Courage of Falcons

I have enjoyed Holly's work from the first time I picked up the first one years ago. This series (The Secret Texts) is the largest projuect I have seen from her and she pulls it off nicely. In Courage of the Falcons, like the other two books in the series, she once again draws you into the world that is Matrin and the lives of its inhabitants, taking you for a exciting ride filled with danger, love, intrigue and action. If you have enjoyed any of Holly's work in the past you will love this one, if you havent had the pleasure of reading her work I recommend you pick up Diplomacy of Wolves and read this series from the beginning.

Just kidding. But I second Ms. Veihl's sentiments. I read the entire trilogy and really liked the first two of the series. But the third was the best of the bunch. Again a plethora of twists and turns. The last couple of chapters evoked an emotional response such as few books ever had. I cursed Holly Lisle for what she had done to the characters. I cheered Holly Lisle for the ending. Again set in the very original world of Matrin, sort of a combination of Rennesaince Italy and the Godfather, the background is a rich tapestry of loyalty and deceit. Without giving anything away, the book ends on an upbeat note where the courage of the heroes (Falcons, the secret order of wizards who stand against the evil designs of the Dragons) earns victory for the people of Matrin who would hate them if they knew their secret. Kait, Ry, Ian, Hasmal and Dughall and wonderful characters, larger than life yet very real and human. The themes for which Holly Lisle is justly famous run throughout the book; love conquers all, sacrifice is never wasted. The book carries a moral message without beating it to death, and is a fun and enjoyable read as well.

This is Holly Lisle's best book ever. The thrilling conclusion to the Secret Texts series is impossible to put down, and that's the least of it. The suspense is never-ending, and the romance, hatred and danger moves the story along quickly. When I got to the end I kept wishing there was more. Kait, Ry, Ian, Crispin and all of the other characters pick up right where Vengeance of Dragons left off, and I was immediately drawn into the story again. The end ties off very neatly, with no extra ends hanging in the back of your mind, leaving you thinking, is there supposed to be more! And it's a stunning conclusion that one would never expect. I've waited two years for this book, and I was anything but disappointed with the outcome. Thank you, Holly Lisle, for such an awsome conclusion to the best series ever!

When I got to the last page of "Courage of Falcons", I realized a couple of things: Holly Lisle's Secret Texts novels are individual brilliant, as a trilogy are the epitome of quality, artistry, and power in print, and will remain in my mind as the most fascinating and astonishing fantasy novels I've ever read.The world of Matrin is in serious trouble, now occupied by the soul-stealing Dragons. The time has come for shape-shifting Falcons Kait Galweigh and Ry Sabir to clean house. They've had to make sacrifices along the way since discovering each other in "Diplomacy of Wolves", but nothing has prepared them for the last of the many tests they face -- and this one may cost them more than their lives.They're not the only ones struggling to make the right choice. One of the most fascinating characters in this series has been Crispin Sabir, who as revealed in "Vengeance of Dragons" has been hiding an incredible secret. What happens with him and Ulwe, the Scarred-sheltered child who can pick up psychic clues by "reading the roads" will change how you think about villains forever.Like the Galweigh House, the world of Matrin is a mysterious mansion, one I see filled with tapestries, each telling one particular story, woven so subtly together that the small threads of dynamite (like the soul-devourers that hunt between worlds) become so deftly entwined in the story that you never see the blast coming.There's a line from the novel -- "Nothing is ever lost. Love survives" -- that describes what Holly Lisle does so well with her work. Even knowing this, I wasn't prepared for the final showdown. I won't give away any spoilers, but the ultimate solution will blow you away. Holly Lisle can write fantasy like no one else in the business. She's the reason I'm often tempted to burn everything I've ever written. I highly recommend this novel, along with "Diplomacy of Wolves" and "Vengeance of Dragons", to anyone who enjoys a great read.

In the world of Matrin, war is blazing between the Falcons and the Dragons. If the latter win, hell will take control of the planet. The Falcons are a benevolent band of wizards that are trying to send the Dragons back to the place they came from: the Mirror of Souls. The beautiful artifact was created a millennium ago to house the souls of the Dragons. On the losing side, along with the wizards, are the shapeshifters Kait Galweigh and Ry Sabir, whose powers if known would lead to a lynching.The respective houses of Galweigh and Sabir have remained bitter enemies for years, but Kait and Ry love one another and unite to fight their true foes. Through harrowing adventures, the Falcons manage to contain the Dragons inside the mirror that must be destroyed even if it means death to the allies. However, the Scarred (humans who are freaks and monsters) believe the Messiah has come to deliver them from their exile by destroying the people who banished them in the first place, the humans.COURAGE OF FALCONS is the third and final work in master storyteller Holly Lisle's fabulous epic "The Secret Texts." The romance between Kait and Ry makes for a tension-filled subplot. However, the magic of this novel lies in the aliens who seem so real that Ms. Lisle must have met them in some far away canteen rather than her fertile imagination. The geopolitical structure of Matrin is reminiscent of the works of Tolkien and Brookes, which will appeal to fans of high fantasy.Harriet Klausner