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The Hawk Eternal

(The Hawk Queen #2)

David Gemmell

4.01 · Rating details · 2,650 ratings · 44 reviews

While the warlike and merciless Aenir wreak havoc upon the territory outside the mountain stronghold of the clans, Sigarni, the Hawk Queen, arrives in a parallel version of her own universe through a gate in space and time. Taliesen, last of the gatekeepers, has no idea why she has come. But he knows that heroes are needed and grants her passage into the ravaged land.

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Mass Market Paperback, 356 pages

Published August 30th 2005 by Del Rey Books (first published January 1st 1995)

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Nov 09, 2017 Choko rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, time-travel

*** 3 ***

A buddy read with the Fantasy Buddy Reads Group.

I had a lot of high expectations for this novel and I have to say, I was let down.... No, nothing is really wrong with the righting or the story, but it just felt like the author had enough material and ideas for a novella or a short story and stretched it out forcefully into a full length novel. As a novel on its own it would have made much more sense than as a novel which followed the Hawk Queen. The time-travel and other dimensions ele ...more

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Nov 07, 2017 Mayim de Vries rated it it was ok

So. You kind of enjoyed the Irondhand’s Daughter and now you wonder whether you should continue with the series.

The short answer is: No, don't read it. This should have been a footnote to the Ironhand's Daughter not a novel on its own.

The long answer is: This book is not worthy of your precious time for several reasons:

1. In Silmarillion the whole story of the Rings of Power and the Third Age is compacted into 20 pages. Tolkien’s incomparable genius turned only a portion of these into a trilogy So. You kind of enjoyed the Irondhand’s Daughter and now you wonder whether you should continue with the series.

The short answer is: No, don't read it. This should have been a footnote to the Ironhand's Daughter not a novel on its own.

The long answer is: This book is not worthy of your precious time for several reasons:

1. In Silmarillion the whole story of the Rings of Power and the Third Age is compacted into 20 pages. Tolkien’s incomparable genius turned only a portion of these into a trilogy (and many of us wish this was a series at least as long as the Wheel of Time). Mr Gemmell tries to do something very similar: He stretches something that should have been an appendix in the previous book into a separate novel. And fails. It’s like a butter spread so thinly, there is no taste of butter left.

2. There is not enough substance for a sequel/companion novel. Perhaps an addendum, a short novella, but not a separate book. There are unnecessary scenes and sequences that last forever, buildup of redundant detail, backstories of Caswallon, Caswallon’s wife, and father-in-law, and Caswallon crofter and Caswallon’s dog (well, he doesn’t have a dog, so we were spared, but we did get the backstory of Caswallon adopted son’s dog, yes, we did!). On the other hand, the really important issues like time travel and multiple universes, or the Hawk Eternal itself, were just mentioned in passing as if Mr Gemmell couldn’t provide any details because he himself was unsure what are those.

3. This is because the story itself was not good enough. I am writing this in case you decided that you want to read the book just for fun because of the fantastic world building and the character s and the plot. You will not get either of those, except for the highland clan atmosphere. If you were eager to spend more time with the protagonists we were introduced to in Irondhand’s Daughter, forget it. You will get a glimpse of Obrin and learn few things about Taliesen. Sigarni’s story is not propelled forward, it is propelled sideways, so to speak and in the most infuriating manner (we are speaking mainly about two last chapters). This is because as the author plays with the idea of time paradoxes and gateways, the world he built previously alters, and then again, and in the end you are just left there with a crude wrap up and a lousy happy ending.

Don’t repeat my mistake. The Hawk Eternal is a waste of pages not worthy of your time. If you want some quality Gemmell, read Legend instead. ...more

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Nov 12, 2017 Laura rated it it was ok

This one was a disappointment.

If you're expecting a sequel to Ironhand's Daughter you're not gonna get it here.

This feels like a separate novel (an overstretched novella to be more precise). It could have been finished in just a few chapters and isn't really worth the time. We get too less of Sigarni and nothing of other characters that made the first book a great read.

Not a real waste of time but one you can do without. ...more

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Feb 22, 2016 Kostas rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, science-fantasy, heroic-fantasy

7/10

In the second book of the Hawk Queen series with the heroine Sigarni, Gemmell travels us this time into a parallel world where a great war is about to break out.

Even though this book is a "sequel" to the heroine Sigarni she has, actually, a very small role because the story here focuses mostly on two unexpected heroes, on Caswallon, a former clan thief, and on a young boy Gaelen, where fate has unite them and together they will have to face the barbaric race Aenir as the only thing they want 7/10

In the second book of the Hawk Queen series with the heroine Sigarni, Gemmell travels us this time into a parallel world where a great war is about to break out.

