#Review - Treason of Hawks by Lila Bowen #Fantasy #Action #Adventure #Western

Series: The Shadow # 4
Format: Hardcover, 384 pages
Release Date: October 16, 2018
Publisher: Orbit
Source: Library
Genre: Fantasy / Action & Adventure

The climactic conclusion to the award-winning fantasy series New York Times bestselling author Kevin Hearne calls "thrilling, delightfully written, and important."

Rhett Walker is looking for peace, the memories of all he's lost haunting his dreams.

But with the lawless Rangers on his heels and monster attacks surging, Rhett is surrounded on all sides. When his friends and allies are suddenly ambushed, Rhett must answer the Shadow's call and ride into one last, fateful battle.

 

Treason of Hawks is the fourth and final installment in Lila Bowen's The Shadow series. Lila Bowen is a pseudonym for author Delilah S. Dawson who wrote books like Star Wars: Phasma, The Perfect Weapon, and Scorched; the Blud series, the Hit series, Servants of the Storm. The story itself continues right where Malice of Crows left off. With Sam Hennessy mortally wounded, 17-year old protagonist Rhett Walker makes a choice which really was a no-brainer. Rhett either makes the call, or Sam doesn't get to continue in this series. 

Rhett has killed a helluva lot of monsters and enemies both as a Ranger and just as a fluke which sent Rhett on this adventure. He's taken on legendary monsters, and even those who he once rode alongside. If you haven't yet read this series, Rhett is a shape-shifter who has been fated to be the Shadow. The Shadow is the mysterious force that notifies him of supernatural danger. You could say that Rhett is a dousing rod for trouble. It’s soon obvious that someone, or something, has a deeply personal vendetta against him, and that the people he loves most are in terrible danger.

Thankfully, Rhett is surrounded by like-minded folks who seem to also be pulled into helping fight alongside the Shadow. Those like Ines, Dan, Winifred, and of course, Sam. But, there are others who have found themselves in the Shadow's lure including Cora and Digby who is a character from a previous installment. There's also Rhett's newly discovered brother, and mother, Revenge & Finder.  This isn't a cheerful story but it has hopeful moments.

Rhett is in serious trouble in this book. There are forces working to undercut what he has accomplished up to this point. The villains are so underhanded, the Shadow doesn't see the horrors coming that are done to people who Rhett has met since leaving his hometown a year ago. There's lots of blood shed, and fighting, and the ending is flat out brilliant with the way that Rhett and his allies take on an enemy straight from his past when he was someone else.  

Rhett has greatly changed over the course the series. He has also come a long way in accepting the struggles of his destiny and choice of who to be. The series has addressed topics of race, gender and sexuality in a curious way. The series appeals to readers of both science fiction/fantasy and general fiction. One could call this a western with paranormal aspects.

The Shadow

Wake of Vultures

Conspiracy of Ravens

Malice of Crows

Treason of Hawks

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#Review - Malice of Crows by Lila Bowen #Fantasy

Series: The Shadow # 3
Format: Hardcover, 352 pages
Release Date: October 31, 2017
Publisher: Orbit
Source: Library
Genre: Fantasy / Action & Adventure

The sequel to Conspiracy of Ravens and third novel in Lila Bowen's widely-acclaimed Shadow series.

The Ranger known as Rhett has shut down a terrible enterprise running on the blood of magical folk, but failed to catch the dark alchemist behind it. And now the Shadow refuses to let him rest.

Rhett must make the ultimate transformation if he has any hope of stopping the alchemist or fulfilling his destiny; he must become the leader of a new Rangers outpost. 

To save his friends, and the lives of countless others, he'll first have to lead them on a mission more dangerous than anything they've ever faced. 

Malice of Crows is the third installment in The Shadow series by author Lila Bowen. Bowen's western landscape is home to some really strange supernatural beasties (Gila

monsters, gorgons, giant scorpions & spiders) as diverse as the human inhabitants. Malice picks up right where Conspiracy of Ravens left off. Rhett Walker (formerly Nettie Lonesome) is the Shadow, as well as a Durango Ranger scout who is pulled to fight evil where ever it might be.

When we last left Rhett and his crew of Sam Hennessy, Coyote Dan, his sister Winifred, and Earl the Donkey who showed Rhett how to unleash his other side, Rhett had just faced off against necromancer Bernard Trevison and won. But, it came with a cost. Trevison skedaddled with 6-year old Meimei, the younger sister of Cora. Cora just happens to be a dragon shifter and healer. Now, Rhett and crew must put an end to Trevison and save Meimei while also facing all sorts of dangerous challenges that are made of wax, gold, and bone.

Rhett's adventures are always interesting with plenty of twists and action. Rhett, as the Shadow, has a tendency of calling trouble no matter where it is. Rhett's crew may not like where the Shadows path takes them, or understand the Shadows path, but none of them have ever expressed a desire to leave and go out on their own. Rhett has come more comfortable with the fact that there his has several personalities pulling in different directions. But, there is a gut punch ending that has left me wary of where this series will go from here. The plus is the addition of Ines, who is a Gorgon. Whether or not she becomes a permanent part of Rhett's posse, we shall see.

PUBLISHING SCHEDULE:

#1. Wake of Vultures (2015)

#2. Conspiracy of Ravens (2016)

#3. MALICE OF CROWS (2017)

#4. Treason of Hawks (2018)

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#Friday Review - Conspiracy of Ravens by Lila Bowen #Science Fiction #Fantasy #Horror #Western

Series: The Shadow # 2
Format: Hardcover, 359 pages
Release Date: October 11, 2016
Publisher: Orbit
Source: Publisher
Genre: YA, Fantasy, Paranormal, Western


The sequel to Wake of Vultures, where a rich, secret world is hiding beneath the surface.

Nettie Lonesome made a leap — not knowing what she'd become. But now her destiny as the Shadow is calling.

A powerful alchemist is leaving a trail of dead across the prairie. And Nettie must face the ultimate challenge: side with her friends and the badge on her chest or take off alone on a dangerous mission that is pulling her inexorably toward the fight of her life.

When it comes to monsters and men, the world isn't black and white. What good are two wings and a gun when your enemy can command a conspiracy of ravens?

Conspiracy of Ravens is the second installment in author Lila Bowen née Delilah S. Dawson's The Shadow series. The story picks up right where Wake of Vultures left off. Rhett Hennessy née Nettie Lonesome, had just launched himself off a cliff in order to embrace his two-natured self. Rhett discovers that he can become a giant bird. After losing himself as a fearless bird who is the predator, and not the prey for what appears to be weeks, Rhett meets an Irish shape-shifter named Earl O'Bannon. 

Rhett learns a thing or two from the ill-mannered, loud-mouthed Earl who came over to find the long sought after milk and honey and riches that the Republic claims to offer. One of which is how to remember things once he shifts to his other persona and back to his human form. The other is more personal. Earl tells Rhett about a railroad owner named Trevisan who cuts off appendages of monsters who work for him and uses the parts for magic. As the so called Shadow, Rhett can't let that situation stand without taking action. Rhett is fated to rush in with both guns blazing, while others accept their situations. 

As a a bit of motivation, Earl also tells of a doctor who can heal. A doctor who might just be able to give Winifred back the use of her foot. Rhett takes Earl to Captain Walker's Durango Rangers. Captain is near and dear to my heart, and his actions towards Rhett, including ensuring he was given the title of Scout, proves that there are good people in this horrible world willing to do good things for those who haven't exactly had a good life. After telling the tale of Trevisan's horrors to the Captain, and a reunion with Sam Hennessy, Coyote Dan, and Winifred, Rhett makes the choice to help Earl with his problem while Captain and the rest of the Rangers head off to take on sandwyrms. 

Once Rhett finally makes his way to Trevisan's camp, it becomes abundantly clear that there is really something really horrible about the place. From the segregation of Chinese, Irish, Blacks, and other races from each other. To the fact they sleep in railroad cars locked up. To the fact that all workers are monsters who find themselves at the mercy of Trevisan and his men. Rhett meets Grandpa Z, and Cora after a face to face meeting with Trevisan. Trevisan takes the burden off readers by telling Rhett exactly what he is, and where his people are apparently from. It is now up to Rhett to find a way to kill Trevisan before he, himself, becomes a victim.

As this story is set in an alternative 1800's Texas, the world building has already been set in place with the first installment in the series. Now, Bowen sets up an even more difficult reality for Rhett. Rhett isn't really a man, but has chosen to take the appearance and personality of one. Bowen moves Rhett from one sticky obstacle (the monthly cycle which only women have) to Rhett's feelings for Sam, and Winifred, and later another character named Cora. Rhett's destiny as the Shadow puts a whole levity on his relationship with Dan, Sam, and Winifred. 

They know Rhett is more often ready to fly off the handle more often than not. Rhett is an unusual character. He's half Indian and half black, raised by two white people who treated him as a slave. Rhett has chosen to walk the walk of a hero, but still makes some twisted choices that have consequences. Which leaves us with an ending that boggles the mind. I do love Rhett's circle of friends. These are people who you want to know more about, and not just kick to the side because you need more Rhett time. 

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#Tuesday Review - Wake of Vultures by Lila Bowen (YA, Fantasy, Western)

Series: The Shadow # 1
Format: Hardcover, 342 pages
Release Date: October 27, 2015
Publisher: Orbit
Source: Library
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Western

A rich, dark fantasy of destiny, death, and the supernatural world hiding beneath the surface.

Nettie Lonesome lives in a land of hard people and hard ground dusted with sand. She's a half-breed who dresses like a boy, raised by folks who don't call her a slave but use her like one. She knows of nothing else. That is, until the day a stranger attacks her. When nothing, not even a sickle to the eye can stop him, Nettie stabs him through the heart with a chunk of wood, and he turns into black sand.

And just like that, Nettie can see.

But her newfound ability is a blessing and a curse. Even if she doesn't understand what's under her own skin, she can sense what everyone else is hiding -- at least physically. The world is full of evil, and now she knows the source of all the sand in the desert. Haunted by the spirits, Nettie has no choice but to set out on a quest that might lead to her true kin... if the monsters along the way don't kill her first.

Wake of Vultures is the first installment in The Shadow series by author Lila Bowen. For those who don't know, Bowen is also Delilah S. Dawson the author who wrote the Blud Series. Wake of Vultures features 16 year old Nettie Lonesome. Nettie has only known a world where because of the color of her skin, she's been treated as though she were a slave by the "parents" that took her in after she was abandoned. That is until the night a mysterious man tries to attack her and Nettie discoverers that the world is inhabited by more than she could ever imagine. 

Wake of Vultures is set in an Alternative universe where vampires, werewolves, harpies, chupacabras, water horses, sirens, and shape-shifters intermingle with humans. It is a place where Nettie has decided that being a boy is much more appealing that being a girl. Being a girl means you are expected to be weak, and provide babies and meals for the male of the house. But, by passing as a boy, Nat can mostly do whatever he wants to do including becoming a member of the Durango Rangers who hunt down and kill those paranormals that step out of line.

Wake of Vultures is a wonderful YA story that features a spunky heroine who can shoot a gun, break in a hissy horse, impale a vampire with a large branch, and take on a living legend who steals kids in the dark of the night. The world that Bowen has created is a realistic one. She is not afraid to get her hands a bit gritty when describing the things Nettie has had to do in the past in order to survive. She is not afraid to say that because of who Nettie is, there is, and was racism towards her people (black and Native American).

In this first installment, Nettie gets a chance to work with horses, something she absolutely excels at. I loved her pony Ragdoll. She will find friends who have her back like Sam & Monty, join the Rangers who kill monsters but don't exactly have a stellar relationship with Native Americans. Meet two skin-shifters in Coyote Dan and his sister Winifred who become not only her friends, but her guides in this weird world she now lives in. And, will have to decide if she likes boys, or girls, or both while trying to find her place in the world as the Shadow.

A wonderfully entertaining first novel in what I expect will be one helluva ride.

Next in Series: Horde of Crows (2016).

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