Reviews with content warning for Murder - Call Down the Hawk

Reviews tagging 'Murder'

Call Down the Hawk by Maggie Stiefvater

37 reviews

oatmilktea's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

I have mixed feelings.

Call Down the Hawk is really slow and I struggled with the pace. But I immediately liked most of the characters, which, ultimately, were the ones that pulled me through to the end. Too late I realised that there is a trilogy preceding this, The Raven Cycle. It would have introduced me to some of the characters and explained a few things, like Adam's powers, which left me with question marks.

I generally like the subject of dreaming, the power of dreams, but it bears the risk of engendering vagueness and confusion. I couldn't follow everything that was going on and that took me out of the story a little bit at times.

I didn't dislike this book but I didn't really like it either, mostly because of the pacing. I understand that it's the first of three, so the next instalment is probably faster and more connected, since the band of protagonists have formed by the end of book one. However, I'm not eager to continue at this point.

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abitbetterbooks's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

I loved this book because it was Maggie Stiefvater, and because I was so thrilled about being back in this world, but I’m not sure if I’m sold on the actual premise & conflict of this series so far plot-wise. There’s just something missing that’s keeping me from falling in 100% but I can’t quite put my finger on it; it may just be that this is the first book of a trilogy and it’s heavy on set-up for the following books.

As always, Will Patton’s narration continues to be the highlight of ~~my life~~ this book and brings the depth of Stiefvater’s lush writing to the foreground. There’s something so unique about the way his voice lends so perfectly to Ronan in particular, but the tonal changes he adopts between different chapters depending on who we’re following is just so immersive and emotional.

I know I’m far from the first person to say this, but I do wish that Adam had been more present in this story. It makes sense that Gansey and Bkue are a bit more distant, but I hated feeling like Adam was there but slightly out of reach. Maybe that’s exactly how Ronan feels and that’s the point, but I selfishly wanted them to be working together against a bigger problem, like the set of Horror Movie Twins they truly are.

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pjv's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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thoseoldcrows23's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This first book is far more plot heavy than The Raven Cycle ever was, and the atmosphere is less in your face; both of which are facts I think may lower this book in some readers minds. However, for me the selling point of this world has always been the characters, and on that front Stiefvater has lost none of her charm. I will admit I miss the the old cast terribly, but by the books end I found myself deeply attached to the new characters introduced here, and very invested in the story itself. I'm really looking forward to book 2.

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