Title: Hawks and Rams
Series: N/A
Author: L. Blankenship
Genre: Fantasy
Length: Novel (156 pages)
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (December 31st, 2014)
Heat Level: Moderate
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥3.5Hearts
Blurb: Heathric Felahóf never wanted to be a thief, but his cousin’s scheme is the only option to keep the town’s children from being taken as slaves to cover the year’s taxes. So a few men slip over the border into the neighboring kingdom, steal a flock of sheep, and escape before the magically gifted Rangers learn of them. The second time, they’re not so lucky, and trouble follows the bandits home.
Adal Sperling has given up on finding a lover who truly wants him. One of the Rangers charged with protecting his people, he pursues the sheep thieves over the border and stumbles across Heathric, a gentle shepherd who only wants to take care of his family.
But opposite sides of border incursions is a rough way to fall in love, and the laws of Adal’s kingdom are clear: the border must remain closed to Heathric’s people.
ISBN: 9781632162809
Product Link: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=5897
Reviewer: Prime
Review: This book starts with a map of the fantasy world created here – and let’s face it, maps are cool! And you can see the words resemble some German and/or Swedish. But the map aside and onto the story: research has shown me that this is a type of prequel, set in the same world as L. Blankenship’s Disciple books (MF series, I believe).
The first character we really get to know is Adal, who lives in the kingdom Wodenberg. He’s a Ranger who only wishes to keep his people safe from raiders and other criminals. We read as he encounters the trouble of raiders coming over the border from Suevia and using his abilities, he tracks the criminals and the sheep they have stolen.
This covers the few three chapters and though we have encountered Heathric, who automatically comes across as weaker in physical and emotional strength, but is kindness to the point of innocence, we don’t get to really know him until after this point. His intentions are good, for the most part. He just wants to protect his family and so is sucked into a terrible situation.
I don’t want to go too far into details because I don’t want to give major spoilers as the plot is relatively simple but involves a number of action scenes. However, except for the fact that I had trouble engaging in the story here and there, I had no issues with the plot or character development.
Largely, it is a well-written book and develops nicely, despite a bit of a slow beginning. To be honest, though, there were a few times in the book where I was tempted to skip ahead because it felt like it was dragging. But I resisted and it ended out all good in the end.
It’s an enjoyable read if you’re into fantasy, but the slow beginning did put me off. The minor characters, largely the families of Adal and Heathric are an interesting bunch and I like how they fit into the lives of both men, it’s really sweet even with all the usual family issues. I also thoroughly enjoyed the spark between Adal and Heathric. I felt that they were a nice contrast of each other.
And the ending was more than satisfying and more than made up for the parts where my attention wandered, leaving me with a little smile as soon as I finished.
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *