Title: The Faithless Hawk (The Merciful Crow #2)
Author: Margaret Owen
Rating: ★★★★★

ARC provided by Henry Holt and Co. through NetGalley.

It’s not often that the sequel in a duology is better than the already amazing first book, but The Faithless Hawk surpassed every single high expectation I had of it. Margaret Owen has written a fantastic conclusion to this duology!

It was so easy for me to fall back into this world. The book picks up slightly after the ending of The Merciful Crow. The stakes are even higher in this one and the pacing was absolutely perfect: not too fast, not too slow. The plot really delivers in The Faithless Hawk. From betrayals to plot twists, there’s plenty to keep the reader hooked and intrigued. There was plenty of action and I was kept on the edge of my seat the entire time I was reading. The “faithless hawk” part of the story really added some extra angst which is maybe why I enjoyed it even more than the first book. You know I can’t resist some good romantic angst.

Fie really comes into her own here and she starts to discover more about who she is. Her character arc was amazing. We see her grow and change as she fights for the Crows and seeks to fulfill her oath, as well as struggle when certain truths come to light. We get more of the Crows’ history and magic which added so much more to this story. I really loved how the book ended!

The Faithless Hawk is the perfect conclusion to this duology. From the amazing characters, to the plot, to the final ending, this sequel was executed flawlessly.