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The Merciful Crow #2
The Faithless Hawk
Dangerous magic, a tormented romance, and lethal betrayals come to a head in the thrilling sequel to Margaret Owen's The Merciful Crow.
As the new chieftain of the Crows, Fie knows better than to expect a royal to keep his word. Still she's hopeful that Prince Jasimir will fulfill his oath to protect her fellow Crows. But then black smoke fills the sky, signaling the death of King Surimir and the beginning of Queen Rhusana's ruthless bid for the throne.
With the witch queen using the deadly plague to unite Sabor against the Crows--and to grow her monstrous army--Fie and her band are forced to go into hiding. But as the plague ravages the country, they're all running out of time before the Crows starve in exile and the nation is lost forever.
Desperate, Fie calls old allies to help take Rhusana down from within her own walls. To survive, Fie must unravel not only Rhusana's plot but ancient secrets of the Crows--secrets that could save her people...or set the world ablaze.
Margaret Owens crafts a gripping sequel to The Merciful Crow in which kings become outcasts, lovers become foes, and dead gods rise.
As the new chieftain of the Crows, Fie knows better than to expect a royal to keep his word. Still she's hopeful that Prince Jasimir will fulfill his oath to protect her fellow Crows. But then black smoke fills the sky, signaling the death of King Surimir and the beginning of Queen Rhusana's ruthless bid for the throne.
With the witch queen using the deadly plague to unite Sabor against the Crows--and to grow her monstrous army--Fie and her band are forced to go into hiding. But as the plague ravages the country, they're all running out of time before the Crows starve in exile and the nation is lost forever.
Desperate, Fie calls old allies to help take Rhusana down from within her own walls. To survive, Fie must unravel not only Rhusana's plot but ancient secrets of the Crows--secrets that could save her people...or set the world ablaze.
Margaret Owens crafts a gripping sequel to The Merciful Crow in which kings become outcasts, lovers become foes, and dead gods rise.
400 pages, Hardcover
First published August 18, 2020
300 people are currently reading
19150 people want to read
About the author
Margaret Owen
10 books2,842 followersBorn and raised at the end of the Oregon Trail, Margaret Owen spent her childhood haunting the halls of Powell’s Books. After earning her degree in Japanese, her love of espresso called her north to Seattle, where she worked in everything from thrift stores to presidential campaigns. The common thread between every job can be summed up as: lessons were learned.
She now spends her days wrestling disgruntled characters onto the page, and negotiating a long-term hostage situation with her two monstrous cats. (There is surprisingly little difference between the two.)
She now spends her days wrestling disgruntled characters onto the page, and negotiating a long-term hostage situation with her two monstrous cats. (There is surprisingly little difference between the two.)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,291 reviews
January 26, 2022
Say hello to my new favorite duology of all time.
Read
January 19, 2020
March 3, 2022
Y’ALL. THIS SHIT WAS FUCKING PERFECT.
Like seriously omg fucking perfect.
Did I cry a bunch? ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ (it was really more like sobbing)
Not one, but TWO, found families? ✔️ ✔️
Did this book give me a fuck ton of cats? ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ✔️
Is there a scary ancient god, but tiny? ✔️
Does the evil villain have a pet tiger? ✔️
Did my little 🏳️🌈queer🏳️🌈 heart get some SERIOUS palpitations? ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ✔️
Will my next cat be named Jasifur? —Stay tuned
If it’s not obvious, I am intensely in love with this world, these characters, the banter, and the cats. There is so much good to this duology and I heartily plan to give all my money to Margaret Owen.
Like seriously omg fucking perfect.
Did I cry a bunch? ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ (it was really more like sobbing)
Not one, but TWO, found families? ✔️ ✔️
Did this book give me a fuck ton of cats? ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ✔️
Is there a scary ancient god, but tiny? ✔️
Does the evil villain have a pet tiger? ✔️
Did my little 🏳️🌈queer🏳️🌈 heart get some SERIOUS palpitations? ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ✔️
Will my next cat be named Jasifur? —Stay tuned
If it’s not obvious, I am intensely in love with this world, these characters, the banter, and the cats. There is so much good to this duology and I heartily plan to give all my money to Margaret Owen.
September 5, 2020
I do not like the looks of that title..... <.<
2020: Oh. My. God. Wow. Just, wow.
2020: Oh. My. God. Wow. Just, wow.
August 5, 2020
8/3/20: It. Was. AMAZING. When I am capable of coherent thought I will gush.
7/28/20: I now have this book in my hands and I am STILL NERVOUS
6/28/19: That title makes me NERVOUS i'll tell you what
7/28/20: I now have this book in my hands and I am STILL NERVOUS
6/28/19: That title makes me NERVOUS i'll tell you what
August 20, 2020
I'm going to start out by saying that unless you remember the events of THE MERCIFUL CROW really really well, you might want to reread it before diving into this one. Or at least the last few chapters. Because despite how much I thought I remembered, because it's stuck with me as I loved it so much, it took me way way too long to get back into this world. And that definitely did a disservice to the overall reading experience because I dragged my feet through the first hundred pages, putting it down, going on twitter, playing with the cat, until I hit a turning point and then demolished the rest.
"I have standards. It'll take more than a moon apart for me to roll a lad in a pile of guts. Besides, you'd be dead in a week."
"Worth it. It's been a long moon."
This book is fantastic. Which is why I'm sad I did it kind of dirty.
There won't be much I will, or can, say about the second, and final, in a series. So suffice it to say, if you haven't yet picked up THE MERCIFUL CROW? What even, man. Help to redeem the year 2020 and do yourself this favour. Bonus because you can binge without waiting, like I had to, and be satisfied beyond belief.
"There's thousands of people like that [guy], all across Sabor. They talk and look like anyone else, but they'll take any excuse to get rid fo Crows for good. And all they were waiting for was permission."
I remember complaining about the plague element and the explanation of why and I feel like all the stumbling I did with some of the world building, whether because I wasn't getting it or it wasn't explained, everything and more is explained in this follow up. So if you were like me and wanted a clearer picture, be prepared for some satisfaction.
"Every time I think we've hit the bottom of how bad it is, we just peel off another layer, don't we?"
But also, like, satisfication in so many areas. Also a lot more cats.
Owen is definitely an author I will be keeping an eagle (hahah bird jokes) eye on because I can't wait to see where she goes next. But I'm also really looking forward to rereading these books, catching everything I missed, and also just reliving all the moving moments, brutal betrayals, sassy snark, realistic representation, and eerie echoes to our own reality.
"We made a society where the monarchs could ignore the suffering of their people because it was nothing but an inconvenience, and we punished those who used their position to speak out."
Don't let this series pass you by. Pick up these books.
4.25 stars
** I received an ARC from the publisher (thank you!) in exchange for an honest review. **
---
This review can also be found at A Take From Two Cities.
"I have standards. It'll take more than a moon apart for me to roll a lad in a pile of guts. Besides, you'd be dead in a week."
"Worth it. It's been a long moon."
This book is fantastic. Which is why I'm sad I did it kind of dirty.
There won't be much I will, or can, say about the second, and final, in a series. So suffice it to say, if you haven't yet picked up THE MERCIFUL CROW? What even, man. Help to redeem the year 2020 and do yourself this favour. Bonus because you can binge without waiting, like I had to, and be satisfied beyond belief.
"There's thousands of people like that [guy], all across Sabor. They talk and look like anyone else, but they'll take any excuse to get rid fo Crows for good. And all they were waiting for was permission."
I remember complaining about the plague element and the explanation of why and I feel like all the stumbling I did with some of the world building, whether because I wasn't getting it or it wasn't explained, everything and more is explained in this follow up. So if you were like me and wanted a clearer picture, be prepared for some satisfaction.
"Every time I think we've hit the bottom of how bad it is, we just peel off another layer, don't we?"
But also, like, satisfication in so many areas. Also a lot more cats.
Owen is definitely an author I will be keeping an eagle (hahah bird jokes) eye on because I can't wait to see where she goes next. But I'm also really looking forward to rereading these books, catching everything I missed, and also just reliving all the moving moments, brutal betrayals, sassy snark, realistic representation, and eerie echoes to our own reality.
"We made a society where the monarchs could ignore the suffering of their people because it was nothing but an inconvenience, and we punished those who used their position to speak out."
Don't let this series pass you by. Pick up these books.
4.25 stars
** I received an ARC from the publisher (thank you!) in exchange for an honest review. **
---
This review can also be found at A Take From Two Cities.
December 15, 2020
My pre thoughts going in, I was SUPER nervous, like look at the title, and you KNEW it was about Tavin, and I love Tavin!
It was soooooo good! A really good way to finish the series!
Honestly I feel like if I re-read this, this could probably be a 5 star read (I hit a mini slump), the thing with this series is I find it SO unique and the writing is just *chef kiss*
Love these characters, and Jas is like 10/10 my favourite character!
I just knew that something wasn't legit, so was very happy to find out my theory was indeed correct, but the little twists. Yep! Very happy with how this ended :)
The Merciful Crow - 5 Stars
The Faithless Hawk - 4 Stars
It was soooooo good! A really good way to finish the series!
Honestly I feel like if I re-read this, this could probably be a 5 star read (I hit a mini slump), the thing with this series is I find it SO unique and the writing is just *chef kiss*
Love these characters, and Jas is like 10/10 my favourite character!
I just knew that something wasn't legit, so was very happy to find out my theory was indeed correct, but the little twists. Yep! Very happy with how this ended :)
The Merciful Crow - 5 Stars
The Faithless Hawk - 4 Stars
August 6, 2020
""
*ARC received from Henry Holt, all thoughts and opinions an my own and honest*
- Sequel to The Merciful Crow -
If you subscribe to me on YouTube, you will know that The Merciful Crow was one of my top two books of 2019. I adored it with my whole heart, and was super scared to read the sequel due to high hopes. Thankfully, those hopes were fulfilled and exceeded. Fie grows so much more in this sequel and truly comes in to her own as a Chief.
Oh, also, there are a lot more cats in TFH and that made me SO happy. (Barf for president.)
Unless you have read TMC, don't read on because it will spoil book 1.
*ARC received from Henry Holt, all thoughts and opinions an my own and honest*
- Sequel to The Merciful Crow -
If you subscribe to me on YouTube, you will know that The Merciful Crow was one of my top two books of 2019. I adored it with my whole heart, and was super scared to read the sequel due to high hopes. Thankfully, those hopes were fulfilled and exceeded. Fie grows so much more in this sequel and truly comes in to her own as a Chief.
Oh, also, there are a lot more cats in TFH and that made me SO happy. (Barf for president.)
Unless you have read TMC, don't read on because it will spoil book 1.
January 12, 2021
4,5 Sterne, Rezension kommt. 💪🏻
August 18, 2022
3.5
“Es tan solo otra cicatriz, ¿no? Duele como el infierno incluso cuando nada la toca y no vivimos una vida suficiente como para recordarla demasiado. Sanará y, después, dolerá, pero solo cada cierto tiempo”.
Segunda y última parte de la dulogía de La Misericordia del Cuervo. He de admitir que hice bien en darme un par de libros de reposo antes de decantarme por esta segunda parte porque creo que si lo hubiera leído de seguido no me hubiera gustado nada y le hubiera encontrado más cositas que criticar.
“Aunque eso era lo que los hacía ser más que juguetes. Era eso lo que exigía que eligieran su propio camino en el mundo”.
La verdad es que me ha gustado más esta segunda parte que la primera. Creo que a mi yo adolescente le hubiera gustado incluso más, pero bueno no puedo retroceder en el tiempo, ya quisiéramos todos. Lo que más destaco de estos libros es la ambientación, la idea de la historia y el sistema de magia como ocurrió en el primer libro y lo que critico es lo mismo que comenté en el primer libro: adolescentes que se comportan como treintañeros y poco profundos, aunque carismáticos. Por otro lado, siento que el libro y el anterior necesitaban al menos un par de páginas más de explicación y de profundidad del mundo. Eso sí, pienso un tercer libro lo hubiera estropeado incluso más. El argumento es un poco predecible pero bueno está interesante y el final me dejó un poco descolocada porque fue muy rápido, aun así, me gusto bastante. Ha sido buen desenlace. Creo que leeré más de la autora.
“Alguien te dijo que amar significa renunciar a ti mismo y es mentira. Sé que nunca dejaste de creer en mí, pero quiero que nunca más vuelvas a dejar de creer en nosotros”.
“Es tan solo otra cicatriz, ¿no? Duele como el infierno incluso cuando nada la toca y no vivimos una vida suficiente como para recordarla demasiado. Sanará y, después, dolerá, pero solo cada cierto tiempo”.
Segunda y última parte de la dulogía de La Misericordia del Cuervo. He de admitir que hice bien en darme un par de libros de reposo antes de decantarme por esta segunda parte porque creo que si lo hubiera leído de seguido no me hubiera gustado nada y le hubiera encontrado más cositas que criticar.
“Aunque eso era lo que los hacía ser más que juguetes. Era eso lo que exigía que eligieran su propio camino en el mundo”.
La verdad es que me ha gustado más esta segunda parte que la primera. Creo que a mi yo adolescente le hubiera gustado incluso más, pero bueno no puedo retroceder en el tiempo, ya quisiéramos todos. Lo que más destaco de estos libros es la ambientación, la idea de la historia y el sistema de magia como ocurrió en el primer libro y lo que critico es lo mismo que comenté en el primer libro: adolescentes que se comportan como treintañeros y poco profundos, aunque carismáticos. Por otro lado, siento que el libro y el anterior necesitaban al menos un par de páginas más de explicación y de profundidad del mundo. Eso sí, pienso un tercer libro lo hubiera estropeado incluso más. El argumento es un poco predecible pero bueno está interesante y el final me dejó un poco descolocada porque fue muy rápido, aun así, me gusto bastante. Ha sido buen desenlace. Creo que leeré más de la autora.
“Alguien te dijo que amar significa renunciar a ti mismo y es mentira. Sé que nunca dejaste de creer en mí, pero quiero que nunca más vuelvas a dejar de creer en nosotros”.
Want to read
August 15, 2019Please don’t kill Tavin please don’t kill Tavin please don’t kill Tavinpleasedon’tkillTavinPLEASEDON’TKILLTAVIN
July 10, 2020
”Only a fool waits for the lightning to tell them to find shelter.”
Thank you the the publishers for allowing me to read an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review
The books started off slow, picked up in the middle and then kind of flew by towards the end. Mainly because it was hard to put it down during those last few chapters haha but the slow beginning had me worried for a bit. Once you get through the first 30% you’ll be hooked.
I wasn’t expecting this sequel to have so many twists, turns, mysterious plots and I’m happy it did!
From the very beginning you see how much stronger Fie has become since book one, and how shes dealing with being in charge. She finds out a lot about herself in this book and I think it plays out nicely.
Fie and Tavin? *smiles big* I couldn’t wait to see what would happen when they found their way back to each other and I’m pretty happy with how their relationship was at the end. I also love the friendship between Jasmir, Tevin and Fie.
I think this was a really good way to end the duology and I plan to read more books by this author!
4/5 🌟’s
Thank you the the publishers for allowing me to read an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review
The books started off slow, picked up in the middle and then kind of flew by towards the end. Mainly because it was hard to put it down during those last few chapters haha but the slow beginning had me worried for a bit. Once you get through the first 30% you’ll be hooked.
I wasn’t expecting this sequel to have so many twists, turns, mysterious plots and I’m happy it did!
From the very beginning you see how much stronger Fie has become since book one, and how shes dealing with being in charge. She finds out a lot about herself in this book and I think it plays out nicely.
Fie and Tavin? *smiles big* I couldn’t wait to see what would happen when they found their way back to each other and I’m pretty happy with how their relationship was at the end. I also love the friendship between Jasmir, Tevin and Fie.
I think this was a really good way to end the duology and I plan to read more books by this author!
4/5 🌟’s
July 3, 2021
This is amazing!!!!!🥰😍
4⭐⭐⭐⭐
4⭐⭐⭐⭐
November 16, 2020
4.5/5
This was pretty much perfect.
This was pretty much perfect.
August 21, 2020
When plague descends on the land it is the crows who are called on to deliver mercy with the slash of a knife. But the higher castes loathe and resent them. They are hunted and murdered and after completing their sworn duty often have to flee.
With enemies assailing them on all sides it is up to Fie, a young crow chieftain to unravel an ancient secret and fulfil a promise made generations before she was born.
So good. You need to read book 1, The Merciful Crow before diving into this but it's so worth it. I loved this book. Perfect. One of the best books I've read this year.
With enemies assailing them on all sides it is up to Fie, a young crow chieftain to unravel an ancient secret and fulfil a promise made generations before she was born.
So good. You need to read book 1, The Merciful Crow before diving into this but it's so worth it. I loved this book. Perfect. One of the best books I've read this year.
March 14, 2022
Al principio he sentido que le costaba un poco arrancar, pero luego ha sido una completa pasada y los personajes me han encantado. Estamos ante la primera serie de una autora que creo que nos va a dar grandes alegrías a los amantes de la fantasía juvenil, así que espero con ganas Little Thieves, que espero que pronto llegue en español.
![Profile Image for Namera [The Literary Invertebrate].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1647896333i%2F31792110._UX200_CR0%2C96%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
November 22, 2020
ARC provided in exchange for an honest review - thank you!
I have left this review for WAY too long (I won't lie, I don't even have a good excuse) but here are the salient points:
➽ I am TOTALLY satisfied with the romance. Without giving away spoilers, just know that I have a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to the slightest bit of 'faithlessness' (to use the titular word) in my romances, but I am completely happy with the way this romance concluded. So there's that.
➽ The beginning and middle were great, plot-wise. The very end got a little bit overcrowded with action. I'm not sure I totally understood everything that happened.
➽ Jasimir is a side character who honestly deserved a lot more page time than he actually got. I have a lot of sympathy for him.
On the whole, this is a strong sequel. Looking forward to whatever Owen writes next!
[Blog] - [Bookstagram]
I have left this review for WAY too long (I won't lie, I don't even have a good excuse) but here are the salient points:
➽ I am TOTALLY satisfied with the romance. Without giving away spoilers, just know that I have a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to the slightest bit of 'faithlessness' (to use the titular word) in my romances, but I am completely happy with the way this romance concluded. So there's that.
➽ The beginning and middle were great, plot-wise. The very end got a little bit overcrowded with action. I'm not sure I totally understood everything that happened.
➽ Jasimir is a side character who honestly deserved a lot more page time than he actually got. I have a lot of sympathy for him.
On the whole, this is a strong sequel. Looking forward to whatever Owen writes next!
[Blog] - [Bookstagram]
September 19, 2020
⭐️4.5 stars⭐️
Fie had a number of thoughts then, and most of them involved lowering her standards for where she'd roll a lad.
Ok I guess there were more "meaningful" quotes in the book but this line actually made me laugh out loud and I stand by it!
Fie had a number of thoughts then, and most of them involved lowering her standards for where she'd roll a lad.
Ok I guess there were more "meaningful" quotes in the book but this line actually made me laugh out loud and I stand by it!
August 26, 2020
I've been lucky enough to get ARCs of both this book and it's predecessor, The Merciful Crow, and I'm glad for it too! This was one of those series that was on my radar but needed the push to get into, so having an ARC definitely helped that!
Now I'm part of the blog tour for its sequel, and I couldn't have been more excited when I got approved! I'd been wanting to know where the story went from the end of book 1, (though admittedly not desperate because while the ending had been dire, it ended on a somewhat good note). The beginning of The Faithless Hawk set things back in motion quickly though, and I spent almost the entire book on edge!
I honestly really enjoyed where the series ended up going in this book, from the revelations about the castes and the truth behind the gods. We got to see so much more of the world and its lore in this book, and I always love that in my fantasy stories. Myths and gods and stories are entirely my jam, and the extra focus on that in this book made it even better for me. The book also felt really well-paced, it didn't try too hard to keep twists for the end and the action was spread evenly throughout the book. It never dragged and yet also never felt like too much all at once. The only thing I didn't care as much for was the large amount of court scenes in the middle/later half of the book, and I really like seeing Fie on the road more, with her Crows. It didn't bug me enough to like the book any less though.
This sequel also did a really good job of building upon the characters we know and love from the first book, and you could really see them grow in this book, without deviating too much from their core personalities. I loved the choices that were made with all their individual plot lines, especially Fie's and Tavin's. Some journeys definitely hurt to read and often frustrated me in the moment (which was their purpose), but it fit so well into the story and the characters that I didn't actually mind as much as I usually do in books. Nothing felt like it was thrown in there for drama or to keep couples separated, it rather just felt like how a character would act in that particular situation. It made for flawed and layered characters, and were one of the strongest aspects of the series for me. I also just love Fie, how she uses her magic, and her strength. I wouldn't have loved this series as much from any other character.
I also ended up finding an audiobook on one of my many audiobook subscriptions when I was about to start my read, so I ended up going for that instead of reading it physically, and it was a great choice! The narrator brought the entire story to life for me, and it was overall an extremely enjoyable listen. I loved how the narrator narrated Fie, and her manner of speaking and tone, and it fit the character super well. It fit in perfectly with how I read the characters in book 1, as I usually have issues starting to listen to audiobooks a book into the series, as I already have a clear interpretation of them. Instead, the audiobook only increased my enjoyment of the series, rather than take away from it. I'd highly recommend listening to this series if audiobooks are your thing!
Overall, I'm super happy I traded for this ARC on the BEA convention floor (conventions feel so far away now!), and can't wait to see what this author writes next!
Now I'm part of the blog tour for its sequel, and I couldn't have been more excited when I got approved! I'd been wanting to know where the story went from the end of book 1, (though admittedly not desperate because while the ending had been dire, it ended on a somewhat good note). The beginning of The Faithless Hawk set things back in motion quickly though, and I spent almost the entire book on edge!
I honestly really enjoyed where the series ended up going in this book, from the revelations about the castes and the truth behind the gods. We got to see so much more of the world and its lore in this book, and I always love that in my fantasy stories. Myths and gods and stories are entirely my jam, and the extra focus on that in this book made it even better for me. The book also felt really well-paced, it didn't try too hard to keep twists for the end and the action was spread evenly throughout the book. It never dragged and yet also never felt like too much all at once. The only thing I didn't care as much for was the large amount of court scenes in the middle/later half of the book, and I really like seeing Fie on the road more, with her Crows. It didn't bug me enough to like the book any less though.
This sequel also did a really good job of building upon the characters we know and love from the first book, and you could really see them grow in this book, without deviating too much from their core personalities. I loved the choices that were made with all their individual plot lines, especially Fie's and Tavin's. Some journeys definitely hurt to read and often frustrated me in the moment (which was their purpose), but it fit so well into the story and the characters that I didn't actually mind as much as I usually do in books. Nothing felt like it was thrown in there for drama or to keep couples separated, it rather just felt like how a character would act in that particular situation. It made for flawed and layered characters, and were one of the strongest aspects of the series for me. I also just love Fie, how she uses her magic, and her strength. I wouldn't have loved this series as much from any other character.
I also ended up finding an audiobook on one of my many audiobook subscriptions when I was about to start my read, so I ended up going for that instead of reading it physically, and it was a great choice! The narrator brought the entire story to life for me, and it was overall an extremely enjoyable listen. I loved how the narrator narrated Fie, and her manner of speaking and tone, and it fit the character super well. It fit in perfectly with how I read the characters in book 1, as I usually have issues starting to listen to audiobooks a book into the series, as I already have a clear interpretation of them. Instead, the audiobook only increased my enjoyment of the series, rather than take away from it. I'd highly recommend listening to this series if audiobooks are your thing!
Overall, I'm super happy I traded for this ARC on the BEA convention floor (conventions feel so far away now!), and can't wait to see what this author writes next!
January 11, 2021
Nachdem mich der erste Band so begeistern konnte war ich total neugierig, wie es mit Stur und den Krähen weitergeht! Der Anfang hat mich jedenfalls gleich wieder in die Welt von Sabor eintauchen lassen und die Autorin konnte mir mit eingeflochtenen Schnipseln die vorherigen Ereignisse gut wieder in Erinnerung rufen.
Es dauert allerdings etwas, bis es Fahrt aufnimmt und spannend wird. Eine überraschende Wendung hat mich dann echt überrumpelt, die fand ich sehr cool, wurde aber leider geschmälert durch einen unnötigen Konflikt.
Wenn Protagonisten etwas nicht erkennen, was eigentlich offensichtlich ist und dadurch ein überflüssiges Zerwürfnis entsteht, nur um der Handlung zu dienen, das mag ich einfach nicht so gerne. Es hat die Geschichte dann zwar weitergetragen und Sinn gegeben, dennoch hätte ich mir das auf andere Art gewünscht.
Auch hab ich hier einige kleine Logikfehler entdeckt (die von einigen Lesern schon in Band 1 angeprangert wurden, wobei sie mir da nicht aufgefallen sind) und mich konnte es insgesamt leider nicht mehr so mitreißen.
Die 12 Kasten, um die es ja geht, hätten gerne noch mehr Platz einnehmen dürfen. Sie bieten den Rahmen und Hintergrund der Handlung, und bleiben in ihrer Eigenschaft für mich zu sehr am Rande. Dadurch hatte ich nicht immer den Überblick, welche Gaben die einzelnen Kasten haben. Im ersten Teil gab es vorne im Buch noch eine kleine Übersicht dazu, die im zweiten Band fehlt. Das hat es mir etwas schwieriger gemacht und ich hab die Magiefähigkeiten dann einfach so hingenommen, wie sie waren. Da hätte man noch einiges mehr herausholen können, denn das Magiesystem an sich fand ich wirklich originell! Der Fokus lag hier sehr auf den Protagonisten - nicht schlimm, aber verschenktes Potenzial.
Im letzten Viertel ist es dann aber nochmal richtig spannend geworden, auch wenn vieles vorhersehbar war. Während dem Ringen um den Thron, der Bekämpfung der "Sünden-Seuche" und dem Kampf um die Rechte aller hat auch die Liebe noch ihren Platz - und die Entwicklungen hier haben mich mit dem unnötigen Konflikt wieder etwas ausgesöhnt, denn das hat für einige berührende Momente gesorgt.
Insgesamt hat die Geschichte im zweiten Teil viele aufregende Szenen, aber für mich auch mehrere Kritikpunkte, durch die sie mich einfach nicht mehr so fesseln konnte. Ich hatte mir mehr erwartet.
Weltenwanderer
Es dauert allerdings etwas, bis es Fahrt aufnimmt und spannend wird. Eine überraschende Wendung hat mich dann echt überrumpelt, die fand ich sehr cool, wurde aber leider geschmälert durch einen unnötigen Konflikt.
Wenn Protagonisten etwas nicht erkennen, was eigentlich offensichtlich ist und dadurch ein überflüssiges Zerwürfnis entsteht, nur um der Handlung zu dienen, das mag ich einfach nicht so gerne. Es hat die Geschichte dann zwar weitergetragen und Sinn gegeben, dennoch hätte ich mir das auf andere Art gewünscht.
Auch hab ich hier einige kleine Logikfehler entdeckt (die von einigen Lesern schon in Band 1 angeprangert wurden, wobei sie mir da nicht aufgefallen sind) und mich konnte es insgesamt leider nicht mehr so mitreißen.
Die 12 Kasten, um die es ja geht, hätten gerne noch mehr Platz einnehmen dürfen. Sie bieten den Rahmen und Hintergrund der Handlung, und bleiben in ihrer Eigenschaft für mich zu sehr am Rande. Dadurch hatte ich nicht immer den Überblick, welche Gaben die einzelnen Kasten haben. Im ersten Teil gab es vorne im Buch noch eine kleine Übersicht dazu, die im zweiten Band fehlt. Das hat es mir etwas schwieriger gemacht und ich hab die Magiefähigkeiten dann einfach so hingenommen, wie sie waren. Da hätte man noch einiges mehr herausholen können, denn das Magiesystem an sich fand ich wirklich originell! Der Fokus lag hier sehr auf den Protagonisten - nicht schlimm, aber verschenktes Potenzial.
Im letzten Viertel ist es dann aber nochmal richtig spannend geworden, auch wenn vieles vorhersehbar war. Während dem Ringen um den Thron, der Bekämpfung der "Sünden-Seuche" und dem Kampf um die Rechte aller hat auch die Liebe noch ihren Platz - und die Entwicklungen hier haben mich mit dem unnötigen Konflikt wieder etwas ausgesöhnt, denn das hat für einige berührende Momente gesorgt.
Insgesamt hat die Geschichte im zweiten Teil viele aufregende Szenen, aber für mich auch mehrere Kritikpunkte, durch die sie mich einfach nicht mehr so fesseln konnte. Ich hatte mir mehr erwartet.
Weltenwanderer
October 17, 2020
Impressive second book- definitely much better than the first.
April 17, 2021
Si la primera parte me gustó esta no se ha quedado atrás, enganchada me ha tenido desde las primeras páginas, me gustó tanto el primero que fue imposible olvidar la trama y los personajes, lo que ha hecho que todo fluyera de forma mucho mejor. La autora me ha hecho sufrir muchísimo, adoro a Fie y Tavin y no quería que les pasara nada malo, pero claro sino la trama no seguiría adelante. Me ha encantado el final que le ha dado a la bilogía, creo que pese a que es un acierto no alargar más la historia me duele, porque echaré muchísimo de menos a los personajes, pero todo comienzo tiene un final, y yo me moría por leerlo, y lo he disfrutado de principio a fin, pese a que lo he querido alargar lo máximo posible es que es imposible soltarlo y lo he leído en poco tiempo.
Want to read
August 11, 2019This book and its title and its author are making me super worried about Tav. In 'The Merciful Crows' acknowledgement, the author said,"Megan, can you believe I actually didn’t kill off the love interest in this one? (It’s fine, there’s a sequel.)" and Margaret, I hope you read this review and ditch those plans altogether. Let's all live in peace, Kay ?
September 5, 2020
5/5 stars, if the last book was the underdog this book is the heckin superhero
This book was one of my highly anticipated books for 2020 and in all facts, it did deliver. Catch me crying late at night thinking about this book for weeks to come. this has so many good things going for it. Found family, brotherhood, the ability to give mercy, dark ya fantasy, an amazing magic system, LGBTQ+ representation, and CATS!! Margaret Owen had no right to write such a perfect book, haha, but I am so glad she did.
In the first book, we actually did not get a lot of worldbuilding, we got enough to propel us through the story but it felt a little shaky. In this book, we got so much more than slightly flimsy worldbuilding. It felt like we actually traveled to more places, we got to see more of what went on so it felt more realistic. We also got a ton of information regarding history, castes, and magic systems within this world, and hallelujah! I ate all of it up so fast, it's so dark and veiled behind so much mystery up until the very end I was anticipating something amazing and that is what I got. But really, this book is much darker than the first one and I loved it. There was also a bunch more court & royalty intrigue and insight into how things are run in the big cities, it was a good balance from the first book and I loved every second of seeing the intrigue.
There was never a moment where I wanted to stop reading this book, and every second I was doing school or simply not reading, my soul just wanted to pick this back up and drown in the plot again. Events were set at SUCH a perfect pace for this novel, things moved quickly enough that there was never ever a lull but still dwelled on things enough to know that they were important. Basically, super good pacing for the sequel and much better than the first.
The characters were a very important piece in this story, each and everyone had their part to play no matter how big or small, and the plot never outshone these characters. I think I would die for almost each and every one of them and I say that truly. Characters certainly evolved from the last book and the development they went through in this book hits like a landslide at the end.
Fie is still our feisty little main character, and I refuse to stop loving her, ever. She has never let the world stomp down on her despite her being of the lowest caste of Crows. She knows they will never be safe and that if they want it, she has to fight for it herself and she is willing to do it. She doesn't back down from any moment that is so critical and that's the best part about her character, that and the fact that shes a small tiny ball of sass. She seriously makes me laugh all the time in the first book and this one, shes funny and sarcastic without being mean (sometimes). We also learn so much more about her background in this story, she is thrown into the mythology of this world and comes out with new answers, and seeing her journey into this, grow as a character, and come out was such a lovely treat.
Tavin the hawk boy, all I have to say about him in this book is wow. There is seriously nothing much else I can say without spoiling anything, but the title is almost absolutely right about what happens to him. We see him a lot in this book, after about the first third and as well we are thrust into his mind a couple times. But we never see so much of him that you can always guess what he is thinking, and that was the purpose for the story and oh boy did it pay off so well. By the end of this book Tavin is still totally one of my favorite characters, I just felt so conflicted about him in this book because of actions that were taken beyond his control, or so we thought.
Jasimir grew on me so hard in this book!!! In the last book, I felt like he didn't get enough character development or screentime despite being the prince and so he fell flat a little bit for me. But in this book despite not getting the most screentime ever within the first half of the book, when it got past there he was one of the mains. I absolutely loved anytime we got with him in this book, he was funny and sweet and one of the best characters of the book. I'm so glad he stuck to his word and was an amazing person. (the fact that he was portrayed more as an LGBTQ+ guy in this one made me happy)
Khoda was a new character in this book and oh boy I did really like him. He tried to be brooding all the time but that didn't always work especially when he became enthralled with the cats, but his secrets were ones that were ever twisty turny. He was a character that was hard to pin down, but he did have the dedication to what he was working for, even if it meant giving up on other people. I enjoyed him being around and helping out Fie and I wish he could've been introduced in the first book so we got more time with him, but his character arc was perfect in this one.
Barf & PatPat & Mango more cat friends! Barf was like a lucky charm in this book and she was still a cute grumpy cat. But we love Barf! She helped out Fie and made friends with Khoda as well as other cats. There was a BUNCH of other cats and it was so cute, but I am happy that two got named. PatPat & Mango were named by Jasimir and they were also cute blessings.
Rhushana the main villain was kind of evil for being evil, but more of her ideas slowly crept into the story as we went along and I thought she was SUCH a good villain. I loved every second we got to see of her cruel heart and she was so dark, with being a witch and everything. She was good at manipulating people to get what she wants and I felt was just a really good villain, she wasn't just about being evil in the end and she is now one of my favorite villains.
This book totally shot up from the amazingness that was The Merciful Crow but both are amazing!! I absolutely love Margaret Owens's writing, its easy to get through but so fun with the world-building and characters mixed in. I will totally read with whatever she comes out with next.
"The phoenixes were fireproof, and they were forgetting what it meant to burn" (page 372)
This book was one of my highly anticipated books for 2020 and in all facts, it did deliver. Catch me crying late at night thinking about this book for weeks to come. this has so many good things going for it. Found family, brotherhood, the ability to give mercy, dark ya fantasy, an amazing magic system, LGBTQ+ representation, and CATS!! Margaret Owen had no right to write such a perfect book, haha, but I am so glad she did.
In the first book, we actually did not get a lot of worldbuilding, we got enough to propel us through the story but it felt a little shaky. In this book, we got so much more than slightly flimsy worldbuilding. It felt like we actually traveled to more places, we got to see more of what went on so it felt more realistic. We also got a ton of information regarding history, castes, and magic systems within this world, and hallelujah! I ate all of it up so fast, it's so dark and veiled behind so much mystery up until the very end I was anticipating something amazing and that is what I got. But really, this book is much darker than the first one and I loved it. There was also a bunch more court & royalty intrigue and insight into how things are run in the big cities, it was a good balance from the first book and I loved every second of seeing the intrigue.
There was never a moment where I wanted to stop reading this book, and every second I was doing school or simply not reading, my soul just wanted to pick this back up and drown in the plot again. Events were set at SUCH a perfect pace for this novel, things moved quickly enough that there was never ever a lull but still dwelled on things enough to know that they were important. Basically, super good pacing for the sequel and much better than the first.
The characters were a very important piece in this story, each and everyone had their part to play no matter how big or small, and the plot never outshone these characters. I think I would die for almost each and every one of them and I say that truly. Characters certainly evolved from the last book and the development they went through in this book hits like a landslide at the end.
Fie is still our feisty little main character, and I refuse to stop loving her, ever. She has never let the world stomp down on her despite her being of the lowest caste of Crows. She knows they will never be safe and that if they want it, she has to fight for it herself and she is willing to do it. She doesn't back down from any moment that is so critical and that's the best part about her character, that and the fact that shes a small tiny ball of sass. She seriously makes me laugh all the time in the first book and this one, shes funny and sarcastic without being mean (sometimes). We also learn so much more about her background in this story, she is thrown into the mythology of this world and comes out with new answers, and seeing her journey into this, grow as a character, and come out was such a lovely treat.
Tavin the hawk boy, all I have to say about him in this book is wow. There is seriously nothing much else I can say without spoiling anything, but the title is almost absolutely right about what happens to him. We see him a lot in this book, after about the first third and as well we are thrust into his mind a couple times. But we never see so much of him that you can always guess what he is thinking, and that was the purpose for the story and oh boy did it pay off so well. By the end of this book Tavin is still totally one of my favorite characters, I just felt so conflicted about him in this book because of actions that were taken beyond his control, or so we thought.
Jasimir grew on me so hard in this book!!! In the last book, I felt like he didn't get enough character development or screentime despite being the prince and so he fell flat a little bit for me. But in this book despite not getting the most screentime ever within the first half of the book, when it got past there he was one of the mains. I absolutely loved anytime we got with him in this book, he was funny and sweet and one of the best characters of the book. I'm so glad he stuck to his word and was an amazing person. (the fact that he was portrayed more as an LGBTQ+ guy in this one made me happy)
Khoda was a new character in this book and oh boy I did really like him. He tried to be brooding all the time but that didn't always work especially when he became enthralled with the cats, but his secrets were ones that were ever twisty turny. He was a character that was hard to pin down, but he did have the dedication to what he was working for, even if it meant giving up on other people. I enjoyed him being around and helping out Fie and I wish he could've been introduced in the first book so we got more time with him, but his character arc was perfect in this one.
Barf & PatPat & Mango more cat friends! Barf was like a lucky charm in this book and she was still a cute grumpy cat. But we love Barf! She helped out Fie and made friends with Khoda as well as other cats. There was a BUNCH of other cats and it was so cute, but I am happy that two got named. PatPat & Mango were named by Jasimir and they were also cute blessings.
Rhushana the main villain was kind of evil for being evil, but more of her ideas slowly crept into the story as we went along and I thought she was SUCH a good villain. I loved every second we got to see of her cruel heart and she was so dark, with being a witch and everything. She was good at manipulating people to get what she wants and I felt was just a really good villain, she wasn't just about being evil in the end and she is now one of my favorite villains.
This book totally shot up from the amazingness that was The Merciful Crow but both are amazing!! I absolutely love Margaret Owens's writing, its easy to get through but so fun with the world-building and characters mixed in. I will totally read with whatever she comes out with next.
"The phoenixes were fireproof, and they were forgetting what it meant to burn" (page 372)
November 28, 2023
My heart. My poor, poor, ravaged heart. This book came for me in all the right places way too many times. A worthy conclusion to what was already a fantastic series, the first 100 pages alone were utterly gripping and devastating and wonderful. I may never recover, but I'll do my best to share my thoughts properly. Thank you so, so much to Fierce Reads for the ARC!
I was already in awe of the world-building in The Merciful Crow, but this took it to a new level. I don't want to say it improved, because it wasn't in need of improvement, but the world-building just hit different here. So many elements were explained so much clearer and built upon what we already knew. The caste systems and who fits in where; the use of teeth for Birthrights; the Sinner's Plague taking a new turn; the dead gods and their connection to the witches. A quick example, pretty early in the book it is clear that Fie is the Chief now, and Pa is done with travelling. They travel to Gen-Mara's grave because that is the dead god that Pa is the reincarnation of. How it was handled was so touching and beautiful. There is so much more I want to scream about but spoilers!
Where the last book was primarily considered—in my mind, at least—more of a road-trip plot, with lots of hiding on and off the road to get from Point A to Point B, The Faithless Hawk took on a more bold direction. Bold, rather unexpected, and all I wanted from this sequel. Fie is still hiding, but this time in plain sight. Together with the crown prince Jasimir and Hawk Khoda, Fie infiltrates the palace to get close to Rhusana, using the respective teeth to shield her identity and wreak havoc where she can. The three of them are pretty much the only ones dishing out the subterfuge and rebellion, and it was so well done. It kept things simple and yet so engaging. We are treated to coronations, masquerades, garden parties, a room chockfull of cats, but not one scene was gratuitous or without significance.
Fie is absolutely a favourite character for me. Her attitude and absolute sass truly steal the show sometimes, but she shines equally in her more quiet, devastated moments. She's been through a lot in the last few months, and events don't seem to be slowing down for her to catch up with the changes. but not once does she let it get her down. Her ruthlessness in wielding both her sword and teeth is everything I want to see in my heroines. I would love to screech about how her teeth-use changes, or how she learns a few things about her identity, but again, SPOILER!
You are going to need to get your hands on this book. Trust me. I am so glad I was able to read an early copy of this since it is a perfect summertime read. I have so little negative to say about these books, and what I do have is so minor it isn't even worth bringing up. I was floored over and over by the twists and turns this sequel took. The conclusion for this book—for this series—is so satisfying, so clever, that it took my literal breath away. A five star duology all around!
I was already in awe of the world-building in The Merciful Crow, but this took it to a new level. I don't want to say it improved, because it wasn't in need of improvement, but the world-building just hit different here. So many elements were explained so much clearer and built upon what we already knew. The caste systems and who fits in where; the use of teeth for Birthrights; the Sinner's Plague taking a new turn; the dead gods and their connection to the witches. A quick example, pretty early in the book it is clear that Fie is the Chief now, and Pa is done with travelling. They travel to Gen-Mara's grave because that is the dead god that Pa is the reincarnation of. How it was handled was so touching and beautiful. There is so much more I want to scream about but spoilers!
Where the last book was primarily considered—in my mind, at least—more of a road-trip plot, with lots of hiding on and off the road to get from Point A to Point B, The Faithless Hawk took on a more bold direction. Bold, rather unexpected, and all I wanted from this sequel. Fie is still hiding, but this time in plain sight. Together with the crown prince Jasimir and Hawk Khoda, Fie infiltrates the palace to get close to Rhusana, using the respective teeth to shield her identity and wreak havoc where she can. The three of them are pretty much the only ones dishing out the subterfuge and rebellion, and it was so well done. It kept things simple and yet so engaging. We are treated to coronations, masquerades, garden parties, a room chockfull of cats, but not one scene was gratuitous or without significance.
Fie is absolutely a favourite character for me. Her attitude and absolute sass truly steal the show sometimes, but she shines equally in her more quiet, devastated moments. She's been through a lot in the last few months, and events don't seem to be slowing down for her to catch up with the changes. but not once does she let it get her down. Her ruthlessness in wielding both her sword and teeth is everything I want to see in my heroines. I would love to screech about how her teeth-use changes, or how she learns a few things about her identity, but again, SPOILER!
You are going to need to get your hands on this book. Trust me. I am so glad I was able to read an early copy of this since it is a perfect summertime read. I have so little negative to say about these books, and what I do have is so minor it isn't even worth bringing up. I was floored over and over by the twists and turns this sequel took. The conclusion for this book—for this series—is so satisfying, so clever, that it took my literal breath away. A five star duology all around!
September 1, 2020
This book tied up the whole series neatly, picking up the threads left over from TMC for a most satisfying finish. Fie, Tavin, and Jas have all come so far, and I love where TFH leaves them. There are, of course, a few things that could have been better. (Take note, keyword there is 'few') I've more to say, but I'm gonna save that for my full review. For now, I'm gonna go back and read the last few chapters of this book because I already miss this world and its characters.
---- Edit: 01-Sept-20 ----
The Merciful Crow was one of my most favorite titles to come out last year. I loved its world, its story and characters; I loved the romance and the found family element of it but above all I loved Fie. She’s feisty and sharp and so, so, so righteously angry. I loved her every thorny bit and her hidden soft side. So when the chance to read its sequel early came up I grabbed it with both of my greedy, impatient hands. (I might have used my feet, too. That’s how much I wanted it!)
And, all the merciful gods and goddesses, this book was everything!
The Faithless Hawk solidified TMC‘s place as one of my forever favorite series. It tied the whole duology neatly, picking up the threads left over from the first book for a most satisfying ending.
But not without putting Fie, Tavin, and Jasimir through the grinder first.
Read my full review on my blog In Between Book Pages
---- Edit: 01-Sept-20 ----
The Merciful Crow was one of my most favorite titles to come out last year. I loved its world, its story and characters; I loved the romance and the found family element of it but above all I loved Fie. She’s feisty and sharp and so, so, so righteously angry. I loved her every thorny bit and her hidden soft side. So when the chance to read its sequel early came up I grabbed it with both of my greedy, impatient hands. (I might have used my feet, too. That’s how much I wanted it!)
And, all the merciful gods and goddesses, this book was everything!
The Faithless Hawk solidified TMC‘s place as one of my forever favorite series. It tied the whole duology neatly, picking up the threads left over from the first book for a most satisfying ending.
But not without putting Fie, Tavin, and Jasimir through the grinder first.
Read my full review on my blog In Between Book Pages
April 28, 2021
4.5/5*
La traición del halcón ha sido un cierre de trilogía brutal, llenísimo de acción y en el que la autora deja cerradas todas las incógnitas que tenía abiertas.
Fie ha sido una protasgonista súper fuerte, una líder necesaria para combatir la oscuridad que se cierne sobre la sociedad de las castas. No han dejado de ocurrir cosas en toda la novela y hemos podido ahondar más en ciertos poderes. Reencuentros, traiciones y despedidas, la traición del halcón ha tenido de todo y me ha dejado con muy buen sabor de boca, aunque también un poco triste por tener que despedirme de Fie y sus cuervos.
La traición del halcón ha sido un cierre de trilogía brutal, llenísimo de acción y en el que la autora deja cerradas todas las incógnitas que tenía abiertas.
Fie ha sido una protasgonista súper fuerte, una líder necesaria para combatir la oscuridad que se cierne sobre la sociedad de las castas. No han dejado de ocurrir cosas en toda la novela y hemos podido ahondar más en ciertos poderes. Reencuentros, traiciones y despedidas, la traición del halcón ha tenido de todo y me ha dejado con muy buen sabor de boca, aunque también un poco triste por tener que despedirme de Fie y sus cuervos.
May 6, 2023
Not ashamed to say I shed a few tears. My love for duologies continues to solidify - absolutely loved this. I love when a sequel is even better than the first book, I will now read anything Margaret Owen writes, because this is book three of hers that I have really liked!
I did read this book straight after finishing book 1, and I do think that helped because book 2 starts right after were we leave off in the previous one. If you've read this you know we get really frustrated with a couple of characters but by the end this was so well done, everything wrapped up so incredibly well and I just loved it.
June 4, 2020
Originally published on The Nerd Daily | Review by Nathalie DeFelice
The murder birds are back for a fantastically epic sequel! Gods, I can’t even imagine what a puddle I would be if I hadn’t been able to read this book early. I definitely squealed a lot when I had this book in my hands, and it didn’t stop until I closed the book. Margaret Owen certainly had me on the edge of my seat the entire time, and built up a really good climax.
Read the FULL REVIEW on The Nerd Daily
The murder birds are back for a fantastically epic sequel! Gods, I can’t even imagine what a puddle I would be if I hadn’t been able to read this book early. I definitely squealed a lot when I had this book in my hands, and it didn’t stop until I closed the book. Margaret Owen certainly had me on the edge of my seat the entire time, and built up a really good climax.
Read the FULL REVIEW on The Nerd Daily
July 23, 2021
Debo de ser de las pocas personas que les gusto mas el primero.
Seguimos con la historia de nuestra prota en este fantástico mundo, y sigo viendo el gran agujero argumental del libro en esta segunda parte incluso mas aun. Pero aun así es una historia que se disfruta, que es ágil y engancha bastante.
Seguimos con la historia de nuestra prota en este fantástico mundo, y sigo viendo el gran agujero argumental del libro en esta segunda parte incluso mas aun. Pero aun así es una historia que se disfruta, que es ágil y engancha bastante.
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