Even though this book is a "sequel" to the heroine Sigarni she has, actually, a very small role because the story here focuses mostly on two unexpected heroes, on Caswallon, a former clan thief, and on a young boy Gaelen, where fate has unite them and together they will have to face the barbaric race Aenir as the only thing they want is to conquer their lands.
In the meantime, Taliesen will have to find a way in time and space to try and save Sigarni from her ultimate fate.

The good thing about this book is that Gemmell, actually, handles much better the development of the story and of the characters but with all that I can't say that I liked it as much as the previous one.
And that is because sometimes I kept loosing my interest in the characters and especially in the middle of the book as Gemmell spends too much time with the Games and, perhaps, it could have been better if it was lesser that part.
But in the last 100 pages things start to improve and with the story getting more interesting as Gemmell plays a lot with the parallel worlds and Time itself, and with the future and the past, which by the way I believe that this is the best part of the book (that and the scene with the Beast).
Of course the greatest disadvantage of the book is that the main protagonist is missing too much from the story, in my opinion, and I believe that I would have liked much more if Gemmell had put her a little more, but on the other hand he has, surprisingly, made a good enough finale as he has combined the beginning of the story with the end and with the first book.

Overall though, I can’t say it's a bad book, or that I was completely disappointed, just don’t expect anything spectacular.

Ελληνική κριτική:
(view spoiler)[Ένα ακόμα βιβλίο με την ηρωίδα Sigarni και με τον Gemmell αυτή τη φορά να μας ταξιδεύει σε ένα παράλληλο κόσμο όπου ένας μεγάλος πόλεμος είναι έτοιμος να ξεσπάσει.

Παρ’ όλο που αυτό το βιβλίο είναι η «συνέχεια» της ηρωίδας Sigarni έχει, ουσιαστικά, ένα πολύ μικρό ρόλο καθώς η ιστορία εδώ επικεντρώνεται, κυρίως, γύρω από δύο αναπάντεχους ήρωες, τον Caswallon, έναν πρώην κλέφτη των συντεχνιών, και τον νεαρό Gaelen όπου η μοίρα τους ένωσε και θα πρέπει μαζί να αντιμετωπίσουν τους βάρβαρους Aenir καθώς το μόνο που θέλουν είναι να κατακτήσουν την γη τους.
Εν τω μεταξύ ο Taliesen θα προσπαθήσει να βρει ένα τρόπο μέσα από τους κόσμους και τον ίδιο τον Χρόνο για γλιτώσει την Sigarni από την αναπάντεχη μοίρα της.

Το καλό σε αυτό το βιβλίο είναι ότι ο Gemmell χειρίζεται πολύ καλύτερα την ανάπτυξη της ιστορίας και των χαρακτήρων αλλά γενικά δεν μπορώ να πω ότι μου άρεσε τόσο όσο το προηγούμενο.
Και αυτό γιατί μερικές φορές έχανα το ενδιαφέρον μου με τους χαρακτήρες και ειδικά στη μέση του βιβλίου ο Gemmell ασχολείται, ίσως, υπερβολικά πολύ με του Αγώνες και πιστεύω θα μπορούσε να ήταν πιο «μαζεμένο» αυτό το κομμάτι.
Όμως στις τελευταίες 100 σελίδες αρχίζει και βελτιώνεται αρκετά η ιστορία αφού ο Gemmell εδώ παίζει αρκετά με τους παράλληλους κόσμους και τον χρόνο, με το μέλλον και το παρελθόν, πράγμα που πιστεύω ήταν αυτό που μου άρεσε περισσότερο στο βιβλίο (αυτό και η σκηνή με το τέρας).
Βέβαια θεωρώ αρκετά μεγάλο μείον το ότι η βασική πρωταγωνίστρια λείπει από την ιστορία και πιστεύω ότι θα γινόταν ακόμα καλύτερο αν ο Gemmell την είχε βάλει λίγο περισσότερο μέσα στην ιστορία αλλά από την άλλη έχει κάνει ένα αρκετά καλό φινάλε συνδυάζοντας την αρχή με το τέλος αλλά και με το πρώτο βιβλίο πράγμα που με εντυπωσίασε.

Συνολικά πάντως δεν μπορώ να πω ότι είναι κακό βιβλίο, ούτε ότι απογοητεύτηκα εντελώς, απλά μην περιμένετε τίποτα τρομερό. (hide spoiler)] ...more

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May 20, 2009 Michele rated it it was ok

Since this was a sequel, foolishly, I expected it to be about the characters in Ironhand's Daughter. Ha! It was about a character mentioned in passing. This could have been interesting.

