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Spellmonger Cadet #1
Hawkmaiden
The Falcon’s Call!
From the moment Dara of Westwood spied the Silver Headed Raptor nesting in Rundeval Peak, the precocious redheaded twelve year old girl was enchanted. The youngest daughter of the Master of the Wood lived in ramshackle Westwood Hall, in the independently-minded Westwood estate of Sevendor. Her determination to capture a baby falcon and train it wasn’t hampered by the fact that Dara had never climbed a mountain, had never been trained in falconry, or even remotely had permission from her father to do it. Dara wanted the falcon . . . and the only thing in her way was the mountain, an angry mother falcon, and her own fears.
But the daring climb up Rundeval and actually capturing the fledgling falcon is just the beginning of her troubles. Actually learning falconry and training the willful bird is a responsibility she had barely considered. Worse, there is trouble afoot in the domain: a new lord has come to rule over Sevendor and all of her people, replacing the corrupt old Sir Erantal. While everyone welcomes the change, the new lord is a wizard: a magelord, the first of his kind in four hundred years: Lord Minalan the Spellmonger. And he’s not alone. He’s brought thousands of oddly-dressed Wilderlanders with him, families escaping the wars in the west. . . . and settling in Sevendor.
Within weeks of holding his first court as lord of Sevendor, the wizard's magic begins to cause problems. Magelord Minalan turns Sevendor Castle, the entire mountain of Rundeval, and a good portion of the Westwood –including Dara’s home – into enchanted white stone when a spell goes unexpectedly awry one fateful night. As a result, Dara learns that she, too, may become a mage someday. Soon after she discovers that she can see through her falcon’s eyes and share her thoughts, the talents of a beastmaster, opening up a brilliant new world for her.
The folk of the valley have enough to eat for the first time in a generation, there are wizards all over Sevendor, and the castle glows with a magic light at night. The fortunes of the Westwood estate rise. But the Magelord finds foes as well as friends in Sevendor.
Though prosperity flows from the Magelord’s benevolent rule, the changes are frightening to some who have lost power since the Magelord came. Outside the Westwood, the other natives of the domain are upset by their magical lord and his strange new people, and there are whispers of rebellion. And outside of the domain, the neighboring lords, urged on by sinister forces, conspire to plunge Sevendor into war – with Dara and her family along with it!
What can one girl and her falcon do? When the Magelord leaves on business and his enemies close in on her home, Dara discovers she may hold the answer to saving them all! The fate of the entire domain rests with Dara of Westwood, the girl they’ll call the Hawkmaiden!
From the moment Dara of Westwood spied the Silver Headed Raptor nesting in Rundeval Peak, the precocious redheaded twelve year old girl was enchanted. The youngest daughter of the Master of the Wood lived in ramshackle Westwood Hall, in the independently-minded Westwood estate of Sevendor. Her determination to capture a baby falcon and train it wasn’t hampered by the fact that Dara had never climbed a mountain, had never been trained in falconry, or even remotely had permission from her father to do it. Dara wanted the falcon . . . and the only thing in her way was the mountain, an angry mother falcon, and her own fears.
But the daring climb up Rundeval and actually capturing the fledgling falcon is just the beginning of her troubles. Actually learning falconry and training the willful bird is a responsibility she had barely considered. Worse, there is trouble afoot in the domain: a new lord has come to rule over Sevendor and all of her people, replacing the corrupt old Sir Erantal. While everyone welcomes the change, the new lord is a wizard: a magelord, the first of his kind in four hundred years: Lord Minalan the Spellmonger. And he’s not alone. He’s brought thousands of oddly-dressed Wilderlanders with him, families escaping the wars in the west. . . . and settling in Sevendor.
Within weeks of holding his first court as lord of Sevendor, the wizard's magic begins to cause problems. Magelord Minalan turns Sevendor Castle, the entire mountain of Rundeval, and a good portion of the Westwood –including Dara’s home – into enchanted white stone when a spell goes unexpectedly awry one fateful night. As a result, Dara learns that she, too, may become a mage someday. Soon after she discovers that she can see through her falcon’s eyes and share her thoughts, the talents of a beastmaster, opening up a brilliant new world for her.
