ladyofbooks's review against another edition
5.0
The Hawkman is a retelling of a mix of Beauty and the Beast meets Grimm’s Fairy Tales (look up certain title). It’s a fascinating, bewitching tale of a man that’s a beggar on the streets; abused by children and adults alike because of how ugly he is perceived to be, as well as how dangerous. He doesn’t talk, only screams at people-much like a hawk-which is where the name originates from.
It is described as a “fairy tale of the great war”, and it certainly doesn’t flinch from telling the dark stories of how men survived while fighting enemies, and deserting, and struggling just to get by. It’s a harsh look at the war, and at how some soldiers were treated during these times of strife. It wasn’t my favorite part of the book, but it was still lyrical in its own, unique way.
My favorite part of the book is the bit with the swan king and his lake. It was beautiful, yet tremendously sad at the end of it as well, well written, and yet strange. It definitely spoke volumes to me, and this will be one of my favorite books of the year, because of its originality. I don’t recall it being a part of the Brothers Grimm or not (clearly, I need to re-read those stories), but I still loved it regardless.
Miss Williams was easily my favorite character in the whole of the story, though the Hawkman was curiously interesting, she was kind and considerate, and acted like a real human being in taking him in when everyone else just wanted to treat him as some kind of terrible disease that needed to be gotten rid of. He was a strange individual, but as Miss Williams pointed out, he was still human and therefore deserved care and respect as much as anyone else.
There are several more things to talk and think about in regards to this book. While only sixteen chapters, it was a huge story and a well-told one at that. I will likely do a re-read of it in the future, when I’ve the time to do so, because I read this far too quickly, despite trying not too. I just had to know what would happen to poor Miss Williams and her Hawkman.
In this Miss Peregrin’s Home for Peculiar Children meets All the Light We Cannot See, I’m sure fans will adore the beautifully written prose and stories that are told within this gorgeous edition.
Five out of five stars for a splendid job well done!
{Review also posted at Pass Me That Book on Facebook, my blog, and Amazon.}
It is described as a “fairy tale of the great war”, and it certainly doesn’t flinch from telling the dark stories of how men survived while fighting enemies, and deserting, and struggling just to get by. It’s a harsh look at the war, and at how some soldiers were treated during these times of strife. It wasn’t my favorite part of the book, but it was still lyrical in its own, unique way.
My favorite part of the book is the bit with the swan king and his lake. It was beautiful, yet tremendously sad at the end of it as well, well written, and yet strange. It definitely spoke volumes to me, and this will be one of my favorite books of the year, because of its originality. I don’t recall it being a part of the Brothers Grimm or not (clearly, I need to re-read those stories), but I still loved it regardless.
Miss Williams was easily my favorite character in the whole of the story, though the Hawkman was curiously interesting, she was kind and considerate, and acted like a real human being in taking him in when everyone else just wanted to treat him as some kind of terrible disease that needed to be gotten rid of. He was a strange individual, but as Miss Williams pointed out, he was still human and therefore deserved care and respect as much as anyone else.
There are several more things to talk and think about in regards to this book. While only sixteen chapters, it was a huge story and a well-told one at that. I will likely do a re-read of it in the future, when I’ve the time to do so, because I read this far too quickly, despite trying not too. I just had to know what would happen to poor Miss Williams and her Hawkman.
In this Miss Peregrin’s Home for Peculiar Children meets All the Light We Cannot See, I’m sure fans will adore the beautifully written prose and stories that are told within this gorgeous edition.
Five out of five stars for a splendid job well done!
{Review also posted at Pass Me That Book on Facebook, my blog, and Amazon.}
themoonwholistens's review against another edition
3.0
// Thanks to Amberjack Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC to review //
“this a story of a man who thought he was a bird and the woman who helped him find his humanity again”
Oh gosh the writing was so beautiful <3
It had a very strong start that built a really solid foundation for the events that happened throughout the book as it progressed. It destroyed my heart a bit in the process as well, but it's all good.
The writing, plot, and setting of the story made it feel like a classic. And those were mostly the vibes I was getting as I read it. It's very rare that I encounter stories like these since they are really hard to pull of and this was pulled of beautifully even though this is not within the genre or the stories that I would normally read.
“because the problem with the rich is that they must own everything”
“the poor are so often denied the luxury of a quick death”
It explored the realities of the social hierarchy which I do not think is seen very much in YA and NA books (the genres I mostly read).
It had very strong characters. My favorite thing about relationship that the male and female MC was how they were both strong individually but still admitted to the fact that they need each other.It is also a very rare thing to see both love interests as "strong" in a book since it is usually just one or the other. I liked how they developed and how they showed how they got to the point that they were in the end.
I was worried going into this book as a lot of people are when going into books like these but it was pulled off quite nicely for the plot.
“this a story of a man who thought he was a bird and the woman who helped him find his humanity again”
Oh gosh the writing was so beautiful <3
It had a very strong start that built a really solid foundation for the events that happened throughout the book as it progressed. It destroyed my heart a bit in the process as well, but it's all good.
The writing, plot, and setting of the story made it feel like a classic. And those were mostly the vibes I was getting as I read it. It's very rare that I encounter stories like these since they are really hard to pull of and this was pulled of beautifully even though this is not within the genre or the stories that I would normally read.
“because the problem with the rich is that they must own everything”
“the poor are so often denied the luxury of a quick death”
It explored the realities of the social hierarchy which I do not think is seen very much in YA and NA books (the genres I mostly read).
It had very strong characters. My favorite thing about relationship that the male and female MC was how they were both strong individually but still admitted to the fact that they need each other.It is also a very rare thing to see both love interests as "strong" in a book since it is usually just one or the other. I liked how they developed and how they showed how they got to the point that they were in the end.
I was worried going into this book as a lot of people are when going into books like these but it was pulled off quite nicely for the plot.
mechbutterfly's review against another edition
4.0
A beautiful historical fiction book with a tad of fantasy/folklore set post WW1. I enjoyed it quite a bit - the growing relationship between the protagonists, the slight sense of a fairytale and overall well-written prose.
I received a copy via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
I received a copy via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
cmcgowan76's review against another edition
3.0
This novel wasn't for me. The premise was interesting and that cover - WOAH! But once again, I was drawn in by a cover (See: Paris by the Book). The idea of a WWI novel really intrigued as most war novels are set in WWII. I wanted more historical fiction and less magical realism in the book - which for me, fell short of actual magical realism. The characters are dark and gloomy, and not in a "good way," in a depressing way. Now, I know what you're thinking - it's about The Great War, it is depressing! But this was supposed to hinge on a fairy tale and granted the Grimm Brother's Tale were dark, they still held moral lessons and ideas - villains were punished, good guys still won most of the time (yes, I've read the collection as has my son). This fell short of any type of dignified ending.
Now - I will say that LaForge is excellent at descriptive writing. Her narrations of the Hawkman and his appearance alone took me directly into this world. Her use of language is unsurpassed so I wouldn't dismiss this author, I jsut didn't care for this novel. It moved too slow for me in terms of plot and the Hawkman himself is the only character I found any connection with, and it was minimal.
The novel is based on a German fairy tale - The Bearskin.
While this isn't my "cup of tea" if you enjoy magical realism, I would certainly give this a go. 🍷🍷🍷
I received a copy of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. For more about Jane Roseberg LaForge and other works, visit her website at: http://jane-rosenberg-laforge.com/
Now - I will say that LaForge is excellent at descriptive writing. Her narrations of the Hawkman and his appearance alone took me directly into this world. Her use of language is unsurpassed so I wouldn't dismiss this author, I jsut didn't care for this novel. It moved too slow for me in terms of plot and the Hawkman himself is the only character I found any connection with, and it was minimal.
The novel is based on a German fairy tale - The Bearskin.
While this isn't my "cup of tea" if you enjoy magical realism, I would certainly give this a go. 🍷🍷🍷
I received a copy of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. For more about Jane Roseberg LaForge and other works, visit her website at: http://jane-rosenberg-laforge.com/
booknotes_athina's review against another edition
2.0
This was sent to me by Edelweiss+ as an ARC.
