Customer Reviews

The Hound and the Falcon: The Isle of Glass, The Golden Horn, and The Hounds of God

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

 

 

I first read this collection of three of Judith Tarr's best books back in the late 1980's. They are a little melodramatic at times, but I really enjoyed them.

The main characters are all incredibly well drawn, especially Alfred, the pious monk turned into a reluctant elven warrior & mage. He wrestles with his own self doubt and the state of his soul throughout the books, even as he changes lives for the better all around him. Sometimes, like his female foil, Thea, you just want to shake him and wake him up to the fact that someone soulless would never do so much good in the world--no matter what the church believes!

Alfred is a foundling who is raised by monks, and becomes a very learned and pious monk himself. His writings are praised by the Pope himself. Alfred eventually realizes that he is not aging and is, in fact, an immortal elf. If he believes his church teachings, then he is a soulless being. He grapples with this throughout the book. He has an encounter with others of his kind, nursing a prince of his kind back to health and meeting a fiery tempered elf woman, Thea. He is mortified that he is attracted to her--he had thought the vow of chastity to be the easiest of his vows, because he was never drawn to mortal women. He turns down the position as abbot, believing himself to be unworthy. (Those who raised him and grew up with him accept and love him as he is without a qualm--they know in their hearts that he is a power for good.) He then sets off to figure his life out. He is swept into the train of Richard the Lion-hearted later into the Crusades and to Rome. He is nearly burned by the church, becomes a great warrior, discovers his magical abilities, and finally learns to accept himself and the love of the elf woman who has been following him since their first encounter back at the abbey.

Don't miss this chance to read this book in this bargain omnibus form. You won't regret it!

I love this trilogy. I read it close to 10 years ago. I have just finished it the second time. I am just as enthralled as ever with this historical fantasy filled with enchantments and interlaced with tender romantic moments. I will always love Alfred, the innocent and beautiful elf monk, turned powerful elf lord after much struggles with his real true self. I will always appreciate Thea who loves him from the very beginning. Finally who could ever forget Alfred's encounter with Richard, the Lion Heart, Alfred's sorrows during the disastrous invasion of Constantinople and finally Alfred's torment in the last of the trilogy when he thought he has lost all those he loves. My only complaint is the seemingly rush writing towards the end. On the other end, it maybe I did not wish the tale of Alfred, Thea, their children and their elf kin to end. The Hound and the Falcon is definitely one of my favorites to be treasured always.

I first read these books in separate volumes in the late eighties and then forgot the titles completely. I found it again about a year ago and ordered it from amazon straight away. It is by far one of the most complete historical fantasies I have ever read. It is so easy to read, and contains so many details that manage to become so much a part of the story that they don't even slow it down, that it is a joy to read. I have read it again and again and still enjoy it each time. Read this book, it will open your eyes to what a great fantasy series can be.

This book of three is magical, suspenseful, and great with details. Alfred the monk is well-characterized, his battles between piety and magic are heartfelt and deep. Althea's realism and acceptance of her magic is a wonderful contrast. Their adventures together are enchanting.

I have read and reread these stories, and have tried to find as much enthusiasm over Tarr's newer works. However, her stories about ancient egypt are dry and boring in comparison.

If you like the Hound and the Falcon, also look for Alamut and the Dagger and the Cross, written in a similar vein, with lots of magic, romance, and action. Sadly, at the end of Dagger, Tarr eliminates the possibility of further books in this series... unless perhaps prequels? There's always hope.

A powerful, ageless, beautiful elf educated as a christian monk - the resulting conflict and inner turmoil is the interesting theme of the trilogy. Tarr gives a lot of thought to historical detail and atmosphere - this fantasy novel plays in a real historical setting (especially part 2 about the 4th crusade.) Alf, the monk-elf, is very well drawn as a character, some of the minor characters seem to resemble each other strongly, and I thought I recognized the lady elf from others of Tarrs books - only there she bore different names. The story is rather slow in flow, but then there's enough along the way worth walking slowly...

This would be a good series even if it were set in some kind of "fantasy-land". The fact that Judith Tarr places her saga in a detailed historical setting makes this a great series. Tarr has a strong grasp of the middle ages church, and manipulates a few details to place an elf in a monastic setting. The characters are fully realized to the extent that you empathize with their pain and get caught up in their stuggles.

A worthy read.

The monk Alfred has lived his entire life hidden away in the st.Ruans abbey. But even though the years go by brother Alf still looks no older than a boy. Wise though he may be, Alf is unable to face the truth about himself. He is one of the fair folk, an elf, kin to the elven-king. But when trouble comes to st. Ruans, elf-blood can be hidden no more. . .

The great thing about these books is the easy flow of the story. You open them, and before you know it youre battling alongside King Arthur, running through the burning streets of Constantinople or fleeing the Hounds of God. And all the time there are the marvelous details, the dialog, the people. These characters are so easy to fall in love with. Alfred is so scared, so confused you just wish you could reach out a hand and tell him everything will be alright. Beacuse you feel so close to these people, al the way through the books.

These are definately worth the read.

This book of three is magical, suspenseful, and great with details. Alfred the monk is well-characterized, his battles between piety and magic are heartfelt and deep. Althea's realism and acceptance of her magic is a wonderful contrast. Their adventures together are enchanting.

I have read and reread these stories, and have tried to find as much enthusiasm over Tarr's newer works. However, her stories about ancient egypt are dry and boring in comparison.

If you like the Hound and the Falcon, also look for Alamut and the Dagger and the Cross, written in a similar vein, with lots of magic, romance, and action. Sadly, at the end of Dagger, Tarr eliminates the possibility of further books in this series... unless perhaps prequels? There's always hope.

This volume contains 3 wonderfull novels, "The Isle of Glass", "The Golden Horn", "The Hounds of God" set in an slightly alternative Middle Ages world. It takes you from Richard the Lionheart's England to the fall of Constantinople, to papal Rome. It is truly original, and wonderfully written. And the story is great too

This novel was actually three novels in one. It is comprised of The Isle of Glass, The Golden Horn, and The Hounds of God. While it was interesting, it wasn't what I've come to expect of fantasies.

The Isle of Glass
In this book we are introduced to the main characters. Thea, an elfen-like creature who has a wicked temper and a free heart. Jehan, a young boy at a monastary whose dull features belie his superior intelligence. And the main character of all, Alf, a monk who has seen many years but not aged and is able to do things that go against God. When compelled by a monk over him to go out in the world to prevent a war, Alf learns just what type of creature he is. It is up to him to decide if that creature is good or bad. With his companions Jehan and Thea, he helps King Richard the lion-heart to bring peace to three warring countries.

The Golden Horn
The next installment in the series it continues Alf's journeys. This time in the Holy Lands and eventually Byzantine, where a Holy Crusade is about to take place. Still struggling with his inner monk and love for Thea, he is taken in when wounded by a kind family who adopts him as a brother. While just trying to remain hidden and help heal those in the hospital he works, Alf finds himself in the middle of the Crusade and trying to save his family with it.

The Hounds of God
The last part of the series, Thea has recently given birth to Alf's twins when they are forcibly captured and taken to Rome. Another crusade is starting, but this time it is against Alf's homeland and the fair folk who live there. He has to try desperately not only to save his people, but his family as well.

While the premise of this story was interesting to me, I thought it could have been written much better. There were parts that I skimmed through because it was dull and also parts filled with so much religious quotes and theology that I felt overwhelmed at times. The characters, while described in great detail, didn't make me feel much for them. While they had hardships at times and experienced a range of emotions, I just wasn't drawn in enough to the book to sympathize.

The writing was well done. Told in the third person it had rich detail and was paced very well. My only complaint about it is the author gave us too much information at once. Each of the individual books started with more information than it should have and the reader has to spend several pages trying to figure out whose who as the author just jumps right in assuming we already know the characters. I would have preferred a better lead-in that didn't leave me so confused at first.

For fantasy this ranks average for me. There are much better books, but there are certainly much worse. If you are already a fan of this author's style, you probably can't go wrong reading this book.

The Hound and the Falcon
Copyright 1985
728 Pages