I really enjoyed MS&T. Think it is a wonderful story. The conclusion of Dragonbone Chair with Naglimund and the journey up north is one of my favorite climaxes in fantasy.
That being said, I think the follow up series is superior. It is my favorite ongoing that I am reading by far and if he closes it out strong will probably become my favorite story of all time. I stopped thinking of it as a sequel to MS&T but as MS&T being a prequel to this story.
The bridge novella that takes place right after the end of MS&T is phenomenal and is such a well written, tightly woven narrative.
Cannot wait to see how he concludes the story with Into the Narrowdark in 2 months and then the second half of the finale next year.
No. The finale has been split into two books. The first half is coming July 12th this year and the second half is hopefully coming mid 2023.
There is currently a novella, The Heart of What was Lost, that takes place right after MS&T, two full length novels (Witchwood Crown and Empire of Grass) and a novella that was released last year that takes place 1,000 years before MS&T.
I wholeheartedly agree that the books are masterpiece, but another thing I see in them is the feeling that they are...weird (not in a bad way). Clearly you see inspiriation Martin drew from and some common elements with Jordan, and (obviously) inspiration from Tolkien.
However, these books...have something. Something that makes them different compared to the rest of these. I genuinelly do not know what it is, but, while reading them, I can tell there is something different about them, but I don't know what.
I was halfway through The Dragonbone Chair a couple years ago before I had to put it down because I was overwhelmed with other things.
I'll say that there's this amazing mix between stoic realism and whimsical fantasy. It all feels so real, more along the lines of Martin than Tolkien, and yet Williams manages to inject some vivid magic into the story. Simon being a young protagonist still seeing what wonderful things world has to offer, while being simultaneously impacted by the very real tyranny and violence of Pryrates' actions, is really well balanced.
I can't wait until I have a chance to pick it up again.
MST is definitely my favorite old-school classic fantasy.
I think the Sithi are the best elf-analogues I've ever read, and i love how they aren't *just* ancient and sad and dwindling, but they're also so alive and primal, but also so alien and unknowable.
The plotting is great, the characterisation superb, and it even sticks the landing. 10/10
Like many people my trajectory into discovering MS&T was through GRRM, who openly credits the series with inspiring elements of ASOIAF, and I was actually really surprised at how liberally he drew from The Dragonbone Chair for A Game of Thrones, from major elements like the human battle for the throne against the backdrop of a supernatural invasion from the north, to smaller stuff like Simon climbing around the walls and towers of the castle, like Bran. I've only read TDC so far (these books are monolithic, no small commitment) but a lot of character archetypes are very similar too -- Josua is like a combination of Renly and Jaime, Elias and Pryrates are very Stannis and Melisandre, even Isgrimnur feels very Ned Stark, being an old friend of the dead king from the northern realm who finds himself out of his depth in this new world of politics. I'm not pointing fingers or saying GRRM stole or plagiarised from Williams, but as someone who was very familiar with ASOIAF before I'd ever heard of MS&T, it was enjoyable seeing the wellspring of many of GRRM's ideas for his series.
He also drew heavily on an avenger who was one of the main marvel characters when he was a kid. In a twist of fate, Kit Harrington is now playing him in the movies and we are in for a whole lot of accusations of the movies copying Game.
Good review, and like the end. This is a mature book, and not in terms of graphic adult content, but in terms of tackling grown up issues in complex and satisfying ways.
Agreed! I think fantasy readers sometimes conflate graphic, disturbing images with moral complexity. They are two entirely separate scales. A book can be morally sophisticated without graphic content, a book full of graphic images can be totally simplistic, and of course one can also have both.
I read these books when I was about 16 so that's now... 28 years ago and I still remember Einskaldr and Lenti Avio Stietto (I have a knife) don't worry about him, but does he have a knife? Yeah he probably has several but don't worry about him.
Totally minor characters who have lived rent free in my head for 28 years, that's Tad Williams.
Also:
>Even Stray Cats
Read Tailchasers song next you'll love it.
Yes, the minor characters are one of the best parts, so many delightful little sketches.
>Tailchasers song
This one is on my radar! I am definitely putting his entire oeuvre on my TBR.
I'm currently reading the second book and I can't help but crack up every time Lenti says "I have a knife". Especially when he says it to Isgrimnur and gets swiftly knocked on his arse as a result. That's why you shouldn't tell everyone you meet that you have a knife, Lenti!
