The Hyena and the Hawk (Echoes of the Fall #3) by Adrian Tchaikovsky - Starting February 26th 2020

[Dannii]

The Hyena and the Hawk is the third book in Adrian Tchaikovsky's epic fantasy trilogy, Echoes of the Fall, following The Bear and the Serpent. From the depths of the darkest myths, the soulless Plague People have returned. Their pale-walled camps obliterate villages, just as the terror they bring with them destroys minds. In their wake, nothing is left of the true people: not their places, not their ways. The Plague People will remake the world as though they had never been. The heroes and leaders of the true people - Maniye, Loud Thunder, Hesprec and Asman - will each fight the Plague People in their own ways. They will seek allies, gather armies and lead the charge. But a thousand swords or ten thousand spears will not suffice to turn back this enemy. The end is at hand for everything the true people know.

[Dannii]

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Date changed. Restarting February 26th 2020. Happy Reading ☺

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[Twila]

I never usually binge read series and I need a little change. So, I'm going to try the audiobook for this one. Hope it goes well 🤞

[Dannii]

Twila wrote: "I never usually binge read series and I need a little change. So, I'm going to try the audiobook for this one. Hope it goes well 🤞"

I'm listening to the audio for the series, as well as physically reading them, and they are really good narrations :)

[Dannii]

First quarter - (view spoiler)[Kamaleshli and Maniye bonding makes my heart ache. I just so want a happy ending for her! It was interesting to see her step with the axe and become an Iron Wolf, under his guidance.

The Pale Shadow queen is an interesting character! I'm enjoying learning more about them, from Hesprec's conversation with one of her women. (hide spoiler)]

Second quarter - (view spoiler)[I'm enjoying the pace of this one, more than book two. I also feel like many of the viewpoints are longer and so I can feel more immersed before being plunged into another perspective.

Also, more Maniye! Yay! Although seeing her imprisoned by the plague people was saddening to read. They are confusing, as they are both the villains of this and the last book, without being villainous in their treatment of her.

This is also heightening my love for Tecuman. When Asman and Venat visit they reveal he could easily have started a civil war, with all the unrest also happening, but is happy with his sister as Kesra. (hide spoiler)]

[Dannii]

Third quarter - (view spoiler)[Shyri's perspective is proving her such a great story-teller. I'm liking how distinct each voice feels in this book, now I have grown to differentiate between them more. The story feels to have slowed in this quarter, however, but it still full of enough activity and mystery to keep me engaged. (hide spoiler)]

[Dannii]

Fourth quarter - (view spoiler)[I really liked Maniye throughout but grew to appreciate other perspectives here, most notably Loud Thunder and Kailovela's. The former for his growth in how he thought of and treated the women around him and the latter for her interactions with the plague people.

That was such a great ending!! I really ended up appreciating all the perspectives here as the conclusion felt fully-fleshed out with them all. I'm glad I continued on after struggling a little with book two.

That the plague people just became people when accessing their gods was interesting, as it felt like gods hadn't featured as prominently throughout the whole series. I really liked how the fight was ended with this revelation, however.

I'm glad this series created an antagonist and then revealed that they weren't exactly what the readers and characters thought them to be. It felt just like book one and my confusion in classifying if these characters were humans or animals or a mixture of both. The distrust and mystery of the other was a heavy theme and dealt with really well. (hide spoiler)]

[Twila]

Wow, Dannii, you're fast! I'm only about 60% through.
Yes, the narrator is very good, but what I've discovered with the audio is that I've been pronouncing Maniye's name all wrong, lol! I've been saying man-eye, when it's apparently manny-yay. I feel so silly now, haha.

[Twila]

Dannii wrote: "First quarter - Kamaleshli and Maniye bonding makes my heart ache. I just so want a happy ending for her! It was interesting to see her step with the axe and become an Iron Wolf, under his guidance..."

Yep, seeing the father and daughter bond is exactly what I wanted to see! Hesprec softening him up was exactly what he needed and seeing him actually care for her now warms my heart too.

I also think the pace is much better and I really like how the book is more focused instead of having so many plot points like the last one. Maniye (view spoiler)[being imprisoned was so fascinating to me! They were studying her, but weren't cruel and it's so weird! And Hesprec going to save her was just the BEST. I love their relationship sooooo much. (hide spoiler)]

[Twila]

Finished! (view spoiler)[Oh my gosh, so many people died!! It seemed like every time I blinked, another one died :(
But I agree with you, I thought the ending was done very well. I also liked how the antagonists weren't all evil. That seems to be a theme with Tchaikovsky's books. The villains are never truly what they appear. I really like that! (hide spoiler)]

I think there's so many possibilities left in this world! I'd like to see something hundreds of years down the line. Something that takes place on the other side of the ocean perhaps???

I also find it so funny that spiders came into play in this book. A lot of his other books are about spiders and I think a spider needs to make a cameo in all his books, tbh! That would be hilarious.