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A First Civilization's Legacy #1
Flank Hawk
What happens when fire-breathing dragons battle Stukas for aerial supremacy over a battlefield? Can an earth wizard's magic defeat a panzer? Krish, a farmhand turned mercenary, witnesses this and much more as he confronts the Necromancer King's new war machines resurrected from before the First Civilization's fall. Worse yet, a wounded prince tasks Krish to find the fabled Colonel of the West and barter the royal family's malevolent Blood-Sword for a weapon to thwart the Necromancer King's victory. Flank Hawk is set in the distant future where magic exists and brutish ogres are more than a child's nightmare.
290 pages, Paperback
First published July 14, 2009
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
January 13, 2015
I knew something of what I was getting into when I chose to read this book. Within the first couple of chapters, there are zombies, ogres, goblins and dragons. And panzers. That’s panzers as in German WWII tanks. Heading each chapter is a snippet of seemingly modern-day technology-heavy action. This is a doozie of a tale. It’s as if the author wrote a checklist of all the fantasy elements he liked and threw everything into the mix. Wizards? Check. Golems? Check. Magic swords? Check. Cannons, rifles, pistols... Yep, let’s have all those too. Crusaders, troglodytes, gargoyles, unicorns, giants, werebeasts, elemental spirits, ogres? Why not?
Well, why not is an interesting question. This is certainly a book where anything can happen, and most likely will. There are long - very long - battle sequences where one evil thing after another appears, and just as our heroes appear to have triumphed, something even more horrible appears, yet the eponymous Flank Hawk, a farmboy having no special skills, improbably survives everything. For anyone who likes high-octane action, this is definitely the book for you. But it does mean that a lot of other things get lost by the wayside. There’s no subtlety or depth to the characters, for instance, they are mostly just a succession of names, most of whom will become (literally) cannon fodder before too long. There’s little time for introspection or thoughtful addressing of deeper themes. There’s not much background or world-building or detailed history, although what there is is nicely done. There’s no sense of unique time or place. And there’s no sign of complex motivation. There are just a lot of unspeakably evil things trying to wipe out everyone else and take over the world because - well, just because, I guess.
But interspersed with all the zombified mayhem, there are, eventually, moments of greater interest, to me at least. In fact, almost everything beyond the battlefield is intriguing. The encounter with the seer in the King's City is fascinating. The dragons are cool (but then, dragons are always cool). I liked the whole hierarchy of wizards, and the differences between them: “... the elemental magic of wizards left no trace, while that of an enchanter could linger for hours.” I have a suspicion that the principles were inspired by either online or tabletop gaming, but still, it felt nicely complex. And towards the middle of the book, when Flank Hawk sets out on his Impossible Quest (tm) and forms an unlikely alliance with two passing characters, the story opens up nicely to become something much more interesting.
The writing style is unsophisticated, and there are clunky moments (“Ha ha,” he laughed...) and times when things were clumsily phrased and could have been clearer. The Crusader's pseudo-medieval language grated on me a lot, and there are a few mistakes in it. I would have liked some more information about the wizardly hierarchy - Grand Wizards and Lesser Enchanters and Imperial Seers are a bit hard to sort out without some kind of guide. And a map would have been very useful. Throwaway references to Milan and the Alps are mixed in with talk of the Faxtinian Coalition and the Vinchie Empire and the Reunited Kingdom.
It's hard to imagine any of the bigger traditional publishing houses picking up a book like this. Only a small independent would take a chance on this sort of off-the-wall book. To say it's original doesn't even come close. I would love to be a fly on the wall if the author ever has to pitch this to one of the big six publishing executives. "Well, it's got every fantasy idea you can think of in it.[*] And Nazi technology. And a nuclear holocaust. And an Ebola outbreak. And Crusaders..." Frankly, I love the ideas more than the execution, as the writing perhaps isn't quite up to the ambition of the plot, but it rattles along at a frenetic pace, and in between the overlong battles, there's a nice little story with an interesting backdrop. There were moments when I laughed out loud at the sheer craziness of it - for instance when the trio face down a giant, armed variously with rocks, a spear, a rifle with bayonet, a prayer and an evil magic sword. This is just not your average fantasy book.
Ultimately, it really didn’t work for me. There were too many zombies for my taste, too many mindless and weird creatures altogether, and I would have liked more depth to the characters and less fighting. The interesting combination of the mercenary, the werebeast and the Crusader was one which, had the story slowed down enough to let the characters blossom a little more, could have been very powerful. Although I like a story to surprise me, this is one where there appear to be no constraints at all on what might turn up next. It reminded me a little of my only encounter with the imagination of China Miéville (an encounter I lost, I might add; I just don’t have the right receptors in my brain for that kind of weird). So for me it was no more than two stars. But for those made of sterner stuff, or who like rip-roaring action from start to finish, this is an interesting book with a nicely worked out ending and some clever ideas. There are some really neat details tucked in there which show a great deal of careful thought. I commend the author for his fertile imagination.
[*] There were no fairies, pixies or prophecies. I didn't notice any vampires, either. But pretty much everything else. Even the farmboy turned hero.
Well, why not is an interesting question. This is certainly a book where anything can happen, and most likely will. There are long - very long - battle sequences where one evil thing after another appears, and just as our heroes appear to have triumphed, something even more horrible appears, yet the eponymous Flank Hawk, a farmboy having no special skills, improbably survives everything. For anyone who likes high-octane action, this is definitely the book for you. But it does mean that a lot of other things get lost by the wayside. There’s no subtlety or depth to the characters, for instance, they are mostly just a succession of names, most of whom will become (literally) cannon fodder before too long. There’s little time for introspection or thoughtful addressing of deeper themes. There’s not much background or world-building or detailed history, although what there is is nicely done. There’s no sense of unique time or place. And there’s no sign of complex motivation. There are just a lot of unspeakably evil things trying to wipe out everyone else and take over the world because - well, just because, I guess.
But interspersed with all the zombified mayhem, there are, eventually, moments of greater interest, to me at least. In fact, almost everything beyond the battlefield is intriguing. The encounter with the seer in the King's City is fascinating. The dragons are cool (but then, dragons are always cool). I liked the whole hierarchy of wizards, and the differences between them: “... the elemental magic of wizards left no trace, while that of an enchanter could linger for hours.” I have a suspicion that the principles were inspired by either online or tabletop gaming, but still, it felt nicely complex. And towards the middle of the book, when Flank Hawk sets out on his Impossible Quest (tm) and forms an unlikely alliance with two passing characters, the story opens up nicely to become something much more interesting.
The writing style is unsophisticated, and there are clunky moments (“Ha ha,” he laughed...) and times when things were clumsily phrased and could have been clearer. The Crusader's pseudo-medieval language grated on me a lot, and there are a few mistakes in it. I would have liked some more information about the wizardly hierarchy - Grand Wizards and Lesser Enchanters and Imperial Seers are a bit hard to sort out without some kind of guide. And a map would have been very useful. Throwaway references to Milan and the Alps are mixed in with talk of the Faxtinian Coalition and the Vinchie Empire and the Reunited Kingdom.
It's hard to imagine any of the bigger traditional publishing houses picking up a book like this. Only a small independent would take a chance on this sort of off-the-wall book. To say it's original doesn't even come close. I would love to be a fly on the wall if the author ever has to pitch this to one of the big six publishing executives. "Well, it's got every fantasy idea you can think of in it.[*] And Nazi technology. And a nuclear holocaust. And an Ebola outbreak. And Crusaders..." Frankly, I love the ideas more than the execution, as the writing perhaps isn't quite up to the ambition of the plot, but it rattles along at a frenetic pace, and in between the overlong battles, there's a nice little story with an interesting backdrop. There were moments when I laughed out loud at the sheer craziness of it - for instance when the trio face down a giant, armed variously with rocks, a spear, a rifle with bayonet, a prayer and an evil magic sword. This is just not your average fantasy book.
Ultimately, it really didn’t work for me. There were too many zombies for my taste, too many mindless and weird creatures altogether, and I would have liked more depth to the characters and less fighting. The interesting combination of the mercenary, the werebeast and the Crusader was one which, had the story slowed down enough to let the characters blossom a little more, could have been very powerful. Although I like a story to surprise me, this is one where there appear to be no constraints at all on what might turn up next. It reminded me a little of my only encounter with the imagination of China Miéville (an encounter I lost, I might add; I just don’t have the right receptors in my brain for that kind of weird). So for me it was no more than two stars. But for those made of sterner stuff, or who like rip-roaring action from start to finish, this is an interesting book with a nicely worked out ending and some clever ideas. There are some really neat details tucked in there which show a great deal of careful thought. I commend the author for his fertile imagination.
[*] There were no fairies, pixies or prophecies. I didn't notice any vampires, either. But pretty much everything else. Even the farmboy turned hero.
June 11, 2011
Zombies are never a good thing. Souled zombies, ones that can independently think and act, are even worse. Then there are the goblins, ogres, seers, wizards, and more in this time nearly 3000 years in the future where magic is prevalent, dragons fly, and the evil necromancer king seeks to rule the world. The good people and creatures are far outnumbered by those bent on war and conquest. Those that can harness the most magic can turn the tide of battle –at least for now.