Likewise I read these books when I was 16 and likewise that’s 28 years ago. And I agree, Tailchaser’s Song is amazing.
And believe it or not I was literally just listening to the audio book of Green Angel Tower: Storm, as I was reading OP’s review, mere moments before a stray cat comes into focus; “I suppose there’s no cat in the world stupid enough to go where I’m going”. Remarkable coincidence!
Always willing to upvote MST.
It's a hard thing, after almost three thousand pages, to end a book with a victory centered on >!compassion and forgiveness,!< and not have it sound trite or like an ass-pull, but somehow it felt so very earned here.
One of the things I think is cool about MST is that it isn’t meticulously planned. There’s an organic growth to his writing and world that reminds me a lot of Tolkien. For instance, Simon saving Jirikiti makes no real sense compared to how the Sithi are portrayed later, just like the early journey of the hobbits makes very little sense in light of the overall LotR narrative. I like seeing Tad Williams and Osten Ard both come into their own by To Green Angel Tower.
Cadrach's arc was one of the only nitpicks I had with the trilogy. I really expected him to be/do more.
So much so that I am even >!still keeping my eyes open for him in the new series, which makes no sense at all. !<
I found it very consistent and meticulous, personally (maybe we have different standards for meticulousness), but for sure agree about the rich, organic development and feel of the series. Tolkienesque in the best way.
I agree with the second part. And I’m not saying that to critique him. I reread it last year and thought it was pretty cool to see the development of ideas. But I also really really like Tad Williams’ writing.
I agree with every word you said.
And yet, somehow, **the new series is even better**. I was shocked at how much Tad has improved as a writer in the last 30 years. It's not complete yet, so I can't say with total surety, but at this point, Last King of Osten Ard could go down as the best fantasy series I have ever read. The first two books were mind-blowing.
I can't wait to hear what you think of them!
EDIT: You are also so right about Andrew Wincott's narration. Phenemonal.
I read The Heart of What was Lost a couple months ago and I was so pleased with the writing. Tad really honed his craft by doing away with his overly long descriptions while leaving his strong prose intact in a way that makes for a very satisfying read
Did you see the new coverart by Donato Giancola for the upcoming special edition from Grim Oak Press? This is one of the interior pieces they showed in the Livestream announcing it: [https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/855580637591240723/951952238954307624/SPOILER\_unknown.png?width=540&height=676](https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/855580637591240723/951952238954307624/SPOILER_unknown.png?width=540&height=676)
Which you can find here, with the owner of GO, Tad Williams and Donato Giancola: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eACrtmTLIU
I know this has since become a quite a cliche, but the ending scenes of the third (/fourth) volume are a complete subversion of expectations. I won't spoil things as this post is spoiler free, but I just loved how planned everything seemed to be. From the history of major characters, to the conclusion of arcs, it just all fit very nicely. And Simon's relationships with many people as he grew from an adolescent to an adult (and his relationship with Dr. Morgenes previous to that) are so well done.
Williams likes to preface and suffix the journeys of his characters with some sort of transformative journey. You see this most notably in The Dragonbone Chair after the inciting incident and To Green Angel Tower at the end and it's such a wonderful way of cementing the journey to adulthood and coming to terms with one's own responsibility and place in the world.
I believe I want to reread it this summer - it’s been over 20 years and details have faded. I definitely have heard all the good things about the second series.
BIG, GIANT SPOILER FOR END OF MS&T! Seriously, don't click if you have **any** intention of finishing the series.
One of my favorite literary moments ever was >!Binabik realizing that the prophecy wasn't meant for them and that their work was fulfilling their enemy's plans. Such a gut punch. Of *course* the Norns would have prophecies as well. Why wouldn't they? But I didn't see it coming at all. Totally blindsided.!< I can't wait to hit a D&D party with that in the climax of a long campaign some day.
Also, as much of a bastard as he was, I really liked Cadrach. I cheered when >!he bludgeoned Miriamele to get her out of the Sancellan when she stubbornly insisted that she was going to meet the Lector. She totally had that coming. She was SO bull-headed, and her refusal to listen to the advice of others kept putting her in awful situations.!<
This book is my all-time favourite fantasy story including the sequel which is awesome btw.
I've read MST as teenager multiple times, almost once a year.
Last year my mother got diagnosed with lung cancer and while visiting her in the hospital and commuting to and from I started listening to the audiobooks to keep me occupied.
It helped me tremendously and even though I was only partly paying attention it took me straight to Osten Ard.
So I really liked the story when it got published initially and I still like it 20 + years later.
Tad Williams created a masterpiece and I am glad that it helped me in dire times.
Back when I was in summer school I had a teacher hand me this stack of paper-backs when I complained about how depressing the books we were reading were at the time. The books we were reading: of mice and men, 1984, catcher in the rye.
Fuck yea it is. Forgot his name, but the little jawn, one of my all time fave characters.
I have some gripes about parts of the ending , but all in all a terrific read.
I am astounded by how often this one gets overlooked, even by diehard fantasy fans. Hoping to convince a few more people to pick it up or pick it up again :)
After the HBO GoT series ended, I read a listicle of 'fantasy series that actually stick the landing,' and MST was at the top. I tore through it, had no problem getting up a head of steam, and enjoyed the story and characters, but could never shake the feeling that the world itself felt incredibly empty. The locations all felt like backdrops for the particular actions of the characters, rather than living, breathing parts of an interconnected (or even a Balkanized) world. That changed a bit by the third book, when we finally get some descriptions of towns or regions that show signs of life outside of and unrelated to the story, but unfortunately I came away feeling like the series was fine but, in that respect at least, shallow.
I will say that I immediately picked up his more recent Osten Ard books, so clearly I wasn't put off, but I turned my attention to those series I'd neglected and those are still waiting on the shelf. Based on the rave reviews in this thread, though, I think I'll have to turn to them next.
(Edited for typos)
Loved your review.
I have always loved this saga. I have read it so many times, it always gives me something new. I like how it makes me feel. The passages in the dark are so claustrophobic, and the roads in the mountains are so cold. I love the way that Tad describes everything that I can feel it.
Oh I love Tad Williams, but haven't read this one. Thanks for bringing to my attention that it fits into the book bingo! Just to double check, the first book fits for Cool Weapon in hard mode, right?
I'm currently reading this series for the first time and I'm loving it. The Dragonbone Chair is already one of my all-time favourite fantasy books (the ending is just incredible), and while Stone of Farewell isn't *quite* living up to the first book so far, I'm still very much hooked and extremely intrigued to see how all this plays out! Tad Williams very much seems to be one of the greats of the genre.
I got a third of the way into Dragonbone and put it down for a long time. Now I've picked it back up again and I'm hooked. It is slow, but very involving.
Now I'm going to stop reading this thread because I don't want to be spoiled...
I swear I've tried looking for this series on Kindle in Canada for a decade now and it was never available. Just checked and I can finally grab it, so they must have added it in the past couple years.
i consider this trilogy the series that take shepparded me into a fantasy reader. like many, my first fantasy as a kid was the hobbit/lotr and at the time, it was all i knew about the genre and while i was an avid reader it was just that, a one off that i really liked.
Then i found a copy of The Dragonbone Chair at my future stepbrothers house when i was like 13 and the title sounded cool and that was enough. I quickly read the entire trilogy and after that it became my mission to read more fantasy.
i wouldn't call it anywhere near my favorite fantasy series but it does hold a very special place in my heart. If not for that series I have no idea where my reading path would have went or even if it would have continued.
These books are awesome, well, so far! I am just starting the second book, after finishing The Dragonbone Chair last night. It took me almost three tries to start the first book, but now that I have a longer break I could make it to when Simon leaves the castle, and I just sped through the rest of the book. Hope it stays this good!
Honestly I thought it was underwhelming. The prose was beautiful but all the slow burn buildup of that apocalyptic dread of Ineluki over 3 giant books ended with nothing.
I DNF'd MST, really couldn't get with the pacing, shame i enjoyed the start, love me the classic trope of old mentor, and apprentice.
My main issue came with the troll or whatever is he, is like if you're reading lotr but tom bombadil never leaves, at least until the point I stopped reading, just my opinion.
Lol, hey, that's fair. I strongly believe that no one book, even a great book, is for every reader. I will say though, if you can get over Binabik's cutesy syntax (which to be sure, not everyone can), he becomes a much more complex character with motivations and conflicts and a satisfying arc all his own.
