Book Review: The Faithless Hawk by Margaret Owen

*I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
Title: The Faithless Hawk
Author: Margaret Owen
Publisher: Henry Holt
Publication Date: August 18, 2020
ISBN: 9781250191946

Synopsis from Goodreads:
As the new chieftain of the Crows, Fie knows better than to expect a royal to keep his word. Still she’s hopeful that Prince Jasimir will fulfill his oath to protect her fellow Crows. But then black smoke fills the sky, signalling the death of King Surimir and the beginning of Queen Rhusana’s ruthless bid for the throne. Queen Rhusana wins popular support by waging a brutal campaign against the Crows, blaming them for the poisonous plague that wracks the nation. A desperate Fie clings onto a prophecy that a long-forgotten god will return and provide a cure to the plague. Fie must team up with old friends and an old flame to track down a dead god and save her people.

I’m going to try to do this without spoilers! I enjoyed the follow-up book to The Merciful Crow much better than I enjoyed the first book, I have to say. In the second book we see Fie, now chief of her band of Crows, grow into her own as the threat of Rhusana’s evil and illegitimate reign looms closer every day. The Crow class is at risk of total elimination. They have been keeping the sinner’s plague at bay for so long, but with interference from the crown, the rest of the population is at greater risk than it’s ever been.

This fast-paced second book in the duology backfills so much historical context and sees Fie rise to meet the greatest challenge of her life. There is love, betrayal, deception, and loyalty in this high fantasy, young adult sequel. People are not always who they seem, or are not always motivated as they say they are. Owen does an excellent job of writing in surprise plot twists along the way. Readers won’t see what’s coming next! I’m so much more engaged with this book, it just saddens me that I wasn’t as keen on the first. I hope you’ll enjoy the wrap up to this short series. I certainly did!

Happy reading!