Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher and netgalley. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Book: Black Wings Beating

Author: Alex London

Book Series: Skybound Book 1

Rating: 3.5/5

Publication Date: October 9, 2018

Publisher: Farrer, Straus, and Giroux

Pages: 432

Recommended Age: 15+ (some violence and slight gore)

Synopsis: The people of Uztar have long looked to the sky with hope and wonder. Nothing in their world is more revered than the birds of prey and no one more honored than the falconers who call them to their fists.

Brysen strives to be a great falconer--while his twin sister, Kylee, rejects her ancient gifts for the sport and wishes to be free of falconry. She's nearly made it out, too, but a war is rolling toward their home in the Six Villages, and no bird or falconer will be safe.

Together the twins must journey into the treacherous mountains to trap the Ghost Eagle, the greatest of the Uztari birds and a solitary killer. Brysen goes for the boy he loves and the glory he's long craved, and Kylee to atone for her past and to protect her brother's future. But both are hunted by those who seek one thing: power.

Review: Holy cow I thought this was a great book! The book was intriguing and it had me hooked from beginning to end. The characters were well developed as was the world building. And the writing was well done!

However, I did think that the book was info heavy. It was a bit of an info dump in places and that made for the pacing to be slower than what I would have liked.

Verdict: a great read!