September 1, 2005
Gr 7-10 -The intricate power struggles between various breeds of avian shapeshifters continue in this third book in the series. Nicias, 19, son of Kel and Sebastian, falcons who were stripped of their falcon magic and exiled from their homeland of Ahnmik, is one of the personal guards to Oliza, heir to the avian and serpiente thrones. He is loyal to her despite never having felt at home in Wyvern's Court. He has inherited his parents' magic and it will destroy him unless he can learn to control it. His parents reluctantly send him to Ahnmik to be taught to bind it by his grandmother, the Empress, and her heir, Lady Araceli. Nicias finds himself torn between his duty to Oliza and the political manipulation and newfound power he discovers as a royal heir on Ahnmik. His only ally is Darien, an exiled member of the Empress's royal guard. Despite the many characters in the series (a family tree is included), the personalities are uniquely drawn and the mythological avian world is vividly described. Characters from "Hawksong" (2003) and "Snakecharm" (2004, both Delacorte) return briefly and events from those books are recapped. This title lacks the compelling romance found in "Hawksong", and focuses more on the history of the avian conflicts." -Sharon Rawlins, Piscataway Public Library, NJ"
Copyright 2005 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
January 1, 2006
In a third fantasy, Nicias, son of falcon-human exiles, returns to the falcon-human empire to learn control of his magic and his royal heritage, but his loyalty is to Oliza, the hawk-cobra princess. Technicolor dreams and visions too closely mingled with the characters' reality, along with rapidly shifting and obscure intrigue, distance readers from an otherwise engaging tale.
(Copyright 2006 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)