Kill Three Birds

Kingdom of Aves Mystery #1

by Nicole Givens Kurtz

Sent to investigate a string of murders in a quiet remote egg, can Hawk Tasifa find the killer before she becomes the next target?


Prentice Tasifa is an investigative hawk whose been deployed from The Order to the small egg of Gould, a mountain village. A missing girl had been found dead. Hawks investigate strange and difficult situations throughout the Kingdom of Aves. They can “see the unseen,” by accessing a unique ability to activate hawk-like vision, a trait they carry through their bloodlines.

When Prentice arrives in Gould, she soon discovers that there isn’t just one bird dead, but three. There’s a serial killer operating in Gould, and she has to find the person before she ends up next.

If you love goddess worship, winged humans, mystery, and magic, this story is for you.

Genres: Fantasy, Mystery, Science Fiction, Fiction, Novella, Magic, Mystery Thriller

140 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 20, 2020

About the author

Nicole Givens Kurtz is an author, editor, and educator. She's the recipient of the Ladies of Horror Grant (2021), the Horror Writers Association's Diversity Grant (2020) and the two-time Atomacon Palmetto Scribe Award Winner (2021 and 2022). She's also the editor of the groundbreaking anthology, SLAY: Stories of the Vampire Noire. She’s written for White Wolf, The Realm's The Vela: Salvation series, and Baen’s No Game for Knights and Straight Outta Tombstone. Nicole has over numerous short stories published as well as numerous novels and three active speculative mystery series. She enjoys reading scary stories and watching true crime.

Reviews

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the creativity of this fantasy world. Nicole Givens Kurtz once again brings extra dimension to a mystery story with a fascinating speculative fiction setting and world building.

In the Kingdom of Aves, people are associated with different sorts of birds which gives them tendencies and skill-sets. Our main character is a Hawk--and hawks can see the unseen. So, she works as an investigator of crimes. The mystery that brings her to the egg of Gould involves the death of a young woman that turns out to be more than it first appeared.

A quick read, immersive and engaging. I look forward to more in the series!

[Megan (sporadic hiatus due to law school) · Rating 3 out of 5]

KILL THREE BIRDS was interesting but other than the general idea, there wasn't much going for it.

I liked the avian aspect, however, it wasn't explained very well. I had to pick up bits and pieces along the way before I could craft an image of what was going on - it was mentioned the outer group of birds in the country? state? town? didn't pay as much feed or something, but I'm not sure what that is or how the system works.

The mystery also was only okay, as it was very clear from the beginning who it was - and even Hawk Tasifa guessed from the very beginning, and I kept waiting for a quick plot twist to make us both wrong. I would have enjoyed it more if it seemed less obvious who was the murderer.

The idea is good, and if it were fleshed out more and explained I'd enjoy it more, but for now I don't think it's enough to read the next one.

I received a free ARC and am leaving a voluntary and honest review.

[Susan Ragsdale · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nicole Givens Kurtz’s KILL THREE BIRDS provides us with a highly imaginative new world. What a delightful and original addition to speculative fiction! Kurtz shows once again just how talented she is in the genre. The protagonist takes us along on a mystery to solve in an avian-based world that is as unique as it is fresh with its characters, culture, and dialogue. I am looking forward to seeing more from this world! —Susan Ragsdale, author of Great Group Reflections and Great Group Games

[Nichola · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 that I am generously rounding up to 3.

The world is pretty good. I like the ideas and the concepts that the author is using but the writer didnt give me much to work with terms of the villain. I knew from the moment the character appeared that they were the bad guy and I found the events tedious after that.

The magic system needed a bit more explanation to me.

I am not sure I want to read the next book. But we shall see.

[A.F. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book with a few flaws. The worldbuilding and characters were fantastic and unique, but the pacing was a bit uneven. The plot was solid, if not spectacular, and overall I recommend it. I certainly think the series has great potential, and the first book was an entertaining read.