The folk of the valley have enough to eat for the first time in a generation, there are wizards all over Sevendor, and the castle glows with a magic light at night. The fortunes of the Westwood estate rise. But the Magelord finds foes as well as friends in Sevendor.
Though prosperity flows from the Magelord’s benevolent rule, the changes are frightening to some who have lost power since the Magelord came. Outside the Westwood, the other natives of the domain are upset by their magical lord and his strange new people, and there are whispers of rebellion. And outside of the domain, the neighboring lords, urged on by sinister forces, conspire to plunge Sevendor into war – with Dara and her family along with it!
What can one girl and her falcon do? When the Magelord leaves on business and his enemies close in on her home, Dara discovers she may hold the answer to saving them all! The fate of the entire domain rests with Dara of Westwood, the girl they’ll call the Hawkmaiden!
Audible Audio
First published January 22, 2015
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About the author
Terry Mancour
42 books1,176 followersTerry Mancour is a New York Times Best-Selling Author who has written more than 30 books, under his own name and pseudonyms, including Star Trek: The Next Generation #20, Spartacus, the Spellmonger Series (more than 11 books and growing), among other works.
He was born in Flint, Michigan in 1968 (according to his mother) and wisely relocated to North Carolina in 1978 where he embraced Southern culture and its dedication to compelling narratives and intriguing characterizations. He attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he majored in Religious Studies.
Terry, his beautiful wife and three children live just outside of Durham, N.C. atop Red Mountain. He was nominated for the 2018 Audie Award for Best Fantasy for the audiobook for Spellmonger (narrated by John Lee), the first book in his Spellmonger Series.
He has plotted the Spellmonger Series for at least thirty books, in addition to his Spellmonger Cadet (young adult) series, stand-alone novels, short stories and novellas set within the Spellmonger Universe, all of which will be published by Podium as audiobooks. He is also the author of a series of sequels to Golden Age sci-fi master H. Beam Piper's novel, Space Viking, as well as original sci-fi novels.
He was born in Flint, Michigan in 1968 (according to his mother) and wisely relocated to North Carolina in 1978 where he embraced Southern culture and its dedication to compelling narratives and intriguing characterizations. He attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he majored in Religious Studies.
Terry, his beautiful wife and three children live just outside of Durham, N.C. atop Red Mountain. He was nominated for the 2018 Audie Award for Best Fantasy for the audiobook for Spellmonger (narrated by John Lee), the first book in his Spellmonger Series.
He has plotted the Spellmonger Series for at least thirty books, in addition to his Spellmonger Cadet (young adult) series, stand-alone novels, short stories and novellas set within the Spellmonger Universe, all of which will be published by Podium as audiobooks. He is also the author of a series of sequels to Golden Age sci-fi master H. Beam Piper's novel, Space Viking, as well as original sci-fi novels.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
January 27, 2015
As with many of Terry Mancour's book I enjoyed the mix of fantasy with humor and down to earth nature of the characters in the book. However to be honest, in the author's notes in his blog about this book, he points out this was meant to be a YA novel for kids. Got that and while it held to the premise there is one problem. The book is set in the world of the Spellmonger and is a secondary telling of his second book. To understand where some of the characters are coming from the reader either has to have read the first two books and some of the short novellas or flow with characters being thrown a them. I gave the book five stars as a continued reader of the series, but it would get a two going on three if I was picking this up as an independent series for YA that were not permitted to read the earlier books. Mind you I think all of Terry's book would be fine within YA regardless of some of the scenes he has. They are not as bad as what is presented on TV these days.
September 12, 2019
So goooooood!!!!!
I loved everything about this!
I loved everything about this!
July 18, 2020
Fairly generic but fun YA book about a 12 year old girl growing into her powers.
January 14, 2024
I absolutely loved every moment of this, from the first five minutes to the last. If you're a fan of Tamora Pierce's work, I'd consider this just as good and in the same vein!
It had the tone and feel of a classic fantasy story, with down to earth characters and a confident writing style that needed no extra fluff. The prose was very matter of fact, describing just enough to put you in the scene and able to understand the emotional response Dara had to everything, but without any nonsense. That said, there are moments that make it clear not a great deal of editing happened. Information repeats itself regularly - sometimes more than once in the same scene - as though sections written separately were put together without a read through. Things like Dara noting 'it was the busiest market seen for years' or information about witch stones and the Spellmonger's work in getting one. I didn't notice the first time I read it, but the second time it was very obvious.
Dara (our main character) is an absolute delight. It's nice to come across women/girl characters in books that, despite their own disinterest, don't bash 'feminine pursuits' or typical fantasy women's work. She feels like an actual kid that's just uninterested in those things, with a realistic outlook on life.
Some reviews mention you need to read previous books in the Spellmonger series first, but I haven't and didn't think I needed any extra information. Events outside of Dara's world are briefly covered to make the reader know what's going on, and the characters from other stories are described for those new to the world.
It had the tone and feel of a classic fantasy story, with down to earth characters and a confident writing style that needed no extra fluff. The prose was very matter of fact, describing just enough to put you in the scene and able to understand the emotional response Dara had to everything, but without any nonsense. That said, there are moments that make it clear not a great deal of editing happened. Information repeats itself regularly - sometimes more than once in the same scene - as though sections written separately were put together without a read through. Things like Dara noting 'it was the busiest market seen for years' or information about witch stones and the Spellmonger's work in getting one. I didn't notice the first time I read it, but the second time it was very obvious.
Dara (our main character) is an absolute delight. It's nice to come across women/girl characters in books that, despite their own disinterest, don't bash 'feminine pursuits' or typical fantasy women's work. She feels like an actual kid that's just uninterested in those things, with a realistic outlook on life.
Some reviews mention you need to read previous books in the Spellmonger series first, but I haven't and didn't think I needed any extra information. Events outside of Dara's world are briefly covered to make the reader know what's going on, and the characters from other stories are described for those new to the world.
November 17, 2025
Audiobook narrated by Finty Williams.
This is not advertised as a YA book, but it definitely is. Twelve-year-old Dara of Westwood captures and trains a falcon with the help of her supportive family. Much of the early part of the book is concerned with this, but when Minalan the Spellmonger becomes the new Lord of Sevendor, ousting the hated Sir Erendal, magic comes into the equation. Contending with new talents Dara plays an important part in saving Sevendor from an attack by a neighbouring lord, then goes on to enter a magical competition which leads to unexpected consequences. It’s a fairly standard coming-of-age tale with a few exciting sequences. Finty Williams' voice carries traces of her mother's (Judi Dench) and the narration is good, but the story is a bit slow. I generally like keeping up with what's available in the YA field, but I probably won't seek out then next book in the sequence yet. Although this is labelled as Spellmonger Cadet #1 I gather that it’s a YA retelling of events in a previous book. I guess I started in the wrong place.
This is not advertised as a YA book, but it definitely is. Twelve-year-old Dara of Westwood captures and trains a falcon with the help of her supportive family. Much of the early part of the book is concerned with this, but when Minalan the Spellmonger becomes the new Lord of Sevendor, ousting the hated Sir Erendal, magic comes into the equation. Contending with new talents Dara plays an important part in saving Sevendor from an attack by a neighbouring lord, then goes on to enter a magical competition which leads to unexpected consequences. It’s a fairly standard coming-of-age tale with a few exciting sequences. Finty Williams' voice carries traces of her mother's (Judi Dench) and the narration is good, but the story is a bit slow. I generally like keeping up with what's available in the YA field, but I probably won't seek out then next book in the sequence yet. Although this is labelled as Spellmonger Cadet #1 I gather that it’s a YA retelling of events in a previous book. I guess I started in the wrong place.
September 8, 2020
Awesome to have some more background on Dara, I thought she was the more interesting of the Spellmonger's apprentices.
December 17, 2019
General Overview
A turn in the Spellmonger chronicles, Hawkmaiden by Terry Mancour shows off his skills as a writer, and is a great new read for lovers of the series.
Style
I have spoken at length in my reviews of Mr Mancour’s other books about his competency and style of writing. Hawkmaiden is no different to these books, and is strongly delivered with panache as you would expect.
However, a clear testament to the authors skill as a writer, is in the strong female lead he writes up for this book. Moving from the perspective of the debonair Spellmonger to a young girl, and doing so well, truly shows the writers strength.
It also allows us to see another coming of age story in the setting, and to see some key events from the story so far from another perspective. A right treat for any fan of the series.
Story
Dara of Westwood, youngest daughter of the lord there, has her life changed forever, when Minalan the Spellmonger arrives in Sevendor as the new lord. The stories covers some time before this key event in the main series narrative, and delves into the people of Sevendor, putting some new light to the interesting characters there.
Through her own determination, skill, and grit, Dara tames a mighty hawk, a talent further enhanced by a magical accident that fans of the series are well aware of.
Hawkmaiden is a lovely coming of age story, given all the more depth and in my opinion success by covering events known to the readers from previous books, and diving into the, further.
The story ends perfectly, and I can’t wait to start the next one in this mini series.
Final Thoughts
A spin off worthy of its own series, Hawkmaiden was a delight to read, with lovely characters, and depth.
A turn in the Spellmonger chronicles, Hawkmaiden by Terry Mancour shows off his skills as a writer, and is a great new read for lovers of the series.
Style
I have spoken at length in my reviews of Mr Mancour’s other books about his competency and style of writing. Hawkmaiden is no different to these books, and is strongly delivered with panache as you would expect.
However, a clear testament to the authors skill as a writer, is in the strong female lead he writes up for this book. Moving from the perspective of the debonair Spellmonger to a young girl, and doing so well, truly shows the writers strength.
It also allows us to see another coming of age story in the setting, and to see some key events from the story so far from another perspective. A right treat for any fan of the series.
Story
Dara of Westwood, youngest daughter of the lord there, has her life changed forever, when Minalan the Spellmonger arrives in Sevendor as the new lord. The stories covers some time before this key event in the main series narrative, and delves into the people of Sevendor, putting some new light to the interesting characters there.
Through her own determination, skill, and grit, Dara tames a mighty hawk, a talent further enhanced by a magical accident that fans of the series are well aware of.
Hawkmaiden is a lovely coming of age story, given all the more depth and in my opinion success by covering events known to the readers from previous books, and diving into the, further.
The story ends perfectly, and I can’t wait to start the next one in this mini series.
Final Thoughts
A spin off worthy of its own series, Hawkmaiden was a delight to read, with lovely characters, and depth.
August 16, 2017
Perfect
I have been saving Hawkmaiden since it came out and I worked my way through the original Spellmonger stories with the "naughty bits." It was delightful and perfect for a 10-14 year old. Granted the older the child the harder it is to read a good book honest young adult book that doesn't inadvertently steal their innocence.
So from this avid reader of the Spellmonger series, well done. I look forward to future "Cadet" novels as well as the continuing tales of this universe!!
I have been saving Hawkmaiden since it came out and I worked my way through the original Spellmonger stories with the "naughty bits." It was delightful and perfect for a 10-14 year old. Granted the older the child the harder it is to read a good book honest young adult book that doesn't inadvertently steal their innocence.
So from this avid reader of the Spellmonger series, well done. I look forward to future "Cadet" novels as well as the continuing tales of this universe!!
August 23, 2019
Fun and fantastic
Definitely worth a read! I really feel like I understand Lenodara's side of the story much better at this point. When (in the main books) she turned down a certain favorite character I admit I considered her to be petulant and undeserving. I realize now that I really only heard one side of the story and now having heard her side I feel I understand her motives and decisions a lot better! Thanks Terry Mancour for another amazing trip down Sevendor lane.
Definitely worth a read! I really feel like I understand Lenodara's side of the story much better at this point. When (in the main books) she turned down a certain favorite character I admit I considered her to be petulant and undeserving. I realize now that I really only heard one side of the story and now having heard her side I feel I understand her motives and decisions a lot better! Thanks Terry Mancour for another amazing trip down Sevendor lane.
June 12, 2020
Excellent Addition!
An excellent addition and addition to the Spellmonger series. A wonderful exploration of Dora firsthand from her life and her people just prior to the Spellmonger's influence arriving and then continuing her journey with her falcon thru the conclusion of the contest. If you ever wondered about Dora's perspective, this story will pleasantly fill the reader in. Looking forward to reading about her continuing journey...
An excellent addition and addition to the Spellmonger series. A wonderful exploration of Dora firsthand from her life and her people just prior to the Spellmonger's influence arriving and then continuing her journey with her falcon thru the conclusion of the contest. If you ever wondered about Dora's perspective, this story will pleasantly fill the reader in. Looking forward to reading about her continuing journey...
