The Falconer's Apprentice

A boy full of dreams, a crotchety falconer, a secretive trader and his feisty daughter, a hermit healer, an irascible Arab physician, a king in prison, an aging emperor, and a falcon called Adela—these are the principal characters in this action/adventure novel set in the 13th century. Andreas, a 15-year-old orphan, is an assistant to the head falconer in a castle in the north of Germany. The lord of the castle sentences Andreas’ favorite falcon Adela to death. Andreas decides to rescue Adela. In doing so, he breaks several laws of medieval society—failing to obey a direct edict from his lord and stealing, both subject to severe punishment. Poems by King Enzio, imprisoned in Bologna, and writings about falconry by Emperor Frederick II of Hohenstaufen are incorporated into the novel. The eight parts of the novel reflect the eight octagonal towers of the Castel del Monte, a critical turning point in the protagonist’s life.