For Krish and his cousin Guzzy, the recent battles outside of their small village have been more then the annual minor attacks designed to disrupt the yearly harvest. The young men fight to defend their village, Pine Ridge, and to protect all they hold dear. With swords and spears protected by magic and salt, they fight on as the enemy in many different forms continues to press the attack and people they know die around them. Back up is on the way as kingdoms make alliances in order to slow the advance of those loyal to the evil necromancer king. One such alliance allows Prince Reveron of Kreese to eventually take over and lead the small group Krish is part of into battle. Krish becomes noticed not only by the Prince but by others and gradually works his way deeper and deeper into the circle of those that Prince Reveron trusts. While Krish may not have had formal military training, he acquires battle skills at a rapid rate and has certain other skills that he continues to try to keep hidden from those around him.
Nearly any fantasy story has to have an epic quest. The one Krish is sent on is huge and could mean the fate of the world as well as what is left of humanity, forever changed in our times, could massively change again. That is assuming he can survive and complete a quest that is nearly impossible from the start. The good thing is he will get some help. The bad thing is that the little help he gets most likely will not nearly be enough.
Blending a fantasy line set nearly 3000 years in the future heavily reliant on magic with a modern day cold and dispassionate tale of technology mercilessly doing exactly what it was designed to do resulting in horrific results, is not easy. Author Terry Ervin makes it look easy as he captivates readers for 288 pages in this very complex book.
Filled with interesting characters, this fully formed world is strangely different and yet at times very relevant to our modern day world of today. Krish is a man who develops throughout the book while never losing his awe at what forces are arrayed against him. Nor does he lose his own sense of purpose and place despite realistic periods of self-doubt and contemplation. The same core values that come across in the first few pages are still there at the end in a smarter more seasoned character.
In a world where nightmares and worse of a child are very much real and life does not last long, Krish battles and delights readers. It is a world that could happen. May even happen as technology spreads and is always vulnerable to use by those bent on power and greed.
The book is highly recommended as “FLANK HAWK “is a mighty good read.
FLANK HAWK: A First Civilization’s Legacy Novel
Terry W. Ervin II
http://www.ervin-author.com/
Gryphonwood Press
http://www.gryphonwoodpress.com/
July 2009
ISBN# 978-0-9825087-0-1
Paperback
290 Pages
$12.99
Material provided quite some time ago by the author in exchange for my objective review.
Kevin R. Tipple © 2011
For Krish and his cousin Guzzy, the recent battles outside of their small village have been more then the annual minor attacks designed to disrupt the yearly harvest. The young men fight to defend their village, Pine Ridge, and to protect all they hold dear. With swords and spears protected by magic and salt, they fight on as the enemy in many different forms continues to press the attack and people they know die around them. Back up is on the way as kingdoms make alliances in order to slow the advance of those loyal to the evil necromancer king. One such alliance allows Prince Reveron of Kreese to eventually take over and lead the small group Krish is part of into battle. Krish becomes noticed not only by the Prince but by others and gradually works his way deeper and deeper into the circle of those that Prince Reveron trusts. While Krish may not have had formal military training, he acquires battle skills at a rapid rate and has certain other skills that he continues to try to keep hidden from those around him.
Nearly any fantasy story has to have an epic quest. The one Krish is sent on is huge and could mean the fate of the world as well as what is left of humanity, forever changed in our times, could massively change again. That is assuming he can survive and complete a quest that is nearly impossible from the start. The good thing is he will get some help. The bad thing is that the little help he gets most likely will not nearly be enough.
Blending a fantasy line set nearly 3000 years in the future heavily reliant on magic with a modern day cold and dispassionate tale of technology mercilessly doing exactly what it was designed to do resulting in horrific results, is not easy. Author Terry Ervin makes it look easy as he captivates readers for 288 pages in this very complex book.
Filled with interesting characters, this fully formed world is strangely different and yet at times very relevant to our modern day world of today. Krish is a man who develops throughout the book while never losing his awe at what forces are arrayed against him. Nor does he lose his own sense of purpose and place despite realistic periods of self-doubt and contemplation. The same core values that come across in the first few pages are still there at the end in a smarter more seasoned character.
In a world where nightmares and worse of a child are very much real and life does not last long, Krish battles and delights readers. It is a world that could happen. May even happen as technology spreads and is always vulnerable to use by those bent on power and greed.
The book is highly recommended as “FLANK HAWK “is a mighty good read.
