I greatly enjoyed Amelia Atwater-Rhodes's books in high school, happily and enthusiastically reveling in the escapism fantasy offered, but found Hawksong to be the most moving of them. Forbidden love has always been a hot theme in literature and the arts, but what really gets the readership on the edges of their seat is when that forbidden love mingles with other tantalizing elements, like force, political/social implications, and danger. The necessity of Danica Shardae and Zane Cobriana "pair-bonding," even when their two races have been slaughtering each other for decades is a situation that results in some fantastic situations and inner exploration on the part of both parties. The way this is handled offers an intimate look into two individuals who have been through much in their lives, and are willing to step up for the rest of their people in perhaps the most self-sacrificing way. It's entirely too easy to fall in love with Danica and Zane and share in their frustrating courtship at the expense of their comfort and social acceptance. Amelia also did a thorough job in creating two distinctly different cultures that are nearly polar opposites of each other: the Avians, who are reserved and aloof, and the Serpiente, who are emotionally available and free-spirited. The weight of their cultures is tangible while reading, and offers a rich backdrop to the personalities and actions of the characters. In addition, the larger themes explored in the book, like prejudice, acceptance, war, and cultural differences, speak to any time period and offer a large sense of identification with the story.

As a young adult book, Hawksong deals with a lot that isn't usually explored in fiction for that age group; however, what IS covered is dealt with in a way that is understandable to anyone reading it. The characters are bewitching, the plot emotionally-charged, and the result of this almost-novella leaves the reader with the lasting sensation of a story well told.