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Falcons: A Siege of Malta Novel
Bryan Hale is a damaged man. The stresses of combat flying in England's summer skies during the Battle of Britain, and night-fighting in the icy darkness of The Blitz, together with the loss of friends and a shattered heart, have left him broken and grounded. Fortress Malta, and the unrelenting Nazi siege that aims to grind it away, will be the furnace that forges him anew...
245 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 7, 2020
About the author
Melvyn Fickling
7 books7 followersMy first novel, 'Bluebirds', was inspired by the life of a Battle of Britain pilot who grew up in my own hometown. Out of Bluebirds was born a purely fictional character named Bryan Hale.
My next novel, 'Blackbirds', follows Bryan Hale as he emerges from the end of the Battle of Britain and enters the new world of night-fighting in the dark winter skies of The Blitz.
'Falcons' follows Bryan to Malta where he struggles against the unrelenting Nazi siege that aims to grind the troublesome island into oblivion.
My fourth novel 'Farewell to the Glory Boys' goes further back in time to follow the RFC pilots of Jackdaw Squadron battling in the skies of France during the Battle of Arras in 1917.
Follow me to receive notifications of new works as they are released. Thank you for your continued support.
My next novel, 'Blackbirds', follows Bryan Hale as he emerges from the end of the Battle of Britain and enters the new world of night-fighting in the dark winter skies of The Blitz.
'Falcons' follows Bryan to Malta where he struggles against the unrelenting Nazi siege that aims to grind the troublesome island into oblivion.
My fourth novel 'Farewell to the Glory Boys' goes further back in time to follow the RFC pilots of Jackdaw Squadron battling in the skies of France during the Battle of Arras in 1917.
Follow me to receive notifications of new works as they are released. Thank you for your continued support.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
July 29, 2023
The (painful) Siege of Malta
The island of Malta, in 1942 part of the British Empire, straddled the seaways between Sicily and Italy to the north and North Africa, where Rommel’s tanks were driving towards the Suez Canal. Supplies for Rommel’s tank corps came from Italy, and the RAF on Malta was tasked with blocking them.
Malta, though, is a small island, so all of its supplies— food, oil, ammunition, and planes had to be shipped to them. Both the Italian air force and the Luftwaffe were charged with ensuring those supplies didn’t get through, and there were far more Axis forces than British or, later, American in the Med.
As the convoys bringing supplies to Malta were blocked and the RAF’s airfields repeatedly bombed, the situation on Malta became desperate, not only for the British forces but for the Maltese as well. This is the story of that siege, and what it meant for those who suffered under it.
Recommended, in large part for its historical accuracy.
The island of Malta, in 1942 part of the British Empire, straddled the seaways between Sicily and Italy to the north and North Africa, where Rommel’s tanks were driving towards the Suez Canal. Supplies for Rommel’s tank corps came from Italy, and the RAF on Malta was tasked with blocking them.
Malta, though, is a small island, so all of its supplies— food, oil, ammunition, and planes had to be shipped to them. Both the Italian air force and the Luftwaffe were charged with ensuring those supplies didn’t get through, and there were far more Axis forces than British or, later, American in the Med.
As the convoys bringing supplies to Malta were blocked and the RAF’s airfields repeatedly bombed, the situation on Malta became desperate, not only for the British forces but for the Maltese as well. This is the story of that siege, and what it meant for those who suffered under it.
Recommended, in large part for its historical accuracy.
August 7, 2020
Excellent read. Can't recommend it highly enough.
The author did his research and background with great effect.. The atmosphere, tone, undercurrent, and emotions of the times are articulated incredibly well. I would have given this book and the other books in the series more stars, only for I read all of Ken Follet's books, and the Pillars of the Earth is a hard act to follow.
Looking forward to Melvyn Fickling's next piece of work. I like WW2 historical fiction, if you like historical fiction you should read this!
The author did his research and background with great effect.. The atmosphere, tone, undercurrent, and emotions of the times are articulated incredibly well. I would have given this book and the other books in the series more stars, only for I read all of Ken Follet's books, and the Pillars of the Earth is a hard act to follow.
Looking forward to Melvyn Fickling's next piece of work. I like WW2 historical fiction, if you like historical fiction you should read this!
April 13, 2022
Realistic
This book puts the reader in the cockpit with the thoughts of the pilot -- a realistic calculus of risk vs reward and the tyranny of always being on the ragged edge being fuel and ammo . in Malta that was exacerbated by being constant danger even after returning from a sortie. While I flew fighters in a more benign environment, it was easy for me to appreciate the bravery required to fly day after day tired, hungry, and scared temporarily tempered by the exhilaration of pumping adrenalin in air combat.
