*An NBC Today Show Book Club Pick!* *A Seventeen Magazine Best YA Book of 2018!* *A Kirkus Best YA Fantasy Book of the Year* *A We Need Diverse Books 2018 Must-Read* “Epic thrills, heart-punching romance, and a marvel of a hero” –Adam Silvera, New York Times-bestselling author of They Both Die at the End The people of Uztar have long looked to the sky with hope and wonder. Nothing in their … people of Uztar have long looked to the sky with hope and wonder. Nothing in their world is more revered than the birds of prey and no one more honored than the falconers who call them to their fists.
Brysen strives to be a great falconer–while his twin sister, Kylee, rejects her ancient gifts for the sport and wishes to be free of falconry. She’s nearly made it out, too, but a war is rolling toward their home in the Six Villages, and no bird or falconer will be safe.
Together the twins must journey into the treacherous mountains to trap the Ghost Eagle, the greatest of the Uztari birds and a solitary killer. Brysen goes for the boy he loves and the glory he’s long craved, and Kylee to atone for her past and to protect her brother’s future. But both are hunted by those who seek one thing: power.
In this first young-adult fantasy novel in a trilogy, Alex London launches a soaring saga about the memories that haunt us, the histories that hunt us, and the bonds of blood between us.
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Black Wings Beating takes the fantasy genre to soaring new heights with its epic thrills, heart-punching romance, and a marvel of a hero.
Enter the gritty culture of cutthroat falconry in Alexander London’s Black Wings Beating and prepare to be riveted. This book has so much to recommend it that I don’t know where to begin: clever writing, boisterous, endearing characters, and threats coming from every direction, be they dark wings in the sky or a band of nomadic zealots with a reputation for slaughter. You’ll be caught up in the adventure from the first chapter. And did I mention the falcons? You’ll fall in love with the falcons.
A wholly original concept, brilliantly executed! I had no idea I needed a queer falconry fantasy, but I really, really did.
This was a really great fantasy read. I like the concept of the world, the characters, and the falcons. Just an overall great read.
Black Wings Beating has a nice even pace in the beginning, as you get to know the setting and meet the multiple characters around Brysen and Kylee. Meeting all these characters are not overwhelming at all. Alex London has a gift of introducing each one, with enough backstory that you can keep them straight in your head as they come and go through the story.
Kylee is ready to leave the family business, she just wants to pay off the debt that her father had racked up. Brysen is content to continue doing what he is doing, with Dymain by his side.
As their reluctant adventure takes off, each is faced with some truths about themselves and each other. But they are not alone on this, Nyall has joined them giving them strength in friendship and numbers. Let us not forget Jowyn, without him things would not be as they are.
As mention before, Alex London has a beautiful gift for writing, and I highly recommend Black Wings Beating. I know I have already added it to the readers in my family.
**Special Note: I was not going to put in my review that Brysen sets on this adventure for Love, not the love of his sister, but for his love for Dymain I felt that you could get that for the book’s blurb. Also, I felt that his love for the same sex had no real bearings on Brysen. It did not seem like this love was frowned upon, within the pages, as it should not be frowned upon today. It was as it needed to be. If this is not something you be able to handle, then I highly suggest taking a deep breath and giving the book a try. It might just surprise you.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an advanced copy of this book. I am providing a voluntary review. All thoughts and views are my own.
Okay, first and foremost, I think my favorite part about this book is the gay rep with the main character Brysen that isn’t used as a plot point. He simply is who he is and there’s no pomp and circumstance surrounding it. He gets to have an adventure completely unrelated to his sexuality, and sadly, that’s not a super common thing to see in LGBTQ+ lit.
I also loved the intricate details of everyday life world-building. It is so deep and rich and wonderfully detailed. I’ll admit, it was a bit exposition-heavy at the beginning, but all of that time and effort held up the rest of the story quite well. Although, despite having so much knowledge about the inner-workings of the society, I will admit I was a bit confused about some of the bigger, wider-arching aspects of the society, such as their leadership.
I’ll admit, I picked up this book primarily because of the cover—which wouldn’t have been enough on its own, but when I saw it had LGBTQ+ rep I pounced. The cover is just gorgeous. But I’m glad I picked it up, for whatever the reason, and am interested to continue on to the next book in the series!
Simply put, this book is special. Here’s what I loved about it:
• A sibling relationship that feels real in its complexity
• Diving right into the action, which bubbles up over and over again in a perfect rhythm
• Slippery characters making me unsure who to root for, what to believe, unsure of what the heck they’ll do/reveal next
• A rich history current climate explained in a way that’s neither dumbed-down nor so complicated I need a flow chart
• Sentences and descriptions that made me happy in the heart-shaped place
• Am I a bird expert now? I think so!
• Always love adding another own voices novel to my shelf (lgbtq)
Brysen wants to be a great falconer, a revered hero, and the recipient of the kind of love he’s willing to give another. His twin sister, Kylee, wants out of the family’s falconry business–despite her natural gift for the gig, a quiet life, and to see her brother genuinely happy.
Of course this means that all the secrets they hold from one another will be thrust into the light as they are forced on a quest to catch the biggest, most dangerous bird of prey in the land, all without truly knowing who they’re catching it for, as the rumblings of war begin to spill into their mountains.
This is a fantastical, fun, high-energy book for ages 12+ that has the right amount of darkness for the newer YA reader. You’ll want to buy the hardcover so as to eventually have the trilogy on a shelf for your whole family to read!
A ferocious fantasy world coupled with two formidable protagonists, Black Wings Beating is a heart-pounding story that lures readers deep into the high-stakes tradition of falconry, and challenges them to examine what they’d be willing to do in order to protect those they love. Stunning and arresting; a must-read.