Customer Reviews

Hawksong: The Kiesha'ra: Volume One

5 star:		(80)
4 star:		(32)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

In light of the current marketing blitz of young adult authors (ala "Eragon" and "Secret of the Stones") it's useful to remember that the existence of authors barely out of childhood is not a new occurrence. Perhaps the best example of this is the highly readable and talented Amelia Atwater-Rhodes. Born in 1984 (you do the math) her first book was published when she was a mere slip of a lass of thirteen years. With "Hawksong" she's reached the wise old age of nineteen, though you'd never know it from reading the book. Atwater-Rhodes is prone to over-formal sentences, familiar if limited plots, and sometimes stock characters but "Hawksong" withstands these criticisms and remains interesting and (in its way) original reading.

It's like Romeo and Juliet. Only in this case, Romeo hates Juliet, Juliet fears Romeo, and the two are only getting together for political reasons. Danica is the last surviving heir to her people's throne. As an Avian, she and her people have the ability to transform into various winged fowl, sometimes completely and sometimes only by half. They have been at war longer than they know with the Serpiente people. Led by Zane Cobriana, these are the Avians' snake enemies. In a desperate effort to create a new peace in the land, Zane and Danica decide to wed, thereby creating a political marriage between their warring tribes. The trouble is, of course, that these two can't stand one another. Also, it's clear that a centuries-long war isn't about to end just because two optimistic kids decide to dedicate their lives to it. To make the peace survive this new pair must address dissent, learn to appreciate one another, and sniff out the assassins that keep attempting to kill them.

It's nice to read a kind of anti-love story once in a while. Atwater-Rhodes also has the wit to write a realistic enough war without making Zane/Danica's solution instant and tidy. War's a messy business, and some of the most convincing moments in the book come when Danica must face potential mutiny in her hepped-up-ready-to-fight recruits and soldiers. The love story that slowly emerges between the two heroes is slow but, sadly, a little predictable. I found myself, oddly enough, comparing it constantly to the story of Beauty and the Beast (another tale where the girl fears the man and then comes to love him). It was disappointing to say to one's self "I wonder when the moment will come when one has to nurse the other back to health" and then actually see it occur. None of this to degrade Atwater-Rhodes's work, however. Though the book, as I've said earlier, is somewhat repetitive and familiar, it's still an interesting read. The author has filled it full with little touches and interesting ideas. The Serpiente, for example, are (despite what you may think) very touch oriented and warm to one another in their society. Emotional creatures, if you will. The Avian, on the other hand, do not touch and are particularly aloof and formal. It was Atwater-Rhodes's intelligence that told her to make her heroine (and narrator) come from the cool collected side and not the warm emotional one. By extension, the book is far more interesting.

It must be particularly frustrating to all the terrible fantasy authors out there that someone like Amelia Atwater-Rhodes has accomplished, prior to the ancient age of 21, what they themselves have been unable to attain. Which is to say, she writes good fantasy. Not particularly original or deep fantasy, but fantasy with enough reality and interesting ideas that it's worth your while to read. "Hawksong" is a fun dive into an entirely different world. It won't knock your socks off but it'll give you pause and win your respect. I went into the book hoping it wouldn't make me cringe due to the writing. Not only didn't I cringe, but it won my respect. An interesting creation.

After reading her last effort, the dissapointing Midnight Predator, I had almost lost my faith in Amelia's creditbility as a teen author. But when I found out her next book, Hawksong, was about to be released, I decided to give her one more chance. After picking the book up, I was able to take my time with this book.

Taking a much needed break from the world of witches and vampires, Rhodes treats us to a world ruled by two breeds of shape-shifters (One is avian; the other is serpienten). A war that has been going on for ages leaves the heir to the avain throne, Danica Shardae, to achieve the goal of creating peace between the two lands. With the help (an a forced marriage) to Zane Corbriana, heir to the serpienten throne, they must try to put their differences aside and start the long road to peace.

Hawksong, in case you didn't know, is Book I in a series of four planned by Rhodes. The writing has diffently matured and has become more descriptive since Amelia's first novel, which was the biggest welcomed change. I haven't seen people complain (yet) if Hawksong is a rip-off of an L. J. Smith novel (Midnight Predator) or a knock-off of Buffy the Vampire Slayer (Shattered Mirror), but to me this seems to be more orginal than the other four books. I would happen to agree with most reviewers that this is her best offering so far, but we'll just have to wait until the next three are published in order to justify this. Also, she has improved on characticterzation. No more 2D, cookie-cutters here.

But with most of Rhodes' books, she still has flaws. The most common is her tendency to "over-dramitize". While she has lightened up on this through out most of the book, she still has hints of it in some passages. Amelia also has a problem with description. She will often give her readers too little or too much, which will throw you off.

If anyone wants to get into Amelia Atwater-Rhodes, suggest this book!

In my opinion, Hawksong is the most well-written book that Amelia Atwater-Rhodes has published so far. This is not to say that I did not enjoy her previous books (In Forests of the Night, Demon in my View, Shattered Mirror, & Midnight Predator), but this is the first book where her plot did not involve a tough girl falling inexplainably in love with a vampire guy of sorts. Her writing style has matured, there is more closure to the events that takes place.
In Hawksong, the plot is based on the political union of the leaders of two warring peoples: the avian and the serpiente. Danica Shardae, the queen (the Tuuli Thea in avian culture) and Zane Cobriana, the king (the Diente in serpiente culture) sacrifice their own happiness in exchange for the lives of their people. How this marriage will turn out is up to you, the reader, to find out when and if you read Hawksong.
Atwater-Rhodes' descriptive prose will keep you going through the book. She seems to begin to create her own worlds, but she brings them to the real world so that the reader could imagine a culture like the avian's and the serpiente's actually existing.
To sum it up: this is a great book. Five stars. Read it =)

My only complaint could be that I wish it was longer. This is a story that I want to see continue. Even after finishing the novel, I sat and daydreamed on what could possibly happen next. Atwater-Rhodes switched from her vampires and demons to a race of shape-changing people at war. The avians can change from human form to hawks, crows, sparrows, etc. The serpentine people can change to,well, serpents--they mostly ellude to cobras. These two groups of people have been at war for so long, that not even their scholars know why. Although, the upcoming queen of the avians and the upcoming king of the serpentines have their own ideas of stopping the bloodshed.

This is a can't miss young adult novel by Atwater-Rhodes!

I got this book for Christmas, and was truly amazed at how good it was. It's an easy, and very fast read, but a very lovable story, so much that when I styaed up late finishing it the first night, I stayed up late again the next night rereading it.

It's a love story that's brilliantly done, and I fell in love with the characters almost instantly. The plot is original as well as magical, and is a great choice for teenagers everywhere.

The only reason this book received four stars is that I wish it was a little longer. The shortness of the book was annoying, but for no reason should that shortness afect your decision to buy this book, for its definetly worth buying, since you may want to read it frequently.

Be sure to check out the sequel after you read this book! Impossible to be disappointed!

This was the first of Amelia Atwater-Rhodes's books I've read, but I was impressed with it. Targeted towards a young adult audience, the plot revolves around a Avian shapeshifter about to become Queen, Danica Shardae, and the King of the Serpiente, (the enemy) Zane Cobriana. The two clans have long been seperated by war and strife, and both Danica and Zane long for peace. An idea comes into play that if Danica takes Zane as her pair bond, a bridge could be formed and the war ended. This takes the phrase "knowing your enemy" to new heights, but Danica and Zane both know that this may be their only hope for peace.
Remnescent of Romeo and Juliet, it is not so much a romance story as of one telling the tale of the thin line between love and hate. Danica and Zane become a pair bond for peace, not passion. If they had been able to marry for love, both would have picked different people... Neither trust each other, but they have to do the best they can, for if the royal pair cannot trust each other, how can the clans do the same? If Zane killed Danica, he would end her line there and then, in a way, ending the problem. It is hard for Danica to believe that he would not just kill her one day, and it is next to impossible for her to disguise her fear when they are alone together. Nonetheless, she has to pretend to be madly in love with Zane in front of the Serpiente court, for they would not accept the fact that they married for politics, not love. Trust is the one thing Zane asks of Danica, but it may be more than she can give. This is a gripping tale, with science fiction and fantasy elements mixed together, and leaves you wanting more. Thankfully, there is a sequel to this novel, entitled Snakecharm, which comes out Septemeber 28th, 2004.

Not a lot happens in Amelia Atwater-Rhodes' HAWKSONG, but the description, characterization, and central idea hold the book up despite its AWOL plot. If you're looking for page-turning action, you probably could do better with another fantasy, but if you're into the organic growth of a troubled relationship between two beautiful people with strong personalities, this is your book.

In a nutshell, Danica Shardae, a shapeshifting leader-to-be among the hawks, is matched with Zane Cobriana, a shapeshifting leader-to-be among the serpents. Snakes and birds are like oil and water, and these two races have been at war for so long that no one on either side quite remembers the reason for its start (sound like a few feuding tribes from our world?).

A neutral tribe, the Mistari, suggests that Danica and Zane end the constant warring by joining their hands (wings, fangs, what-have-you) in marriage. Can they do it, despite heavy opposition from the rank and file in both tribes? Is there enough trust to make the marriage work? Can they get used to each other's completely different cultural norms and habits to forge a lasting peace? And do the two leaders have enough charisma to prevent treacherous assassins from trying to take matters into their own hands?

If those questions appeal and if you love to read about relationships, HAWKSONG is your book. If "just trying to get along" is too "touchy-feely" for your plot-hungry soul, on the other hand, continue your search.

Hawksong is the first of Amelia Atwater-Rhodes's books I've ever read, but it won't be the last. I thought the book was amazing. The storyline was great, I couldn't put it down (I read it in two days, that's how good it is). The message the story conveys is also amazing. They're just trying to do what they think and feel is right. The characters are like real, with real flaws and strong points, and their in a realistic world. The plot was rather Romeo and Juliet, but it also has a science-fiction/fantasy sort of twist to it. I can't really tell you much, or else that would give it away but I'm deffinently going to read Snakecharm, and her other books as soon as I have time.

Everyone must read this book about love, hate, challenges, and Shape shifters. The book Hawksong is really good. The Author is Ameila Atwater-Rhodes. There is a lot of people who don't like romance books, but most will like this one. In this book there are two types of shape shifters, Avian and serpents, although they are at war . Danica and Zane are the main characters. This book has a lot of love, hate, and war. This is a must read book.

~Ashlie W.~

Here's a book with a truly intriguing set-up, but with a fairly predictable plot. If you stripped Hawksong of its shapeshifting characters and carefully and wonderfully built background, it would be basic and lose everything that makes it a great read.

Danica is born an avian; a shapeshifter that has the ability to change into a golden hawk at will. The skill of her people comes at a price- they have been at war with the serpiente, snake shapeshifters, for her entire life, as well as her mother's, grandmother's, and generations before that. They've been fighting so long that they no longer know why, and the leaders of both sides want to make peace. The trouble is that their people won't let them- they've lost too many family members and friends to the war to stop trying to avenge deaths.

Danica decides to follow the advice the wise tiger shapeshifters and wed Zane, the prince of the serpiente, despite the fact that neither of them are interested in the other and she's afraid he'll kill her every time he moves. Slowly- and predictably- the two fall in love, despite differences.

The frame of the story is basic and uninteresting, but the society of the characters- from the dance of the snakes to the Royal Flight of the avians- is fascinating enough to make up for that. It's also interesting to read a story where the actual leaders of the opposing sides want peace and it's their subjects that would rather continue fighting. The crafting of the avian and serpiente personalities, fighting styles, homes and lore is what makes Hawksong memorable. It has no real twists or turns that you can't see coming, but it is worth buying and reading, if only to read a story of war from a different point of view and learn of the world that Atwater-Rhodes has created so perfectly.