The Witchwood Crown Book Review

by The Wanderer 

Author: Tad Williams
Publisher: DAW
Genre: Epic Fantasy
Series: The Last King of Osten Ard Book One
Pages: 736

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(Spoilers for The Heart of What Was Lost and Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn are below).

Over three decades have passed since the defeat of Ineluki the Storm King, and the Norns' retreat into their mountain stronghold of Nakkiga. King Simon and Queen Miriamele continue their long reign over Osten Ard, but new troubles are stirring. Many of the kingdoms they've ruled over are now all rife with internal conflicts that are threatening to break apart their kingdom, their Sithi allies have all but been silent, and Utuk' ku the Norn Queen has just re-awoken and is planning on continuing her war against humanity, if only she can recover the mysterious artifact known as the Witchwood Crown.

The Heart of What Was Lost Book Review

by The Wanderer

Author: Tad Williams
Publisher: DAW Books
Genre: Epic Fantasy
Series:  A Novel of Osten Ard
Pages: 210

The Heart of What Was Lost (Osten Ard)

(Contains spoilers for Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn).

With the Hayholt saved, and the Storm King defeated, and Queen Utuk-ku in a coma like state, the Norns retreat to Nakkiga, their final stronghold in the mountains. Duke Isgrimnur and an army of Rimmersman begin to pursue the Norns and annihilate them so they may never attack the land of mortals again.

To Green Angel Tower Part Two Book Review

by The Wanderer

Author: Tad Williams
Publisher: DAW Books
Genre: Epic Fantasy
Series: Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn Book Four
Pages:796

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(Spoilers for the previous three books in Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn are below).

Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn reaches its epic conclusion as Humans, Sithi, and Trolls head back to the Hayholt for their final battle with Elias, Pryrates, and the Norns.  The larger plot lines are traditionally predictable, which is typical of good vs. evil epic fantasy, however the minute by minute events in the plot have a few twists in them which helps to keep things interesting.

A strong ending for a solid series.  Characters get what they deserve, threads are ended conclusively, and readers should be satisfied with how everything works out.

To Green Angel Tower Part One Book Review

by The Wanderer

Author: Tad Williams
Publisher: DAW Books
Genre: Epic Fantasy
Series: Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn Book Three
Pages:815

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Score: 8.4

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The Stone of Farewell Book Review

by The Wanderer

Author: Tad Williams
Publisher: DAW Books
Genre: Epic Fantasy
Series:  Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn Book Two
Pages: 727

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(Contains spoilers for The Dragonbone Chair).

Where as the previous book was one of the slowest paced fantasy books out there, the Stone of Farewell manages to bring up the pace up to a point where it moves at the speed of a typical fantasy novel.  In addition to this, there are many more narrators and different subplots, many of which greatly add to the moral dilemmas and issues being discussed.

If you made it past the first 600 pages of the last book, Stone of Farewell will reward reader patience by delivering a sequel that largely improves upon the Dragonbone Chair.

The Dragonbone Chair Book Review

by The Wanderer

Author: Tad Williams
Publisher: DAW Books
Genre: Epic Fantasy
Series:  Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn Book One
Pages: 766

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Tad Williams’ Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn is one of modern fantasy’s most influential series’.  Although it is written in a style similar to Tolkien, Williams gave the fantasy genre a more adult make over without taking the conventions developed by Tolkien completely off the rails.

To say the Dragonbone Chair kicks things off for Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn would imply that Williams hits the ground running, but this book really starts at a crawl. This is an excellent novel that takes a long time to get going, and less patient readers will likely lose interest.  For those who stick around, a well crafted world with a traditional fantasy plot and well developed characters will make Williams’ story and world well worth the time spent visiting.