Customer Reviews

Falcondance (Readers Circle)

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Some writers mature as their careers go on, and some just jump from one weakness to another. Too bad Amelia Atwater-Rhodes seems to be one of the latter kind.

"Falcondance" is the third novel in her new series, about several shapeshifting races who barely keep from strangling each other. And for a time it seems that this will beAtwater-Rhodes' best novel yet -- until the plot implodes in a messy, inconclusive finale.

Nicias is the son of two falcon exiles, although he has spent his whole life at the serpiente-hawk Wyvern Court, serving the dual heir Oliza Shardae Cobriana. But when his latent magic starts to awaken, his parents send him to the falcon city of Ahmik, to be trained by his cruel grandmother. If they don't, he'll lapse into the coma-like state of Ecl.

While there, he gains a lover and begins to suspect that his grandmother is hiding some sinister secrets. Even stranger, he is hearing the voice of a condemned prisoner, who promises to give him the answers he needs. What Nicias learns is a hideous secret that threatens the existance of Wyvern's Court itself -- and is terrible enough to kill for.

For most of "Falcondance" it seems as if Atwater-Rhodes is on a roll. Her character of Nicias is well-drawn, conflicted and afraid of his own heritage, and she takes the time to draw out some interesting conspiracy stories that show where the serpiente-hawk conflicts started.

Even her writing is maturing, since she is willing to (awkwardly) handle the subject of sex. Death is still only touched on, though. Then, we reach the final chapters, and it all collapses, as if Atwater-Rhodes had been making it up as she went along and had no idea how to untangle the various crises. So the climactic buildup ends in a showdown... where nothing happens.

Even worse, Atwater-Rhodes sets up interesting conflicts -- such as the segregation within the Court, the Ecl dream-state, and the plots by the falcons -- and then just lets them sit. What's more, some of these these plots only come up near the end, rather than being hinted at before. One major character even vanishes halfway through the book, as if Atwater-Rhodes didn't know what to do with her.

Another flaw is that there is little connection to the first two books of this series -- Nacola Shardae appears in a flashback, but Zane and Danica are curiously absent. Others like Danica's baby sister and the wyvern Oliza, are brought up and promptly left on the shelf, rather than being explored as people.

While "Falcondance" overcomes some of Atwater-Rhodes' writing problems, it also collapses as it reaches the finale. Strong as it starts, but falters as it continues.

FALCONDANCE is the third book in the Kiesha'ra series; the first two dealt with Danica Shardae and Zane Cobriana, shapeshifter leaders who marry to join their worlds in peace. The series left off with Danica being pregnant, but FALCONDANCE is not about Oliza, their child and heir. Rather, it focuses on Nicias, a falcon who is one of Oliza's sworn guards.

Falcons are not looked upon favorably in Wyvern's Court, and when Nicias begins to experience falcon magic, he knows he must go back to the land of his ancestors to understand these strange new powers. What he learns there is that he does indeed have power and is considered of royal blood. This fact is both powerful and dangerous in the falcon world and back at home in Wyvern.

Terrible things are in his history that forever have been wiped from the memories of his parents, exiles living in Wyvern. But once he knows the truth about where he comes from, he sees that the future of Wyvern's Court and Oliza are in danger unless he acts to ensure otherwise.

Nicias brings a troubled woman back from Ahnmik, the falcon land, who is related to the serpiente. She could be a threat to Oliza but needed to go to Wyvern to survive. Her actions, and Nicias's, likely will be spelled out further in the next volume.

Beautifully described settings and Nicias himself will draw readers into this complicated and darkly suspenseful story. Readers will need to follow along carefully as in any fantasy series.

--- Reviewed by Amy Alessio

Falcondance is the third book in The Kiesha'ra Series. Amelia Atwater-Rhodes is the child prodigy who wrote In the Forests of the Night at the age of thirteen.

Falcondance, unfortunately is the weakest of the three books in the series. This is a fantasy novel with a heaping helping of adventure that eventually falls flat. In spite of this, Falcondance is nonetheless a mesmerizing tale of magic, dreams, power and the internal struggles that rage within oneself. This is an enjoyable fantasy book overall because it delivers an attractive storyline that leaves you with a craving for more. There are a multitude of compelling characters introduced in this book, however, many of their roles lack further development. There is much less sentimentality in Falcondance than in the previous books, and this includes a decrease in romantic relations. Falcondance is better reserved for more mature readers; nevertheless it could be read as a bedtime story by parents for their children who read less well.

Still, the language flows very easily, and is beautifully executed. However, this is a book that should be read in chronological order with the first two in the series read first: Hawksong and then Snakecharm, and then finally onto Falcondance. There is an enormous amount of suspense and expectation built up throughout the book, but the finale is indecisive, and leaves one with the feeling of not only unresolved issues, but also of miscalculated turns.