FLANK HAWK: A First Civilization’s Legacy Novel
Terry W. Ervin II
http://www.ervin-author.com/
Gryphonwood Press
http://www.gryphonwoodpress.com/
July 2009
ISBN# 978-0-9825087-0-1
Paperback
290 Pages
$12.99
Material provided quite some time ago by the author in exchange for my objective review.
Kevin R. Tipple © 2011
October 27, 2012
This book feels like it is trying mimic The Black Company with its style (plus being about mercenaries, etc.). It's not as good though.
The book was ok, but it is a mishmash of stuff that just seems thrown together. Zombies, goblins, giants, dragons, panzers and stukas oh my! There were times when it felt as though the author just wanted to throw as much as he could into a single story.
Again, the story was ok, not good, not great, just ok. I never really got deep into the narrative. It felt as though I was just a causual observer. It's one of those fun little books you can read inbetween more serious fantasy.
The book was ok, but it is a mishmash of stuff that just seems thrown together. Zombies, goblins, giants, dragons, panzers and stukas oh my! There were times when it felt as though the author just wanted to throw as much as he could into a single story.
Again, the story was ok, not good, not great, just ok. I never really got deep into the narrative. It felt as though I was just a causual observer. It's one of those fun little books you can read inbetween more serious fantasy.
April 4, 2014
In the beginning, the book was really good. The mesh of magic and technology was rather cool :) The fight scenes were very exciting and vivid at first....but man, did they become tedious fast....The last fifth of the book, I felt bored and I just wanted someone important to die, so that the book would end so much sooner.
Despite all that....I can't deny that I enjoyed most of the book. If you like a lot of action in a book, you should definitely give it a try. But don't expect anything too deep here...
Despite all that....I can't deny that I enjoyed most of the book. If you like a lot of action in a book, you should definitely give it a try. But don't expect anything too deep here...
July 3, 2010
I rate this book highly, well, because I wrote it ;)
Honestly, I believe that most authors write books they'd, as a reader, like to find on the library or bookstore shelf.
Flank Hawk is an action-adventure fantasy novel, and I don't think there is another work out there quite like it.
You can find out more about Flank Hawk by visiting my website at www.ervin-author.com
Honestly, I believe that most authors write books they'd, as a reader, like to find on the library or bookstore shelf.
Flank Hawk is an action-adventure fantasy novel, and I don't think there is another work out there quite like it.
You can find out more about Flank Hawk by visiting my website at www.ervin-author.com
July 11, 2020
Good premise, well-structured. Reminds me of "What if ...?" comics.
The publisher, Gryphonwood Press, really should hire a good copy editor; this published volume is rife with typos, punctuation errors, dangling modifiers, awkward sentences, etc. For all that, it's a quick read with a straightforward plot. The events run along at one constant speed with little modulation in the pace.
The story is somehow lacking something(s) vital. There are no character arcs because the characters are flat and under-developed; it seems they just came to life when the story started and have no real place in the world. Maybe that is why the story is lacking in heart and soul. The female characters have limited, stereotyped, flat roles: the spunky girl, the mystic oracle, the elegant sorceress, the hag witch... plus, of course, the nameless noblewomen who compete with each other for the title of "best dressed."
This books reads like a D&D campaign, so players might enjoy this book. Also boys age 13-16 who don't like all that mushy characterization stuff -- but they'd have to be good readers to get over the mistakes in the copy.
~bint
The publisher, Gryphonwood Press, really should hire a good copy editor; this published volume is rife with typos, punctuation errors, dangling modifiers, awkward sentences, etc. For all that, it's a quick read with a straightforward plot. The events run along at one constant speed with little modulation in the pace.
The story is somehow lacking something(s) vital. There are no character arcs because the characters are flat and under-developed; it seems they just came to life when the story started and have no real place in the world. Maybe that is why the story is lacking in heart and soul. The female characters have limited, stereotyped, flat roles: the spunky girl, the mystic oracle, the elegant sorceress, the hag witch... plus, of course, the nameless noblewomen who compete with each other for the title of "best dressed."
This books reads like a D&D campaign, so players might enjoy this book. Also boys age 13-16 who don't like all that mushy characterization stuff -- but they'd have to be good readers to get over the mistakes in the copy.
~bint
July 15, 2021
I'm finishing up the 3 book series. I actually came across book 3 first and read 3, 1, then 2.
Pleasant enough read. I read a few chapters at a time before going to sleep.
Not great, but then I haven't found any of the 'great' modern writers to be great (Stephen King sucks).
Not good enough to have me clamoring for a sequel, though it seems the author left it open-ended.
