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Vallon #1
Hawk Quest
The year is 1072.
The Normans have captured England. The Turks have captured a Norman knight. And in order to free him, a soldier named Vallon must capture four rare hawks.
On a heart-stopping journey to the far ends of the earth, braving Arctic seas, Viking warlords, and the blood-drenched battlefields, Vallon and his comrades must track down their quarry one by one in a relentless race against time.
The scale is huge. The journey is incredible. The history is real. This is Hawk Quest.
The Normans have captured England. The Turks have captured a Norman knight. And in order to free him, a soldier named Vallon must capture four rare hawks.
On a heart-stopping journey to the far ends of the earth, braving Arctic seas, Viking warlords, and the blood-drenched battlefields, Vallon and his comrades must track down their quarry one by one in a relentless race against time.
The scale is huge. The journey is incredible. The history is real. This is Hawk Quest.
672 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2012
101 people are currently reading
2176 people want to read
About the author
Robert Lyndon
4 books83 followersRobert Lyndon has been a falconer since boyhood. A keen student of history, he was intrigued by accounts of hawks being used as ransoms during the Middle Ages. Some of the scenes in Hawk Quest were inspired by Lyndon's own experiences as a falconer, climber and traveller in remote places. He has written many books and articles on history and exploration. A Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, he lives in Dorset.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 247 reviews
February 2, 2016
Od Engleske, Islanda pa do Rusije i Bliskog istoka. Franački plaćenik Vallon i njegova osebujna družina zaputit će se u nepoznato kako bi spasili zarobljenog plemića Waltera,a na tom putu svašta nešto će ih snaći...
Povjesni roman koji bi se mogao svidjeti naručito muškoj čitateljskoj publici, a mene mrvicu podsjeća na Gospodara prstenova. Ima svega: od izdaja, mačeva, krvi pa do prilično gnjusnih scena.
Sviđa mi se gotovo sve što Fraktura prevede tako da me ni ovaj put nije razočarala. Preporuka!
Povjesni roman koji bi se mogao svidjeti naručito muškoj čitateljskoj publici, a mene mrvicu podsjeća na Gospodara prstenova. Ima svega: od izdaja, mačeva, krvi pa do prilično gnjusnih scena.
Sviđa mi se gotovo sve što Fraktura prevede tako da me ni ovaj put nije razočarala. Preporuka!
November 19, 2019
Book 1 of the Vallon series first published 2012.
This was an adventure of epic proportions. An adventure that covered all of the known world as of 1074. The journey starts in England and goes onto, Iceland, Greenland, Russia and ends up in Turkey and all places in between.
This quest is undertaken to procure four very rare hawks that can only be found in the wilds of Greenland.
The hawks are needed as a ransom to free a Norman Knight who was capture by the Turks at the battle of Manzikert in 1071.
The quests company comprises of, Vallon a French soldier of fortune, Wayland an English Faulkner, Hero a Greek scholar, Raul a Germany mercenary soldier and Richard a Norman and brother to the captured Knight.
Not only will this journey test the questers ability to survive in some of the harshest environments known to man but this will also be a journey of self awareness. The people who start this journey will not be the same people at its end.
I really enjoyed this read. It’s not a lean book by any means but, for all that, never once did I find it a drag to read. And who would have thought that training a hawk could make for such riveting reading.
Highly recommended entertaining 5 star read.
This was an adventure of epic proportions. An adventure that covered all of the known world as of 1074. The journey starts in England and goes onto, Iceland, Greenland, Russia and ends up in Turkey and all places in between.
This quest is undertaken to procure four very rare hawks that can only be found in the wilds of Greenland.
The hawks are needed as a ransom to free a Norman Knight who was capture by the Turks at the battle of Manzikert in 1071.
The quests company comprises of, Vallon a French soldier of fortune, Wayland an English Faulkner, Hero a Greek scholar, Raul a Germany mercenary soldier and Richard a Norman and brother to the captured Knight.
Not only will this journey test the questers ability to survive in some of the harshest environments known to man but this will also be a journey of self awareness. The people who start this journey will not be the same people at its end.
I really enjoyed this read. It’s not a lean book by any means but, for all that, never once did I find it a drag to read. And who would have thought that training a hawk could make for such riveting reading.
Highly recommended entertaining 5 star read.
October 11, 2015
Very much enjoyed the opening staging & the “recruiting” of the gang in Norman Britain & before you know it you’re over 200 pages into the book, all very engaging & enjoyable as characters are introduced, alliances formed & enemies made.
The tale is an adventure which takes us through Norman Britain & then onto Iceland, Greenland, Northern Norway, Rus & Anatolia. We encounter Vikings, Turks & rogue traders along the way & we have alliances, betrayals & love interests to keep us entertained AND guessing. There are some sad moments too!
Much akin to Tim Severin’s Odinns trilogy in terms of route taken albeit a little less detailed in h/f content but there again if you've read Tim Severin... its in the detail with him :) This is maybe a better balance between story & detail for most folk to enjoy & definitely amongst my recommended to read for followers of the period who enjoy a good adventure yarn too.
I liked the way each bit of the main characters personality trait is teased outta diffo parts of the story when they come to the fore as in Wayland’s in Greenland when trapping the Falcons, Vallon when fighting the Vikings of the North edge of Norway. The capturing of the Hawk in Greenland was an especially excellent part of the tale.
A smooth & engaging story throughout & despite its length I didn't find myself willing it along at all, which sometimes in an epic (450+pg’s) you do at times, very well done Sir! So its the full 5 stars for this epic!
The tale is an adventure which takes us through Norman Britain & then onto Iceland, Greenland, Northern Norway, Rus & Anatolia. We encounter Vikings, Turks & rogue traders along the way & we have alliances, betrayals & love interests to keep us entertained AND guessing. There are some sad moments too!
Much akin to Tim Severin’s Odinns trilogy in terms of route taken albeit a little less detailed in h/f content but there again if you've read Tim Severin... its in the detail with him :) This is maybe a better balance between story & detail for most folk to enjoy & definitely amongst my recommended to read for followers of the period who enjoy a good adventure yarn too.
I liked the way each bit of the main characters personality trait is teased outta diffo parts of the story when they come to the fore as in Wayland’s in Greenland when trapping the Falcons, Vallon when fighting the Vikings of the North edge of Norway. The capturing of the Hawk in Greenland was an especially excellent part of the tale.
A smooth & engaging story throughout & despite its length I didn't find myself willing it along at all, which sometimes in an epic (450+pg’s) you do at times, very well done Sir! So its the full 5 stars for this epic!
March 15, 2014
As someone who likes to, and wants to, review every historical fiction book I read, it is no great pleasure of mine to review books that I have less than positive opinions on. In a perfect world I would love or like every book I read. Every review would be glowing. Faults would be minor and opinions on them would not be offensive to the author or his or her fans. Smiles all round. Peace, love and good books forever more.
It would make reviewing so much easier and I could move on guilt free to the next book. The next happy, positive review.
Only this isn't a perfect world. Books are not all equals. Authors are not all equals. And as much as I want to love or like every book I read, it simply is not going to happen.
Which brings me to my review of Hawk Quest by Robert Lyndon. A book I had such high hopes for. Set in a favourite era and based on a journey. (Journey being one of my favourite devices in historical fiction).
It should have been a perfect match and by jove, for approximately 80 pages it nearly was. It had one of the greatest introductions that I have read for years. It was intoxicating.
The author's grasp of descriptive device was exemplary. Appealing to my every nuanced taste.
A few small examples;
He'd covered less than half the distance when the clouds snuffed out the sun. The temperature plummeted. A wind that started as a faraway sigh struck him with a blast of hail.
and...
The squadron descended on them like a machine welded by flames, the torches roaring in the wind of their passing.
I admire great writing, great description and great imagination. If an author can combine this triumverate of greatness in the ways quoted above through an entire book, then I am putty in their hands.
But then what happened?? The book I was reading in those early pages transformed into something that was very nearly the antithesis of everything I loved about the beginning.
Magical passages of description and beautifully devised scenes, were replaced by rushing, clunky sentences. Simplistic in nature and lacking in skill. The writing became a shadow of its former self. Dialogue became naive and unchallenging.
It was choking on too many pointless plotlines. Bad passes of dialogue. Historical inaccuracies. Needlessness. Something went awry with this novel and it was a bloody crime to me.
The writer became his own obstruction and as a result, inconsistencies in writing qualities reigned supreme and I had to force myself not to abandon it.
This author has the ability to be quite brilliant. The talent is there. I have no doubt of that. Had the book been shorter, more refined, it would have given it a better chance and if only some of the scenes and storylines had been ruthlessly removed, this could have made it a magnificent specimen of the genre.
It could have been the epic (a shorter one) that the author had wanted it to be. If only..if only...
I will not give up on him yet though. I have bought the next book Imperial Fire. Those glimpses of brilliance are enough of an incentive for me to believe this author will come into his own one day.
With experience and bucketloads of feedback from readers, this author will be a shining star in the genre of historical fiction. And I want to be there when that happens. To applaud it.
