La saga della regina guerriera delle Highland

The Hawk Queen #1-2

by David Gemmell, Nicola Gianni (Translator), Luca Landoni (Translator)

- Sigarni la regina guerriera, traduzione di Nicola Gianni

Sconfitto sul campo, il popolo delle Highland aveva perduto la sua libertà. Ma nelle vene di una ragazza di soli diciannove anni scorreva il sangue del più grande condottiero di tutti i tempi.
Colden Moor: ecco un nome che gli abitanti delle Highland non si sarebbero più dimenticati. Perdere quella battaglia aveva voluto dire perdere anche l’indipendenza e con
essa la libertà. Ora il popolo delle terre alte era costretto a piegare il capo e a soffrire sotto il tallone dell’invasore straniero.
Anche la dinastia di sovrani che legava direttamente il trono delle Highland ad alcuni dei più celebri eroi e gloriosi condottieri del passato era stata spazzata via. Di tutta quella gloriosa famiglia restava un’unica discendente: una ragazza di neppure vent’anni.
Ma il sangue dei leggendari capi di un tempo ruggiva nelle vene di Sigarni. Odiata dai conquistatori e anche da qualcuno del suo popolo, libera e fiera, cacciatrice, guerriera, amante, la giovane principessa non sembrava tuttavia in grado di offrire alla sua gente nessuna opportunità di riscatto: ma quando il sangue chiama gli eroi tornano persino dalla morte!
Gli invasori non lo sapevano ancora, ma già le prime profezie cominciavano a intrecciarsi intorno ai fuochi: la figlia di Manodiferro avrebbe risollevato gli stendardi caduti e guidato il suo popolo a un’epica riscossa.

- La regina delle Highland, traduzione di Luca Landoni

Caswallon era un ladro, un brigante, un uomo violento, poco amante della compagnia del prossimo, secondo qualcuno addirittura un misantropo.
Una cosa di certo Caswallon non era preparato a essere: un eroe. Lui soltanto, però, era consapevole della minaccia che gravava sulla gente delle Highland; lui soltanto sapeva
che un orrore indicibile incombeva sul popolo di High Druin.
Neppure Taliesen, l’ultimo Guardiano della Soglia, era in grado di dire quale scopo avesse condotto fino al loro mondo Sigarni, la intrigante e ambigua Signora del Falco. Forse la spiegazione stava solo nel caso. Forse Sigarni era caduta in una falla spazio-temporale ed era approdata nell’universo del clan per pura, fortuita coincidenza. Forse...
Ma intanto gli Aenir, un popolo di barbari crudeli e violenti, avevano portato la guerra, il sangue, il saccheggio, sino ai primi contrafforti delle montagne che facevano da bastione al popolo delle Highland. Presto su quel bastione avrebbe dovuto ergersi un muro di difensori.
E che ruolo avrebbe giocato allora la Signora venuta da un altro mondo?

Genres: Fantasy

558 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2000

About the author

David Andrew Gemmell was a bestselling British author of heroic fantasy. A former journalist and newspaper editor, Gemmell had his first work of fiction published in 1984. He went on to write over thirty novels. Best known for his debut, Legend, Gemmell's works display violence, yet also explores themes in honour, loyalty and redemption. With over one million copies sold, his work continues to sell worldwide.

Reviews

[Sarah Garner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another brilliant book by David Gemmell. Both books in the series were really well written as always and really engaging.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think i'm done with this book. I read the first book in the omnibus and it was actually pretty terrible but i finished it because i didn't want to start the year off with unfinished books. The plot of the book wouldn't have been too bad if it wasn't riddled with misogyny. What a let down for a book that features the main character as a female battle queen. Even male characters that were considerably likable (since many were just purely disgusting) made objectifying comments about the main character's body. i really don't think the Author let a chapter go by where someone didn't make a rude comment about her body. So yeah, i don't think I need to read the second book.

[Shane Kiely · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's a bit of an obvious formula to David Gemmell's heroic fantasy writing. Invading army, dashing saviour, likeable support cast, loads of old timey killing. Frankly it's a formula I like so I'm not complaining. This collection represents one of the stronger examples of said formula thus far. The overarching plot of both stories starts out quite simple but diverges & transforms into something a little bit more sophisticated. The characters are a bit broad but generally likeable when they're meant to be, suitably boo hissable when they're not. The action is always thrillingly detailed, though it isn't as frequent as in other examples of the genre (even Gemmell's other titles I've read) but when it arrives it delivers. If you like Gemmell's other stuff I presume this is right up your street.

[Clemens Schoonderwoert · Rating 5 out of 5]

This marvellous omnibus, containing the titles "Ironhand's Daughter" and "The Hawk Eternal", is another superb addition to the astonishing work from the late great, David Gemmell.

These two titles are originally from 1995, and these two are again wonderful products of heroic fantasy at its best.

Storytelling is breathtakingly wonderful, the tales superbly structured and executed, while also all figures come vividly to life in these great stories..

This heroic fantasy has once again elements from history, epic battle and events, its also filled with bravery and cowardice, friendship and animosity, love and hate, and not to forget with mystic touches of paranormal, interwoven with magical gates and crossing of Time-Lines, to make this a complete wondrous read.

In the first book we follow the life of Sigarni, from young girl to the Battle Queen she'll become, with all its ups and downs, good and evil, brutal battles concerning life and death, and all this in her own and her friends attempt to rescue and save the Highlander clans of the Farlain and several others against the invading and conquering Outlanders.

In book two we follow in the main a man called Caswallon, who'll become in future the Lord of Peace, and his foster-son Gaelen, who'll become in future the King of War, and their friends and cousins from within the Farlain and the other close clans, in their effort to save the Highland clans from the invading and murderous Aenir, these invaders can be compared in their dealings about life and death as Vikings, and while trying to save the Highlanders, young and old, they will get instructions and help from the Druid Taliesen, but last but not least the Battle Queen Sigarni will come to the rescue, and all together they will finally deal with this deadly menace.

What is to follow is a terrific heroic fantasy, filled with paranormal, Magic Gates and different Time-Lines, and all these mystical elements are brilliantly interwoven, and all these legendary factors will keep you spellbound right to its beautiful and inspirational end.

Very much recommended, for this is amazing omnibus, containing two tremendous titles, and that's why I like to call this book: "A Masterly Produced Heroic Regal Adventure"!

[Tracey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I mostly enjoyed these 2 books Ironhands daughter and The hawk eternal there is a lot of brutality in the books and that includes violence to children, rape of women and torture..
Grim dark for sure!
David Gemmell is a great story teller and his imagination is incredible..
There is everything in these books including interdimentional time travel, Druids, found family, animal companions, huge battle scenes, duels and even an event similar to The Highland games.
Talking of Highlanders, Gemmell has definitely drawn on the history and lifestyle of the highlanders during the times of Rob Roy Mcgregor or William Wallace.
All in all 2 very good books which form a great, cohesive story with a satisfying ending.

4* each

[Sandy Millin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was fine as a fantasy book - perfectly readable. However, I found the Ballister storyline in the first book to be problematic, and the second book was pretty convoluted. Having said that, I liked Gaelan and Caswallon as characters.

[John Somers · Rating 4 out of 5]

15/20.

[Margaret Haigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good fantasy omnibus playing with time, multiple universes and myth.

[Monika · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a good read!