The Hawk in Winter – My Review!!
I can’t believe it. My first review of 2018! This time it’s The Hawk in Winter (Rise of the Hawk Book 1) by Bekah Clark. It hit my TBR list after a Goodreads recommendation and it was a great choice! Thank you Goodreads!
Synopsis (from the author):
Maevan, Korla, and Renna, three devoted sisters, have been trained all their lives how to defend themselves, hunt, and strengthen their minds by their mother, Queen Xenya. What they didn’t prepare for was separation.
Many years ago, Queen Xenya of the First House was forced to flee her throne to the icy land of Cardea. Now the rogue queen, Shaezen, has demanded Xenya’s eldest daughter, Maevan, return to the ruling city of Traven. Alone.
Mae loves her home and family but understands the necessity of her placement within the palace of their enemies. Her mother has been preparing Mae and her sisters for the return of the First House to power their entire lives. Something no one could prepare Mae for is the sheer evil of Queen Shaezen and her many devious plans. Mae must find a way to survive her time in the palace while dealing with an evil queen, romance, betrayals, religious fanatics, and court life.
What I liked about The Hawk in Winter:
The Hawk in Winter was a good start to the series. Xenya and her family were excellently developed characters. Shaezen was a great villain and I sympathized with Mae as she had to endure the many trials put upon her. Romance and a royal pairing clash as part of the story and the plot, though it developed slowly, was good. All told, I thoroughly enjoyed the book!
What I didn’t like about The Hawk in Winter:
Just a couple of things bothered me in the book. First, as I mentioned above, the plot developed slowly. Secondly, the assassin introduced late in the book seemed oddly out of place with the rest of the cast. I suspect Bekah Clark wanted to create a despicable character (which she did) but for me it just didn’t fit well.
Overall impression of The Hawk in Winter:
The Hawk in Winter (Rise of Hawk Book 1) was an excellent fantasy book. Filled with romance, intrigue, and action, the story held my attention. I identified with the characters and Shazaen met a fitting end. This is a book I recommend to any fantasy reader. If you need to load up a new ereader, add this one! I look forward to reading the rest of the series!
My rating:
4.5 Stars (rounded to 5 Stars)
Connect with the author:
Where is The Hawk in Winter on your TBR list? I hope it’s near the the top! After you read it, please consider leaving a review! I know Bekah Clark appreciates every review she receives. Visit Bekah Clark’s website and Amazon Author page to find out more about her and her books!
Connect with me:
Since you’re here reading this review, leave me a comment. I’d love to know what you think. And, if you like, connect with me on the socials. I’m on Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, and Pinterest! Stop by and say hi! Let’s talk books!
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