It would make reviewing so much easier and I could move on guilt free to the next book. The next happy, positive review.
Only this isn't a perfect world. Books are not all equals. Authors are not all equals. And as much as I want to love or like every book I read, it simply is not going to happen.
Which brings me to my review of Hawk Quest by Robert Lyndon. A book I had such high hopes for. Set in a favourite era and based on a journey. (Journey being one of my favourite devices in historical fiction).
It should have been a perfect match and by jove, for approximately 80 pages it nearly was. It had one of the greatest introductions that I have read for years. It was intoxicating.
The author's grasp of descriptive device was exemplary. Appealing to my every nuanced taste.
A few small examples;
He'd covered less than half the distance when the clouds snuffed out the sun. The temperature plummeted. A wind that started as a faraway sigh struck him with a blast of hail.
and...
The squadron descended on them like a machine welded by flames, the torches roaring in the wind of their passing.
I admire great writing, great description and great imagination. If an author can combine this triumverate of greatness in the ways quoted above through an entire book, then I am putty in their hands.
But then what happened?? The book I was reading in those early pages transformed into something that was very nearly the antithesis of everything I loved about the beginning.
Magical passages of description and beautifully devised scenes, were replaced by rushing, clunky sentences. Simplistic in nature and lacking in skill. The writing became a shadow of its former self. Dialogue became naive and unchallenging.
It was choking on too many pointless plotlines. Bad passes of dialogue. Historical inaccuracies. Needlessness. Something went awry with this novel and it was a bloody crime to me.
The writer became his own obstruction and as a result, inconsistencies in writing qualities reigned supreme and I had to force myself not to abandon it.
This author has the ability to be quite brilliant. The talent is there. I have no doubt of that. Had the book been shorter, more refined, it would have given it a better chance and if only some of the scenes and storylines had been ruthlessly removed, this could have made it a magnificent specimen of the genre.
It could have been the epic (a shorter one) that the author had wanted it to be. If only..if only...
I will not give up on him yet though. I have bought the next book Imperial Fire. Those glimpses of brilliance are enough of an incentive for me to believe this author will come into his own one day.
With experience and bucketloads of feedback from readers, this author will be a shining star in the genre of historical fiction. And I want to be there when that happens. To applaud it.
January 15, 2012
Quite simply, Hawk Quest is the best book I read in 2011(I was lucky enough to read it before the pub. date); and that's saying something in a 12 month period when I read more novels than I had done in an age. Let me add that I was really impressed with some of the books I read in this time, indeed I really loved some of them. Yet somehow Hawk Quest eclipsed them all.
To be frank, this was one of the best books I've read I don't know how long. It's beautifully written, deeply evocative, and oozing with rich detail of the period. Do not worry that this is a dry tome, however - far from it. Lyndon sucks the reader into his world, and his lyrical narrative makes the pages turn by themselves. His disparate group of characters: the brooding but deadly warrior Vallon, the idealistic and naive Hero, the earthy but brutal soldier Raul and the haunted, wraith-like Wayland combine to make a wonderful group of heroes whose travails never seem to end. I loved this book. It is bloody brilliant! I wish I'd written it.
To be frank, this was one of the best books I've read I don't know how long. It's beautifully written, deeply evocative, and oozing with rich detail of the period. Do not worry that this is a dry tome, however - far from it. Lyndon sucks the reader into his world, and his lyrical narrative makes the pages turn by themselves. His disparate group of characters: the brooding but deadly warrior Vallon, the idealistic and naive Hero, the earthy but brutal soldier Raul and the haunted, wraith-like Wayland combine to make a wonderful group of heroes whose travails never seem to end. I loved this book. It is bloody brilliant! I wish I'd written it.
October 3, 2016
From the description: Hawk Quest tells the story of a group of adventurers who voyage to the Arctic in search of four white gyrfalcons demanded as ransom for a Norman knight held prisoner by the Seljuk Turks in Anatolia.
Dedication: To Deborah and Lily
Map
A note on Languages
A brief chronology
Prices for Gyrfalcons in Medieval England
Opening quote is from 'The Fortunes of Men' in the Exeter Book
Opening: That morning a Norman cavalry patrol had captured a young Englishman foraging in the woods south of the River Tyne. After interrogating him, they decided he was an insurgent and hanged him on a high hill as a warning to the people in the valley below. The soldiers waited, hunched against the cold, until their victim's spasms stopped, and then they rode away. They were still in sight when the circling carrion birds flocked down and clustered on the corpse like vicious bats.
The description instantly made me think of Karen Maitland's
, which is my least favourite of hers. Maybe I have lost my appetite for medieval fantasy, did not care for any character in this substantially-sized novel, so it has been returned to the shelf unfinished and awaiting a youngster to appreciate the adventure. NEXT.
February 28, 2021
“A journey uncompleted is a story half told,” so says the Sicilian servant to Vallon at the beginning of their story. This story spans medieval England, Europe, The Northern lands and around to Constantinople taking 600 pages plus to do so.
The opening scene of butchery, intimating canabilsm sets the mood for what was to be a saga of truths and half truths, of courage and desperation.
I must admit to falling away from the read from time to time. Complex as it is, it’s breadth is huge.
Fascinating historical fiction but not a story for any but the most devoted.
A Hachette ARC via NetGalley
The opening scene of butchery, intimating canabilsm sets the mood for what was to be a saga of truths and half truths, of courage and desperation.
I must admit to falling away from the read from time to time. Complex as it is, it’s breadth is huge.
Fascinating historical fiction but not a story for any but the most devoted.
A Hachette ARC via NetGalley
May 2, 2016
I was really unsure how to rate this book. It started out as a 4; then a 3; 2; then back to a three in the concluding section. The story is simply told: in order to ransom a Norman knight captured by the Turks at Manzikert, 4 white gyrfalcons are demanded by the Emir. The story is that of a band of faithful companions who undertake this quest and journey. Each section of the book recounts the story through each leg of the journey: ranging from Northumbria, to the North, Greenland/Iceland, then to Rus, then west to Anatolia by the 'Road to the Greeks'. The group's adventures are presented, mostly in excruciating detail.
The set up for the novel introducing the characters and with such marvellous physical descriptions really impressed me in the Northumbria section. Then as the novel progressed, I felt numbed by so many adventures, each following so quickly on the heels of the others. So many incidents struck me as implausible or impossible. Sometimes I felt the author couldn't make up his mind whether he wanted the novel to be straight historical fiction or historical fantasy. It seemed like the author wrote this book as a particular mood struck him in bits and pieces; there wasn't all that much continuity. The characters didn't seem to have individual personalities; what set each one apart was his or her background. I disliked both female characters. I thought the love interests were included only to attract women readers and were not particularly well handled. Half of the novel could have been cut. Sometimes, since
a character would tell some previous action again and again to a different person, it felt like Wagner's "Ring", with the same narrative repetition of past events. The dialogue was pedestrian. The writing started out so well, but as the story progressed, only occasionally were there flashes of brilliance. I enjoyed being taken through the training of the gyrfalcon. Any time the author covered some aspect of falconry in the novel, I felt as though he knows a lot about the subject. The conclusion was more or less satisfactory. Others have mentioned this is a debut novel; the author's certainly talented but all facets of his writing could use improvement. There were many anachronistic expressions. The closest novelistic analogy I could make was Byzantium but the latter told a better story and was better written.
The set up for the novel introducing the characters and with such marvellous physical descriptions really impressed me in the Northumbria section. Then as the novel progressed, I felt numbed by so many adventures, each following so quickly on the heels of the others. So many incidents struck me as implausible or impossible. Sometimes I felt the author couldn't make up his mind whether he wanted the novel to be straight historical fiction or historical fantasy. It seemed like the author wrote this book as a particular mood struck him in bits and pieces; there wasn't all that much continuity. The characters didn't seem to have individual personalities; what set each one apart was his or her background. I disliked both female characters. I thought the love interests were included only to attract women readers and were not particularly well handled. Half of the novel could have been cut. Sometimes, since
a character would tell some previous action again and again to a different person, it felt like Wagner's "Ring", with the same narrative repetition of past events. The dialogue was pedestrian. The writing started out so well, but as the story progressed, only occasionally were there flashes of brilliance. I enjoyed being taken through the training of the gyrfalcon. Any time the author covered some aspect of falconry in the novel, I felt as though he knows a lot about the subject. The conclusion was more or less satisfactory. Others have mentioned this is a debut novel; the author's certainly talented but all facets of his writing could use improvement. There were many anachronistic expressions. The closest novelistic analogy I could make was Byzantium but the latter told a better story and was better written.
November 1, 2014
Lengthy (650+ pages), but very well written...continually moving the story along. Can there be too much action crammed into a book? Perhaps. In this case, I would have liked to "breathe" between skirmishes. Overall, a great adventure and one I would recommend.
February 13, 2012
I went fast through it as it was very disappointing; starts well - the first few pages promise so much - but then it loses any personality and it becomes a stock adventure; not unlike Ben Kane's novels so if you like those, you may like this but I find them boring and bland.