Aside from the occasional typos disrupting the flow of the story, what struck me as strange is how really, really bad the author is at choosing character names. I keep thinking how if these books were lampooned (like "Bored of the Rings") then the main character would be named Flank Steak.
Pleasant enough read. I read a few chapters at a time before going to sleep.
Not great, but then I haven't found any of the 'great' modern writers to be great (Stephen King sucks).
Not good enough to have me clamoring for a sequel, though it seems the author left it open-ended.
Aside from the occasional typos disrupting the flow of the story, what struck me as strange is how really, really bad the author is at choosing character names. I keep thinking how if these books were lampooned (like "Bored of the Rings") then the main character would be named Flank Steak.
August 23, 2011
Flank Hawk by Terry W Ervin was an amazingly unique story. A lot of the elements that are included in the story are pretty standard fantasy fare with goblins, ogres, zombies, etc, but they way they are combined adds a unique flavor.
The book begins with the cousins Krish and Guzzy on the front lines holding off what was thought to be the annual zombie invasion. Every year the Necromancer King send some zombies to disrupt the harvest. In Flank Hawk there are two types of zombies: the soulless which are the stereotypical shambling undead and the souled these zombies can control groups of the soulless as well as speak and somewhat think for themselves. When more and more zombies keep coming it becomes apparent that this is more than the annual crop disruption and the Necromancer King could very well be gearing up for another long hard war. The boys get hooked up with Road Toad, an experienced mercenary, after losing a member of their zombie squad.
The battle they are waging becomes a route when the zombies, goblins, and ogres pull out a new and terrifying weapon, Panzers. Barely managing to escape with their lives Krish and Road Toad become fast friends and Krish begins his life anew as a mercenary. This choice leads him to meet some of the most important people in the kingdom as well as getting him assigned some very dangerous and exciting tasks.
I loved the blend of traditional fantasy with WWII era technology. It really put a new spin on the combat aspect of the book to have dragons fighting aerial duels with Stukas while having to avoid machine gun fire from the Panzers on the ground. Krish and Road Toad were both great characters that I felt very familiar with by the end of the book and honestly I hope to see more of them. Each chapter begins with a few paragraphs (in italics) that are a bit of a history lesson slowly revealing how the world came to be the way it is currently. These all come together in a rather surprising way towards the end of the book.
This book is a great read for anyone who is looking for fantasy. If you love the traditional fantasy stories it can work for you. If you are getting a bit tired of the standard fantasy formula this has new elements that will suck you right in. I had trouble putting this book down and very much hope to see more written in this world.
Review copy provided by the author.
The book begins with the cousins Krish and Guzzy on the front lines holding off what was thought to be the annual zombie invasion. Every year the Necromancer King send some zombies to disrupt the harvest. In Flank Hawk there are two types of zombies: the soulless which are the stereotypical shambling undead and the souled these zombies can control groups of the soulless as well as speak and somewhat think for themselves. When more and more zombies keep coming it becomes apparent that this is more than the annual crop disruption and the Necromancer King could very well be gearing up for another long hard war. The boys get hooked up with Road Toad, an experienced mercenary, after losing a member of their zombie squad.
The battle they are waging becomes a route when the zombies, goblins, and ogres pull out a new and terrifying weapon, Panzers. Barely managing to escape with their lives Krish and Road Toad become fast friends and Krish begins his life anew as a mercenary. This choice leads him to meet some of the most important people in the kingdom as well as getting him assigned some very dangerous and exciting tasks.
I loved the blend of traditional fantasy with WWII era technology. It really put a new spin on the combat aspect of the book to have dragons fighting aerial duels with Stukas while having to avoid machine gun fire from the Panzers on the ground. Krish and Road Toad were both great characters that I felt very familiar with by the end of the book and honestly I hope to see more of them. Each chapter begins with a few paragraphs (in italics) that are a bit of a history lesson slowly revealing how the world came to be the way it is currently. These all come together in a rather surprising way towards the end of the book.
This book is a great read for anyone who is looking for fantasy. If you love the traditional fantasy stories it can work for you. If you are getting a bit tired of the standard fantasy formula this has new elements that will suck you right in. I had trouble putting this book down and very much hope to see more written in this world.
Review copy provided by the author.
October 15, 2011
Flank Hawk follows the adventures of a young mercenary as he strives to help defeat the army that overran his homeland. This very difficult task is more difficult than usual due to the presence of goblins, sorcerers, ogres, and zombies, as well as the appearance of technologies such as panzers and chlorine gas. Flank Hawk is helped by fellow mercenaries, seers, wizards, dragon riding cavalrymen, and many other fantastical characters.
