Black Wings Beating

September 1, 2018
Grades 9-12 In the Six Villages, the people live and die by the hawk. Twins Kylee and Brysen, whose tyrannical father was recently killed on an ill-fated mission, chafe against their lives; Kylee possesses a deep, magical gift for falconry but wants only to escape it, while Brysen longs to be a renowned falconer but lacks natural talent. They're frozen by their father's debts and imminent war, but when the boy Brysen loves makes a terrible bargain, Brysen sets off on a quest to save him?and to prove himself. Kylee, knowing her brother's weaknesses, joins him, but she has secrets of her own. The twins are trying to capture a ghost eagle, the rarest and most dangerous of the raptors?a bird that can bring the darkest part of someone's heart to the surface?and if they survive, they may not be what they were. With dynamic world building that offers nods to Tibetan cultural traditions, this trilogy opener is a captivating, layered adventure that explores the bonds of siblings in an unforgiving world. Stock up?this one will make the rounds.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)

January 1, 2019
In a quasi-medieval fantasy world of battle falconry, boy-girl twins Brysen and Kylee go on a quest to capture a ghost eagle, which forces them to confront their traumatic childhoods and diverging futures. London's series-starting fantasy is written in lush prose and boasts unflinching characterizations. The matter-of-fact incorporation of Brysen's gay romance contributes to the emotional heft of the novel.

(Copyright 2019 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

Starred review from October 1, 2018

Gr 9 Up-Years ago, Kylee and Brysen's abusive father died on a mission to trap a ghost eagle, the most dangerous bird known to the residents of the Six Villages. Since then, the twins have honed their skills in falconry, the trade among the Uztari people, and have earned almost enough money selling the birds they trap to realize their dreams. For Kylee, this will mean leaving the Six Villages and falconry behind forever; for Brysen, becoming a successful falconer and proving his worthiness to his fickle boyfriend, Dymian. When Brysen discovers Dymian owes major gambling debts, he is faced with an impossible task: trap a ghost eagle, or Dymian will be killed. Brysen sees this as his opportunity to step out from Kylee's shadow and prove himself as an accomplished falconer on his own, but Kylee is unwilling to let her brother set out on a doomed mission alone. Adding to the tension are the Karmati, a nomadic people who believe falconry is heresy and are marching on the Six Villages to enact a religious war, and the Owl Mothers, a matriarchal society living in the mountains that want Kylee to join them and leave Brysen forever. London's world-building is exceptional, and the story has twists and turns to keep readers engaged. VERDICT A well-crafted fantasy featuring diverse characters, this book is a strong selection for all libraries serving teens.-Shira Pilarski, Farmington Community Library, MI

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from August 1, 2018
Falcons are the new dragons in this engrossing fantasy series opener. In the Six Villages, the Uztari use birds of prey for hunting, fighting, and companionship. But "war is on the wing" as they say: The Kartami, nomadic religious extremists, are set on purging the Six Villages of their sins. Twins Kylee and Brysen, who have "the same elk-brown skin as their mother, the same ice-blue eyes as their father," soon find themselves at the conflict's center. Kylee has a "once-in-a-generation gift" for falconry, yet all she wants is to be free of it forever. All Brysen wants is to be with his boyfriend and trainer, Dymian. By selling birds at market, the twins almost earn enough to pay off their late, abusive father's gambling debts and fulfill both their hearts' desires. But lovelorn Brysen gets swept up in Dymian's debts and agrees to capture the dangerous, elusive ghost eagle in order to save Dymian's life. Kylee secretly follows. The story, told through multiple third-person perspectives, soon reveals that more than just Dymian's life rests on the twins' shoulders. With political intrigue, epic battle sequences, jolts of romance, and strong female and queer characters, there's a lot to pique readers' interests here. But it's the unique worldbuilding and beautifully complex sibling relationship that make this a must-read.Readers will be swept away in this book's talons. (Fantasy. 13-adult)

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