The Kestrel

Not enough of the key players. Not enough of the key players together.

If, in the first book, a band of misfits comes together by chance, then in this second book, our band of misfits disperse and travel (for the most part), parallel but separate paths.

Everyone is having an identity crisis while engulfed in war and chaos.

This is the book where the characters all grow up (we see a similar set-up in “Taran Wanderer” from The Prydain Chronicles).

I really liked how readers learned a little bit more about, for example, Florian, and that we got to follow Sparrow and Weasel; but, Las Bombas was under-used. Perhaps his folly was not appropriate in this book of bloodshed, but it was nonetheless missed.

Alexander uses The Kestrel as a medium to muse about politics and ideas of the monarchy; the solemn nature of government and “justice” is evident. Overall, the book was very serious in nature, not many laughs or outrageous escapades to be found here.

Short Review: Prior to the Hunger Games this is the only young adult series that I had read that I felt really had an anti-war theme. Reading it again for the first time in 20+ years the theme is not as strongly presented as I remembered. And the books have less detail than I remembered. But it is well worth reading. In the last book, Mickle is reunited with her parents and the tyrant Carabas is exiled. At the beginning of this book Theo is touring the country on the task of understanding the people and making recommendations to the King on what he can do to improve it. In the middle of this Westmark is invaded by Regina (the kingdom to the north).

Theo and Mickle do what they must to take back the kingdom. The theme of the trilogy really does seem to be duty over desire. Which is a unique theme for a young adult trilogy. This is anti war in the way that Starship Troopers is anti-war. By seeing how war destroys actual people. There are a number of characters killed, but the violence is not gratuitous. This is entirely appropriate for 12-15 year olds.

My full review is on my blog at http://bookwi.se/the-kestrel/