This is certainly an interesting idea, but I felt like there were two books inbetween that I didn't read.

David has a great story in his head, but it didn't fully realized itself on the written page. ...more

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Sep 20, 2007 Freda Wang rated it really liked it

Sequel to Ironhand's Daughter although stands on its own as a complete novel. So pleased he wrote a sequel as loved the first one. Gemmell is one of the best living heroic fantasy writers out of Britain. ...more

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Oct 26, 2019 Lanko rated it liked it

Shelves: 2019, n-e2019

More like 2,5.

Some good moments and development, but extremely rushed conclusion, main character and driving force of the first book completely sidetracked (and that's being generous), antagonists that kill, plunder, rape and wage war just because, group of teenagers turning into the strongest/wisest group the clan has/will have in their whole history...

But it did have some good development, specially how Caswallon teaches Gaelen, those little tidbits of information and knowledge, specially abou ...more

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Dec 23, 2009 Graham rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

Instead of offering a straight sequel to Ironhand’s Daughter, Gemmell delivers a bizarre semi-sequel set mostly in an alternate universe, utilising the same idea of Gateways between realities as in Dark Prince. It pays off, for this time Gemmell gets to introduce some new, enthralling heroes, and Signari’s presence is kept to a minimum. That’s great, because her story was already told in the first book.

For the new heroes, Caswallon is the introspective loner, Gaelen the scarred and powerful you ...more

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Apr 14, 2013 Rachel Toh rated it liked it

Recommends it for: If you like time travelling books, decent fantasy aspect, detailed war tactics

Shelves: fantasy

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Sep 06, 2010 Wonderkell rated it it was amazing

Shelves: faves, fantasy

I have adored David Gemmell from a young teenager when his magical & complex worlds helped me escape from an unhappy childhood. His heroic characters are always so incredibly well written - flawed human & incredibly courageous. I guess in a way they made me feel strong and brave enough to overcome anything too. The Hawk Queen especially, which is why this is a favorite.

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Sep 27, 2016 Susan Tietjen rated it really liked it

Always love David Gemmell. Riveting stories, nail-biting perils, and challenges that just don't seem to be conquerable. Sometimes they aren't, and always, his characters who do survive learn important lessons and bear the scars to prove it. This book was not one of his very best, but it was really good. ...more

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Dec 05, 2012 Luna Ofthenight rated it really liked it

I first read this out of sync, as a stand alone tale. On a re-read I indulged in it after Iron Hands Daughter. To be honest I preferred my first read. As a tale I loved it, as a sequel it lacked cohesion with the first book.

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Jul 08, 2008 Helena rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy, from-library

This one was even better than Ironhand's Daughter. David Gemmell should have written more books like these, I liked these two even better than his Drenai-novels.
...more

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Feb 24, 2015 Bill rated it really liked it

I feel like I need to read Ironhand's Daughter again just so I can make the 'times' fit better. A case where the sequel reads better than the original story. ...more

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Dec 31, 2017 Angel 一匹狼 rated it liked it

Belonging. Identity. Being part of a group. All of Gemmell's novels revolve around the same ideas, and "The Hawk Eternal" is no exception.

Gaelen is the lone survivor of the attack on his city by the Aenir, vicious killers and butchers that enjoy war for its own sake. Caswallon, a member of the clans, decides to save him for no clear reason but his respect for the youth's desire to keep on living.

Gaelen comes to live with the clans. However, the threat of the Aenir is now on their lands. Gaelen, ...more

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Sep 23, 2020 Ben A rated it really liked it

So I read the omnibus and counted this as the second book... sue me!
After the disappointment of the re-read of Ironhands Daughter, this was a welcome re-read of the “sequel”.
Reading the book you’d be forgiven that you were expecting it to continue the epic tale of the Hawk Queen, Sigarni.
Nope.
Galen and Cadswallon are your lads here and they rule the roost.
It’s helpful, when wanting to specifically read a book with a female protagonist that this novel isn’t one. Once I’d got over the disappoi ...more

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Jan 11, 2017 Ian Banks rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

Entertaining sequel to Ironhand's Daughter with more timey-wimey shenanigans. Sigarni features as a very minor character in this one as it is set several generations prior to that book, using characters and settings mentioned fleetingly there.

It tells a similar story, too: the Lowlanders are replaced by ersatz Vikings who are building an empire for themselves. They are portrayed in a way that doesn't generate much sympathy for them and their backstory is dealt with far too perfunctorily to make

...more

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Aug 24, 2020 Raymond Walker rated it really liked it

It is rare that David Gemmell puts a foot wrong in his chosen genre of Historic/Heroic fiction and this is not the time. "The Hawk Eternal" is an excellent novel, fast paced, exciting and a great read.
This is the sequel to "Ironhands Daughter" and is the better book. The initial book being necessary to set the scene and introduce the characters required for this enjoyable romp where the highlanders vastly outnumbered take on the might of the Aenir (essentially Vikings) in a battle for the surviv ...more

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Apr 04, 2018 Vincent rated it it was ok

Another disappointing instalment.

Similar to the first Hawk Queen.

The characters in this book are slightly better than the first one but the plot is slightly worse so the end result is the same.

We have the standard Gemmell cast but without any edge to them, very much a paint-by-numbers job.

The plot is messy with multiple worlds and time lines making anything possible and nothing intelligent.

The ending is exactly as it had to be from the first book so no surprises.

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Oct 04, 2018 Raqual Humphries rated it it was amazing

At first i was a bit confused as i thought it half carried on with the battle queens story but it really doesn't...she does get mentions and has a pivitol role but it's an awesome story without her...the same people...same tribes...different time/plane of existence... ...more

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Jun 16, 2019 Sam rated it really liked it

Shelves: read-fantasy, r-hatch-orbit-questar-warner-aspect, part-of-omnibus

I enjoyed this sequel. It was well written, particularly the descriptions of combat. I was a little disappointed that most of the book revolved around the Clans and Druid time travel, while neglecting the rest of Sigarni's story (although she still was essential plot character). ...more

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May 10, 2020 Kate Millin rated it it was amazing

In this sequel the story moves to mainly feature Gaelen who is saved by a clansman in a parallel world to the one Queen Sigorni lives in (see the first book in the series). This is an interesting tales of friendship, ivalries and how much you can achieve when you work together

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Jan 18, 2019 Stacey rated it really liked it

It felt like it concluded pretty quickly, but I was satisfied by the time it all ended. Not where I thought the story was going but was interesting enough how it all tied in

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Mar 15, 2019 Scott Gardner rated it it was ok

Shelves: fantasy

This one got confusing , trying to remember all the time lines and where they fit in , overall , still a good read , just mind boggling

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Nov 10, 2017 Kes rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, read-2017

2.5 stars, rounded down.

This is a sequel to Ironhand's Daughter, but it didn't strike me as a sequel. It felt more like an independent novel in a separate world with a side-mention of the events in Ironhand's Daughter.

It starts with a similar premise: the Clans are threatened by the Aenir, who live on the lowlands. We follow Gaelan, whose city is situated between the Aenir and the Clans. The Aenir destroy Gaelan's city; Gaelan is then adopted by Caswallon, a Clansman. Gaelan and Caswallon then ...more

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May 14, 2017 S. D. Howarth rated it liked it

Shelves: old-books, fantasy

Like Dark Prince, this one added another dimension and that concept wasn't as strong as the original book. This is more half a star down as I enjoyed book one more, but that seems harsh for Gemmell. ...more

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Jan 13, 2020 Debby Kean rated it it was amazing

Shelves: spiritual, brilliant, fantasy

Absolutely marvellous! I hadn't read it before, it must have been another part in the series, but the characters are marvellous and engaging, and the story is compelling. ...more

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Feb 13, 2011 Debby Allen rated it really liked it

Good finish to Ironhand's Daughter. Get the feeling Gemmell was still working out his time travel/reality issues from Bloodstone. Ironhand's Daughter felt rushed, and it seems more an intro to the Hawk Eternal than a solid book in itself. The HE is way more satisfying. Would it have been without ID? hmmm, prolly not. Need them both.
----
a bit of serendipity: Saw Ladyhawke recently. Fit in very nicely w/ Gemmell et al. Horses, armor, factions, a bit of magic, nobility, quests. It was made in 1985, ...more

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Oct 10, 2014 Mayank Agarwal rated it it was ok

Shelves: fantasy-fiction

Not really a continuation to the first book, its standalone book which is very hard to understand if you have read the first book. With the time travel and parallel world confusion thrown in there are flaws in the story. If the plot would have stuck to standard medieval fantasy would have been much better as this part of the book is really enjoyable. The characters are well developed and the life in clan well portrayed.

At the end this book left many unanswered questions as it left out on the hu ...more

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Jun 15, 2007 Nethound rated it liked it

More standard Gemmell fare. Set in an alternate setting that borrows much from the Scottish Highlands, this bok features Sigarni, and is one of the only books to feature a female warrior as one of the main characters.

Sigarni is not much different than most of his male heroes, tough, aloof, and deadly. Good story, good characters, lots of action.

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About David Gemmell

David Gemmell

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