The Hounds of God (Hound and the Falcon Trilogy) [Hardcover]

Judith Tarr (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The first two volumes of Tarr's "The Hound and the Falcon" trilogy introduced elf-born Brother Alf, whose desire to serve man and God is thwarted by the prejudice and politics of the medieval world. In this concluding book, Alf has reconciled himself to his human side sufficiently to start a family with his beloved Thea. But his refuge in Rhiyana, with its elven king, is invaded by the Inquisition's Hounds of God, who see Alf as inhuman and the country as heretical. After Thea and her twins are kidnapped, Alf traces them to Rome, where he ultimately confronts the Pope. For his efforts, he is once more exiled and now also excommunicated. This is the most conventional and, on a narrative level, most confusing entry in the trilogy. Still, like the others, it possesses a melancholy charm and a delicate touch for fantasy growing out of history.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover
• Publisher: St Martins Pr (January 1986)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312942184
• ISBN-13: 978-0312942182
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.6 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,784,265 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I have a lot of academic credentials (PhD from Yale, MA from Cambridge University, AB from Mt. Holyoke) and taught writing and Latin at Wesleyan University in Connecticut--before I ran away from it all to live on a mesa in Arizona. I breed and ride Lipizzan horses, read and study history (and make up my own alternate and fantastical versions), and write--novels, short stories, articles. I teach writing online (details at http://capriole.smoe.org) and blog on the livejournals as dancinghorse. My alter ego is author Caitlin Brennan, who also has a plog on amazon.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars entertaining, if sometimes tiring, fantasy, January 5, 2001

By 

"silo1013" - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Hounds of God (The Hound and Falcon Trilogy, Volume 3) (Mass Market Paperback)

In the third and final book of Tarr's trilogy, The Hounds of God [c. 1223], Alfred, priest and elf, runs afoul of the Paulines and their Inquisitors. He continues to question his place in the world and his religion as he becomes even less human. Look for the cameo by [not yet Saint] Francis of Assissi. My complaint about the previous book holds true to this one as well: rushed, unfinished, and not precisely ill-thought-out. I suppose I've never found the main love interest very convincing, but that could be simply personal taste and not any lack of characterization on Tarr's part. Also, by this time, I was completely tired of all repetition in the text and in the characters [how many times must one gape, or fall to their knees in exhaustion?]. There's also something about describing psychic powers in action that's become cliche', and I think one has to be an incredibly good writer to pull it off without sounding silly. I was ready for it all to end, though when it came it was more touching than I expected. Entertaining, if a little tiresome at times.

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book though very different from the first two, October 12, 1999

By 

Esther Robie (Durham, North Carolina) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Hounds of God (The Hound and Falcon Trilogy, Volume 3) (Mass Market Paperback)

The Hounds of God is about how Alfred of Saint Ruans, his adopted brother Nikephoros and his friend Jehan try to find and save Alfred's wife, adopted sister and newborn twins while keeping themselves safe from the sorcerer who kidnapped them. It is a very exciting book that you'll find hard to put down. You may need a little time to get in to it, but I think that most people would enjoy it. This book is almost nothing like the first two in the trilogy, but the story is incomplete without it. I think this is the best book in the series.