I am an avid collector of all books by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes. She is maturing as an author from book to book. This book kept me interested and nothing "true" has a perfectly happy ending. It incorporated elements from the first two books and added complex elements to the plot line that is being developed. I look forward to the next book.

When Nicias Silvermead's falcon magic reveals itself in his blood, he flies to Ahnmik to get help from his grandmother. Even though he is a falcon, his parents have not told him much of his heritage. They themselves are exiles from Ahnmik. Nicias finds the city mesmerizing, yet he knows that his true home is the wyvern's court. During his stay in the city he finds out many startling details of his past, including why his parents made the decision to leave Ahnmik. He becomes entangled in a web of lies and deception. As Nicias fights his way through these barriers, he uncovers deadly secrets that could destroy the existence of Wyvern's court.

The newest sequel in The Kiesha'ra series, Falcondance, by Amelia Atwater Rhodes, is mainly Nicias's story. For the most part, Falcondance explains the mysteries of the two previous novels in the series. Though the novel is well written and does have a charm of its own, it does not really compare to Hawksong, the first in the series. It just feels as though Rhodes left too much of the story out. It does not flow as smoothly as the previous two. The whole aura of the series changes, instead of blending the different aspects in the novel they stand apart. The connection that the different characters were linked by in the previous novels has been severed. The novel seems rushed or maybe a new twist in the plot that isn't quite concrete yet. Nevertheless, Rhodes writing is just as good as ever. I still look forward to her next novel, especially in this series because of her ending that seems to suggest another sequel in the series.

Reviewed by a student reviewer for Flamingnet Book Reviews
www.flamingnet.com
Preteen, teen, and young adult book reviews and recommendations

I love Amelia Atwater-Rhodes. I've read all of her books and for the most part loved them. I've been especially caught up in the entire Kiesha'ra series. The plights of the avian and serpiente is absolutely facinating and I've gotten too involved in it ;-)

I was stoked when I saw Falcon Dance was coming out. I hopped on Amazon and bought it asap and started consuming it as soon as it arrived. But by the end I was slightly dissapointed. I think I might have liked the book more had it focused on Oliza (since I love both Danica and Zane and was upset at how little they appeared). I did like Nicias, but I didn't find him nearly as likeable as the others.

The book itself is engaging and facinating and most of the characters are quite complex (I especially liked Darien). Though I have mixed feelings on this book, I did enjoy it and can't wait for the next 2 volumes.

I love to read kids books, am a fan of Amelia Atwater-Rhodes and an author in my own right.

I liked the first two books in this series, but was pleased that the author took this book in a completely new direction. Like one of the other reviewers, I, too, was a bit disappointed in the ending, but it still deserves a five-star rating. She's a fabulous writer and her scene descriptions paint such a vivid picture I feel like I'm in the story.

Great job!

The sellers labeled it as "Good" ...they might as well have put "perfect" cause this one came out very nicely. The packaging was nice, quick delivery...all very nice. The book is amazing too. You can't go wrong with having one of Amelia Atwater-Rhodes's books on your shelf. 10 out of 10 :)

Falcondance is the third installment of the Kiesha'ra series. The second one was about how Zane and Danica were soon to give birth to a child. Strangely enough, falcondance is not about that child. Rather, it is about the child of Kel and Andreios the falcons.

Nicias, thus his parents incapability to use their magic, is pure falcon. He is also the sworn guard to Oliza, princess and daughter of Danica and Zane. Only wanting to perform the duties he is worn to, he soon finds that he possesses a great deal of magic. And the only way to live is to return to the dreaded island of the falcons. Both his mother and father ran from this island due to the tortures and cruelties going on there. Nicias will be able to survive due to the fact that he is the heir to the heir.

Shortly after arriving, Nicias is spoken to by a strange falcon. This falcon is chained and a prisoner, but she soon reveals horrible truths to Nicias. With the burden of truth heavy on his shoulders he knows he must return.

This book is incredible and very different from the first two. As many have mentioned, the story strays from the simple hope of peace and turns to udder complexity. Do not miss this one.

Book three in the series delves deeper into the falcons history and magic. It is from Rei an Kel's son Nicias' PoV and takes place about twenty years after Danica and Zane first blend the Avian and serpent kingdoms. Creating Wyvern's Court. Even though Kel and Rei's magic had been boud by the heir to the falcon throne Araceli, Nicias developes magic and must go to Ahnmik ( the falcon island) to gain control over his power before he loses his mind to Ecl.
I really enjoyed this book because you get a deeper understaning of waht drives the falcons to do what they do. I also love the new characters Hai and Darien. I reccomend this book to fans of the sci fi/ fantasy genre.