The Kestrel

Not enough of the key players. Not enough of the key players together.

If, in the first book, a band of misfits comes together by chance, then in this second book, our band of misfits disperse and travel (for the most part), parallel but separate paths.

Everyone is having an identity crisis while engulfed in war and chaos.

This is the book where the characters all grow up (we see a similar set-up in “Taran Wanderer” from The Prydain Chronicles).

I really liked how readers learned a little bit more about, for example, Florian, and that we got to follow Sparrow and Weasel; but, Las Bombas was under-used. Perhaps his folly was not appropriate in this book of bloodshed, but it was nonetheless missed.

Alexander uses The Kestrel as a medium to muse about politics and ideas of the monarchy; the solemn nature of government and “justice” is evident. Overall, the book was very serious in nature, not many laughs or outrageous escapades to be found here.