Fantasy books get a lot of flack from "established" literature. Children or young adult fantasy books get ignored by adult fantasy readers. So between the two, I guess it's not surprising to find that this book is an undiscovered gem. But I urge anyone who has a few hours and spare 99p or whatever ridiculously cheap cost it is on amazon, to pick this book up and give it a try.It's hard to pinpoint exactly what makes it so good, possibly because it conveys different things to different people. To me, I see a lot of is as an analogy for morality - moral codes, justice, love, selfishness; about growing up and understanding these things, about making the right decisions and becoming a good person in the face of a corrupt and terrible world. I guess that really appeals to me. Other people I know whom I've made to read it all had different interpretations or things they focused on, although they all enjoyed it just as much.Ostensibly, WoaF is about a couple of kids who grow up in what is basically slavery and cruelty, escape, and keep going. There is no magic, all sword and no sorcery so to speak; there is no epic quest, save that of survival and endurance; there is nothing you will expect, and an ending that will surprise and touch you. But despite that, it IS magical, and it IS epic in its own right.The supposed hero, Oriel, is a (somewhat ironic) example of the perfect hero; a force of nature who succeeds at everything he touches, who inspires everyone he meets. But to be honest, I actually think the hero of the book is Griff, his quiet companion/follower, who also escapes with Oriel and follows him from one adventure and conquest to the next. Griff is no leader among men, but he has an unshakable sense of morality, and never once makes the 'wrong' decision about anything. But for Griff, Oriel could easily have become a villian; his only interest is in being the best in a given situation, and he often aims towards that irrespective of the people who get hurt in the process. From Griff, Oriel learns to be a good person; from Oriel, Griff learns to be a strong person; and from Beryl, the third (and lately introduced) protagonist, both boys learn about love and sacrifice.There are actually a lot of themes which some adults find upsetting, particularly the relationships between Oriel, Griff, and the two women characters. Rather than go into details or spoil things, I would remind readers that Cynthia Voigt is an avid feminist, and (in my opinion) her portrayal of Beryl and Merlis is designed to provoke and challenge (both the fantasy world she has made as well as the reader's assumptions about Oriel's character) rather than to blandly offend. As I've said before... (SPOILER ALERT)... Oriel isn't truly heroic, and his actions in regards to both women underscore that more than anything else in the book. Whether or not he gets redeemed - well, you'll have to read to find out.A lot of so-called "children's books" are books designed to 'trick' kids who don't want to read, into reading. This book is NOT that. This book is for children who DO want to read, and for that reason I suspect it probably isn't very popular among a lot of younger readers, certainly when compared to the other 3 books in the series, which are comparatively a lot simpler, and definitely more kid-like. It is also likely to get missed over by adults, who will just see "a kid's book" and not give it a try, but actually it has a LOT going for adult readers.In short, if you like Harry Potter and not much else, you won't like this book either.If you like Gene Wolfe's writing and aren't too proud to read a young adult's book, you will probably find something to enjoy.If you like Ursula LeGuin, you'll probably also enjoy this book; it's that same kind of distant, epic-style narrative with an emphasis on heavy characterisation and character development.If you like this review you might like the book =) If you think I'm an arrogant twit then you probably won't ;)
A stark, swashbuckling adventure story with a lot of romance and heart, despite a few missteps. The world itself is thick and obscure and mysterious, with cultures sketched perhaps too broadly for a true sense of intimacy, but with lots of vivid settings: the saltweller's, the house in the mountain, the Damall's island, etc. The world made more interesting by the lack of high fantasy baggage (no elves or dwarves or knights of the realm). Voigt does a nice job of joining character and context: these two boys, Oriel and Griff, and Oriel's various mentors and foes and lovers, all seem coherent and plausible, given the world that has shaped them.The missteps are in nuance and characterization, and in pacing, as well, to a certain degree. The book is broken into very cleanly-differentiated phases... four if you just count the broad regions, and six or seven if you count specific settings. The transitions from one phase to another... the escapes, the sudden turns of fortune, Oriel's migratory decisions... these often felt abrupt, and whole characters and lifestyles seemed to disappear from the boys' lives at a moment's notice. A bit more patience might have been warranted on the author's part.The other problem was the flatness of the protagonist himself. There is no single, strong antagonist, and the secondary characters are often reduced to love interests and sidekicks. Oriel, who carries the entire narrative on his own back, is an inspiring leader and driving force, but he ultimately lacks nuance. Some ongoing moral struggles might have done him some good. Instead, Voigt seems to treat him as an unqualified hero, and the narrative never opens up the question of his character or the merit of his actions.Even so, a smart, earthy, and enjoyable fantasy adventure, made even better by the independent spirit of its storytelling: a good eye, fast-moving, and a world that's worth spending some time in.
What do You think about The Wings Of A Falcon (1995)?
This is the third in Cynthia Voigts loosely connected Novel of a Kingdom Series. I love reading these 4 books and finding those tiny moments that connect the dots. Each book is easily read on its own, but there is much added to the story when you read them in order, and understand the interconnections within this world. These are some of my favorite books. This book is generally out of print, which I think is a tragedy. It is the darkest of the 4 stories, and I think the one that deals closest with human suffering and pain while still being a story of triumph and hope. I loved this story, and strongly recommend it for everyone.
—Ashley
I couldn't put it down. It is a stand alone book and I never even suspected it was part of a trilogy. The answers to many questions are left hanging such as the mystery of the young man's origin. The protagonist is more opportunistic than "good." None of the romantic subplots resolve in a satisfactory way. The meanings of certain beryl with carved falcon winds in it are never revealed. Don't read this book if you want answers. Instead, read this book if you want to follow the path of two young men--one: ambitious, charming, fair-minded, well-liked, and good at getting what he wants. The other: good, humble, quiet, and willing to suffer for others. You can decide for yourself who the hero of the story is. I liked the old world Kingdom flavor of the book with the heroes passing through many different Kingdoms and finding out how to survive in each one. I almost couldn't fathom how they could keep going because of the hard tasks required of them.The ending was a total surprise. The denoument was a little long, otherwise, a fantastic book.
—April Hochstrasser
After I read the book, in the about the author note at the end I discover it's the third in a trilogy....I think however it must be a very loose trilogy for the main characters start as children with no past they can remember...ah, I see in on the back book flap that even the book says the other books are loosely connected.I wasn't very comfortable with how the main character treated women. It might have been realistic and/or match historical modes of thinking. But it was still wrong/disturbing. There's a very Ayn Rand philosphic vibe running under everything, though I don't think that would be obvious to everyone.The twist toward the end came, but it was kind of a too much, too late situation that glorified rather than rebuked the behaviour of the main character. Ultimately it was still a teenage boy fantasy, but the kind that makes you worry about the minds of teenage boys. The fact it was written by a woman makes the whole thing a little stranger...there's feminism sprinkle on at the end, but it doesn't make up for the fact that the main female character is just as self-absorded (and more deluded) than the main character.There are several characters and locations that are developed then abandoned over the course of the story, making you wonder to some degree why we spent so much time on them. Overall grade B-.
—Kay Iscah