July 6, 2020
Told from the perspective of a 12 yo girl, this was a very enjoyable tale of determination, adventure, war and magic. The narrations audible was fabulous and I look forward to the next one in the series.
I haven’t read any of the Spellmonger series and that didn’t affect my enjoyment of this book. Might have to read them one day too!
I haven’t read any of the Spellmonger series and that didn’t affect my enjoyment of this book. Might have to read them one day too!
December 24, 2018
And when is number 2 coming out
I want to know,heat happens next to this lady. I love she is a strong female lead in a male dominated world. How is she going to deal with these males next time and her hawk. Sorry falcon.
I want to know,heat happens next to this lady. I love she is a strong female lead in a male dominated world. How is she going to deal with these males next time and her hawk. Sorry falcon.
June 23, 2015
This series by Terry Mancour is a must read for epic fantasy readers. So many twists and turns in the interwoven plot lines... So many good characters... Very well developed world building and magic systems.
October 15, 2015
An excellent read, and very quick. An enjoyable way to spend an afternoon.
Hawkmaiden does a very nice job expanding on the backstory of Dara. I quite liked the alternate perspective on events in Sevendor during the siege.
Hawkmaiden does a very nice job expanding on the backstory of Dara. I quite liked the alternate perspective on events in Sevendor during the siege.
August 2, 2019
I enjoyed this book. This was a great introduction to lady Lena Dara. This is the back story of a fascinating character introduced and lightly used in the Spellmomger’s ongoing odyssey. Well written.
April 24, 2020
I loved the narrator & the characters were charming. I wish I had heard this book when I was 13 or so... I would have been so enthralled. As it was I will tune into the rest of the aries I think. Not disappointed with this at all.
May 6, 2020
I've mostly listened to all the the Spellmonger series. It was very jarring hearing another narrator. There is a certain... style I am used to, and having a different narrator, while warranted, gave me problems with listening to this book. Of the 3, this is my favorite.
April 19, 2022
Pretty Good
It was nice to look at the characters from a different perspective.
It was nice to look at the characters from a different perspective.
July 20, 2017
Hawkmaiden
Dara is an amazing character. I am so glad he did a spin off on her. Excellent read. I cannot wait to experience her character in subsequent books!
Dara is an amazing character. I am so glad he did a spin off on her. Excellent read. I cannot wait to experience her character in subsequent books!
October 26, 2018
Good Read.
The young adult novel of the hawkmaiden from the beginning with the story touching the Spellmonger story, but with more details from a POV.
The young adult novel of the hawkmaiden from the beginning with the story touching the Spellmonger story, but with more details from a POV.
August 8, 2019
I enjoyed it! Great back story!
October 1, 2019
A great gateway into the spellmonger series!
Read
November 16, 2019Awesome
Awesome storyline and interesting read with twists and turns while striving to achieve her goal of obtaining a fledgling and unknowingly her natural talent released.
Awesome storyline and interesting read with twists and turns while striving to achieve her goal of obtaining a fledgling and unknowingly her natural talent released.
December 1, 2024
An Outstanding Start To The Series! ** NO SPOILERS **
When I picked up this book to read I was unaware that it was intended for a YA audience. Whilst it fills that role admirably it does not in any way read as childish or patronising in the way that some YA novels can appear.
I chose the series to read as I was hungry for more insight into the “Spellmonger World” and getting a better insight into a prominent character was an absolute win.
The one thing that sticks with me is that it gives a better understanding of the feudal society. If you’ve read the Spellmonger novels you’ll know that he does become shockingly wealthy on his long term goal of “magic in service to mankind”.
As an adult it’s easy to forget that all the improvements that the fictional wizards in the series bring to the quality of life of those around them are small steps in comparison to 21st century life that we’re used to living. I think this series places more of an emphasis on what it all means to the everyday people on Callidor. Not forgetting that Dara is already in a privileged position as a child of a yeoman.
An absolute pleasure to read, allowing you to experience all things Spellmonger from a very different perspective. Five stars obviously, as if it’s possible to award less.
