theo and Mickle, further shaping the personalities of Las Bombas, the "water rats", Florian, and his followers. Las Bombas and the children provide just enough comic relief without feeling forced, and the action scenes are fast-paced and suspenseful without becoming confusing. The Kestrel is not only a worthy successor to Westmark, but one of the most mature and complex Lloyd Alexander books I have had the pleasure of reading so far.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Rogue-van (the Bookman) · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Theo and Queen Augusta get separated by a sudden war, they each find a way to fight. This war is certainly not glorious, but it is gripping to the reader.

[L · Rating 4 out of 5]

TL;DR deeply unsettling 4 stars do recommend

I'm trying to keep this short because most of my thoughts on this book are similar to the first in the series, but with less criticisms, BUT I am a blabbermouth so we'll see.

The strength of this story is certainly not in its characters, of whom I like very few. Theo is less irritating in this one as he's less idealistic (though unfortunately this comes at the cost of him becoming a killer), but the others (Las Bombas, Musket, Torrens, Keller, Florian, Justin, Stock, Rina, etc) I am as indifferent to them as I was before. Weasel and Sparrow felt a bit purposeless in the first book, but here they are a bit of a bright spot, and I like the addition of Witz and Connie. But really, all of them are pretty meh and I can't say I'm overly attached to any, except maybe Mickle, but even in her case, I only like her a little more than the others because she doesn't annoy me as much as anyone else.

But that's sort of the point. Personally, I prefer a book that's more character-driven than plot-driven. I want to love all the characters in every book i read. I could read pages and pages of an interesting character's inner monologue without once worrying that the plot isn't advancing. Which means that my main criticism of this book/series is simply that that aspect isn't my taste. But the message here is that anyone, even an idealistic, innocent, good person can become a bloodthirsty killer, anyone can be driven mad with grief, anyone can suffer from PTSD once they've experienced the horrors of death and war. Theo's change into The Kestrel feels quick, and in the previous book I would have considered that a stumbling on the author's part, but in this book it works much better because it's intentional. It's meant to feel quick because it is. It's described with detachment because the narrator/Theo is looking back on events that were not clear to him at the time because he wasn't sane at the time, and because he was a stranger to himself. It isn't fun or pleasant to read, but it makes sense and it makes the book's discussion of morality very compelling.

I don't think I've ever read another young adult series like this one. The characters and plots are pretty stock and predictable (though this one is less predictable than book 1, and book 3 if I remember correctly), but the themes and message are incredibly nuanced. There is no worry here that the main character will become unlikable because we aren't meant to like them, at least not all the time. And yet at the same time, Theo is meant to be generic enough that we can easily put ourselves in his shoes.

Which is what makes it so unsettling. But unsettling in a good way. I realize it's silly to apply modern YA fantasy standards to a book written 40 years ago, but I think this is what a lot of modern writers are trying to do when they write a dark, gritty fantasy series. The trouble is that those often get bogged down with description (of setting/worldbuilding sometimes, but especially of violence IMO), and what feels like cheap or manufactured drama because the romance almost always takes center stage. In the previous book, I said Theo and Mickle's romance felt too easy, but after rereading this one, I think that too is intentional. Many modern YA books want to send a message similar to this one, to discuss the horror of war or the difficulty of maintaining your morals in the midst of corruption. And then they shove a romance into the middle of it and the romance becomes the focus. In this case, the romance is easy because it isn't what's important. It doesn't contribute much to the message the author is trying to send, so it's something you can take for granted and not think too hard about, leaving your brain free to puzzle over the much more real and disturbing questions raised by the characters' actions during the war.

Most of the time, when I read a YA fantasy, my review can be boiled down to 'it was fun but didn't make me think too hard', but this is the opposite. It is not at all fun to read, but it raises a lot of unsettling but important questions, and leaves most of them unanswered so you can work them through for yourself.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this sequel to Westmark, the picaresque adventures of former printer's devil Theo and his rogues gallery of friends and enemies turns into a tale of war when the neighboring kingdom decides to invade. Theo, sent out by Westmark's king to take the temperature of the kingdom, gets caught behind enemy lines and forced to fight alongside anti-monarchist rebels Florian, Justin and friends. Meantime he is separated from the love of his life, a sometime beggar girl he knows as Mickle, but who has lately been revealed to be Princess Augusta. Soon enough, Princess becomes Queen and, after sneaking out of the royal palace, makes her way to the front and takes command of her country's retreating army.

Before the two young lovers meet again, Theo's belief that killing is wrong will be tested to the point that he becomes the Kestrel, a guerrilla warrior whose raids terrify the enemy. Also abroad in the theater of war are two innocent children, a consumptive cartoonist, a bombastic master of disguise and deception, a spoiled young king who hasn't learned to distinguish between toy soldiers and live ones, and various shades of bad guys ranging from blackest villainy to pale-gray treachery - from almost sympathetic figures who find themselves trapped by their own bad choices, to downright monsters who threaten the existence of everything good. There are deep conflicts between sympathetic characters. There are characters (Theo included) who struggle with their conscience. There are momentous conflicts affecting the future of entire nations. Yet through it all, the story encourages the reader to care most about whether young Theo and Mickle/Augusta will find each other, and whether the two waifs and their satirical protector will ditto.

There is a third book in this series, titled The Beggar Queen, which I have found it a little harder to come by than the first two. Be patient while I explore options other than the regional library system, which knows nothing about it. It's a shame that the drive toward holding only new and up-to-date titles is driving the all-but-classic works of storytellers like Lloyd Alexander off library shelves. Books like the Prydain Chronicles, The Marvelous Misadventures of Sebastian, The First Two Lives of Lukas-Kasha, The Fortune-Tellers, The Iron Ring, The Rope Trick and The Golden Dream of Carlo Chuchio have, I would think, a timeless place among the masterpieces of American-made children's literature. Also, I'm unnerved at the prospect of all the effort it will cost to get hold of the six-book "Vesper Holly" series, which I have yet to read. At least, thanks to the Internet, one no longer has to take one's chances at the local library.

[Bart Gilbertson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Six months after the events of the first book, "Westmark", we find young Mickle reluctantly accepting the aristocracy of being the newly appointed Queen and everything else that comes with it. Theo is traveling and learning the land. Count Las Bombas and his trusty sidekick, Musket, are still up to their shenanigans. And Cabbarus has been exiled to the neighboring country of Regia. All of our favorite characters from the first book are here once more and we are introduced to some new ones as the Westmark Trilogy saga continues.

With the death of the King, the transfer of power to his daughter, Mickle (who has been labeled as The Beggar Queen) prompts a conspiracy to overthrow the throne with an invasion from Regia - a bold move that nobody saw coming, except for perhaps the savvy Florian, who has designs of his own. Before they know it, their entire world is thrown into war, turning Mickle into a military commander, Theo into a feared leader known only as Colonel Kestrel, and Florian into a revolutionary who finds himself siding with the royal banner, if only temporarily. We are taken down several paths, from different character pov's that will lead us to the ultimate climax with a satisfactory resolution.

This 2nd book in the trilogy started off with a bang, and I loved how I was drawn right into the story pretty much from the get-go. But, then the story, as the war unfolds, began to become bogged down and a chore to get through. The first book, was definitely more Y.A. geared. However, this one was more for an adult reader, I felt. The horrors and atrocities of war are sugar coated somewhat, but they are still there. There are some definite adult themes here, and though the amusing chemistry between Sparrow and her brother, Weasel, help to keep the tone light, the overshadowing effect of the darkness of war is always present.

Overall, I felt this was a 3 star read, not quite as enjoyable as the first book, but still a good read nonetheless. I did like how it all came together at the end, and was happy with the outcome. It leads nicely into the last book of the trilogy, "The Beggar Queen", and it did make me anxious to read the series conclusion. I would recommend this one. Like the first book, it seems to lack the heart that was in Lloyd Alexander's previous Prydain series, but still worthy of consideration for young and old alike.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

The middle book in a trilogy doesn't usually live up to either the first or final books in the series, but "The Kestrel" absolutely does- it's a fantastic read! My favorite aspect of it was the way the stakes were raised to truly allow for character development to occur. Theo, the protagonist, exists mainly as a sort of semi-detached observer in the first book, Westmark. He hasn't lived a life of advantage necessarily, but for most of that novel he wrestles with moral decisions without having to truly bear the consequences of them. He injures an officer in self defense and the man is not killed; he assists a con man without truly having to compromise his ethics; twice he is on the verge of having to kill a man (or let one die) to save the life of his friend or loved one, but is spared at the last moment by circumstance or intervention. So while he has to think about how complicated the "correct" moral choice can be, he isn't necessarily forced to do anything truly compromising.

That very much changes in "The Kestrel." When war breaks out in the kingdom, Theo finds himself in the middle of it, and he is deeply changed as a result. His position requires him to commit acts of violence, even of brutality, that would make him unrecognizable to his former self, who was so concerned with doing the most upright thing (often, the most simplistically upright thing) in the past. He and many of the other characters deal with the weight of incredible trauma as a result of what the experience in the war, and I thought the novel dealt with that situation very well.

I have described the Westmark series before as "Les Miserables for middle grade," and it's in this book that that starts to be true. There are numerous character deaths, including several major supporting characters, and that would be intense enough for a younger audience- but older readers will also catch veiled references to other disturbing moments, clearly there on-page but not spelled out too strongly for younger readers. Rereading these books as an adult is an emotional experience, but a great one. I'm excited to finish the series in the days ahead!

[Ariadne Cares · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read the Westmark books out of order, so I ended up finishing with this 2nd one, having read 3 and 1 previously. Alexander paints an Impressionist painting-version of the horrors of war in this novel. Said war is terrible, but never unbearably ugly or gory or graphic. This is indeed a book suitable for children, and although the literary part of me thinks that this story wasn't realistic enough, the happy child part of me is grateful that the novel was only a blurred version of reality, and that the horrors are only seen through a veil. Most of this novel is about a war, but the story, being the middle of the trilogy, doesn't get too long or drag like the 100-some pages of endless wandering in the woods in the Deathly Hallows. This story focusses mostly on Theo, the eponymous Kestrel, who is hardened and tortured by war.

Mickle, Florian, Justin, Las Bombas, and other colorful characters flit in and out of the pages of the story, and in the end, there is a mostly-satisfying resolution. It seems unlikely that a book like this could be published today, except perhaps for elementary students, but for me, it's refreshing to find a novel that both blunts horror and resolves in the end. There's far too much grittiness, darkness, and ambiguity in many novels today. Cheers for an old-fashioned war adventure tale written in old-fashioned times.

[Dirk Lapere · Rating 2 out of 5]

The first book was definitely YA but it had a philosophical, deeper side to it that kept me going for the sequel. Unfortunately, the 2nd book is purely YA and not even a good one. There is no real story, no suspense and a lot of character assassination. The Kestrel is supposedly about Theo evolving from print-apprentice-come-leader to feared military leader. Unfortunately, instead of showing the evolution, the author just tells the reader that in 5 lines. Not only that, but the Kestrel is considered a ruthless, heartless commander - absolutely the opposite of what Theo was before. The only explanation for that is the death of his friend Stock, as if you can have warfare without people dying, and when that happens it turns you in the opposite of what you are.

And then there are the incredible convenient coincidences. Theo get shot point blank but doesn't die, the enemy's king gets captured by the waterrats, who just happen to be in the area, and who just happen also to find the queen. And the list just goes on and on.

Really disappointed. Not recommended if you are older than 12yrs.

