Flight of the Hawk [Paperback]

G. R. Grove (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 19, 2007

Britain in the summer of 551 AD: The North is a tinderbox about to burst into flame, the Saxons are stirring again in the East, and Cynan Garwyn, Prince of Powys, is doing his best to foment war in the South. In the midst of this simmering chaos, two young bards - Gwernin Storyteller and his friend Neirin mab Dwywei, the Poet-Prince that some call "Taliesin's Hawk" - are sent to the North by their master to investigate the rumors and do what they can to prevent a war. At least, that was their mission - but the two young men find plenty of other adventures along the way. Girls and beer, bloodshed and magic - will they survive the summer and make it home alive? This is the second book in the first trilogy of the Storyteller series.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Simple to read yet lyrical... [with] a happy ending... a most educational and entertaining trip... all the way. -- Everything Romantic Book Reviews, January 2008

The style is delightful... You'll fly through this book and close it wishing for more. --Odyssey Reviews, November 2008

Review

Simple to read yet lyrical... a most educational and entertaining trip ... all the way.

Product Details

• Paperback: 296 pages
• Publisher: Lulu.com (September 19, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1430328517
• ISBN-13: 978-1430328513
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,272,801 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

G. R. Grove is a storyteller and poet specializing in medieval Welsh material. Her Storyteller series of novels grew out of her visits to Wales and her own experiences as a teller of tales. She has also published two volumes of poetry. She blogs in English and (sometimes) Welsh at http://tregwernin.blogspot.com/.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Further Adventures of Gwernin, January 22, 2008

By 

Carole Shieber "Old RPGer" (St. Louis MO) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Flight of the Hawk (Paperback)

Once again Gwernin, the intrepid Welsh bard, ventures forth into adventure, learning, and some danger. This is a delightful read for those who love historical fiction and good storytelling. The stories within the stories are one of my favorite things about this book, as Gwernin travels throughout medieval Wales plying his bardcraft and learning from semi-mythic figures like Taliesin. The history feels absolutely solid, this is a medieval world view one can totally believe in. And since we work from Gwernin's point of view, the magic and the mundane are inextricably mixed, as they would have been for someone who lived in this period. We feel the cold, we warm at the fire, and we do believe in the world unseen. This is a delightful escape from the modern world, and a wonderful character about whose life we long to know more. At least I do. I'm very happy that this is a series and that I will have a chance to return to this amazing and realistic world. I am really enjoying my travels with Gwernin and hope they continue for a long time. Truly, if you enjoy a historical novel with fidelity to its time and place, you will like this book. It's a wonderful and fun read. I cannot recommend it too highly. Try it and you will like it.

Having read the first book in the series is not essential to reading this one, but if you like this one you should definitely give the first one a try. If you have read it, you'll want this one, too. Flight of the Hawk is a trip to medieval Wales that you won't want to miss.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Read for a Fine, Soft Day, July 24, 2008

By 

Kathleen A. Roberts - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Flight of the Hawk (Paperback)

I had the pleasure of reading this book over several rainy days. Whether the book suited the weather, or the weather suited the stories I cannot say. I can say it was immensely enjoyable. The characters have a wonderful sense of realness, like someone you might know. The details of clothing, dress and custom were well researched. Most enjoyably, each chapter could be read as a seperate entity, making it easy to put down and take up again when bothersome matters interrupt reading time. The second in a series, it stands on its own, not requiring the first book, "Storyteller" be read, although a delightful set of stories on its own, and well worth the reading. I would especially recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a trip to the past, or to the British Isles, or just to someplace they have never been before. It creates a wonderful world that I will visit again and again.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The series takes wing, December 18, 2007

By 

Rowen G. "Rowen G." (Colorado, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Flight of the Hawk (Paperback)

The first book of this series, Storyteller, was certainly good, but this one is even better. Once again, Ms. Grove drops us into the 6th century - sight, sound, and scent, concerns and beliefs. The language is just as gorgeous and well-considered as in the first book, and the sense of experiencing another place and time just as vivid, if not more so. Nor is this world a fantasy one - for harps go out of tune, ponies may go lame, and well-laid plans can go far astray.

One thing that has at times seriously annoyed me in *other* books (but not these!) are Perfect Heroes - those unlikely folk who are unbearably noble, and naturally good at nearly everything they try. Not so here: aspiring bardic student Gwernin and his friend Neirin deal with life-threatening battles and ambushes, some fairly un-nerving supernatural events, (sometimes landing in the mud along the way) and when all is well, revert to being healthy young men, equally interested in girls, beer, and whether they'll get enough for dinner.

A really, really good read - I can hardly wait for the next one.