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onemamareads's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Read my full review here: https://onemamassummer.weebly.com/book-reviews/the-faithless-hawk
drymming's review
5.0
I knew she was the Goddess.
I knew Taverin was in on it. I could FEEL IT.
I am officially adopting Jasimir. My child. And mango. And Patpat. Pls.
Khoda the lil sneaky bitch in on it allllll.
I loved these characters oh so much and this finale solidified the series more in my head and in my heart.
I couldn’t have asked for a better conclusion.
I knew Taverin was in on it. I could FEEL IT.
I am officially adopting Jasimir. My child. And mango. And Patpat. Pls.
Khoda the lil sneaky bitch in on it allllll.
I loved these characters oh so much and this finale solidified the series more in my head and in my heart.
I couldn’t have asked for a better conclusion.
suddenbreakdown's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
15bedford's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
justjess2031's review
5.0
Margaret Owens does it again with this masterpiece…continuing Fie’s journey into chief of the Crows was as magical as Owens’ first book. It kept me captivated and not wanting to put the book down. Sad to see this story of Fie end but also this was the best way to end her story.
courtney_saba's review
4.0
Um. Wow. What a comeback. Overall: 4.5, rounded down.
I was not impressed with The Merciful Crow. It was a meh book that didn't hook me or really convince me to root for the characters or the story. With The Faithless Hawk, my faith was restored.
Look. With a title like that, you, as a reader, already know exactly what that means. But this is a warning. Spoilers lie ahead. Skip to the very end for non-spoiler comments.
******Spoiler ahead (just in case you still don't understand the title) ******
My main man Tavin. You dirty, traitorous, scheming, heartwarming, achingly stupid but endearing little Hawk. You had to do that, didn't you? What a delightful thing to happen in a YA fantasy! I believed the betrayal and that is surprising because I'm hard to surprise nowadays with stories. And the way Fie handled it? SO satisfying. It was exactly what I wanted from a betrayed lover. A paragraph in the book that makes me full body shiver even if I think about it made my dark soul leap with joy and cackle with evil glee:
"We have a saying in the legions: waste no weapons, least of all your foe's. Don't throw this away. (Fie had just thrown away Tavin the betrayer's sword.) Her (Lakima's) stern face turned even harder. "Return it." LIKE FULL BODY CHILLS. WOW.
The way Margaret Owen handled this unforgivable betrayal, with the characters, how Fie reacted realistically, with all the grief and sorrow of being betrayed by a loved one, and the subsequent plan to take down the Evil Queen and the false prince, was so goddamn satisfying. I was shaking with excitement to see how revenge would be doled out. This is what I want when I read a book. It was everything I wanted in a revenge tale. This book would have been an easy 5 star with this alone, but I couldn't forget a few issues I had with the story.
1) didn't Fie know that Tavin was a war-witch, and therefore, if he ever touched her skin, glamour or not, he would immediately know she was a Crow? This was a trait of Tavin's that was conveniently forgotten to further the idea of Fie trying to "seduce the truth" out of him with a pretty, fake face. He had told her in the beginning of the book that he realized what Khoda was by touch alone. So Fie knew! BIG issue here that I couldn't forget.
2) why does a Swan need hair? Couldn't it be literally any body part? Was it more of a convenient thing for Rhusanna? I don't know, but this was confusing.
3) how did Fie control the tooth in a bedroom from far away without it being in contact with her skin? The whole time, we readers have been told that she needs to be touching a bone to use the spark. This scene of her burning a room without touching a phoenix tooth was essentially breaking the rules of the story itself.
4) the whole ending. It was rushed. With an info dump that I had to read repeatedly because I wasn't really understanding what was happening. It just wasn't explained clearly. And then there were like 5 pages after the climax to tie loose ends? Um...excuse me. But this seemed like a copout. Way too rushed. All that buildup and info dump, and the author decides to leave the reader with that kind of ending? Super disappointed.
5) I still don't understand Ambra's oath with the Crows. Or the "lost Birthright" of the Crows. All they needed was Phoenix teeth, and then they could save people from the plague? That's it? Kind of a let down. What, compared to people with fire and memory capabilities, to name a few.
6) Also. This plague. Super inconsistent. The King had the plague for 3 WEEKS when people normally succumb in a day? All because he wasn't killed by anyone? Then Jasimir and Tavin touched their father, riddled with plague, when Fie wouldn't let Tavin touch her plague-blood soaked hands earlier in the book? And what happened with the masks? They use them just in case (but I thought Crows were immune???). I don't know. This plague thing was a thorn in my side for this duology.
7) I didn't believe in two things completely: Fie and Tavin's devotion to each other, and that Tavin was that great of an actor and schemer. The author never fully convinced me of the romance. I didn't understand the undying devotion they had for each other. Maybe because of the third person point of view? Or that there weren't enough scenes that really convinced me of their love? I just didn't believe it. And Tavin has always said he wasn't very well versed in political intrigue, and then we're supposed to believe that he fooled everyone the whole time? That he was on the good side the whole time, and Fie only had to look at his tooth memories to see the truth? I don't know. Something is wrong here. Out of character. And sort of forced. Definitely two weak points.
******End Spoilers******
Overall, I was very satisfied with the maturity in this book. Sure, there were some cliche tropes, but the author twisted them and made them seem slightly new again. Which is a feat in itself. It progressed nicely, the characters redeemed themselves, the plot was exciting, the romance was very gratifying for my black heart, and I was majorly impressed that the author turned me into a lover of her books after a lackluster first book. So, kudos to Margaret Owen. That's a skill right there.
