The Black Hawks

The Black Hawks

by David Wragg

5 out of 5

Synopsis
Dark, thrilling, and hilarious, The Black Hawks is an epic adventure perfect for fans of Joe Abercrombie and Scott Lynch.

Life as a knight is not what Vedren Chel imagined. Bound by oath to a dead-end job in the service of a lazy step-uncle, Chel no longer dreams of glory – he dreams of going home.

When invaders throw the kingdom into turmoil, Chel finds opportunity in the chaos: if he escorts a stranded prince to safety, Chel will be released from his oath.

All he has to do is drag the brat from one side of the country to the other, through war and wilderness, chased all the way by ruthless assassins.

With killers on your trail, you need killers watching your back. You need the Black Hawk Company – mercenaries, fighters without equal, a squabbling, scrapping pack of rogues.

Prepare to join the Black Hawks.



Review
Chel is sworn to serve his odious step-uncle, but a chance encounter with Prince Tarfel whisks him away on an unexpected adventure, in the company of mercenaries and killers.

I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

Vedren Chel has to serve his step-uncle - a coward who avoids all conflict; so Chel's life is made up of running around with his clothes, and never having a chance to improve his station. Until the city his is in falls under attack, and Chel is suddenly honour-bound to get soft and stupid Prince Tarfel to safety.
His reward is an even bigger challenge, increasing danger and getting so many injuries, it becomes a normal thing.
Chel and a reluctant Tarfel end up being escorted by the Black Hawk Company to a mysterious benefactor. It's a good job these killers are so highly-trained, as everyone is trying to kill the missing prince, along with anyone who gets in their way.

I really enjoyed this story. The Black Hawks are a band of foul-mouthed, opinionated, unforgiving bastards. I really think this book was going for the record number of f*cks in any one piece of literature. The swearing was fantastically creative and British-tinged. If you don't like swearing, this is not the book for you.

Despite starting as the Black Hawks prisoner, Chel has to trust them, and in turn, help them. With the constant attacks, they need every man (including the weaklings) to survive.
The rate at which danger cropped up and attacked them did become a little overdone. They seemed to stumble from one to the next. 
With the constant action scenes, and the Black Hawks Company in a habit of all talking over each other, and referring to their colleagues by a variety of insults and nicknames, does make it hard to follow sometimes.

The ending was very strong, and there was a twist that I definitely did not see coming! I don't want to say anything and spoil it.

I really enjoyed this, and I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.

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