Customer Reviews

Hawkwood's Voyage (The Monarchies of God, Book 1)

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

So far I have read the first three books in this series, and I have rewritten this review to reflect that.

If you've read other of my reviews, I am trying to introduce more helpful, balanced reviews of fantasy novels, rather than the misleading "5 star" reviews which overly dominate.

What are the 5 star reviews correct about? First of all, this is a delightfully mature novel. There is sex when sex is appropriate, but without pruriance. The characters are mature figures. I have never enjoyed fantasy novels with juvenile characters (even when I was child). Kearney apparently agrees. The characters are mature wizards, young but wise and knowledgeable kings, an experienced merchant sailor captain, a mature noble woman, middle aged clerics, and so on. People act and think maturely. Secondly, the novel is extraordinarily well-written. Kearney has an excellent touch, with descriptive prowess, clear dialogue, and extremely (almost encyclopedic) informed jargon. He weaves in battle realism taken from his study of medieval warfare -- it's utterly accurate. Thirdly, the novel is imaginative, with a believable, fully fleshed out world, centered around political intrigue.

Originally I gave this book 3 stars, but I am revising that upwards based on the later books in the series. The weakness with the first book is one of the things that others rave about: the main orientation of this first novel is political intrigue, mainly between the Church and the Kings. But what is at first refreshing and well done, becomes repetitive. The relationship among The Church (which is grabbing for power), the Kings, and the peasantry, is not too hard to understand. Scene after scene repeats the mantra. At the same time, action grinds to a halt. Though Kearney can write great action scenes, relatively little happens toward the end of the book. In fact, now and then a shape-shifter or other interesting character pops up, but for the most part almost all of the characters could have stepped out of 14th century Europe. I became frustrated that such an exciting world ended up so little used. I was hoping that in the next books some of the imaginative promise would be fulfilled, and I was not disappointed.

The repetitiveness found in the first book disappears afterwards. The second book increases the imaginativity found in the first book, as Kearney develops the story of the Western continent. Church and state politics is embedded now in character-driven action, not setup. The third book is almost unbelievable in its action: pure action, briskly paced. I couldn't believe it was Kearney. It might be the most exciting fantasy book I've ever read, judged in terms of ratio of action to pages.

You will not be disappointed by this series, but don't get bogged down in this first book.

let me qualify my review prior to starting. I am a military veteran, lover of all things nautical, and avid historian. I enjoy fantasy books, but often find them lacking some element, aimed at the over the top trials of a hero or teenage protagonist. I stumbled across Paul Kearney without preconception.

I have been very impressed.

Hawkwood's Voyage is the initial book in Kearney's "MoG" series. He writes of a gritty, realistic fantasy world, an exotic, but familiar place. It is a world of magic, but there are no wizards washing dishes with spells. It is a land of demons, but the scheming and savage humans who call this world home are far more dangerous than werewolves or spirits. In short, it is very "real", with magic dancing on the edges rather than flaming in the center.

I found this series to be a perfect fit to me. Kearney is a master of depicting military campaigns, and pulls no punches when describing the horror of war. His sailing scenes are true to that genre, and if he chose he could weave a tale of sword and sail better than any 21st century Author I have read save perhaps Lamden.

If you are looking for a low-fantasy world, gritty and harsh, with a hint of magic and a dash of seafarer's spice, pick up this book. You will not be let down.

Fantasy novels these days are usually very cliched and it seems that author's feel that they have the right to steal plots from other authors. Because of things like this, fantasy can get boring. In Paul Kearney's "Hawkwood's Voyage" this is not the case. This is a very original novel that is entertaining right from the prologue.

War is raging in the Five Kingdoms and the Merduk army is the main cause of this. The holy city of Aekir, what was the holiest city in the world and was supposed to be one of the strongest cities, has fallen. This is where the novel opens up. Now, the king of Hebrion is starting a voyage to go across the Great Western Ocean to start a whole new colony. The voyage will be lead by mariner Richard Hawkwood. This voyage was done twice before but failed. This is the basic plot of a very original fantasy novel.

This book has lots of main characters which makes this book similar in a way to George R.R. Martin's series. This novel takes place all over the world. Places included are Richard Hawkwood's boat in the middle of the ocean all the way Ormann Dyke, a city that is under the threat of attack. This novel is politically and militarily oriented. The politics are that of the standing of the Five Kingdoms and how the Kings react to what is going on in the world. Military wise, you are taken to battle plannings and actual battles themselves.

