The Falcon Throne by Karen Miller

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Orbit, 2014. ISBN: 9781841499598
(Age: 16+) Recommended. The Falcon Throne is a high fantasy novel which successfully follows the lives of a multitude of characters across three bordering countries, Clemen, Arden and Harcia.
The novel shows the escalating antagonism between Clemen and Harcia after Clemen's Duke, Harald, was overthrown by his bastard cousin, Roric. The seizing of Harald's duchy was unnecessarily bloody and Roric, who is nothing like his cousin, grieved the loss of his infant nephew for many years after the supposed slaughter. Roric had intended only to be a caretaker duke until Liam came of age. Soon after becoming Duke Roric showed his independent streak to the duplicitous lords of counsel and unintentionally offended Arden and Harcia, as well as the Prince Regents. While Roric becomes entangled in politics, years pass and Liam grows in secret. He was spirited away the night of the coup by his wet nurse, Ellen. She found shelter in a Marcher pup called The Pig Whistle and whispered his story to him each night, encouraging Liam's sense of entitlement and determination to take back Clemen from the bastard Roric. Living in the Marches Liam bears witness to the animosity between Harcia's heir, Balfor, and Clemen's Marcher lords and is forced to choose a side when his home is destroyed. It soon becomes apparent to Liam that Harcia is preparing for war with Clemen and he is just where he wants to be.
With witches, jousting, hunting and court drama, this medieval fantasy is full of colour, description and believable characters. I would highly recommend to lovers of fantasy above the age of sixteen. One of the things which I loved about this book is that it is has a very distinct feel of Shakespearean drama. Similar to Game of Thrones it is a massive story which follows more than ten characters across three different countries, yet it does deter the reader, only enthral him/her more. I cannot wait to read the next instalment in The Tarnished Crown Series.
Kayla Gaskell

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