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Type of bind: Mass Market Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 813
EAN num: 9780765342836
ISBN number: 0765342839
Label: Tor Fantasy
Manufacturer: Tor Fantasy
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 624
Printing Date: August 30, 2005
Publishing house: Tor Fantasy
Release Date: August 30, 2005
Sale Popularity Level: 174889
Studio: Tor Fantasy
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Product Description:
The Middle Ages. Finally, the Black Plague has passed, and for a while it seems evil has been defeated. Europe recovers; prosperity returns, trade resumes, and people slowly recover from the effects of the plague. Then, just as the Church relaxes its guard, war spreads across Europe. Widespread heresies challenge the authority of the Church. Revolts and rebellions threaten to topple the established monarchies and overturn the social order of Europe. And then the plague returns, worse than ever.
Thomas Neville, a neurotic warrior-priest, eventually discovers the cause. The minions of the Devil have been scattered throughout European society during the confusion of the Black Death. His task is to discover the identities of these shapeshifters so that the Church can move against them--but it is dangerous. These are master shapeshifters, perfect at their craft, and Neville can never be certain of whom he should trust.
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Rated by buyers -
In this second book in her Crucible series, Sara Douglass continues her tale of a slightly alternate reality in 14th-century Europe in which Thomas Neville has been told that the fate of Christendom rests on his sucess in disrupting the plans of demons infiltrating the ranks of European courts. As times passes, however, the distinction between good and evil becomes ever hazier. The books are much more focused on history than on religion, and this is a fascinating period in European history. I should also say that all of the books in this series have fantastic cover art.
Rated by buyers -
After a relatively tedious introduction to the Crucible Series in The Nameless Day, Ms Douglass has risen to the fast-paced narration and vivid characterizations which she renders so well in book 2. The portrayals of well known figures on the stage of history are refreshingly new, sometimes strange, but largely believable. The intertwined fantasy theme whereby the Judaeo-Christian angels are seduced by human females to procreate a race of demons which may only be destroyed by a human surrogate is certainly imaginative and novel, but lacks credibility, despite its commonality with the Zoroastrian view of the pagan pantheon. I am looking forward to the final book 3 resolution of this 14th century tale.
Rated by buyers 
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The middle book of the Crucible trilogy is better than the first, but not without its flaws.
Thomas Neville, our protagonist, is slightly more bearable this time around, having shaken off some of his old vows and old prejudices. It's a beautiful thing watching him come to love his wife Margaret, and reexamine some of his beliefs.
Meanwhile, Richard II is ruling cruelly and ineptly, Thomas's boyhood friend Bolingbroke is beginning to make his play for the throne, and in France, Joan of Arc urges a reluctant king to act against the English. Douglass has taken some liberties with chronology, but it doesn't matter much, as her timeline works for the story and she explains in a foreword that she *has* used some creative license, so it doesn't jar at all.
What does jar a bit is the head-hopping; we seem to bounce from POV to POV several times per scene. Also, the scheme that Bolingbroke and Margaret execute, with traumatic results for Margaret, just doesn't quite make sense. I feel like I was supposed to either find it reprehensible or decide it was worth the eventual outcome, but instead? It just doesn't make sense. I can't figure out why these characters would have chosen that route.
On the positive side: Douglass builds to a big bang here. The secret that Thomas discovers is as shocking as it needs to be, and raises many questions about what will happen in the third book.
Finally, one more quibble. When Douglass sets her mind to it, she can write gorier scenes than many writers of outright horror. (I'm thinking of the miscarriage from Hades' Daughter.) I got almost to the end of The Wounded Hawk and was pleased to think that she'd kind of toned down the gross-out.
Then I read the epilogue. Let's just say that Douglass reassigns Edward II's gruesome death to another figure--and describes it. In detail. In excruciating detail. Yes, the guy was a vicious character. But I don't want to read about that happening to *anyone*.
Rated by buyers -
The Wounded Hawk by Sara Douglass is a continuation of the Crucible Series, with The Nameless Day being book one. In the last book, Thomas Neville cast aside his friar robes and reclaimed his Lord title and lands. He is still arrogant but he grows more likeable in The Wounded Hawk: he is now married to Margaret, the woman he detests, but as he discovers more about her and her desire for his love, he, oh so gradually, softens! He still seeks the casket that contains the books to cast demons into Hell, but the quest somewhat slows as other dire events call his (and all of England)'s attentions.
All the major characters return, and the focus is on certain people and relationships; the last book was mostly spent on Neville but not this time! The newly crowned Richard II, with his promotions of his lover Robert "Robbie" de Vere, is causing nobles to grumble, especially Hal Bolingbroke (Duke of Hereford) and Neville, who still thinks that Richard is the Demon-King that will threaten mankind. The peasant dissenters that seek freedom from serfdom rise and deal some damage to the English kingdom. Douglass also turns our attentions more to the Maid of France, Joan of Arc. There is an interesting scene where the ladies inspect Joan and find out why, exactly, she really is a virgin. We also examine Hal (who seems too good to be true, until chilling confessions are made), Margaret (is what you see what you get?), Catherine (the ambitious sister of the meek Charles. She loves Hal but who exactly is she?), and so many others.
I cannot lie and say, "There is never a dull moment." Overall the plot is moving but there are sections of the book that failed to make an impression on my memory. There are also actions and dialogues that seem incongrugous in respect to their characters. One minute so-and-so is brash, the subsequent minute he whimpers and sheds tears.
In The Wounded Hawk, the plot, richly woven with history, advances greatly, with so many of its characters coming into bloom (and a few to their demises), but of course Douglass keeps readers wanting more by omitting certain explanations of key people. The question of who is truly good and evil is blurred. People that seemed like, well, angels, may not be the saints we think they are. Even St. Michael and Jesus Themselves are put up to scrutiny, and trust me, it is shocking.
Oh, and the epilogue is perfect: karma comes to haunt a man who had caused hell on earth for a certain woman.
I highly recommend this series: some parts are slow going and there are flaws in the plot and character development, but overall, it will keep you enraptured as I was: going for hours at a time just reading, reading, reading!
Rated by buyers 
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This book is absolutly amazing, exciting, beautiful, and deep. I laughed, cried, and got worked up over a charactors behavior. All the same charactors are there and some new ones come along. My personal favorite, who isn;t new but becomes a wonderful part if the story is Catherine. She's strong, independent, and has the grestest guy ever at her side. Then Mary, whom most people feel sorry for just gets annoying in a good way. YOu know she has to be there but you wish she would just go away. Then Neville is still there and jerky as ever. But he does have his sweet moments. The ending only makes me mad because like most books in a series it leaves you hanging. Sarah was brilliant to do that. Now her fans will be more excited to get the subsequent one. For anyone who liked the very first book this one will blow you away. Definatly her best book ever.
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