This book is not cliched is very suspenseful. This was fun to read while I am waiting for the next book in my favorite series, a series by George R.R. Martin. While this book isn't as detailed as that series it still embodies some of the same attributes as that series, such as good characterisation, good plotting, and suspense. This book would be good for a GRRM fan in addition to anybody that is looking for a highly original book. I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series.

Happy Reading!

(This review refers to the whole 5-book series, so there may be some spoilers.)

I enjoyed this series quite a bit. Coming from the intricacies of Martin's Song of Ice and Fire and Robin Hobb's books, I was looking for more of the same: political intrigue, unique and well-developed characters, and a weblike plot which examines the myriad consequences of individual actions.

This first book, Hawkwood's Voyage, hints that the major plot will revolve around the character Captain Hawkwood and the expedition he is forced to lead across the unknown sea, sort of a Columbus of the times. Actually, though, there's a lot more to it. The world is a fantasy version of Renaissance Europe plus the presence of magic, but in this world the Christ figure lived only 500 years ago.

The major plot lines revolve around not only Hawkwood's voyage, but power struggles within the Church, between the Church and some of the nations, (there are burnings a la the Inquisition), and, of course, the invasion force of Moslems, er, "Merduks" that threaten the western world. Indeed, the book opens with the fall of Aekir, the major city of the western world, to the marauding Merduks.

All very promising, and the next few books ratchet up the interest and excitement -- but by simplifying the complexity, possibly a consequence of the size of the books (all of them run fairly short for epic fantasy -- around 300 pages). This is not necessarily a bad thing -- witness Jordan's thousand-page debacles -- but it tends to undercut the complexity that the first couple of books set up.

The main emotional satisfaction comes from following the character Corfe, who goes from deserting the Torunnan army at the fall of Aekir to being a renowned war leader. Corfe figures larger and larger throughout the series, and his victories and rise to power form the heart of the series.

Unfortunately, that is also the series' main failing. Because it eventually (in the 3rd and 4th books especially) latches onto this one military leader and his battles, it shortchanges everything else -- from plot lines to believability. There's hardly a mention of Hawkwood's voyage in the 3rd book. Another example: The discovery of the true origin of Ramusio (the Christ figure) later in the series brings about the reconciliation between Merduk and western peoples, but this feels very hollow in the midst of, say, the Israeli and Palestinian struggle in our reality. Recognition of common religious origin is NOT enough for peace, and the author's assumption that it is makes him that much less believable.

Some characters are simply cut out. They lose screen time, so to speak; they start behaving predictably. Motivations are not explained. Some characterizations, at the end, lapse into mere conveniences. We are told early on, for instance, that fellow Church novices Albrec and Avila will change the world, but when it finally comes around to that, Avila's not even around and we meet Albrec only briefly, through Corfe's eyes.

The essence of this story is in the more straightforward military setting: the battles and the rise of Corfe. Here Kearney excels; but, having spent my youth reading Superman comics, battle after battle starts to feel old to me.

Overall: The series begins with satisfying complexity and ends somewhat simply, but well-written enough to get me through. (I would have been satisfied being finished at the fourth book, if not for the whole Western Continent plotline; but the last book turned out to be a poorer follow-up.) Read it and pay attention to Corfe.

Ultimately, it was the title of the second book in the series, The Heretic Kings, which caught my attention and convinced me to try this series

It begins as quite recognizably history based fantasy, with the period in question being roughly the time from 1450-1500. The Holy City of Aekir has just fallen to the heathen Marduks, who now threaten to invade further into the five Ramusian kingdoms. In the kingdom of Hebrion, the Prelate Herminus is starting a witch-hunt against foreigners and magic-users, while King Abeleyn can offer little resistance for fear of being excommunicated.
However, when his ambitious cousin Murad comes to him with plans to establish a colony on a supposed western continent, he arranges for a small number of wizardly folk to escape persecution by this route. Captain of the ships used for the expedition is Richard Hawkwood, blackmailed into accepting this task since half ofhis crew would end up on the pyres, and most likely himself too, would he refuse.

What he doesn't know is how Murad learned of the continent. A hundred years earlier, a similar expedition had been undertaken. When that ship returned, everyone on board was dead; at least, everyone human...

