Customer Reviews

The Hawk and the Wolf

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The Hawk and The Wolf is a great fantasy tale with rich historical details. We get a story of young Merlin that ties him directly to the events of his time. Adderley has a talent for evoking realistic milieu.

Several enjoyable elements of the book will lend themselves to debate among Arthurian fantasy fans. The druids are brutal, the citizens often petty. The women (Boudi in particular) guide the action as much as the men. Magic isn't portrayed as some wonderful learning opportunity or some horrible burden--instead, it's a tool best used in the service of others. In that sense, the book feels very modern, yet ancient at the same time.

The Hawk and the Wolf unfolds like a giant tapestry as it takes the reader on a wondrous journey into the legend of King Arthur's Merlin and his quest to find Excalibur. The tale begins with the early years of Merlin, known then as Emrys. One is quickly drawn into another era of British history where the settings and language lend credence to the talented blend of knowledge and imagination of author Mark Adderley.

This novel will appeal to anyone who enjoys curling up in a comfortable chair with a good book. It is an intriguing journey into the past, into outstanding fantasy that reads like realism. There is no doubt it would make an outstanding movie. I highly recommend The Hawk and the Wolf.

The Hawk and the Wolf, just might be the definitive version of the
legend of King Arthur. Starting way before most novels do, the story
follows Emrys, a young boy who has visions at very awkward times.
Everyone thinks he is mad. But Emrys learns that it is his destiny to
find Excalibur, which was the sword of the high kings of Britain.
While he seeks the sword, he meets druids, politicians, kings, queens
and warriors, and he takes part in a desperate last stand, the Britons
against the Romans.


Adderley blends history and legend in this book. On this history
side, there are Roman legions fighting against the Britons, in battles
that really took place. On the side of legend, there are the druids,
and Emrys's ability to see the future.


Some of the characters here are familiar, Merlin and Boudicea, for
example. Others are not, like Rhydderch and Coroticos. One of the
pleasures of the book is recognizing familiar characters in unfamiliar
surroundings. This is a story you've never read before, that hints at
other stories you think you know.

Dominic Caruso, Author/No More Tomorrows...

When it comes to the Arthurian legend, there is a lot to like. The tale of Arthur, Merlin, the Knights of the Round Table, and their eventual tragic fall have been detailed and retold for centuries. The story is rife with heroes and villains, battles won and lost, hope and tragedy. Dr. Mark Adderley's The Hawk and the Wolf, the first in a series of novels titled The Matter of Britain, is an exceptionally well written take on a small part of the legend.

Melding the fantastical and historical fact into a great story isn't easy, but Dr. Adderley does it with apparent ease. Following the early life of Emrys (later to be known as Merlin), Dr. Adderley takes the reader back to a Britain of wonder and terror, when a bard's song could be heard and a seemingly simple boy can turn into one of legendary vision and council. The tale follows Merlin as he quests for the legendary Excalibur, the lost sword of the High Kings of Britain. Merlin has a gift, the Sight, which grants him prophetic visions of events to come. But not always are those visions clear, and his quest for Excalibur is fraught with sadness, doubt, and loss. But there is also merriment, joy, and always at the end of his day, that drive to continue on with the knowledge that someday he will find the sword and bring back some of Britain's lost glory.

Dr. Adderley's debut novel is a joy to read. When it came time for me to sit down with the review copy, I only came up for air a few times and gulped down the novel in one sitting. His descriptions, both of the world and in it, are ripe and vivid without ever becoming overbearing. I could feel the grit of the land, see what Merlin was envisioning, feel every blow in combat, all without getting dragged down by the details. The plot moves along quickly, but never so fast as to lose this reader. The length feels just right, as it is neither too short nor overly wordy. One of the highlights of the novel is its handy reference guide in the back, so even if you're uncomfortable with the terms or names being used, you can always flip to the end of the book and learn a little more. This is something I hope will be continued throughout the series.

The two greatest assets of The Hawk and the Wolf are in its accessibility and its rich dialogue. You don't have to be an Arthurian scholar or a die-hard fantasy fan to pick up this novel and enjoy it. Along with the fantastical nature of the novel, there's also a deeply resounding tale of a boy becoming a man, and the heartache that comes from the journey. And while that journey takes place, you'll enjoy Dr. Adderley's firm recreation of the dialogue of the day. Never once does the speech feel stilted, disjointed, or otherwise bogged down. I found myself completely drawn in by the natural speech, and often caught myself reading out loud just to sound out the accents and brogue. Plain and simple, the language is beautiful.

If there's one negative to the novel, it's simply this - it ends. Being the first in the series, the novel ends on a high note that leaves the reader satisfied, but wanting the next chapter immediately, if not sooner. I can't recommend this novel enough, no matter if you're already a fan of the Arthurian legend or if you're just looking for a good yarn to spend a few nights with. Look for it in your local bookst

The Arthurian legends have always intrigued me. To me they are epitome of romance and adventure. I was very pleased to read a novel about this very interesting subject.

The Hawk and the Wolf , the first of the series The Matter of Britain, is an exciting tale of good and evil, mystery and magic, in which ancient Britain is poised on the brink of destruction, while a young man searches to bring a ray of hope to his country.

It is the first century, and Britain is threatened by Roman invaders. Emrys, nicknamed Merlin, the young prince of Cambria, desiring to save his land from the Romans, takes it upon himself to find the long-lost sword Excalibur and rid Britain of the Roman Empire. Mark Adderley weaves a story of adventure and romance as Merlin Emrys leaves his home and sets off on his search for the lost sword. Blessed, or cursed, with a special power which the gods have given him by which he can see what is to come, he journeys through Britain on his quest, meeting many different people and adventures along the way, while all the time evading the clutches of Morgana, who would take the sword for herself and plunge all of Britain into darkness and evil.

This is a book I would recommend to all lovers of Arthurian legend. It is a refreshing retelling of a classic story, and will keep you anxiously waiting for the next volume.

I am not exactly a scholar, nor an historian, but a semi-retired cop who used to be a professor of speech and theatre, so my perspective may be different from some others. When I read this book, I was immediately pulled into the milieu of the author's world. I didn't have to struggle a bit to get into the frame of reference; I was involved from the very first, and although there's no way to say that any work about the Arthurian Age can claim to be the definitive one, that's one of the attractive aspects of writing about that time and place. What matters is whether it is a good story, and this one certainly is. We say that the theatre is a world of make-believe--as in, you've got to make me believe it in order for it to be a good experience. Mark Adderly made me believe it, right from the get-go. From the descriptions of emotion--young Emrys's youthful infatuation with the future warrior-queen Boudicea brought back my own infatuations of that time in life--right through his early life as a young man, I believed it all.

The descriptions of battle were equally convincing. I felt that I was right there, watching the Walking Walls of Rome, the most sophisticated and implacable killing machine of that time and perhaps of any other time as well. I could hear the cries of the war-trumpets, the clash of weapons, and the screams of the dying men. And I could feel their emotions as well.

I think that no modern contributor to the the Arthurian saga can say with certainty, "This is how it was." But Mr. Adderly is entitled to say with certainty, "This is how it may have been." I found the book totally convincing and I eagerly await the next volume in the saga.

Congratulations, Mr. Adderly. Yours is a worthy addition to the Arthurian Canon.

Bill Tolliver
Chair Emeritus, Department of Speech and Theatre, The College of Emporia
And retired police officer

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