The action is cliched and has no sense of the historical - outside a few details about falcons and of course the throwing around of names and places, it could be set at any time or place as its period and locale are just names not "real"; you get the sense the author used a pop history book that presents the past with our modern sensibilities and values. There is no sense of religion for example or of the class and race differences that were so important at the times, while the motivations of the drivers of action could come from your today Hollywood thriller, again just no sense that we are in the 1070's and not in the 2010's on a stage and with costumes
The characters are stock and the writing is very bland - no sense of excitement, adventure or danger.
if there is one positive is that the book flows well and it is easy on the eye, no effort required to read it but i would strongly recommend to stay away from it
for a superb book that gives the flavor of time and place though it takes place mostly in Constantinople and some 50 years or so earlier, try Byzantium by Michael Ennis and you will see the huge difference in everything with this one while for a sense of history you could do worse than read Anna Komnene (daughter of a Byzantine emperor and schemer and mover at the court) history, The Alexiad which was written in the 1140's but is still fresh and talks about the period of this book
The action is cliched and has no sense of the historical - outside a few details about falcons and of course the throwing around of names and places, it could be set at any time or place as its period and locale are just names not "real"; you get the sense the author used a pop history book that presents the past with our modern sensibilities and values. There is no sense of religion for example or of the class and race differences that were so important at the times, while the motivations of the drivers of action could come from your today Hollywood thriller, again just no sense that we are in the 1070's and not in the 2010's on a stage and with costumes
The characters are stock and the writing is very bland - no sense of excitement, adventure or danger.
if there is one positive is that the book flows well and it is easy on the eye, no effort required to read it but i would strongly recommend to stay away from it
for a superb book that gives the flavor of time and place though it takes place mostly in Constantinople and some 50 years or so earlier, try Byzantium by Michael Ennis and you will see the huge difference in everything with this one while for a sense of history you could do worse than read Anna Komnene (daughter of a Byzantine emperor and schemer and mover at the court) history, The Alexiad which was written in the 1140's but is still fresh and talks about the period of this book
November 10, 2014
What a wonderful read, definitely the best book I've read in a long time (don't ask me how long tho ;) ). These are just my first impressions, I will elaborate more later (if I do not forget).
The best point of comparison would probably be Byzantium, only as compared to Hawk Quest, characters in Byzantium were a bit grotesque and stereotypical.
Another point of comparison could be Doherty's Strategos - Born in the Borderlands, because the main characters have similar feel.
The northern part of the adventure also reminded me of A Song of Ice and Fire: A Game of Thrones / A Clash of Kings / A Storm of Swords / A Feast for Crows, especially parts about Jon Snow and Yggritte.
One a bit worse aspect is that the knights from the travelling group somehow blend together, they do not have distinct personality. This sometimes happens even in real life, but in these cases people usually focus on something in the appearance of such not-so-distinct people. Author of this book did not provide enough of such details so I could develop a relationship with these characters.
[(maybe) to be continued]
The best point of comparison would probably be Byzantium, only as compared to Hawk Quest, characters in Byzantium were a bit grotesque and stereotypical.
Another point of comparison could be Doherty's Strategos - Born in the Borderlands, because the main characters have similar feel.
The northern part of the adventure also reminded me of A Song of Ice and Fire: A Game of Thrones / A Clash of Kings / A Storm of Swords / A Feast for Crows, especially parts about Jon Snow and Yggritte.
One a bit worse aspect is that the knights from the travelling group somehow blend together, they do not have distinct personality. This sometimes happens even in real life, but in these cases people usually focus on something in the appearance of such not-so-distinct people. Author of this book did not provide enough of such details so I could develop a relationship with these characters.
[(maybe) to be continued]
February 28, 2013
Hawk Quest is Robert Lyndon's debut novel and what a debut it is! Set during the Norman Invasion of England, Lyndon explores the complex socio-political world of the early Middle Ages through hawks. Birds you say? These magnificent birds of prey were used as ransom in this period (who knew?) and Lyndon's centers on a quest to find four rare gryfalcons.
Lyndon's novel is much like the grand quest novels such as the epic Lord of the Rings. We have a ragtag crew of anti-heroes, part mercenary, part adventurer, part epic hero. They travel the known world seeking these four rare birds while at the same time exploring their own inner demons and haunted pasts. The tale is wonderfully researched, but it's not bogged down with extraneous details that inevitably threaten to slow the narrative of historical novels. I could smell the markets of the ancient Byzantine Empire and felt the chill of the ocean seas.
The characters are a little less sharply drawn than I would have liked. At times, they slip into their roles too well. This doesn't detract from the well-paced drama and adventure however. The back stories are compelling and as there are more books in the works, perhaps we will see greater depth as the characters develop. Compelling epic tale!
Lyndon's novel is much like the grand quest novels such as the epic Lord of the Rings. We have a ragtag crew of anti-heroes, part mercenary, part adventurer, part epic hero. They travel the known world seeking these four rare birds while at the same time exploring their own inner demons and haunted pasts. The tale is wonderfully researched, but it's not bogged down with extraneous details that inevitably threaten to slow the narrative of historical novels. I could smell the markets of the ancient Byzantine Empire and felt the chill of the ocean seas.
The characters are a little less sharply drawn than I would have liked. At times, they slip into their roles too well. This doesn't detract from the well-paced drama and adventure however. The back stories are compelling and as there are more books in the works, perhaps we will see greater depth as the characters develop. Compelling epic tale!
February 8, 2014
For about 300 pages -- I can be precise: from chapters 2 to 21 -- I was entranced with this book. With the creative description, with its people and their interaction, and with his sheer adventure-telling ability. Unfortunately it didn't maintain itself for me. The sentences to swoon at became less frequent, as did the laughs, and my love of the group members began to drift. The adventures were still there, certainly. But I wasn't gripping my seat as I had done.
It remained a stand-out book, but my experience is shaped by that elusive magic spell that came and went. Of course it's no mean feat to cast a spell even for a third of a book. The last stretches I felt weak, which makes a review hard to write...
I look forward to his next, where he travels even further.
It remained a stand-out book, but my experience is shaped by that elusive magic spell that came and went. Of course it's no mean feat to cast a spell even for a third of a book. The last stretches I felt weak, which makes a review hard to write...
I look forward to his next, where he travels even further.
March 21, 2013
In full disclosure I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway.
If Ken Follett, George R. R. Martin and John Flanagan had a love child, the result would be this epic book.
Robert Lyndon has an excellent understanding of the medieval world and he brings it to life in this story. Just like in John Flanagan’s Rangers Apprentice and Ken Follett’s Pillars of the Earth, Lyndon brings this knowledge to the reader, and gives clear understanding to the world, but what is clever is that it is blended into the story in such a way that it never feels like a lesson. There were moments that he made something sound so interesting I found myself wanting to find out more about whatever subject he was talking about.
There is a gritty realism to the story, like Follett and Martin, Lyndon doesn’t have a problem with making bad and unpleasant things happen to our characters. This is not to say it is a depressing book, there are plenty of happy moments and the characters have hope even in the darkest of times. But character deaths can be sudden, brutal and without meaning, the normal rules of whom and how you kill off do not apply. Failure is always an option in this story.
I also enjoyed how the author brought in the characters superstitions into the story, and they could sometimes make themselves see more in something that there really is. It is realistic in how people would act and believe back then, it also brings in a supernatural and fantasy element, but because you cannot be certain that something a character is witnessing is simply an overactive imagination it keeps it grounded in the real world.
The details and descriptions in this book are amazing; they describe beautifully the world and action. It is always easy to picture the world with every sense. There are so well written that it never feels like it is taking up too much time or dragging.
The characters are wonderful; they have complex and distinct personalities. None of them are the simple cookie cutter types that we have seen before, and they have many layers to them. The interaction between the characters is amazing; between the good characters is a strong sense of friendship and companionship, with antagonism and aggression directed towards the evil characters. What is especially clever is that much of what goes on between the characters is subtlety done, only a careful reader will catch everything that is going on, but you won’t miss out on too much if you don’t pick up on those little clues. Another clever thing is that people and groups don’t always stay on one side or the other, an enemy can become an ally, or a friend may end up betraying the group, and it is never obvious when or by whom this will happen.
The characters develop nicely throughout the book, they progress in a natural way and become better and more interesting characters. As part of this progression we find out bits and pieces of the characters history spread throughout the book and we learn more about our heroes in this way too. There are many wonderful thoughts and ideas of the characters in this book.
This author does a great job or realistically portraying something’s that could easily be overlooked, such as one characters surprise and confusion of the concept of zero, something that we take for granted now-days but back then is something that most people wouldn’t really think about.
The story is fantastic, it reminded me of epic journeys such as the Odyssey, where the characters are trying to complete a journey but keep facing trials that slow them down or take them away from their path. It was very interesting seeing where the characters would go next or how they would face and overcome the next obstacle.
I really hope to see more fiction works by this author; this book is easily the best book I have read this year, and certainly in the top ten books I have ever read. For possibly the first time ever, I was sad to finish a book, knowing that it will be a long, long time before I read something that I enjoy this much again.
If Ken Follett, George R. R. Martin and John Flanagan had a love child, the result would be this epic book.
Robert Lyndon has an excellent understanding of the medieval world and he brings it to life in this story. Just like in John Flanagan’s Rangers Apprentice and Ken Follett’s Pillars of the Earth, Lyndon brings this knowledge to the reader, and gives clear understanding to the world, but what is clever is that it is blended into the story in such a way that it never feels like a lesson. There were moments that he made something sound so interesting I found myself wanting to find out more about whatever subject he was talking about.
There is a gritty realism to the story, like Follett and Martin, Lyndon doesn’t have a problem with making bad and unpleasant things happen to our characters. This is not to say it is a depressing book, there are plenty of happy moments and the characters have hope even in the darkest of times. But character deaths can be sudden, brutal and without meaning, the normal rules of whom and how you kill off do not apply. Failure is always an option in this story.
I also enjoyed how the author brought in the characters superstitions into the story, and they could sometimes make themselves see more in something that there really is. It is realistic in how people would act and believe back then, it also brings in a supernatural and fantasy element, but because you cannot be certain that something a character is witnessing is simply an overactive imagination it keeps it grounded in the real world.
The details and descriptions in this book are amazing; they describe beautifully the world and action. It is always easy to picture the world with every sense. There are so well written that it never feels like it is taking up too much time or dragging.
The characters are wonderful; they have complex and distinct personalities. None of them are the simple cookie cutter types that we have seen before, and they have many layers to them. The interaction between the characters is amazing; between the good characters is a strong sense of friendship and companionship, with antagonism and aggression directed towards the evil characters. What is especially clever is that much of what goes on between the characters is subtlety done, only a careful reader will catch everything that is going on, but you won’t miss out on too much if you don’t pick up on those little clues. Another clever thing is that people and groups don’t always stay on one side or the other, an enemy can become an ally, or a friend may end up betraying the group, and it is never obvious when or by whom this will happen.
The characters develop nicely throughout the book, they progress in a natural way and become better and more interesting characters. As part of this progression we find out bits and pieces of the characters history spread throughout the book and we learn more about our heroes in this way too. There are many wonderful thoughts and ideas of the characters in this book.
This author does a great job or realistically portraying something’s that could easily be overlooked, such as one characters surprise and confusion of the concept of zero, something that we take for granted now-days but back then is something that most people wouldn’t really think about.
The story is fantastic, it reminded me of epic journeys such as the Odyssey, where the characters are trying to complete a journey but keep facing trials that slow them down or take them away from their path. It was very interesting seeing where the characters would go next or how they would face and overcome the next obstacle.
I really hope to see more fiction works by this author; this book is easily the best book I have read this year, and certainly in the top ten books I have ever read. For possibly the first time ever, I was sad to finish a book, knowing that it will be a long, long time before I read something that I enjoy this much again.
September 29, 2013
This novel is an interesting look at European society of the late 11th century. The author takes us from the passes in the Alps of France to Norman England, to Viking Iceland, Greenland and Norway, down the Viking trade routes on the rivers of Russia to the Seljuk Empire in Anatolia. The basic plot is that an English Norman Knight son of an Norman English Count, captured after the Battle of Manzikert is being held for ransom by the Turks. The ransom is an either or proposition – lots and lots of money or 4 rare white Gyrfalcons. The decision is made to obtain the falcons which only can be obtained in Iceland/Greenland and the trek is on.
The main protagonist, Vallon a French soldier (I hesitate to call him a hero, lots of hidden angst - the causes of which are gradually revealed) and his sidekick Hero (a doctor in training) take on the challenge of obtaining the falcons. Vallon is not your typical hero. He is not above a little thievery or killing, if it accomplished an immediate need. In fact all the major characters are painted in shades of grey. It seemed like all of them has some kind of secret, some surprising and others not so.
While I personally knew that hawking was very important to the upper classes in medieval times, I gained a greater appreciation for hawing and its place in society. Mr. Lyndon obviously knows a lot about hawks and hawking and made excellent use of that knowledge. I was never bored during these sequences.
While much of the first third of the novel takes place in Britain, I enjoy the authors take on places that aren’t often explored in Historical Fiction, especially the capturing of the Hawks in Greenland and the trek down the rivers of Russia.
Over all I found this an excellent first novel and a very enjoyable look into the 11th century.
The main protagonist, Vallon a French soldier (I hesitate to call him a hero, lots of hidden angst - the causes of which are gradually revealed) and his sidekick Hero (a doctor in training) take on the challenge of obtaining the falcons. Vallon is not your typical hero. He is not above a little thievery or killing, if it accomplished an immediate need. In fact all the major characters are painted in shades of grey. It seemed like all of them has some kind of secret, some surprising and others not so.
While I personally knew that hawking was very important to the upper classes in medieval times, I gained a greater appreciation for hawing and its place in society. Mr. Lyndon obviously knows a lot about hawks and hawking and made excellent use of that knowledge. I was never bored during these sequences.
While much of the first third of the novel takes place in Britain, I enjoy the authors take on places that aren’t often explored in Historical Fiction, especially the capturing of the Hawks in Greenland and the trek down the rivers of Russia.
Over all I found this an excellent first novel and a very enjoyable look into the 11th century.
July 16, 2021
My appreciation for historical fiction has reached new bounds with this writer’s remarkable endeavor of the Hawk Quest. Not many books have left me in a state of awe. I was truly sad for it to end. Everything about this masterpiece was perfectly imperfect. The originality of the storyline was refreshing and the historical details brought the era to life. This gripping saga had me losing a LOT of sleep, because I simply could not put it down.
I’m not here to write book reports, but I will say this story had it all and more. Any lover of historical fiction would appreciate what this book has to offer. It’s one I plan to read time and again where I’m certain it will remain a favorite.
I listened to this on audible. Having listened to well over 300+ books and counting, Fleet Cooper’s performance was one of the most impressive I’ve enjoyed thus far. Kudos to this author for an impactful story. You selected well in the choice for delivery.
I’m not here to write book reports, but I will say this story had it all and more. Any lover of historical fiction would appreciate what this book has to offer. It’s one I plan to read time and again where I’m certain it will remain a favorite.
I listened to this on audible. Having listened to well over 300+ books and counting, Fleet Cooper’s performance was one of the most impressive I’ve enjoyed thus far. Kudos to this author for an impactful story. You selected well in the choice for delivery.
August 10, 2015
Dynamic and exciting. I truly recommend this novel to those who like so called „travel type of novels“ – where characters have certain goal and approach it, so the action is settled among various landscapes and realms. The novel is lack of redundant details and tedious descriptions. Gradation is present, and the reading is fluent. Description of the characters isn’t comprehensive, but exactly that I demand to find in literature – lack of gossip urge of one to find out every single detail about lifetime or certain feelings of characters, because, even in private life I don’t like those facts. The descriptions of the battles are very interesting and vivid – like they are settled in front of our very eyes. In some critical parts of the novel, the writer gives psychological review and conscience recall of characters, which makes the fabula even more interesting. This adventure took a place in time when the honor and the vow were holy. I do like such novels, because in nowadays, we are abridged of those values.
Dinamično i uzbudljivo. Preporučio bih da pročitaju oni, koji kao ja, vole tzv. knjige pokreta – gde junaci imaju određeni cilj i kreću ka njemu, te se radnja romana ne odvija na jednom mestu, već u okviru različitih predela. Roman nije pretrpan detaljma niti dosadnim opisima. Jasno se uočavaju celine i prelazi i stranice same klize između. Opisi likova nisu detaljni ni duboki, ali upravo to i volim da nađem u literaturi – bez tračerskog poriva da se sazna i najmanji delić o životu ili osećanjima nekog od likova, jer me te stvari ni u privatnom životu ne intrigiraju. Tu su vrlo detaljni opisi bitaka i sukoba u koje upadaju glavni junaci, i ti delovi su izuzetno zanimljivi. Takođe, pisac daje psihološki osvrt i opoziv savesti na prelomnim mestima u toku putovanja junaka, što, takođe, boji samu radnju romana. Radnja se odvija u vreme kada su čast i reč bili na ceni. O tome uvek volim da čitam, jer danas toga skoro i da nema.
Dinamično i uzbudljivo. Preporučio bih da pročitaju oni, koji kao ja, vole tzv. knjige pokreta – gde junaci imaju određeni cilj i kreću ka njemu, te se radnja romana ne odvija na jednom mestu, već u okviru različitih predela. Roman nije pretrpan detaljma niti dosadnim opisima. Jasno se uočavaju celine i prelazi i stranice same klize između. Opisi likova nisu detaljni ni duboki, ali upravo to i volim da nađem u literaturi – bez tračerskog poriva da se sazna i najmanji delić o životu ili osećanjima nekog od likova, jer me te stvari ni u privatnom životu ne intrigiraju. Tu su vrlo detaljni opisi bitaka i sukoba u koje upadaju glavni junaci, i ti delovi su izuzetno zanimljivi. Takođe, pisac daje psihološki osvrt i opoziv savesti na prelomnim mestima u toku putovanja junaka, što, takođe, boji samu radnju romana. Radnja se odvija u vreme kada su čast i reč bili na ceni. O tome uvek volim da čitam, jer danas toga skoro i da nema.
August 17, 2014
A well written novel with deep detail and agreeable characters though one that moves at such a slow pace you find yourself almost willing it along. If it were a mule, you'd have flogged it raw by the time you even reach the middle point.
At around six hundred and fifty pages long, for a hardback it's a slow long slog. Bear in mind that the majority of paperback versions of novels rarely have so many pages let alone the hardback which is more often than not at least a couple of hundred pages shorter.
Considering it's painted as being a quest to capture gyrfalcons from the far icy north, the main characters don't even leave England till over 250 pages in.
Not to mention the sudden plot flaw that's just occurred to me, namely that the entire reason the crew are on the 'quest' to begin with - to bankroll the release of a Norman knight for Duke Of Olbec - hits somewhat of a hurdle when they are forced to go on the run from the Sir Walter's family, leaving you asking yourself why are they still bothering to go capture the falcons?
The author also has a rather annoying habit of throwing random smugly obscure words like 'runagates' into sentences almost just to prove he knows what they mean, which has the effect of distracting you from the story at hand.
Overall a richly detailed if remarkably slow, dawdling novel with no discernible sense of urgency, no immediacy and little to grip or intrigue you but will entertain well enough for a certain amount of time. Nothing at all here that would make me recommend it to a friend or someone looking for a book on the Normans - not least because they barely feature in the novel at all really.
At around six hundred and fifty pages long, for a hardback it's a slow long slog. Bear in mind that the majority of paperback versions of novels rarely have so many pages let alone the hardback which is more often than not at least a couple of hundred pages shorter.
Considering it's painted as being a quest to capture gyrfalcons from the far icy north, the main characters don't even leave England till over 250 pages in.
Not to mention the sudden plot flaw that's just occurred to me, namely that the entire reason the crew are on the 'quest' to begin with - to bankroll the release of a Norman knight for Duke Of Olbec - hits somewhat of a hurdle when they are forced to go on the run from the Sir Walter's family, leaving you asking yourself why are they still bothering to go capture the falcons?
The author also has a rather annoying habit of throwing random smugly obscure words like 'runagates' into sentences almost just to prove he knows what they mean, which has the effect of distracting you from the story at hand.
Overall a richly detailed if remarkably slow, dawdling novel with no discernible sense of urgency, no immediacy and little to grip or intrigue you but will entertain well enough for a certain amount of time. Nothing at all here that would make me recommend it to a friend or someone looking for a book on the Normans - not least because they barely feature in the novel at all really.
March 21, 2013
Hawk Quest is the debut novel of Robert Lyndon. I was attracted by the historical period in which the book is set, but was skeptical about it's length—over 600 pages. I feared it might jolt and labour with too much that wasn't relevant. Seemingly impossible journeys have a habit of turning out that way. Happily, the book rocketed along with great pace and tension throughout. I especially appreciated the growing depth of the key characters.
The action is steady, sometimes very bloody and frightening; the dialogue is not loaded with distracting period vernacular— just enough to keep the reader in the setting; and the MCs are all transformed by the end in a way that is believable.
This is a page-turner that held my attention throughout its length and I wanted more after I'd read the last page. Hopefully Lyndon will write a sequel.
Recommended for those who love historical fiction, quests, and far-flung journeys.
The action is steady, sometimes very bloody and frightening; the dialogue is not loaded with distracting period vernacular— just enough to keep the reader in the setting; and the MCs are all transformed by the end in a way that is believable.
This is a page-turner that held my attention throughout its length and I wanted more after I'd read the last page. Hopefully Lyndon will write a sequel.
Recommended for those who love historical fiction, quests, and far-flung journeys.
May 23, 2013
Od Grenlanda preko Rusije do Carigrada u potrazi za sokolom.
Priča je izvrsna, uspjela me usisati u vrijeme vikinga i njihovog načina života, opasnih Normana i divljih ruskih plemena. Sve započinje jednog hladnog jesenskog dana 1072. godine kada franački plaćenik Vallon u Alpama nailazi na starca Cosmasa i mladića Hera koji nose zahtjev za otkupninom normanskom grofu Olbecu čiji je sin zatočen u Manzikertu/Carigradu. Iste noći Cosmas premine, a Hero nagovori Vallona da s njim nastavi gotovo nemoguću misiju: emir Sulejman spreman je pustiti mladog Normana na slobodu za šezdeset devet funta zlata ili četiri bijela lovačka sokola. Ali ti bijeli sokoli jedino žive u ledenim prostranstvima Grenlanda. Osim avanture i borbe za život, priča nosi i strast, ljubomoru, teška putovanja, podmukle vodiče drugih plemena te svakojakih prepreka od prirodnih i ljudskih svjetova.
Priča je izvrsna, uspjela me usisati u vrijeme vikinga i njihovog načina života, opasnih Normana i divljih ruskih plemena. Sve započinje jednog hladnog jesenskog dana 1072. godine kada franački plaćenik Vallon u Alpama nailazi na starca Cosmasa i mladića Hera koji nose zahtjev za otkupninom normanskom grofu Olbecu čiji je sin zatočen u Manzikertu/Carigradu. Iste noći Cosmas premine, a Hero nagovori Vallona da s njim nastavi gotovo nemoguću misiju: emir Sulejman spreman je pustiti mladog Normana na slobodu za šezdeset devet funta zlata ili četiri bijela lovačka sokola. Ali ti bijeli sokoli jedino žive u ledenim prostranstvima Grenlanda. Osim avanture i borbe za život, priča nosi i strast, ljubomoru, teška putovanja, podmukle vodiče drugih plemena te svakojakih prepreka od prirodnih i ljudskih svjetova.
on-the-shelf
September 23, 20135 STARS! AND I DIDN'T EVEN READ IT! BUT I KNOW THE AUTHOR! NO I DON'T!
0 STARS!
BUT I DO WANT TO READ THIS, I DO, I DO!
0 STARS!
BUT I DO WANT TO READ THIS, I DO, I DO!
September 28, 2014
I am bereft. The journey is over and I am alone with myself once again. I can hear echoes of voices in my head, but the sound is dwindling. I suppose I feel somewhat like Wayland watching Vallon, Hero and Caitlin retreat into the west.
Putting aside a good book is always hard, particularly one detailing an epic adventure. After finishing Hawk Quest by Robert Lyndon, I actually felt directionless, hence the opening paragraph of my review.
Hawk Quest is, first and foremost, an adventure story. It begins with a knight and a quest. There is a hostage and a ransom, but the tale is not so straight forward. The hostage, Sir Walter, knows the location of a great treasure, something worth more than his own life, and the ransom is something that proves the demise of many: two casts of pure white falcons. Gyrfalcons. They are only available in the arctic and the uncompromising lands of the far north are only accessible in the summer. Oh, and there is a deadline on delivery. It will not be a profitable venture for anyone but the Turkish emir holding Walter hostage unless they make the delivery on time.
Vallon is a disgraced knight looking for penance. When he stumbles across Hero, whose former master is all but dead, he undertakes the quest even though it will lead him in the opposite direction. It will not be the first time they are misdirected. Along the way he and Hero collect allies and enemies and rarely do they move on without leaving their mark. They fight and escape from Normans, fight and ally with Vikings, treat with Russians and elude savages, battle with nomads and finally bargain with the emir. In between, they battle against nature. Their journey takes about twelve months and all of them emerge more than a year older and wiser.
The revelation at the end is surprising at first, but it works well with the underlying theme of the book—the power of mortal men who can be extraordinary when they believe in themselves and one another.
Vallon is the ultimate hero; a hard man who tries not to break beneath the weight of responsibility and remorse. Beneath his gruff exterior, he is humble and utterly human. He has faults and regrets. He does not always make the right decision, and yet, when he falters, he is able to go on because he is innately good. His companions are not always sure of that fact.
At the end of their journey I think Vallon loses and gains the most, though the transaction is a subtle thing. I would love to meet Vallon again. I like him a great deal.
Hero’s name amused me throughout. I looked up the origin of it (a Latinized form of Heron, which is derived from the Greek Heros meaning hero, also the name of a first century Greek inventor) and decided it was well chosen. As an intellectual and scholar, Hero might never have made such a journey on his own, but his knowledge and expertise saves the party several times. By the end, he is more a man than he ever expected to be. His friendship with Richard, Walter’s youngest half-brother, is very touching.
Wayland is a falconer recruited from the household of Sir Walter’s family. At the beginning of the story, Wayland has not spoken since the brutal slaying of his entire family. Wayland’s way with all creatures makes him a valuable commodity and the obvious choice to accompany the expedition to capture the gyrfalcons. When Wayland meets Syth, his tongue unlocks and he begins a personal journey that coincides well with the main quest. His resolve and bravery astounds over and again. He has his own collection of faults, however. He remains somewhat wild and disconnected and despite his extraordinary talents, he is not infallible.
That’s what I like best about the book as a whole. All the characters are men. Ranging from terrifying to meek, all with their own set of talents. All of them are quite real.
The aforementioned Caitlin is an Icelandic ‘princess’. Also journeying with them were Syth, a foundling from the fen who captures Wayland’s heart, Raul, a faithless and yet utterly faithful German and Richard, Walter’s younger half-brother. As they move north and then east, on course and blown off course, their numbers swell to include recruits and captives, defeated Vikings and Walter’s other half-brother, Drogo, who is determined the quest will have a different outcome.
I enjoyed all the characters, even those set against Vallon and his band. Drogo in particular was an absolute pain in the arse, and yet essential to the story and the dynamic. He had his own strengths and weaknesses to contend with and they played well into the grander plot.
Then there is the adventure. Hawk Quest is the kind of book that makes me want to grab a pack, slip it over my shoulders and set off. Find a quest. With some lament, I realise I live in a time and place where I will not find the sort of adventure these characters had. Which is good and bad. More than a few of them die and they die horribly. But they lived before they died. Really lived.
The way the author describes scenery makes me want to trace their route from Scotland, Iceland, Greenland, around the northern cape of Norway, along unnamed rivers to Rus (Russia) and down the trade route to the Black Sea and Anatolia (Turkey). Lyndon weaves a magic with words that transports the reader. With a few quick, yet sumptuous sentences, the scene is set. I was there; I could see it, feel it, smell it. His use of period terminology fit perfectly with the narrative as well. The combat and battle scenes were gripping; Wayland’s adventures in Greenland kept me reading into the wee hours of the morning. The accounts of their journeys at sea had me flipping pages in a restless fervour. The gentle pace of the relationships between all involved kept the pages turning when the action paused for a breath.
At 672 pages Hawk Quest is an investment of time for all involved. I did feel the length of the book, but the above-mentioned elements lightened the load considerably. It was a joy to read and at the end I only wished for more. I stand in awe of the dedication required to write and edit such a novel. Along with the research involved, it’s an amazing accomplishment. I’m sure it was a labour of love for Lyndon, a lifelong falconer (in between bouts of “why did I ever start this?”), and as a debut novel, something to be proud of. I hope that after a well-deserved break, Robert Lyndon is inspired to pen another epic tale—surely Vallon, Hero and Wayland’s adventures have only just begun.
Putting aside a good book is always hard, particularly one detailing an epic adventure. After finishing Hawk Quest by Robert Lyndon, I actually felt directionless, hence the opening paragraph of my review.
Hawk Quest is, first and foremost, an adventure story. It begins with a knight and a quest. There is a hostage and a ransom, but the tale is not so straight forward. The hostage, Sir Walter, knows the location of a great treasure, something worth more than his own life, and the ransom is something that proves the demise of many: two casts of pure white falcons. Gyrfalcons. They are only available in the arctic and the uncompromising lands of the far north are only accessible in the summer. Oh, and there is a deadline on delivery. It will not be a profitable venture for anyone but the Turkish emir holding Walter hostage unless they make the delivery on time.
Vallon is a disgraced knight looking for penance. When he stumbles across Hero, whose former master is all but dead, he undertakes the quest even though it will lead him in the opposite direction. It will not be the first time they are misdirected. Along the way he and Hero collect allies and enemies and rarely do they move on without leaving their mark. They fight and escape from Normans, fight and ally with Vikings, treat with Russians and elude savages, battle with nomads and finally bargain with the emir. In between, they battle against nature. Their journey takes about twelve months and all of them emerge more than a year older and wiser.
The revelation at the end is surprising at first, but it works well with the underlying theme of the book—the power of mortal men who can be extraordinary when they believe in themselves and one another.
Vallon is the ultimate hero; a hard man who tries not to break beneath the weight of responsibility and remorse. Beneath his gruff exterior, he is humble and utterly human. He has faults and regrets. He does not always make the right decision, and yet, when he falters, he is able to go on because he is innately good. His companions are not always sure of that fact.
At the end of their journey I think Vallon loses and gains the most, though the transaction is a subtle thing. I would love to meet Vallon again. I like him a great deal.
Hero’s name amused me throughout. I looked up the origin of it (a Latinized form of Heron, which is derived from the Greek Heros meaning hero, also the name of a first century Greek inventor) and decided it was well chosen. As an intellectual and scholar, Hero might never have made such a journey on his own, but his knowledge and expertise saves the party several times. By the end, he is more a man than he ever expected to be. His friendship with Richard, Walter’s youngest half-brother, is very touching.
Wayland is a falconer recruited from the household of Sir Walter’s family. At the beginning of the story, Wayland has not spoken since the brutal slaying of his entire family. Wayland’s way with all creatures makes him a valuable commodity and the obvious choice to accompany the expedition to capture the gyrfalcons. When Wayland meets Syth, his tongue unlocks and he begins a personal journey that coincides well with the main quest. His resolve and bravery astounds over and again. He has his own collection of faults, however. He remains somewhat wild and disconnected and despite his extraordinary talents, he is not infallible.
That’s what I like best about the book as a whole. All the characters are men. Ranging from terrifying to meek, all with their own set of talents. All of them are quite real.
The aforementioned Caitlin is an Icelandic ‘princess’. Also journeying with them were Syth, a foundling from the fen who captures Wayland’s heart, Raul, a faithless and yet utterly faithful German and Richard, Walter’s younger half-brother. As they move north and then east, on course and blown off course, their numbers swell to include recruits and captives, defeated Vikings and Walter’s other half-brother, Drogo, who is determined the quest will have a different outcome.
I enjoyed all the characters, even those set against Vallon and his band. Drogo in particular was an absolute pain in the arse, and yet essential to the story and the dynamic. He had his own strengths and weaknesses to contend with and they played well into the grander plot.
Then there is the adventure. Hawk Quest is the kind of book that makes me want to grab a pack, slip it over my shoulders and set off. Find a quest. With some lament, I realise I live in a time and place where I will not find the sort of adventure these characters had. Which is good and bad. More than a few of them die and they die horribly. But they lived before they died. Really lived.
The way the author describes scenery makes me want to trace their route from Scotland, Iceland, Greenland, around the northern cape of Norway, along unnamed rivers to Rus (Russia) and down the trade route to the Black Sea and Anatolia (Turkey). Lyndon weaves a magic with words that transports the reader. With a few quick, yet sumptuous sentences, the scene is set. I was there; I could see it, feel it, smell it. His use of period terminology fit perfectly with the narrative as well. The combat and battle scenes were gripping; Wayland’s adventures in Greenland kept me reading into the wee hours of the morning. The accounts of their journeys at sea had me flipping pages in a restless fervour. The gentle pace of the relationships between all involved kept the pages turning when the action paused for a breath.
At 672 pages Hawk Quest is an investment of time for all involved. I did feel the length of the book, but the above-mentioned elements lightened the load considerably. It was a joy to read and at the end I only wished for more. I stand in awe of the dedication required to write and edit such a novel. Along with the research involved, it’s an amazing accomplishment. I’m sure it was a labour of love for Lyndon, a lifelong falconer (in between bouts of “why did I ever start this?”), and as a debut novel, something to be proud of. I hope that after a well-deserved break, Robert Lyndon is inspired to pen another epic tale—surely Vallon, Hero and Wayland’s adventures have only just begun.
June 11, 2023
Moja potraga ili moj quest za sokolom je počeo prije deset godina i bio je prožet usponima i padovima. Knjigu sam počeo čitati u jednom drugom gradu i spletom okolnosti ostavio da bih se nekoliko puta bezuspješno vraćao. S prijateljicom sam dogovorio zajedničko čitanje prošle godine, također neuspješno. Napokon, moj quest je završen.
E, sad nešto o samoj knjizi… Joj… Kao hollywoodski filmovi danas, puna nelogičnosti, anakronizama i loših dijaloga. Vođa ove potrage, Vallon ima više sreće nego pameti. Njegovi motivi za potragu su slabašni, čak i na kraju kad otkrije svoj motiv. Jednog od negativaca je moga riješiti jedno deset puta. U konačnici bi dobili 200 stranica kraću knjigu. Wayland je nijem i odjednom lik progovori kad vidi neku žensku. Što je najgore, dok taj lik ne govori, to je neki driving force romana u početku da bi bio uništen tako bezveze. I još komičnije kad mu drugovi saznaju da nije nijem. Onako usputno, o jebote pa ti pričaš, ajd kad riješimo ove Normane idemo pojest nešto i nećemo više nikad spomenuti. Hero ima motiv, Raul je ajmo reći plaćenik, Richard ima motiv ali za neke likove nemam blagog pojma što rade i zašto.
I još nešto, družina stalno upada u nevolje, okej, od Alpa preko Britanije, Islanda, Grenlanda, Bijelog mora, Dnjepra do Anatolije. Naravno da ćeš upast u problem, upao bi danas, a ne 1072. godine. Ali. Svaki lik na kojeg nalete ih želi pokrasti, ubiti, zeznuti na bilo koji način. Ma okej, ne možemo zamisliti ta vremena ali znamo da su onda ljudi uspješno i trgovali i putovali. Velim, puna je pogrešaka, gluposti, ni prijevod nije previše sretan ali Lyndonu je trebao neki bolji urednik. I na kraju, taj Lyndon je sokolar. Love sokolove. Knjiga se zove Hawk Quest. To je kao da ideš u lov na patke, a uloviš gusku. Pametnom dosta.
Reading with Vivone - XIII
E, sad nešto o samoj knjizi… Joj… Kao hollywoodski filmovi danas, puna nelogičnosti, anakronizama i loših dijaloga. Vođa ove potrage, Vallon ima više sreće nego pameti. Njegovi motivi za potragu su slabašni, čak i na kraju kad otkrije svoj motiv. Jednog od negativaca je moga riješiti jedno deset puta. U konačnici bi dobili 200 stranica kraću knjigu. Wayland je nijem i odjednom lik progovori kad vidi neku žensku. Što je najgore, dok taj lik ne govori, to je neki driving force romana u početku da bi bio uništen tako bezveze. I još komičnije kad mu drugovi saznaju da nije nijem. Onako usputno, o jebote pa ti pričaš, ajd kad riješimo ove Normane idemo pojest nešto i nećemo više nikad spomenuti. Hero ima motiv, Raul je ajmo reći plaćenik, Richard ima motiv ali za neke likove nemam blagog pojma što rade i zašto.
I još nešto, družina stalno upada u nevolje, okej, od Alpa preko Britanije, Islanda, Grenlanda, Bijelog mora, Dnjepra do Anatolije. Naravno da ćeš upast u problem, upao bi danas, a ne 1072. godine. Ali. Svaki lik na kojeg nalete ih želi pokrasti, ubiti, zeznuti na bilo koji način. Ma okej, ne možemo zamisliti ta vremena ali znamo da su onda ljudi uspješno i trgovali i putovali. Velim, puna je pogrešaka, gluposti, ni prijevod nije previše sretan ali Lyndonu je trebao neki bolji urednik. I na kraju, taj Lyndon je sokolar. Love sokolove. Knjiga se zove Hawk Quest. To je kao da ideš u lov na patke, a uloviš gusku. Pametnom dosta.
Reading with Vivone - XIII
September 22, 2024
Une très belle aventure de plus de 1000 pages. C'est très réussi, prenant et très intéressant.
July 12, 2023
Loved it.
November 29, 2014
This was an impulse buy last year and I'm finally getting around to it.
A French mercenary during the Norman conquests undertakes a quest to ransom a nobleman's son. He must capture four white gyrfalcons from the subartic regions of Greenland and transport them to Constantinople.
The author is a historian and falconer who has written for scholarly journals. This is his first fiction book.
An epic that has an intriguing premise and has terrific period detail and flavor; but, it's undone by inconsistent pacing, laughable dialog and vague geographics.
I have a rudimentary knowlege of the Norman Conquests. It is ovbious that the author has spent a lifetime reseaching this era, but the beginning of the book had me wondering exactly where the action was taking place. The statements of the characters as to which direction they were travelling or did not want to travel had me quite confused. Using the map provided, I first thought it was taking place in northern France. Then I thought it might be somewhere between Germany and Italy. Finally, after about 100+ pages, it dawned on me that they were in Southern England. Maybe this was all on me, but I was rereading passages to desperately try to figure this out.
When I finally got oriented geographically, I became frustrated with the author's inability to write an exciting action sequence. I found his action to be rendered in jarringly flat, uninspired language while the story around these scenes flowed with a workman-like eloquence and beauty. It seemed that his stature as an acedemian renedered him incapable of making his action exciting. And there's alot of action in this book.
Finally, his use of language was nothing short of embarrassing. All of his charaters (even his viking god/warlord) speak in complete sentences. And he uses language that probably didn't extist in the 11th century. For example, one character uses the "faggot" as a derogatory term. "Faggot" as a slang term for a gay man is a uniquely American invention--it first came into usage in 1914. It was also used in England as an abusive term for women, paticularly old women. But that didn't emerge until the late 16th century. Until then, "faggot" was a bundle of sticks. On top of that, all his characters sound the same. I sometimes found it difficult to keep track of who's speaking during those long stretches of conversation.
But Lyndon is a falconer, not a linguist, and his account of the capturing of falcons was my favirte part of the book (page 257-324).
The book is around 100-150 pages too long. If Lyndon cut down on the wordiness of his action scenes, HQ would be a better read.
He shows promise as an author and perhaps his sequel to this book will show his development, but I think I'm going to pass.
A French mercenary during the Norman conquests undertakes a quest to ransom a nobleman's son. He must capture four white gyrfalcons from the subartic regions of Greenland and transport them to Constantinople.
The author is a historian and falconer who has written for scholarly journals. This is his first fiction book.
An epic that has an intriguing premise and has terrific period detail and flavor; but, it's undone by inconsistent pacing, laughable dialog and vague geographics.
I have a rudimentary knowlege of the Norman Conquests. It is ovbious that the author has spent a lifetime reseaching this era, but the beginning of the book had me wondering exactly where the action was taking place. The statements of the characters as to which direction they were travelling or did not want to travel had me quite confused. Using the map provided, I first thought it was taking place in northern France. Then I thought it might be somewhere between Germany and Italy. Finally, after about 100+ pages, it dawned on me that they were in Southern England. Maybe this was all on me, but I was rereading passages to desperately try to figure this out.
When I finally got oriented geographically, I became frustrated with the author's inability to write an exciting action sequence. I found his action to be rendered in jarringly flat, uninspired language while the story around these scenes flowed with a workman-like eloquence and beauty. It seemed that his stature as an acedemian renedered him incapable of making his action exciting. And there's alot of action in this book.
Finally, his use of language was nothing short of embarrassing. All of his charaters (even his viking god/warlord) speak in complete sentences. And he uses language that probably didn't extist in the 11th century. For example, one character uses the "faggot" as a derogatory term. "Faggot" as a slang term for a gay man is a uniquely American invention--it first came into usage in 1914. It was also used in England as an abusive term for women, paticularly old women. But that didn't emerge until the late 16th century. Until then, "faggot" was a bundle of sticks. On top of that, all his characters sound the same. I sometimes found it difficult to keep track of who's speaking during those long stretches of conversation.
But Lyndon is a falconer, not a linguist, and his account of the capturing of falcons was my favirte part of the book (page 257-324).
The book is around 100-150 pages too long. If Lyndon cut down on the wordiness of his action scenes, HQ would be a better read.
He shows promise as an author and perhaps his sequel to this book will show his development, but I think I'm going to pass.
January 20, 2012
It is very rare that a debut book causes such a stir before it is even released but Hawk Quest was one of them. When writers as good as Ben Kane and Anthony Riches are extolling the virtues of this book, you know you’re in for a real treat.
We follow Vallon and Hero as they embark on the quest to capture 4 rare white Hawks from the frozen tundra of Iceland. The hawks are payment for a ransom, demanded by the Moorish Emir who has captured a young Norman Knight, Sir Walter in battle. Vallon and Hero travel to the recently conquered England to pass the demands onto his parents. As they travel though England the see at first hand the brutality of the new Norman overlords and the resentment of the oppressed Saxon population.
The duo agree to travel to Iceland to capture the rare white Hawks and on the way collect a motley group of misfits who each bring something different to the group. Wayland the Hunter, Raul the gruff Solider, Garrick the sailor, Syth, the love interest, Richard the delicate brother of Drogo and Sir Walter. They also collect enemies who are determined to stop them. Drogo, brother of Sir Walter who wants to stop them to preserve his inheritance, Snorri and Thorfinn the Vikings who wants to rob and kill them, Helgi the Icelandic noble who sees perceived slights everywhere and of course, deal with the Emir.
We follow the group as they travel the length of war-torn Britain, into Scotland and the Orkneys then across to Iceland, they visit Greenland, Norway and the land of the Rus before finally arriving in Anatolia. Along the way they encounter hostile Vikings, Laps, Russians and Seljuk riders as they struggle to bring the hawks to the Emir. On the journey they all discover strengths and limitations and only the leadership and determination of Vallon keeps them together. Can they survive and bring the Hawks to the Emir in time to save Sir Walter?
This is an epic story, covering most of Northern Europe and into the Mediterranean. The descriptions of the various countries are amazing, he describes in stunning detail the ravages of war on the English countryside, the bleakness and harshness of Iceland, the barren and dangerous coast of Greenland and then tough journey to Russia and finally to the heat of Anatolia. He introduces arrogant Norman nobles, downtrodden English peasants, Vicious Vikings, tough and hardy Icelanders, ruthless Lap hunters, Russian Princes and finally the Muslim Seljuks who hold Sir Walter captive.
I have rarely enjoyed a debut novel so much, it is such an ambitious story for the first novel but Robert Lyndon has pulled it off. I can not reccomend this book enough. A true page turner!
We follow Vallon and Hero as they embark on the quest to capture 4 rare white Hawks from the frozen tundra of Iceland. The hawks are payment for a ransom, demanded by the Moorish Emir who has captured a young Norman Knight, Sir Walter in battle. Vallon and Hero travel to the recently conquered England to pass the demands onto his parents. As they travel though England the see at first hand the brutality of the new Norman overlords and the resentment of the oppressed Saxon population.
The duo agree to travel to Iceland to capture the rare white Hawks and on the way collect a motley group of misfits who each bring something different to the group. Wayland the Hunter, Raul the gruff Solider, Garrick the sailor, Syth, the love interest, Richard the delicate brother of Drogo and Sir Walter. They also collect enemies who are determined to stop them. Drogo, brother of Sir Walter who wants to stop them to preserve his inheritance, Snorri and Thorfinn the Vikings who wants to rob and kill them, Helgi the Icelandic noble who sees perceived slights everywhere and of course, deal with the Emir.
We follow the group as they travel the length of war-torn Britain, into Scotland and the Orkneys then across to Iceland, they visit Greenland, Norway and the land of the Rus before finally arriving in Anatolia. Along the way they encounter hostile Vikings, Laps, Russians and Seljuk riders as they struggle to bring the hawks to the Emir. On the journey they all discover strengths and limitations and only the leadership and determination of Vallon keeps them together. Can they survive and bring the Hawks to the Emir in time to save Sir Walter?
This is an epic story, covering most of Northern Europe and into the Mediterranean. The descriptions of the various countries are amazing, he describes in stunning detail the ravages of war on the English countryside, the bleakness and harshness of Iceland, the barren and dangerous coast of Greenland and then tough journey to Russia and finally to the heat of Anatolia. He introduces arrogant Norman nobles, downtrodden English peasants, Vicious Vikings, tough and hardy Icelanders, ruthless Lap hunters, Russian Princes and finally the Muslim Seljuks who hold Sir Walter captive.
I have rarely enjoyed a debut novel so much, it is such an ambitious story for the first novel but Robert Lyndon has pulled it off. I can not reccomend this book enough. A true page turner!
February 25, 2015
'Hawk Quest' by Robert Lyndon is the kind of huge historical fiction doorstop of a book I loved as a much younger reader. I was a big fan of Clavell and Michener, so you get a picture of the kind of massive, sprawling books I've read. This book fits in with those as well, sort of.
The Normans rule England and the Turks have a Norman hostage. A knight returning from captivity stumbles upon a young Greek and his ailing master. The ailing master wants to get the hostage released because he knows about a secret gospel and a letter from Prester John. The knight, Vallon, soon finds himself taking on this quest. And it's a huge one. The ransom is either an extraordinary sum of money or four of the purest white falcons, which can only be found in Greenland. The knight finds a company of loyal and less than loyal companions, and they take a very long voyage to capture the falcons and deliver them alive as a ransom. Not all who start the journey will finish it. Not even people that join up along the way.
I love the time period, and there are many different European groups of this era represented. It's an epic journey, but I felt like there could have been less of the many different people in the company and more of the historical details of the era. I really enjoyed reading it and I felt like the author really managed a very large cast of characters well. It's got a bit of a 'Joss Whedon' effect, so don't get too attached to a character, or you may find them out of the story, but I think that kept such a huge book fresh. With a length of almost 700 pages, it's definitely longer than most books I tend to read. And I felt it got a little preachy toward the end with the discovery of a gnostic gospel, but overall, I enjoyed the journey.
I received a review copy of this ebook from Hachette Book Group, Redhook, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me review this epic ebook.
The Normans rule England and the Turks have a Norman hostage. A knight returning from captivity stumbles upon a young Greek and his ailing master. The ailing master wants to get the hostage released because he knows about a secret gospel and a letter from Prester John. The knight, Vallon, soon finds himself taking on this quest. And it's a huge one. The ransom is either an extraordinary sum of money or four of the purest white falcons, which can only be found in Greenland. The knight finds a company of loyal and less than loyal companions, and they take a very long voyage to capture the falcons and deliver them alive as a ransom. Not all who start the journey will finish it. Not even people that join up along the way.
I love the time period, and there are many different European groups of this era represented. It's an epic journey, but I felt like there could have been less of the many different people in the company and more of the historical details of the era. I really enjoyed reading it and I felt like the author really managed a very large cast of characters well. It's got a bit of a 'Joss Whedon' effect, so don't get too attached to a character, or you may find them out of the story, but I think that kept such a huge book fresh. With a length of almost 700 pages, it's definitely longer than most books I tend to read. And I felt it got a little preachy toward the end with the discovery of a gnostic gospel, but overall, I enjoyed the journey.
I received a review copy of this ebook from Hachette Book Group, Redhook, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me review this epic ebook.
July 20, 2013
Dangit! I really wanted to like this book! I love historical fiction, I love hawking, I love a good action story, and I love the kinds of characters included in this story. Unfortunately, Lyndon doesn't deliver.
Point of view shifts don't generally bother me, as they may be necessary to tell a complex story. What bothers me about point of view in Hawk Quest is that it shifts from one person to another in the middle of paragraphs, and frequently without reason. The characters aren't given equal airing, and their complexities aren't fully explored before someone else comes on the scene. It's as if the characters aren't the author's chief interest, so he skips from event to event, letting whoever's present tell what's happening, regardless of the intended audience's interest in that person.
While I'm talking about character, I'd just like to make a quick visit to the cut-out nature of the women. They're all second bananas, included only for the purpose of validating the men in the story, and while I understand the nature of the social role women took in society at this time in the world, I also know that the Salerno medical school allowed women to study and become doctors, and that Eleanor of Aquitaine went on a Crusade with her daughter not long after this. Chaucer wrote the Wife of Bath not long after this. Women were an integral part of the social and economic fabric of the world during this time, and allowing them to do nothing but bathe in volcanic pools and lie on their backs and think of England isn't the most interesting thing to do with a character.
It's a shame that such a brilliant plot idea - the quest to bring four gyrfalcons to the Middle East from Greenland - falls so short. I think it is a focus on plot that causes the problem, though, as such an epic journey eventually causes plot fatigue. We really have to care about the characters to carry us through, and there isn't enough time spent on making them real to warrant the required enthusiasm.
Point of view shifts don't generally bother me, as they may be necessary to tell a complex story. What bothers me about point of view in Hawk Quest is that it shifts from one person to another in the middle of paragraphs, and frequently without reason. The characters aren't given equal airing, and their complexities aren't fully explored before someone else comes on the scene. It's as if the characters aren't the author's chief interest, so he skips from event to event, letting whoever's present tell what's happening, regardless of the intended audience's interest in that person.
While I'm talking about character, I'd just like to make a quick visit to the cut-out nature of the women. They're all second bananas, included only for the purpose of validating the men in the story, and while I understand the nature of the social role women took in society at this time in the world, I also know that the Salerno medical school allowed women to study and become doctors, and that Eleanor of Aquitaine went on a Crusade with her daughter not long after this. Chaucer wrote the Wife of Bath not long after this. Women were an integral part of the social and economic fabric of the world during this time, and allowing them to do nothing but bathe in volcanic pools and lie on their backs and think of England isn't the most interesting thing to do with a character.
It's a shame that such a brilliant plot idea - the quest to bring four gyrfalcons to the Middle East from Greenland - falls so short. I think it is a focus on plot that causes the problem, though, as such an epic journey eventually causes plot fatigue. We really have to care about the characters to carry us through, and there isn't enough time spent on making them real to warrant the required enthusiasm.
February 11, 2021
Hawk Quest is a large, ambitious book about a group of men and women who ultimately find themselves traveling towards Constantinople by way of Iceland. This trip is long and hazardous. As the title suggests, the quest is about finding 4 Gyrfalcons to deliver as part of ransom.
I really came to enjoy reading about the characters that made up the group on this quest and how they overcame (or failed to overcome) some of the obstacles in their way. This book isn't about absolute success and the hero's all have flaws of their own. I think this, coupled with a few twists at the end (and possibly it's length) have caused some to score this book lower than it deserves.
Ultimately, I very much enjoyed the journey and am disappointed not to have Vallon, Hero, Wayland and Syth to read about in the future.
PS - I really enjoyed the parts about the Falcons - I've always loved falconry and found this to be very enjoyable.
I really came to enjoy reading about the characters that made up the group on this quest and how they overcame (or failed to overcome) some of the obstacles in their way. This book isn't about absolute success and the hero's all have flaws of their own. I think this, coupled with a few twists at the end (and possibly it's length) have caused some to score this book lower than it deserves.
Ultimately, I very much enjoyed the journey and am disappointed not to have Vallon, Hero, Wayland and Syth to read about in the future.
PS - I really enjoyed the parts about the Falcons - I've always loved falconry and found this to be very enjoyable.
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