OK, that much for the plot; there are quite a few characters for a book with only 380 pages, though thankfully there are no teenaged heros with unknown parentship among them. The character description is good, Kearney tries to avoid instant black/white categorisation, with mixed results though, and he has a tendency to info-dump duringconversations.
His research of the period is very good, when it comes to military, and especially sea-going matters. The political maneuvers are handled less refined, compared to George R. R. Martin the scheming and planning is very rudimentary, and some characters are too altruistic given their position, in my opinion (If you didn't have a problem with that in Farseer, it won't bother you here either).
However, apart from having researched the former two matters extensively, he also handles them well dramatically, in battle and sea-voyaging scenes.

"There are many long leagues of sailing before us yet, Captain, and an unknown continent awaiting our feet. Many things could happen before any of us sees Hebrion once more. Hazardous things. Dangerous things."
"You cannot do that, Murad! He is a priest."
"He is a man, and his blood is the same colour as my own. When he chose to set his will against mine he fixed his own fate. There is nothing more to be said."

The magic in his world is relatively low-key, and realistically integrated with conventional technologies. One purpose wizardry is used for is strategic long-distance communication, another would be weather alteration (conjuring wind at sea). Also in existance are werewolf-like shapeshifters.
Compared to other books I've read, it reminded me most of Mary Gentle's Ash, and Glen Cook's Black Company series, though it's faster-paced and not as monotous as the former, and not as cynical and bleak as the latter.
I haven't read Guy Kay's Sarantium books, but I've heard they're roughly based on the same period in history, so if the setting interests you, check out those too.

I've become a pretty jaded reader of fantasy myself, and there are quite a few of the 'classics' among fantasy which simply leave me cold (Covenant, M,S&T, Farseer), but slowly and steadily, this book grew on me.

I'd recommend it to everybody who's interested in a less conventional setting, and especially to fans of military fantasy and sea-faring.

<<That last night, [they] shared a bottle of Candelarian wine in the stern cabin, the shutters open to let in some air. A moth flew in the glassless windows and flapped about the table lantern like a thing entranced, and they, equally entranced, watched it avidly until it ventured too close to the flame and fell to the table, blackened. They let it lie there like some sort of mocking talisman, a promise of things to come, perhaps.>>

Hawkwood's Voyage gets four out of five envious pegboys. Har!

I picked this book up totally at random. I didn't expect anything exceptional, but my low expectations were undeserved. The book is well written and imaginative.

You get a nice world were Mr. Kearney pulls facets from our own history. On one hand there is a storyline resembling the clashes between Islamic and Christian nations in the middle ages, on the other a feudal society clashing with a new native continent, and on another strife within a corrupt religious hierarchy.

The characters are engaging, the politics solid without being overly complex, and the magic, while fairly standard, slightly creative and unintrusive.

This is one of my all-time favorite series. New to the U.S., it originally published in Britain. There are currently 4 books out and I am eagerly anticipating the 5th and final book. Wonderful to have in paperback, however, you know how you have your favs and you must also collect in hardcover?-- prepare to search cause you will want them.

Fascinating characters, eye-popping creature fixes, great descriptive passages, wizards, strange lands, mysteries, love interests, ah well, what more could you ask for? I'm not going to give you the plot, let's just say I'm a discriminating reader and this series will rule your fantasy world.

BEGIN THE VOYAGE-- you won't want to come back.

British novelist Paul Kearney mixes nautical adventure with epic war and religious politics in "Hawkwood's Voyage," the first book of his five-volume series "The Monarchies of God." Kearney's fantasy world is based on 15th century Europe and includes early muskets and cannons, monarchies clashing with a centralized church, and heathens invading from the east. Contrary to the title and the irrelevant prologue, the major conflict is not Hawkwood's voyage but the invasion of the Merduks. This nation of dark-skinned horsemen, led by a Sultan and worshipping a god with a name that begins with an A, reads like a stereotypical portrait of Muslim infidels.

Hawkwood's voyage into uncharted western oceans in search of an undiscovered continent is the most vividly described and interesting plot thread in the novel. Kearney has clearly researched nautical procedures and terminology, and these chapters combine the best of adventure fantasy like Raymond E. Feist and nautical fiction like Patrick O'Brian. The other main plotline, the defense of Ormann Dyke against Merduk hordes, becomes interesting only when the soldier Corfe arrives in that city. The remaining plot threads, especially the political wrangling between the kings and the religious officials, feel unimportant by comparison. The ending concludes only one minor plot and leaves the rest completely unresolved, presumably for the four sequels.

