Red Skies Falling

Starred review from July 15, 2019
Stakes soar in this sequel to Black Wings Beating (2018). In their war of feathers and blood, the Kartami extremists seek to eradicate the Uztari's sinful "cult" of falconry forever. Only the ghost eagle's power--"death and fear incarnate"--can turn the tide toward victory. With a natural gift for the Hollow Tongue (the ancient language of birds), teen Kylee may be the only one who can communicate with the giant bird of prey. As she studies the language in the Sky Castle, Kylee becomes a pawn in the political machinations of the Uztari elite. Back in their home of the Six Villages, her gay twin brother, Brysen, has his own target on his back as he readies for an impending attack. Many nestlings will die, but which flock will survive? London skillfully maneuvers omniscient third-person narration around the various players, with special focus on the twins. Though the main driving force of the novel is the preparation for war, he takes care to preen the budding romance between Brysen and Jowyn and deepen the already strong characterization of the majority brown-skinned cast. However, London's masterful plotting and battle sequences are the true feathers in his authorial cap. Readers clamoring for a YA Game of Thrones will easily fall prey to this trilogy and await the final installment. Arresting. (Fantasy. 13-adult)

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