This book puts the reader in the cockpit with the thoughts of the pilot -- a realistic calculus of risk vs reward and the tyranny of always being on the ragged edge being fuel and ammo . in Malta that was exacerbated by being constant danger even after returning from a sortie. While I flew fighters in a more benign environment, it was easy for me to appreciate the bravery required to fly day after day tired, hungry, and scared temporarily tempered by the exhilaration of pumping adrenalin in air combat.
August 13, 2020
Third book in Bluebirds series
The story tells the hardships of the defenders and civilians during the seige of Malta. I wasn't familiar with the details do it was informative.
I had read the two previous books so I wanted to know what happened to main character.
Engaging book but a bit depressing.
The story tells the hardships of the defenders and civilians during the seige of Malta. I wasn't familiar with the details do it was informative.
I had read the two previous books so I wanted to know what happened to main character.
Engaging book but a bit depressing.
August 21, 2020
Really well done novel- styling and characterization first rate
Rarely does a reader encounter a work of fiction that is so good at making the people realistic. There are no jarring missteps to jolt the discerning readers mood, which is why I will give the author my rare 5th star.
Rarely does a reader encounter a work of fiction that is so good at making the people realistic. There are no jarring missteps to jolt the discerning readers mood, which is why I will give the author my rare 5th star.
September 6, 2020
Too mu1ch Realism🎶🏝📻📻📻📻
There is too much bad stuff in the world today. I like books that end with the hero and heroine end up alive.
By the way, some did. djb,n up wSo write about them as well as being historically accurate. Won't be reading anymore of your books as they make me sad.
There is too much bad stuff in the world today. I like books that end with the hero and heroine end up alive.
By the way, some did. djb,n up wSo write about them as well as being historically accurate. Won't be reading anymore of your books as they make me sad.
December 12, 2020
Great book
The story brought back to mind the magnitude of WW2 and how much that generation suffered, sacrificed, and died.
Yet here in theXX1. Century everyone is forgetting this and younger generation have no idea of how it was and how. Much was given at a time that things were honest straight and duty came first. Great novel highly recommended!
The story brought back to mind the magnitude of WW2 and how much that generation suffered, sacrificed, and died.
Yet here in theXX1. Century everyone is forgetting this and younger generation have no idea of how it was and how. Much was given at a time that things were honest straight and duty came first. Great novel highly recommended!
May 11, 2020
Brilliant
Great ending to a fascinating series of novels. Thoroughly enjoyed reading every single novel. Well Written and researched,gives a real feel of how serious the situation was during World war two.
Great ending to a fascinating series of novels. Thoroughly enjoyed reading every single novel. Well Written and researched,gives a real feel of how serious the situation was during World war two.
July 18, 2020
A good third book for this series except . . .
This book suffers from adjective and thesaurus abuse. One or the other night be acceptable but both make for heave going. Too many adjectives might be tolerable if you didn't have to look up every other one.
This book suffers from adjective and thesaurus abuse. One or the other night be acceptable but both make for heave going. Too many adjectives might be tolerable if you didn't have to look up every other one.
January 5, 2021
Kept my attention Throughout the entire book and looking for the next cycle and will continue following the author those were very tough times and he showed them to us
Next SQL this war took a long time and we almost lost it but due to the guts of flyers like this we’re still here
Next SQL this war took a long time and we almost lost it but due to the guts of flyers like this we’re still here
February 5, 2023
An easy read, better than many, generally follows historical events
the preceding says it all, he writes with more credibility than many in this genre. I recommend this author and his prose.
the preceding says it all, he writes with more credibility than many in this genre. I recommend this author and his prose.
April 3, 2023
Baffled!would have given
Would have given more stars , Hadith been written in normal English. Thought I was well -read , but needed a dictionary beside me all the time. , a good story ruined , Shame. Show off.
Would have given more stars , Hadith been written in normal English. Thought I was well -read , but needed a dictionary beside me all the time. , a good story ruined , Shame. Show off.
July 30, 2020
Very good read
The trilogy is a very good read. You realize the strain of air combat has on pilots. And on the women who lo e them.
The trilogy is a very good read. You realize the strain of air combat has on pilots. And on the women who lo e them.
January 28, 2023
Best combination of poetry and drama I’ve ever encountered in a WWII historical fiction novel about a fighter pilot! Don’t let the word “poetry” dissuade you! He’s just a genius at gorgeous metaphors that put you into the story.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews