#BookReview: The Good Hawk (Shadow Skye #1) by Joseph Elliott

Synopsis: In a mythic Scotland, two unlikely heroes must make a dangerous journey to save their people.

Agatha is a Hawk, brave and fierce, who protects her people by patrolling the high walls of their island home. She is proud of her job, though some in her clan whisper that it is meant to keep her out of the way because of the condition she was born with. Jaime, thoughtful and anxious, is an Angler, but he hates the sea. Worse, he’s been chosen for a duty that the clan hasn’t required for generations: to marry. The elders won’t say why they have promised him to a girl in a neighboring clan, but there are rumors of approaching danger. When disaster strikes and the clan is kidnapped, it is up to Agatha and Jaime to travel across the haunted mainland of Scotia to Norveg, with help along the way from a clan of nomadic Highland bull riders and the many animals who are drawn to Agatha’s extraordinary gift of communication.



Goodreads | Amazon

Rating: 2 Stars
My Review: I actually found this book at the goodwill and was so pulled in by the cover. Sadly that was the only thing I really liked about this book.  The dual POV was find but both characters sounded the same.  The story felt very choppy in places and made me feel like I was reading an adult fantasy vs. a young adult one, and then in others it felt like high middle grade to low young adult.  It was very detail heavy with descriptions of everything which really slowed the story down.  For me this book was just a mess and I did not enjoy it at all. 

Review

Deft characterization and an original protagonist elevate a fantasy set in quasi-medieval Scotland...A fresh and exciting debut.
—Kirkus Reviews

Elliott’s debut, the first in a new series, celebrates differences and takes two unlikely heroes on a journey of overcoming fear, discovering courage, exploring new beliefs, and understanding the strength it takes to be heroes.
—Booklist

Loosely based on Norse mythology and the Viking Age, readers will be attracted to the uniquely flawed yet determined characters who gain confidence and self-worth from the perils they encounter. Readers will clamor for the next title in this riveting series. Meanwhile, pair this with Lloyd Alexander and Susan Cooper.
—School Library Connection

Readers will be swept up in this story of unique heroes, new voices, and Scottish mythos. This is a natural next step for fans of Rick Riordan and mythology.
—School Library Journal

About the Author

Joseph Elliott is a writer, teacher, and actor known for his work in children’s television. The Good Hawk is his first book. He lives in London.

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Posted in: 2 Stars, Review, Walker Books US, Young Adult