This book jumps right into the action. From page one, the reader knows that Krish (who later becomes Flank Hawk when he gains his mercenary name) is a relatively young soldier desperately defending his homeland against an invading army whose soldiers are primarily zombies. From there the action never lets up. However, with the author putting so much energy into battle scenes and world building, the only character motivation that gets developed is that of Krish fighting because he wants to protect his family. This makes for an exciting book, but does keep the reader distanced from the characters long than typical. While the reader will feel suspense for what is going to happen next, there is very little tension tied specifically to the Krish himself; you will hope that he survives, but not feel any real dread over the possibility that he may not.
The writing style is easy to read and filled with simple, but detailed, descriptions. The author provides an interesting world with the mix of fantasy elements and technology. There is also an intriguing second “storyline” included in short segments at the beginning of each chapter. All of this lends itself to a quality, entertaining read.
This book would be good for anyone who enjoys the fantasy genre–and especially fantasy’s with a twist–as well as people who like books with a heavy dose of battles. It’s likely that those who enjoy things such as Dungeons and Dragons would also enjoy this.
http://hampton-networks.com/book-revi...
This book jumps right into the action. From page one, the reader knows that Krish (who later becomes Flank Hawk when he gains his mercenary name) is a relatively young soldier desperately defending his homeland against an invading army whose soldiers are primarily zombies. From there the action never lets up. However, with the author putting so much energy into battle scenes and world building, the only character motivation that gets developed is that of Krish fighting because he wants to protect his family. This makes for an exciting book, but does keep the reader distanced from the characters long than typical. While the reader will feel suspense for what is going to happen next, there is very little tension tied specifically to the Krish himself; you will hope that he survives, but not feel any real dread over the possibility that he may not.
The writing style is easy to read and filled with simple, but detailed, descriptions. The author provides an interesting world with the mix of fantasy elements and technology. There is also an intriguing second “storyline” included in short segments at the beginning of each chapter. All of this lends itself to a quality, entertaining read.
This book would be good for anyone who enjoys the fantasy genre–and especially fantasy’s with a twist–as well as people who like books with a heavy dose of battles. It’s likely that those who enjoy things such as Dungeons and Dragons would also enjoy this.
http://hampton-networks.com/book-revi...
December 11, 2012
Those who don't know history are doomed to repeat it. Those who do know history are apt to repeat it in much finer detail.
With as much stuff as this book has going on in it, (ogres, zombies, magic, nazis, the list goes on)you might expect it to be an incoherent mess. You'd be wrong. It's told from beginning to end in a very straightforward manner through the eyes of a humble mercenary soldier, Flank Hawk.
He's just a guy trying to get by, doing his small part to hold back the undead forces that are sweeping across the land. He's by no means the toughest badass on the battlefield, nor the mightiest warrior. But he's brave, capable, and resourceful. He's the kind of guy you might even believe you could be yourself in his situation, and I think that's what I liked most about the character of Flank Hawk.
Fate isn't content to leave him simply stabbing zombies for long, and he gets swept up in matters far above his station, until he finally has the greatest responsibility of the war thrust upon him.
The author's prose is tight. I never once had to flip back and reread a passage to figure out what was going on. (That's a common problem for me with fantasy novels.) His action scenes were plentiful and satisfying. The fight at sea in the north Atlantic was my personal favorite.
The only problem I had was that Lilly's age seemed unrealistic for a lot of what she was able to do. And the fact that there was no sexual chemistry between Lilly and Flank Hawk (That's taking into account that I already proposed an age adjustment.)I'm not looking for a love story or a porn scene. I'm just saying it's weird that Hawk's been on the battlefield for so long, and seems to have zero interest (beyond friendship) in this young girl who repeatedly has to undress in front of him. Maybe I just thought the character was a little too wholesome to be real, but that's certainly not going to cost this book a star.
It really was a great read.
With as much stuff as this book has going on in it, (ogres, zombies, magic, nazis, the list goes on)you might expect it to be an incoherent mess. You'd be wrong. It's told from beginning to end in a very straightforward manner through the eyes of a humble mercenary soldier, Flank Hawk.
He's just a guy trying to get by, doing his small part to hold back the undead forces that are sweeping across the land. He's by no means the toughest badass on the battlefield, nor the mightiest warrior. But he's brave, capable, and resourceful. He's the kind of guy you might even believe you could be yourself in his situation, and I think that's what I liked most about the character of Flank Hawk.
Fate isn't content to leave him simply stabbing zombies for long, and he gets swept up in matters far above his station, until he finally has the greatest responsibility of the war thrust upon him.
