Reviewed by Taylin
TITLE: Falconguard
SERIES: Falconsagam #2 of 2
AUTHOR: Robert Winter
PUBLISHER: Robert Winter Books
LENGTH: 199 Pages
RELEASE DATE: April 4, 2025
BLURB:
The Norns have prophesied that Altair and his huldufólk guardian Magnús face a glorious destiny or a hideous death.
Together, Magnús and Altair have already survived near-lethal attacks, but the dangers ahead of them grow ever darker. The Yule Cat, a man-eating trollwife and her brood of dangerous children, ghosts, and other horrors out of legend chase the elf, the human, and their cohorts across the north of Iceland. Time is running out to break the sorcery that keeps Altair from learning who—and what—he really is. The invasion foretold by the Norns looms ever closer, and Magnús knows he is fated either to lose Altair, or to meet his own doom.
The stakes rise as they finally begin to understand the danger to all of Iceland posed by the Black Priest. But they cannot waiver. In the face of betrayal and murder, Magnús of the Hidden Ways must guard Altair the Falcon, or all is lost.
An elf afraid of opening his heart, and a human who is heir to an awesome power: Only by embracing their shared destiny can they save Iceland…and each other.
REVIEW:
Things are happening to Altair that he doesn’t understand. Despite only spending a few days in Iceland, he knows a few things, soul-deep. There’s something about Iceland that Altair loves. Magnus will keep him safe, Icelandic Folklore tales are real, and Altair’s involvement with something is coming, yet he doesn’t know how. Should he run back to the relative safety of Boston or stay and see things out? And what about Magnus? Could he leave this enigmatic man behind?
Falconguard is the second and last book in this Falconsaga duo. Oh, my word, what a follow-up. Falconsaga set the scene and introduced the characters with pockets of action-packed drama. Falconguard solidified the knowledge base and upped the ante on the action. Dawita’s vision comes to fruition and isn’t dealt with in the last chapter either. It’s a bloomin’ wonderful, long, in-your-face segment worthy of the build-up. And I cried at one part, too. I got the emotional rollercoaster that I love in a book.
The story is told in the third person from Magnus and Altair’s viewpoints, with interludes of background pertinent to the action. I honestly can’t comment on technicalities because I was too engrossed in the story to notice. However, nothing diverted my attention. Descriptions of the various characters and events were superb. As for the big event, it was akin to reading a scene from a LOR movie. It was perfectly action-packed, organised chaos, emotional, heart-in-mouth, melting, page-turning, and any other descriptors one wishes to insert here. Intimate scenes are included with gestures like a stroke of the hair, a hug, a look, etc., but not in any graphic sexual way. This story didn’t need them; I was glad they were not there.
There were no wasted cast members, either. Every introduced character had their part to play, in a good, bad, or emotional way. Some were inherently evil, others were almost angelic, and a few in that grey space were prepared to do what was necessary to save the land and the people they loved.
Falconguard is a story of Icelandic Folklore, revelations, action, humor, confusion, acceptance, and growing into the person you were meant to be with the family you deserved. I will read this story again and again. And who knows, by the end, I might be able to pronounce some of the Icelandic words.
RATING: 
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