Fantasy at its best!
The Faithless Hawk (Merciful Crow #2) by Margaret Owen
Compassionate, unsure (until angry and then watch out), gifted, amusing, self deprecating--all words to describe the now new Crow leader, Fie.
Crows--in a world peopled by twelve castes, the Crows are the untouchables, the lowliest of the low. Only they can cleanse villages and cities from the Sinner's Plague. The Crows are immune. They give mercy to the victims, burning away the ravages incurred. This is their duty. They cannot go against the Covenant and ignore the summoning beacon's black plumes of smoke. But is that what the Crows were originally intended to be when the gods created the castes? Fie's god given mission is to reclaim the Crow's lost birthright. Whatever that might be.
What stands in her way? Only a ruthless queen who's enslaved and seduced the realm's King and the powerful into supporting her claim to the throne, buoyed by her terrifying witchcraft abilities. A queen who hates the crows and allows other castes to harass and even kill them. In The Merciful Crow, Fie had challenged the Queen's payment in Fie's role as chief of her Crow band.
When the fires are lit to signal King Surimir's death Fie and her Crows supported by their Hawk escort head for the palace along with Prince Jasimir and Tavin. As the story unfolds many things Fie's taken on faith begin to unravel. Her quest is on the verge of floundering, betrayal a hare's breath away.
I am still working through the magic of the teeth as determined by the Covenant as payment to the Crows. How they then become a powerful artifact is fascinating. When the Queen begins to spread doubt about the very existence of the plague as deadly, her attempts to nullify the role of the Crows brings about unforeseen and grisly results.
A story of greed and power, offset by Fie's determination and doggedness. A fabulous read that ratchets up the tension so fantastically that I was gripped from the get go.
I love this world Owen has created, rich and nuanced that deserves a reread to grapple with the various tenets and social organization depicted.
A great ending to the quest that began with The Merciful Crow!
A Macmillan Children's Group ARC via NetGalley
*****
Compassionate, unsure (until angry and then watch out), gifted, amusing, self deprecating--all words to describe the now new Crow leader, Fie.
Crows--in a world peopled by twelve castes, the Crows are the untouchables, the lowliest of the low. Only they can cleanse villages and cities from the Sinner's Plague. The Crows are immune. They give mercy to the victims, burning away the ravages incurred. This is their duty. They cannot go against the Covenant and ignore the summoning beacon's black plumes of smoke. But is that what the Crows were originally intended to be when the gods created the castes? Fie's god given mission is to reclaim the Crow's lost birthright. Whatever that might be.
What stands in her way? Only a ruthless queen who's enslaved and seduced the realm's King and the powerful into supporting her claim to the throne, buoyed by her terrifying witchcraft abilities. A queen who hates the crows and allows other castes to harass and even kill them. In The Merciful Crow, Fie had challenged the Queen's payment in Fie's role as chief of her Crow band.
When the fires are lit to signal King Surimir's death Fie and her Crows supported by their Hawk escort head for the palace along with Prince Jasimir and Tavin. As the story unfolds many things Fie's taken on faith begin to unravel. Her quest is on the verge of floundering, betrayal a hare's breath away.
I am still working through the magic of the teeth as determined by the Covenant as payment to the Crows. How they then become a powerful artifact is fascinating. When the Queen begins to spread doubt about the very existence of the plague as deadly, her attempts to nullify the role of the Crows brings about unforeseen and grisly results.
A story of greed and power, offset by Fie's determination and doggedness. A fabulous read that ratchets up the tension so fantastically that I was gripped from the get go.
I love this world Owen has created, rich and nuanced that deserves a reread to grapple with the various tenets and social organization depicted.
A great ending to the quest that began with The Merciful Crow!
A Macmillan Children's Group ARC via NetGalley
*****
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