The author's prose is tight. I never once had to flip back and reread a passage to figure out what was going on. (That's a common problem for me with fantasy novels.) His action scenes were plentiful and satisfying. The fight at sea in the north Atlantic was my personal favorite.
The only problem I had was that Lilly's age seemed unrealistic for a lot of what she was able to do. And the fact that there was no sexual chemistry between Lilly and Flank Hawk (That's taking into account that I already proposed an age adjustment.)I'm not looking for a love story or a porn scene. I'm just saying it's weird that Hawk's been on the battlefield for so long, and seems to have zero interest (beyond friendship) in this young girl who repeatedly has to undress in front of him. Maybe I just thought the character was a little too wholesome to be real, but that's certainly not going to cost this book a star.
It really was a great read.
January 23, 2016
Dragons, zombies and panzers, oh my! Add in Stukas, goblins, ogres, m’unicorn war steeds and elemental monsters and you get an idea of what you’re up against. Flank Hawk is a smorgasbord of fantasy and modern technology and it all works. The imagination this author possesses is astounding. Mr. Ervin seamlessly blends all the elements into a book that you’ll find hard to stop reading once you start.
The story follows Krish, a wide-eyed farm boy who goes off to war against the Necromancer King. Through a series of battles, he finds himself paired with Road Toad, a disgraced dragon rider turned mercenary. It is during one of the vicious and devastating battles that Krish earns his mercenary name of Flank Hawk. Road Toad takes Flank Hawk under his wing and teaches the young boy some of the finer points of being a mercenary and some much needed sword-fighting skills.
While on a scouting mission with Prince Reveron of Keesee, Road Toad and a small contingent of elite soldiers, their position is betrayed and events are set into motion that will start Flank Hawk on an impossible quest. He must find the fabled Colonel of the West and barter the royal family’s Blood-Sword for a way to stop the evil Necromancer King’s advance across the kingdom. This is where the book becomes even more exciting. There is barely a chapter that goes by before something new and unexpected is thrown into the plot.
My favorite character was the Crusader Paul Jedidiah Roos from the Reunited Kingdom who Flank Hawk meets on his quest. All in all there are a number of wonderful characters in this book and I commend the author on such a well-written book. I highly recommend this book for all those readers who love fantasy and science fiction.
The story follows Krish, a wide-eyed farm boy who goes off to war against the Necromancer King. Through a series of battles, he finds himself paired with Road Toad, a disgraced dragon rider turned mercenary. It is during one of the vicious and devastating battles that Krish earns his mercenary name of Flank Hawk. Road Toad takes Flank Hawk under his wing and teaches the young boy some of the finer points of being a mercenary and some much needed sword-fighting skills.
While on a scouting mission with Prince Reveron of Keesee, Road Toad and a small contingent of elite soldiers, their position is betrayed and events are set into motion that will start Flank Hawk on an impossible quest. He must find the fabled Colonel of the West and barter the royal family’s Blood-Sword for a way to stop the evil Necromancer King’s advance across the kingdom. This is where the book becomes even more exciting. There is barely a chapter that goes by before something new and unexpected is thrown into the plot.
My favorite character was the Crusader Paul Jedidiah Roos from the Reunited Kingdom who Flank Hawk meets on his quest. All in all there are a number of wonderful characters in this book and I commend the author on such a well-written book. I highly recommend this book for all those readers who love fantasy and science fiction.
August 24, 2012
In Flank Hawk, Mr. Ervin introduces to a future in which fantasy creatures and magic have become commonplace. What happens when the necromancer uses the doomed souls of Nazis to reintroduce technology? It’s up to a young man from a small village to put his life on the line to save everyone.
Why to buy this book: 1. The character arc reminded me a lot of The Deed of Paksenarrion by Elizabeth Moon, and I’m a sucker for that type of story. 2. The book is epic fantasy at its finest, featuring the struggle of good against evil. 3. The writing is, overall, good. Mr. Ervin draws you into the story and introduces realistic, relatable characters. I found myself not wanting to put the book down. 4. I love the intersection of fantasy and scifi. 5. I don’t see first person used a lot in fantasy, and, after reading this book, I don’t understand why. Mr. Ervin uses it to good effect.
Why not to buy the book: I’m not a big fan of elements of high fantasy. This book contains (and this is not a comprehensive list): zombies, goblins, ogres, giants, and dragons. Halfway through the work, I said to myself “at least there are no elves.” I spoke too soon. My other major problem with the book was some of the character names. Road Toad? Really? By the end of the book (and this character appears frequently), I still had that reaction whenever I read the name.
