THE LAST FALCON

A courageous young girl embarks upon a perilous journey to save herself and her kingdom.

After her father is killed carrying out King Wryden’s orders, 14-year-old Erynn is brought to Wryden’s castle in Alyria to serve as the king’s scribe. For the next two years, Erynn remains bent upon avenging her father’s death, as well as investigating the mysterious circumstances surrounding her birth and her unusually preferential treatment by the old king. When the king’s son, Holden, leads a rival kingdom’s army attack on Alyria’s capital—an army that includes her father’s killer—Erynn uncovers a conspiracy that places her at its center. As Holden and his henchmen lock down the castle and cut off the fastest means of communication—the titular falcons—the fate of Alyria hangs in the balance. Along with her friend Adena and watched over by Krystalix, a fearsome golden dragon, Erynn sets out into the wild to deliver a crucial message to the king’s other son, Gareth, and to discover the truth about who she really is. Though clearly influenced by fantasy-adventure tales like the Lord of the Rings and A Song of Ice and Fire (elves, dwarves, dragons and Anglo-Saxon names abound), author Ruttan puts a refreshing spin on the tradition, creating a strong female protagonist whose resourcefulness and wit will inspire young readers. After ending this volume with a nail-biting cliff-hanger, Ruttan will hopefully continue to innovate and impress within the well-worn genre.

A riveting, vividly described adventure story with a familiar yet satisfying trope.