Gwenael

Sun Wolf and Starhawk

by Barbara Hambly

A novelette of 15,000 words, sequel to Hambly’s Sun Wolf and Starhawk novels. Former barbarian mercenary Sun Wolf re-visits the ruined fortress of the Wizard-King, hoping to find the books of magic that the dead sorcerer hoarded. He finds, instead, that a) the defenses and curses that Wizard-King set on his fortress are still very much active and b) there are other mages, as inexperienced as himself, in quest of those books: mages who will stop at nothing to get to them first.

Genres: Fantasy

42 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 5, 2018

About the author

aka Barbara Hamilton

Ranging from fantasy to historical fiction, Barbara Hambly has a masterful way of spinning a story. Her twisty plots involve memorable characters, lavish descriptions, scads of novel words, and interesting devices. Her work spans the Star Wars universe, antebellum New Orleans, and various fantasy worlds, sometimes linked with our own.


"I always wanted to be a writer but everyone kept telling me it was impossible to break into the field or make money. I've proven them wrong on both counts."
-Barbara Hambly

Reviews

[Erin (PT) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Of Hambly's continuing series novellas, I feel like she's written the least about Sun Wolf and Starhawk, so it was delightful to see a new story about them, and it was fascinating to take a look at what's become of Altiokis' Citadel and the surrounding lands, now that it's several years later. As usual, I wish that it had been much, much longer and that Hambly had been able to delve much deeper...but I also understand the constraints of taking the time away from her active, still publishing series for these probably less lucrative shorts.

All that being said, I'm not quite sure how I feel about the resolution of this particular story. On the one hand, I'm really glad that Tiogh, at the last, put Gwenael's desire for freedom, and to be a swan-maiden, above his love for her. As the story had gone on and the one-sidedness of his love had become more obvious, I was afraid that it would go the other way.

On the other hand--and probably because of the shortness of the story--Tiogh's change of heart seemed...unearned? Or maybe just abrupt. He'd done so many desperate and selfish things up to that final moment and (again) the shortness of the story didn't give him any room to show any change.

So it was a relief, that the outcome wasn't Tiogh stealing Gwenael from her chosen life as a swan-maiden, but I wanted that choice to feel less like it came from nowhere. It worked for me, but it could've worked better, I guess.

[Allyson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent short story!

Starhawk and Sunwolf ride into the Thanelands in search of rare magic books and become entangled in the schemes of a wannabe wizard. This description of the plot doesn’t begin to describe the depth and breadth of this intricate tale. It’s lovely.

[Mai · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful little short in the Sun Wolf series!

[Nicole Luiken · Rating 4 out of 5]

Novellette. I'm starting on the Sun Wolf and Starhawk ones now...