[Lenora Good · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love new worlds with different people, customs, etc. Believe me, this book is a whole new galaxy. The characters are developed, believable, and interesting. There are a few glitches, but very few, and I suspect it’s where something was cut/pasted and the tense change got lost. Nothing big. And the world is so much fun, one can easily gloss over those areas.

The humans are birds, and at least some can fly. Our protagonist is the Hawk Tasifa. Hawks are detectives because they can see the unseen. And like any kind of “magic” there is a price to pay. Doves are the priests. There are insiders and outsiders, and it is very logical to the story who is which.

Kurtz has finely developed this world down to inhabitants, currency, certain phrases. I had no trouble suspending my disbelief and entering her world. In fact, it was a tad jarring to put the book down and return to my own mundane existence.

If you like world building, read this book. I suppose if you’re a mystery aficionado the mystery may not be all that great, but I try not to figure them out, as I like to be surprised by who dunnit. A great book.

[Paige L. Christie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kill Three Birds is delightful. The world building is unique and vibrant and so a part of the story that it never feels forced or overdrawn. I've never visited anywhere like the egg of Gould! Interesting characters pull the reader from the start, and there is always a sense that there is much more to the people we meet than what is revealed, which adds lovely depth to this novella. Definitely recommend for anyone looking for a truly new experience in fantasy. I am looking forward to the next book.

[L.M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting

I really enjoyed this story. It was different and unusual in some of the best ways. My issue was starting this novel and not really knowing what was going on. I felt like I was dropped in the middle of a story and expected to know what was happening and how the world worked. About 20% in, I knew what was going on but the story was interesting enough to keep going. I devoured it in a little over a day.

[Keeko McKween · Rating 5 out of 5]

Magical. Imaginative. Mystery. Fabulous read.

[Mary Harner · Rating 5 out of 5]

My philosophy on reviewing books is linked here: http://www.curiousdoodler.com/myblog/2021/1/15/philosophy-for-book-reviews

Overview:

This book is a fantasy who-dunnit. Although the plot centers on a murder mystery, the book's real strength is the fascinating world it's set in. The author does an incredible job of crafting a world in fine detail, from the currency to the turn of phrase used by characters. The reader is removed entirely from our own world and placed into a unique world to explore. Perfect for fantasy readers who are looking for a really different world, less perfect for big fans of the murder mystery genre.

This is the first book I've read this year that I ordered the next book in the series!

Deep Dive:

The biggest weakness for this book is the mystery. I suspect regular readers of who-dunnit style books will be disappointed in this novel. Unfortunately, I believe this is exacerbated by the unique qualities of the world that I loved. In a regular murder mystery book, the reader can pick up on tropes of the genre and fill in the blanks of the world building. Because this world is so unique, it's hard to follow the mystery as the reader is too busy trying to figure out what's going on between the magic systems and the unique stratified culture of the world.

That being said, I still highly recommend this book to fantasy readers who are looking for something completely different. This book doesn't have a single normal human in it! It is entirely populated by bird/human creatures and that is only the beginning of the uniqueness of the world! The framing of the story as a murder mystery allows the main character to poke around in a few different corners of the world over the short book, giving the reader a good look at the social structure of the world. Also, there's two magic systems!

This book is short. At two hundred pages, it's not quite a novella, but a very short novel for the fantasy genre. I personally appreciate the tightness of the plot and the quick pace, but I do wish a little more time had been spent on world building. The world is so different from anything I've encountered in fantasy, that I got a little lost when new aspects of the world were introduced in passing. The magic system is also relatively soft, which would be fine, except that this is a who-dunnit and the soft magic left me a bit confused where it mingled with the plot. A little more time spent explaining the magic would have been appreciated. I plan on reading the next book in the series. I'm hoping these complaints are resolved in the next book where I will already be familiar with the world of the book.

Overall a very good read. Not perfect. There were typos and a few places where it got a little confusing, but worth it for the uniqueness of the story!

[Susie Williamson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to meet Nicole at this year’s online Eastercon. Listening to her fascinating writing career, and what motivates her in her own work and the work of others she supports, hearing her own enthusiasm for Kill Three Birds, it was an easy sale. I picked this book up after reading several great dystopian novels which were also heavy going in places. Looking for something fast-paced, fairly light-hearted and easy to read, Kill Three Birds was perfect. I thoroughly enjoyed this unique and quirky story, and in particular loved the sheer inventiveness of the world building. This is murder mystery set in a fantastical world called the Kingdom of Aves, where the inhabitants are a kind of cross between people and birds. The MC, Hawk Prentice, takes us straight into the action. Charged with investigating a crime, she takes us through this intriguing world using various abilities accentuated through her hawk persona. Despite the obvious differences, she was relatable, and a character I rooted for and felt on side with. Following her investigation, the world is slowly revealed, and I enjoyed the effortless way in which I felt immersed into this world. A great read.
This is the first book I have read of this author. It is the first in a series of murder mysteries, though also works well as a standalone. I look forward to discovering more titles by this author, as well as some of the authors she represents through her publishing company, Mocha Memoirs Press.

[T.A. Beasley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kill Three Birds by Nicole Givens Kurtz is a mystery about a girl found dead in her small mountain village and the investigator assigned to find out what happened. This was a unique mystery with avian characters, the worldbuilding was easy to visualize and the setting of scenes made the story very interesting and kept me turning pages. I had two suspects half way through the book and wasn't shock when the reveal happened but was when the twist within the reveal happened.

This was a shorter mystery, which I liked, and I also liked that the author takes human issues, everyday human life activities and switch them to birds. You have some good ones and bad ones.
The author does a wonderful job capturing the characteristics of the different birds and spreading them throughout the story because not all avian animals get along.

I was so interested in this mystery and the hints to book two that I bought the second book so I wouldn’t have to wait for Prentice Tasifa’s next case. This series is worth reading.

[JJ Broenner · Rating 5 out of 5]

A creative weaving of human culture with that of birds.

Prentice the investigator called in the solve a possible murder is a hawk, and she has the ability to fly and see things as a hawk does, which makes her perfect for her job like her mother before her was.

The Dove is the Priest/Minister in charge of the egg (town) and he is one that requested the hawk.

The world created is unique and fascinating and leaves you with a sense of starting to understand a hierarchy of person(s) within this world; but also ready to dig in deeper into other cases for the hawk to learn about other eggs/towns and people that reside there.

Birds it seems, like humans, have many prejudices and conflicts, and some when resolved are much different and invoke earth magic or other types of unfamiliar means to the human world.

[Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I went in with no real expectations but knew Kill Three Birds was different from anything else I’ve read previously, and I was pleasantly surprised. The characters were sometimes difficult to follow (their type and place/role within society). While seeming to start out of nowhere in the beginning, the story was beautifully woven within an incredibly unique world built by the author. I applaud the author for Carlita as I believe that representation is essential. To see Carlita referenced as they/their was amazing and unexpected. This story and its characters are creative, and although they are not terribly dynamic, they fit within the confines of this story and the world in which they live. This is my first book by this author, and I would be interested in reading more.


Voluntarily reviewed after receiving a free copy courtesy of HiddenGems and the author, Nicole Givens Kurtz.

[*AGatheringOfBooks* · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very enjoyable read, with an engaging plot: Kill Three Birds brings the reader soon on the crime scene and, starting from that, leads them through lies, truths and proofs to the final revelation, guided by Hawk Prentice Tasifa, a strong and assertive woman whose magic powers allow her to "see the unseen", thus making her the most fitting person to solve the crime.

What's more interesting however, is the world created by the author, where people and the society's structure are named after everything related to birds. It's very fascinating and unique in my opinion. Moreover, I found the mixing of fantasy elements with those more peculiar to the mystery/thriller genre very well done, giving the story a realistic trait -especially in the passages involving the investigation process-, despite being set in a fictional world.