When I picked up this book to read I was unaware that it was intended for a YA audience. Whilst it fills that role admirably it does not in any way read as childish or patronising in the way that some YA novels can appear.
I chose the series to read as I was hungry for more insight into the “Spellmonger World” and getting a better insight into a prominent character was an absolute win.
The one thing that sticks with me is that it gives a better understanding of the feudal society. If you’ve read the Spellmonger novels you’ll know that he does become shockingly wealthy on his long term goal of “magic in service to mankind”.
As an adult it’s easy to forget that all the improvements that the fictional wizards in the series bring to the quality of life of those around them are small steps in comparison to 21st century life that we’re used to living. I think this series places more of an emphasis on what it all means to the everyday people on Callidor. Not forgetting that Dara is already in a privileged position as a child of a yeoman.
An absolute pleasure to read, allowing you to experience all things Spellmonger from a very different perspective. Five stars obviously, as if it’s possible to award less.
April 27, 2024
Mancour admits to writing this for YA so note that - so if fans of the spellmonger 'adult' series read this they might be a bit put off because it is certainly missing his naughty sense of humour and the reader has to be prepared for the innocence of it all. Saying that it does tell Dara's story so it is good to cover it for that reason - particularly filling in some blanks about what actually happens when Sevendor is invaded while Min is away (book 2) and how Dara becomes a falconer capturing Frightful and then a mage -along with more about her family and simply growing up as a girl. It's a quick easy read.
March 9, 2021
Fun YA foray into the Spellmonger world
This was a fun, quick story in Mancour's Spellmonger world. Yes, this covers events that happen in the main storyline, but it focuses on a perspective of a young girl during those events. I found that already knowing the general ideas of what was going to happen actually made the book more investing, in some ways. I enjoyed the writing (though there were a few editorial mistakes), and Dara's story is pretty fun. Looking forward to the next one.
This was a fun, quick story in Mancour's Spellmonger world. Yes, this covers events that happen in the main storyline, but it focuses on a perspective of a young girl during those events. I found that already knowing the general ideas of what was going to happen actually made the book more investing, in some ways. I enjoyed the writing (though there were a few editorial mistakes), and Dara's story is pretty fun. Looking forward to the next one.
April 26, 2021
Fantastic
Whilst painfully aware I’m not in this book’s intended demographic, I couldn’t put it down and am thereby all the more eager to write a review.
The dynamic of a little girl struggling to be taken seriously traces through the scenes consistently, adding context and believability to each chapter.
Somehow the travails set before her are sufficiently onerous as to be defining whilst not loosing plausibility. It all goes to build tension ahead of her staring role in the story’s climax.
Great stuff.
Whilst painfully aware I’m not in this book’s intended demographic, I couldn’t put it down and am thereby all the more eager to write a review.
The dynamic of a little girl struggling to be taken seriously traces through the scenes consistently, adding context and believability to each chapter.
Somehow the travails set before her are sufficiently onerous as to be defining whilst not loosing plausibility. It all goes to build tension ahead of her staring role in the story’s climax.
Great stuff.
November 16, 2022
There's three in this side series, telling the backstory of Dara, the falconer. It follows her from age 12 to her service to the Spellmonger as apprentice, warrior, bird trainer and finally the leader of the Skyriders of Sevendoor.
This series was okay. Enjoyable enough if one is already a Spellmonger fan. I think a person who has not read the Spellmonger books would struggle a bit to get thru it, but I doubt that's a problem as the typical fan is just craving Spellmonger content. This fills that hole.
Thanks Terry!
This series was okay. Enjoyable enough if one is already a Spellmonger fan. I think a person who has not read the Spellmonger books would struggle a bit to get thru it, but I doubt that's a problem as the typical fan is just craving Spellmonger content. This fills that hole.
Thanks Terry!
October 6, 2024
I discovered this book as I was searching for an audiobook read by Finty Williams. She has such a lovely voice and I wanted to listen to it for a few hours. The story wasn’t the most compelling tale, but it has its good points. I enjoyed the main character, Dara. She’s pretty spunky, energetic, and capable. I also loved the setting of castles and woodlands with royalty and magicians roaming around. The book seemed more middle grade than young adult to me, as Dara is only 12-13. I might give the next book in the series a try to see what Dara gets up to next.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews