”That bird should be destroyed!”Andreas stared at Ethelbert in shock. Blood from an angry-looking gash on the young lord’s cheek dripped onto his embroidered tunic. Andreas clutched the handles of the basket containing the young peregrine. Perhaps this was a dream—Andreas, an apprentice falconer at Castle Kragenberg, cannot bear the thought of killing the young female falcon and smuggles her out … and smuggles her out of the castle. Soon he realizes that his own time there has come to an end, and he stows away, with the bird, in the cart of an itinerant trader, Richard of Brugge. So begins a series of adventures that lead him from an obscure castle in northern Germany to the farthest reaches of Frederick von Hohenstaufen’s Holy Roman Empire, following a path dictated by the wily trader’s mysterious mission.
Andreas continues to improve his falconry skills, but he also learns to pay attention to what is happening around him as he travels through areas fraught with political unrest. Eventually, Richard confides in Andreas, and they conspire to free Enzio, the eldest of the emperor’s illegitimate sons, from imprisonment in Bologna.
The Falconer’s Apprentice is a story of adventure and intrigue set in the intense social and political unrest of the Holy Roman Empire in the thirteenth century.
more
This is rather an unusual read and it’s unlike anything I have ever read before. But it is well written. This won’t be to everyone’s tastes but if you like to read books that are a little unordinary then this would be good reading for you.
I was offered this YA book by Henry from Odyssey Books and PR manager for Malve von Hassell, the author of The Falconer’s Apprentice. My review is freely given.
It is a lovely story about a young boy in medieval Germany who tries to save a young falcon. The writing is easy to read and incredibly informative. As the story plays in Europe during the thirteenth century, you are immersed in the living circumstances of the common people then. You get to know what it’s like for a poor orphan living on castle grounds, what it’s like to travel through Europe with a cart selling wares, and what the medicinal knowledge of the time is. Of course, there is a lot of information on how to train and keep falcons as well.
What I liked most about the story is the accuracy of the information given, both historically and regarding falcon-keeping. I prefer real world stories to be as real as you can get, and this book does not disappoint. The text is well edited; I haven’t spotted any typos or grammatical errors. I also liked how the writer, with minimal dialogue, can draw you into the story and make your root for young Andreas.
What I didn’t like is the minimal dialogue. The story is told in third POV and never goes deep. I like my stories to go deep into the mind of at least the main character, but maybe this is good for beginning readers. At times, I felt like it was more about the description of the world around Andreas than the character itself. That said, I wasn’t bored once. The scene descriptions were accurate and interesting, never superfluous. The writer doesn’t use ‘flowery’ wording to spruce up their writing.
The book touches on an attempted rape, but merely mentions what Andreas saw. It doesn’t go into any specific detail. It is what you would call ‘a clean’ story; perfectly save for young, teenage readers whom are okay with reading about the real world, not some fantasy world where these things never happen. It’s actually sad that in the last 700 years not much has changed with respect to female safety.
I’m only 70% into the book at the moment, but I can’t wait to finish it and find out where Andreas’s journey will lead him. I recommend this book to anyone (young or old) who wants to learn what it’s like to live in the Middle Ages in Europe or anyone wants to read an entertaining story for that matter. And, of course, I can recommend it to anyone thinking of keeping falcons.
As a raptor enthusiast, I was immediately draw in by the title and book description. I cannot say enough good things about The Falconer’s Apprentice by Malve von Hassell. The writing is superb – masterful, and I love how each chapter opened with a quote/instruction from The Art of Falconry (a real piece of literature). It’s obvious extensive research was done in preparing for this work. The characters are wonderfully written and Andreas has the perfect arc from start to finish. The descriptions are just right; I was able to picture the scenes, unlike in some books where it’s overkill and I end up skimming paragraphs. I especially loved how Hassell worked in a parallel likeness between a particular king and falcon. I would give this book 10 of 5 stars were it possible. I absolutely loved it!
This well-researched novel brings the 13th century world of the Holy Roman Empire to life. The hazards of travel. The limitations and possibilities of medicine. The political unrest, social order, and hardships of day-to-day living. And especially, falconry.
The novel centers on Andreas, but it also centers on his relationship with Adela, the falcon he rescues. Or rather, he steals. Laws about who could own hunting birds were complex, but everyone knew this: if the owner condemns the bird to death, then the bird must die. No exceptions. Likewise, everyone knew that the penalty for being caught with a hunting bird above their station was severe. Adela is a peregrine, the type of falcon that can only belong to those of a high social class; obviously, Andreas acts illegally when he rescues her.
The characters
Andreas is a social misfit at the castle: he’s an orphan with no social status. His father is unknown; his mother is dead. He learns to avoid the spotlight. But his intelligence, good work ethic, and way with the falcons often bring him unwanted attention.
Early in the book, Andreas sees several boys pelting a bird with stones. Though these boys often bully him, his outrage at their cruelty fills him with courage. When he stands up to them, the boys run and he saves the bird. Immediately I liked him. I enjoyed how his imaginative, sensitive mind works. It’s easy to root for him (and Adela, the falcon ordered to be killed) as they escape. He hopes that Adela can find sanctuary at the castle of Frederick II, the emperor of the Holy Roman Empire and lover of falcons.
The other characters are well-portrayed. Though Andreas does not know who his biological father is, other men fill the gap and influence him as he comes of age. There’s Brother Stefan, the tutor of the castle boys; gruff Oswald, the head falconer at Castle Kragenberg; itinerant trader and spy Richard of Brugge; Nicholas, who introduces him to the wonders of medicine; and even Enzio, the imprisoned illegitimate emperor’s son. Von Hassell does an excellent job bringing the characters to life.
The story unfolds at a much slower pace than many modern novels do.
As I read, I was reminded of the old classic children’s novels such as The Trumpeter of Krakow and The Door in the Wall. The lush historical details, the medieval time period, the characters who are good, brave young people trying to do the right thing during difficult times: these are books to be savored, not devoured. The Falconer’s Apprentice fits right in with these Newbery Award winners. It’s a fantastic book, one that parents can read to their entire family or that one person can enjoy at her leisure.
Thanks to Henry Roi of Odyssey Books for a copy of The Falconer’s Apprentice in exchange for an honest review.