Bottom Line: I try to save 5 stars for my favorite books of all time like Eye of the World and Name of the Wind, and I couldn’t stretch quite that high for this one. It’s a solid 4 and worth reading. I plan on buying the rest of the books in the series.
Why to buy this book: 1. The character arc reminded me a lot of The Deed of Paksenarrion by Elizabeth Moon, and I’m a sucker for that type of story. 2. The book is epic fantasy at its finest, featuring the struggle of good against evil. 3. The writing is, overall, good. Mr. Ervin draws you into the story and introduces realistic, relatable characters. I found myself not wanting to put the book down. 4. I love the intersection of fantasy and scifi. 5. I don’t see first person used a lot in fantasy, and, after reading this book, I don’t understand why. Mr. Ervin uses it to good effect.
Why not to buy the book: I’m not a big fan of elements of high fantasy. This book contains (and this is not a comprehensive list): zombies, goblins, ogres, giants, and dragons. Halfway through the work, I said to myself “at least there are no elves.” I spoke too soon. My other major problem with the book was some of the character names. Road Toad? Really? By the end of the book (and this character appears frequently), I still had that reaction whenever I read the name.
Bottom Line: I try to save 5 stars for my favorite books of all time like Eye of the World and Name of the Wind, and I couldn’t stretch quite that high for this one. It’s a solid 4 and worth reading. I plan on buying the rest of the books in the series.
August 1, 2010
Krish, a recently new mercenary, along with his cousin, Guzzy, joins the fight against the Necromancer King. Along the way, Krish meets Road Toad, another mercenary with a lot of experience, but the battle hardened mercenary comes with a few surprises and secrets of his own, and secrets are something Krish all knows too well about.
Young Krish is soon recognized as someone that is steadfast and can get the job done. Krish is given the task to find the one weapon that can turn the tide of victory from the Necromancer King. Krish must get through ogres, trolls, zombies, and other fable creatures.
The pacing is fast, the suspense nonstop. There is an incredible mixture of suspense and action.
Flank Hawk is nonstop reading.
Young Krish is soon recognized as someone that is steadfast and can get the job done. Krish is given the task to find the one weapon that can turn the tide of victory from the Necromancer King. Krish must get through ogres, trolls, zombies, and other fable creatures.
The pacing is fast, the suspense nonstop. There is an incredible mixture of suspense and action.
Flank Hawk is nonstop reading.
September 21, 2015
Battle-centric fantasy with an interesting twist on the 'typical' fantasy setting. That twist really hooked me and kept me reading to figure out the history of the world. I actually came close to putting the book down however, as the beginning is a bit slow with a bunch of battle scenes. They were well-written, but not my usual cup of tea. However, I stuck with it and midway through, the entire pace of the book changed back to a more traditional journey story that refreshed the plot. On a side note, this is one of the few books that I could definitely tell the author's gender, which may have just been good first-person writing.
January 22, 2012
Flank Hawk will sweep you away and take you to a magical world.
Terry W. Ervin II did a brilliant job writing this debut novel. There's never a dull moment as we follow Krish, a farmhand turned mercenary, as he forges through battles. Dragons, zombies, giants, and wizards color the pages of this science fiction, fantasy novel.
Thriving as a strong individual, Krish encounters new friends, and loses honorable allies. Krish's journey is not one you want to miss.
Terry W. Ervin II did a brilliant job writing this debut novel. There's never a dull moment as we follow Krish, a farmhand turned mercenary, as he forges through battles. Dragons, zombies, giants, and wizards color the pages of this science fiction, fantasy novel.
Thriving as a strong individual, Krish encounters new friends, and loses honorable allies. Krish's journey is not one you want to miss.
September 30, 2018
I really enjoyed this book. It was well written, the characters are interesting, and the story never dull. Not to mention the fascinating underlying concept of Nazi technology being introduced into a world of swords and sorcery. I'm definitely looking forward to a sequel.
April 7, 2013
Not usually a fan of fantasy tales, but this one was enjoyable. Great characters draw you in, and the plot moves along at a decent clip. The tidbits leading in each chapter give a glimpse into the origins of the story, but I was still surprised when the reveal occurs.
October 1, 2015
It was different than I expected
The book was not what I was expecting but as I kept reading I started to enjoy it as I am not really into zombie books or movies but I did enjoy the book and enjoyed the character's personalities
It had a good story as well
The book was not what I was expecting but as I kept reading I started to enjoy it as I am not really into zombie books or movies but I did enjoy the book and enjoyed the character's personalities
It had a good story as well
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