A very slow beginning (and middle)...took me getting through about half the book before I really got into the story. I was extremely tempted to skip a few pages/chapters just to see if there was going to be any major developments...luckily I stuck it out. It was interesting reading about falconry but the development between Mark and Hunter was a bit slow for my taste. I haven't read Desert Falcon and I don't really think you have to read the books in order since readers are given background info about Hunter in this story. I didn't really like how the story ended and I wished there was an epilogue.