Unfortunately this wasn't a book for me.
There are some parts in the book that I really liked because the descriptions and the writing was good. But there are also parts that I found a little bit boring. The ending of the book is one part that I did not enjoyed. I fell it was a little rushed. Also the story went back and forth without connecting each part cohesively and that sometimes confused me.
Unfortunately this wasn't a book for me.
There are some parts in the book that I really liked because the descriptions and the writing was good. But there are also parts that I found a little bit boring. The ending of the book is one part that I did not enjoyed. I fell it was a little rushed. Also the story went back and forth without connecting each part cohesively and that sometimes confused me.
u311082's review against another edition
5.0
Well Ms La Forge, you have ripped my heart from my chest, stomped on it, squeezed it and released it into the air like a bird ... in the most delightful way.
The Hawkman begins with the untimely and unusual death of a woman on her wedding day in a small village in England, and from there her story unfolds.
Ms Williams is an American woman, a storyteller who has been employed by the local college, post World War I. She is somewhat of a misfit, due mostly to her flights of fancy and her 'American-ness'. English people don't really get her and her liberal views. In the same village there is a vagrant known as The Birdman, who is reviled and abused by the community. The locals don't know why he came to their village, he has no family ties. They want him gone but Miss Williams sees the humanity in him and. one day when she meets him in the forest she shows him extraordinary kindness without seeking any kind of explanation or reward.
The prose of this novel is lyrical and a bit dense at times, but when read aloud, is a real treat for the ears. The characters are so human and are beautifully drawn. Their stories are heart-breaking, uplifting, frightening and sublime. It is a fairytale about war, but it is also a story about the capacity for kindness and love in humanity, how we endure through adversity and, ultimately, what makes us want to keep living ... the wondrous people around us.
The Hawkman begins with the untimely and unusual death of a woman on her wedding day in a small village in England, and from there her story unfolds.
Ms Williams is an American woman, a storyteller who has been employed by the local college, post World War I. She is somewhat of a misfit, due mostly to her flights of fancy and her 'American-ness'. English people don't really get her and her liberal views. In the same village there is a vagrant known as The Birdman, who is reviled and abused by the community. The locals don't know why he came to their village, he has no family ties. They want him gone but Miss Williams sees the humanity in him and. one day when she meets him in the forest she shows him extraordinary kindness without seeking any kind of explanation or reward.
The prose of this novel is lyrical and a bit dense at times, but when read aloud, is a real treat for the ears. The characters are so human and are beautifully drawn. Their stories are heart-breaking, uplifting, frightening and sublime. It is a fairytale about war, but it is also a story about the capacity for kindness and love in humanity, how we endure through adversity and, ultimately, what makes us want to keep living ... the wondrous people around us.
a_wondrous_bookshelf's review against another edition
3.0
I have very mixed feelings about this book. The book cover is beautiful, and it had a lot to do with my decision to read this book. The narrative is beautifully written, and the premise of the book is very interesting. Unfortunately, it just really wasn't my cup of tea. I'm not sure if it was the part legend/mythology, part historical fiction, but somehow it did not really hold my interest.
I would like to thank Edelweiss for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
I would like to thank Edelweiss for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
frostatmidnite's review against another edition
3.0
The first thing I did was read the previous reviews. And I was glad since I was not the only person to feel a bit disconnected with this book.
While the book is good as a one time read, personally it did not call out to me. Usually, readers associate with one or more characters or discover a sense of camaraderie, sympathy or something. I found none of that with this book. I was interested in The Hawkman first for its cover, and then it's blurb. Sadly the book was not evocative enough.
I'd give it two and a half stars, but round it off to three for the beautiful cover.
For more book reviews, visit Frost At Midnite.
While the book is good as a one time read, personally it did not call out to me. Usually, readers associate with one or more characters or discover a sense of camaraderie, sympathy or something. I found none of that with this book. I was interested in The Hawkman first for its cover, and then it's blurb. Sadly the book was not evocative enough.
I'd give it two and a half stars, but round it off to three for the beautiful cover.
For more book reviews, visit Frost At Midnite.