[Athene Z. Adam · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Kill Three Birds, in a society of bird-like humans, an investigative Hawk is tasked with solving three murders in a community. The avian-themed metaphors, caste structure, dialogue, and lifestyle all demonstrate the author's unwavering commitment to immersive world building. The magic is dynamic: ancestral in nature and strong, but not without limitations. While this story is appropriate as a novella, there is a jump from the initial investigation stages to the resolution, as though lacking a middle. This is where the mystery could deepen and the other types of magic further explored. The strongest element of this story is the uniqueness of the fantasy.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first foray into the world of small publishing houses and it did not disappoint! “Kill Three Birds” was a gloriously fun read in a singular world of human-bird hybrid beings. The story dropped hints of a world full of lore and magic as the protagonist investigated a series of murders in a small village. There was just enough mystery to keep me guessing and enough fantasy to keep me interested without becoming overwhelming on either front. I can’t wait to read more about the world Aves and its inhabitants. Highly recommend!

[Noelle]

Alright, so I like the concept of this idea, and I think the whole thing with the birds is pretty clever. The pacing was good as well; it wasn't too long but there was enough time for Prentice to really investigate.

There wasn't a lot of world building, though. I couldn't really imagine where it was all taking place other than it being a small town. The writing was a bit too bare for my liking as well, a bit too choppy at some points.

[Suzanne Moore · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had a hard time with this book. Although the storyline was easy to follow, my difficulty came with the characters being birds with their type characteristics (hawk, dove, rooster, etc) with their human mannerisms (clothing, transportation and communication). Add in a villain or two using dark magic (back story on this aspect could have been further developed), and this book is an easy read just not my cup of tea.

[Fraser Sherman · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 An African setting, but not drawing (as far as I know) on standard African religion or magic, which is interesting. The society has a caste system built around birds: vultures handle the dead, eagles provide normal law enforcement, hawks are investigators, doves are religious leaders, etc.
Protagonist Prentice is a hawk, called in when one community ("nest") discovers a murdered girl. The killer is quite obvious but the story works well anyway. And the culture is the real hook.

[Tylan Stroud · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the world building in this, as well as the magic mixed with various levels of technological developments. I also liked that you learned about the titles (Hawk, Dive, Eagle, etc) as you read, rather than there being info dumps or out of place exposition.

I do think it could have been run by an editor one last time, but there were only a few typos/inconsistencies that were easy to overlook.

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

I actually absolutely loved the world-building on this one and wanted more exploration of that. However, what killed it for me is that the murder mystery (which is the main plot) was incredibly predictable and not all that interesting. It was blatantly obvious who the killer was from the very first meeting. Not sure if the world-building is enough to keep me reading the rest of series.

[Nathan Woll · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good. The mystery probably only deserves 3 stars, or even 2 stars but the interesting setting and world kept me interested. But now that I know the world, the next book better have a really good mystery to keep me interested. I'm skeptical based on how completely average this mystery was that the author has the ability to write a good mystery.

[caro_cactus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unusual worldbuilding - somewhat goofy (I'm sorry, but "Hoot" instead of "Amen" broke the weighty tone every time) but certainly intriguing, fun plot; sort of western vibes? And a lovely cover. The writing is not my favourite but the hawk powers are extremely cool and I might read the next one if I'm in the right mood.

[jorge r fernandez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kill Three Birds takes flight with its original setting!

Kill Three Birds is a beautifully crafted murder mystery. Nicole Given Kurtz shapes an uniquely original speculative fiction world. I highly recommend this book!

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good

This is a mystery story set in a fantasy world with winged people and magic. The main character has special abilities to see what others cannot and uses them in service of the government/church. It is well written with a good plot. I am looking for more by this author

[Amy Johns · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rounded up from 3.5 or 3.75. The writing is a bit rough in a few spots and the mystery was pretty simple. But the world is so cool, and I thought Kurtz did a great job of just a tiny bit of exposition to get the reader oriented, but mostly just trusted the reader to follow along.

[Dino · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing story! So looking forward to more from this wonderful author and series!

[Tosin (tosmeabook) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars, I really liked this one can't wait to read the next one.

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short fantasy mystery. Enjoyable. Rounded up for the fast read and it could stand alone but there’s another one I’ll read happily.