Kearney's longwinded prose prioritizes the physical descriptions first, the history of his world second, and the characters last. The descriptions are vivid, but often the prose makes them feel as lifeless as encyclopedia entries. This line from Chapter Two opens a long passage describing a city: "Two things struck the seaward observer about Abrusio: the forest and the mountain." This description would have far more meaning if "the seaward observer" were an actual character rather than a hypothetical narrative personage, about whom the reader knows nothing. Many other chapters open with introductory scenes that are entirely physical and historical description before any character walks onstage. The absence of characters in these scenes leaves the reader with little reason to care about the description or history.

Kearney's characters are rugged adventure types with little weakness or depth. Hawkwood's awkwardness in dealing with his wife predictably vanishes the instant he sets sail. Corfe's suffering on the retreat from Aekir somehow molds him into an insightful commander. The nobleman Murad has some interesting motivations, but he remains largely unsympathetic because he is placed in opposition to Hawkwood. The rare female characters are all wives, prostitutes, and concubines. Nearly all the minor characters, including King Abelyn, the monk Albrec, the Sultan, and Corfe's captured wife, feel like gratuitous setup for later volumes in the saga. The sloppy omniscient point-of-view leaves the characters feeling distant from the reader, as it drifts out of their heads in scenes with other characters and in scenes where characters are alone. Kearney attempts the wide, multi-character scale of epic fantasy like his one-time collaborator Steven Erikson, but in "Hawkwood's Voyage" he doesn't pull it off.

Kearney's detailed narrative and meticulous backstory create a rich world in "Hawkwood's Voyage," but they leave his characters flat as they plod through uninteresting subplots. Only Hawkwood's actual voyage remains captivating throughout the novel.

Hawkwood's Voyage is the first volume of the acclaimed series by Paul Kearney, the "Monarchies of God." While it does not quite match the sheer exhilaration of the following books, it is a very strong beginning that will unquestionably leave a strong impression and make you desire to read the rest.

Kearney himself is an avid fan of sailing, and has studied the intricacies of the art in great detail. This becomes quite obvious in this first volume. His description and sequencing of the vessels and of actual sailing are second to none. Conversely, this is also the book's main deficiency. There are instances where he bogs down the narrative with an overabundance of detail. While I didn't find it much of a problem, newer readers or those unfamiliar with navigation will most certainly have difficulty. Fear not, however, as Kearney avoids these unnecessary minor details in the following four volumes. Thus, it will be well worth your time to get past these little nuances, as the book on a whole is excellent and the following books are even better.

His skill with prose is one of Kearney's greatest assets. Few can paint a picture with words as he can. The man is truly is a modern day great. You can almost smell the ocean salt, or the smoke billowing from the routed fortress. The tale is gritty, often dark, but wholly captivating. Kearney pulls few punches, and the sheer realism will leave you awe-struck. As this is the first volume, the author develops a world (and not a simple one, mind you) quite clearly in the readers mind. All important areas are well developed and shouldn't leave you confused or bewildered. Kearney also creates lifelike, believable characters that will lure strong emotions from the reader.

Although Hawkwood's Voyage is the slowest of the five-volume series, it is still a great read and completely sets the stage for what becomes one of the best fantasy series' I have personally ever read. I cannot recommend it enough.

Paul Kearney has written an intriguing start to his Monarchies of God series with Hawkwood's Voyage. The writing and pace of the novel flows well and the characters that populate Kearney's world make for some fun reading.

Richard Hawkwood has just arrived from a long voyage at sea. He thought that he could finally rest before his next voyage, but the news out west will keep him and his crew from enjoying their stay at the port of Abrusio.

Out west, something unimaginable has happened. The Holy City of Aekir has fallen to the Merduks. Once thought impenetrable, Aekir lights the skys at night with its burning buildings. The fall of Aekir has spread terror throughout the land, allowing the Church to tighten its grip on the land by implementing some new religious laws.

Corfe was at Aekir when it fell. He joined the numerous people escaping to Ormann's Dyke, but along the way he saved an old man and his servant. The old man and the defence of Ormann's Dyke could prove to be vital to the Monarchies of God.

Abeleyn is at the center of the struggle between the Monarchies of God and the Church. He leads Hebrion, but doesn't like the power the Church has over him and his subjects. With the new laws and the new High Pontiff, will Abeleyn be able to overcome the Church's power?

Meanwhile, Hawkwood is asked, or actually forced, to take a contract to sail east. How far east, even he does not know, but there are some powerful people who do not want the voyage to arrive at its destination.

I applaud Kearney for Hawkwood's Voyage and look forward to what happens in the next book. His vivid world and enjoyable characters will entertain all readers. Enjoy!