[Topher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not really clear on how to class this, as it's not historical and not fantasy - there's no magic but neither was there a country of Westmark.

Based on names and settings, think of early 1800s Germany, with an invasion while the country has also been on the brink of rebellion.

This trilogy is one of my strongest memories of any book from when I was a kid, up there with 30 seconds over Tokyo, being confused to find myself tearing up during / after book 3 during the Sarajevo olympics. My spouse was kind enough to buy the trilogy for me as a present, and I've been very slow in reading them.

Having gone through book two, I suspect as a kid (9) I identified more with Theo and maybe Mickle than anyone else (they're the MCs most of the time, and the heroes), while probably missing that I was closer in age to Weasel, or maybe Sparrow. Now, I am closer in age to Bombas? It is a very different experience, but still an enjoyable one.

[Daniel Millard · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Kestrel is kind of an abrupt change from the relatively innocuous and frequently silly Westmark. In volume two, Westmark goes to war, and while not very graphic at all (I'd let elementary school children read this), it is riven with the horrors of war, which leave their mark deeply impressed upon still-young Theo. All the major characters here were introduced in the first book, and to varying lengths, they all fight together against the Regian intruders.

A pretty healthy read in most ways, and modestly entertaining. Reasonably good moral lessons, gently imparted, are a real saving grace for this story. Children could do far, far worse these days. And so could (and mostly do) adults.

[Khanh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lloyd Alexander's books aren't very long, and when I have the brain power, I can read them in one sitting. But they are not shallow either, and this one is no exception.

This is the second book in Lloyd Alexander’s Westmark Trilogy and it is in my opinion, one of Alexander's more mature works. Theo now finds himself drawn into the chaos of revolution and moral compromise as he travels through Wesmark, then settles into a role of leadership.

I have read quite a few of Alexander's works including most of The chronicles Of Prydain. I appreciate that in this book, Alexander doesn't avoid exploring the darker consequences of power, duty, and violence. I find the writing hauntingly beautiful. The characters, particularly Theo and Mickle are well-developed... definitely not light reading in my opinion.

[Curtiss · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second of the semi-fantasy novels of the Westmark Trilogy, featuring the adventurers of Theo, now the prospective Prince-Consort, and Princess Augusta, formerly Mickle the street urchin; both of whom end up leading the defense of the Kingdom of Westmark against an invasion by a neighboring kingdom, provoked by the machinations of her former Chief Minister Cabbarus. Princess Augusta leads her loyal forces from exile, while Theo assumes the name 'The Kestrel' as part of the popular guerrilla forces, all of whose leaders are given names of birds of prey. This reflects the French National response to the coalition of nations which attacked her after the French Revolution.

[Colleen Earle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book picks up a couple years after the last, if I’m not mistaken.
This book dives right into a war which tries all of the characters. I found it really interesting to see how differently they all dealt with the situation that they were put into.
This book is political in a way that is very accessible to younger people. It discusses moral problems in a nuanced way that leads you to the right conclusions without forcing them into you.
A well crafted story.
I cannot wait to see where the final book in the trilogy takes us.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love all of Lloyd Alexander, but I did remember this as one of my least favorite both in this series and overall of those I've read. It just seems like Theo goes through these instant and severe character changes without sufficient motivation. Not that the things he does aren't things the character COULD do, just that there isn't enough to justify the immediate an extreme turn in one direction, followed later by a similar extreme and immediate turn in the other. Still, I powered through it in two days and am really overall enjoying my return to Westmark.

[Joseph · Rating 4 out of 5]

This sequel to Westmark starts off slow but after the setup the book really takes off.

We follow Theo through a war ravaged Westmark where he has to make life or death decisions that will forever change who he is as a person.

I think this is an excellent book for young adults. It tackles the struggles of war and politics in a way that is approachable for kids(aged 11-14).

These books move at a breakneck pace. It is rather refreshing. If this was written for adults it would have about 500 pages of fluff tacked on to it.