Would I re-read this? Only at my sticky tab marks. Because of the weak points, I probably wouldn't re-read the entire thing again.
Would I recommend this? For sure. Especially after the author really redeemed herself here. I would offer some non-spoiler caveats to anyone I would recommend this book to, though.
Was I entertained? Wholeheartedly. Now, THAT'S how you betray someone and get your revenge with dignity, power, strength, maturity, and mercy. Well done.
Happy reading, Goodreads fiends.
I was not impressed with The Merciful Crow. It was a meh book that didn't hook me or really convince me to root for the characters or the story. With The Faithless Hawk, my faith was restored.
Look. With a title like that, you, as a reader, already know exactly what that means. But this is a warning. Spoilers lie ahead. Skip to the very end for non-spoiler comments.
******Spoiler ahead (just in case you still don't understand the title) ******
My main man Tavin. You dirty, traitorous, scheming, heartwarming, achingly stupid but endearing little Hawk. You had to do that, didn't you? What a delightful thing to happen in a YA fantasy! I believed the betrayal and that is surprising because I'm hard to surprise nowadays with stories. And the way Fie handled it? SO satisfying. It was exactly what I wanted from a betrayed lover. A paragraph in the book that makes me full body shiver even if I think about it made my dark soul leap with joy and cackle with evil glee:
"We have a saying in the legions: waste no weapons, least of all your foe's. Don't throw this away. (Fie had just thrown away Tavin the betrayer's sword.) Her (Lakima's) stern face turned even harder. "Return it." LIKE FULL BODY CHILLS. WOW.
The way Margaret Owen handled this unforgivable betrayal, with the characters, how Fie reacted realistically, with all the grief and sorrow of being betrayed by a loved one, and the subsequent plan to take down the Evil Queen and the false prince, was so goddamn satisfying. I was shaking with excitement to see how revenge would be doled out. This is what I want when I read a book. It was everything I wanted in a revenge tale. This book would have been an easy 5 star with this alone, but I couldn't forget a few issues I had with the story.
1) didn't Fie know that Tavin was a war-witch, and therefore, if he ever touched her skin, glamour or not, he would immediately know she was a Crow? This was a trait of Tavin's that was conveniently forgotten to further the idea of Fie trying to "seduce the truth" out of him with a pretty, fake face. He had told her in the beginning of the book that he realized what Khoda was by touch alone. So Fie knew! BIG issue here that I couldn't forget.
2) why does a Swan need hair? Couldn't it be literally any body part? Was it more of a convenient thing for Rhusanna? I don't know, but this was confusing.
3) how did Fie control the tooth in a bedroom from far away without it being in contact with her skin? The whole time, we readers have been told that she needs to be touching a bone to use the spark. This scene of her burning a room without touching a phoenix tooth was essentially breaking the rules of the story itself.
4) the whole ending. It was rushed. With an info dump that I had to read repeatedly because I wasn't really understanding what was happening. It just wasn't explained clearly. And then there were like 5 pages after the climax to tie loose ends? Um...excuse me. But this seemed like a copout. Way too rushed. All that buildup and info dump, and the author decides to leave the reader with that kind of ending? Super disappointed.
5) I still don't understand Ambra's oath with the Crows. Or the "lost Birthright" of the Crows. All they needed was Phoenix teeth, and then they could save people from the plague? That's it? Kind of a let down. What, compared to people with fire and memory capabilities, to name a few.
6) Also. This plague. Super inconsistent. The King had the plague for 3 WEEKS when people normally succumb in a day? All because he wasn't killed by anyone? Then Jasimir and Tavin touched their father, riddled with plague, when Fie wouldn't let Tavin touch her plague-blood soaked hands earlier in the book? And what happened with the masks? They use them just in case (but I thought Crows were immune???). I don't know. This plague thing was a thorn in my side for this duology.
7) I didn't believe in two things completely: Fie and Tavin's devotion to each other, and that Tavin was that great of an actor and schemer. The author never fully convinced me of the romance. I didn't understand the undying devotion they had for each other. Maybe because of the third person point of view? Or that there weren't enough scenes that really convinced me of their love? I just didn't believe it. And Tavin has always said he wasn't very well versed in political intrigue, and then we're supposed to believe that he fooled everyone the whole time? That he was on the good side the whole time, and Fie only had to look at his tooth memories to see the truth? I don't know. Something is wrong here. Out of character. And sort of forced. Definitely two weak points.
******End Spoilers******
Overall, I was very satisfied with the maturity in this book. Sure, there were some cliche tropes, but the author twisted them and made them seem slightly new again. Which is a feat in itself. It progressed nicely, the characters redeemed themselves, the plot was exciting, the romance was very gratifying for my black heart, and I was majorly impressed that the author turned me into a lover of her books after a lackluster first book. So, kudos to Margaret Owen. That's a skill right there.
Would I re-read this? Only at my sticky tab marks. Because of the weak points, I probably wouldn't re-read the entire thing again.
Would I recommend this? For sure. Especially after the author really redeemed herself here. I would offer some non-spoiler caveats to anyone I would recommend this book to, though.
Was I entertained? Wholeheartedly. Now, THAT'S how you betray someone and get your revenge with dignity, power, strength, maturity, and mercy. Well done.
Happy reading, Goodreads fiends.
d3vilxl3gacy's review
2.0
I think it may be a metaphor for birds being government surveillance but I'm not sure.
lilliangreenfield0's review
adventurous
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5