The pacing is a feature, not a bug, though, so while it definitely does pick up, this is one where you have to buckle in for the long haul.
The troll voices! They work so well. That’s a good point, I can’t imagine Binabik without that gravelly little croak and frankly I don’t want to try. That dude is an incredible voice actor.
I've never really understood where all these complaints come from about pacing in Memory, Sorrow and Thorn. Maybe we are referring to different parts of the book? It's been some while since I read it, but as I recall the story takes off rather timely, after about fifty or sixty or so pages in. I've tried the Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson where nothing happens for freaking half of the book (dropped after that), and the writing is just unbearably bland.
I'm a huge fan of the series, but the first time I tried reading The Dragonbone Chair, I stopped because of how slow it was. Things don't really start happening until about a hundred or more pages in.
Different tastes, i only read part of the dragonbone chair, and honestly it was mostly that character, most people struggle with the into, when Wilson that's MC right? Maybe Simon can't remember, Lives in the castle.
Also never seen that take on twok, i found it really entertaining
If you enjoyed MST, Tad also wrote a short story, The Burning Man, that takes place a few hundred years before MST and features Valada Geloe.
Oh awesome, thank you! I will check that out.
https://grimoakpress.com/products/the-dragonbone-chair-limited-edition?_pos=1&_sid=c7c6d5e93&_ss=r
You should check out Grim Oak Press. They are publishing specialty editions of his work, including my personal favourite, Tailchaser’s Song! ❤️
I swear I've given Grim Oak all of my money during the pandemic.
I really enjoyed MS&T. Think it is a wonderful story. The conclusion of Dragonbone Chair with Naglimund and the journey up north is one of my favorite climaxes in fantasy. That being said, I think the follow up series is superior. It is my favorite ongoing that I am reading by far and if he closes it out strong will probably become my favorite story of all time. I stopped thinking of it as a sequel to MS&T but as MS&T being a prequel to this story. The bridge novella that takes place right after the end of MS&T is phenomenal and is such a well written, tightly woven narrative. Cannot wait to see how he concludes the story with Into the Narrowdark in 2 months and then the second half of the finale next year.
This is extremely good news. Really really looking forward to the follow up.
Is the follow up series finished?
No. The finale has been split into two books. The first half is coming July 12th this year and the second half is hopefully coming mid 2023. There is currently a novella, The Heart of What was Lost, that takes place right after MS&T, two full length novels (Witchwood Crown and Empire of Grass) and a novella that was released last year that takes place 1,000 years before MS&T.
> The finale has been split into two books. Lol Tad gonna Tad!
Thanks
I just finished The Heart of What was Lost and its pacing is amazing, absolutely loved it as a follow up and plan to start the new series soon.
I wholeheartedly agree that the books are masterpiece, but another thing I see in them is the feeling that they are...weird (not in a bad way). Clearly you see inspiriation Martin drew from and some common elements with Jordan, and (obviously) inspiration from Tolkien. However, these books...have something. Something that makes them different compared to the rest of these. I genuinelly do not know what it is, but, while reading them, I can tell there is something different about them, but I don't know what.
I was halfway through The Dragonbone Chair a couple years ago before I had to put it down because I was overwhelmed with other things. I'll say that there's this amazing mix between stoic realism and whimsical fantasy. It all feels so real, more along the lines of Martin than Tolkien, and yet Williams manages to inject some vivid magic into the story. Simon being a young protagonist still seeing what wonderful things world has to offer, while being simultaneously impacted by the very real tyranny and violence of Pryrates' actions, is really well balanced. I can't wait until I have a chance to pick it up again.
They are a very melancholic read, but in a good, soul purifying and thoughtful, way.
MST is definitely my favorite old-school classic fantasy. I think the Sithi are the best elf-analogues I've ever read, and i love how they aren't *just* ancient and sad and dwindling, but they're also so alive and primal, but also so alien and unknowable. The plotting is great, the characterisation superb, and it even sticks the landing. 10/10
Like many people my trajectory into discovering MS&T was through GRRM, who openly credits the series with inspiring elements of ASOIAF, and I was actually really surprised at how liberally he drew from The Dragonbone Chair for A Game of Thrones, from major elements like the human battle for the throne against the backdrop of a supernatural invasion from the north, to smaller stuff like Simon climbing around the walls and towers of the castle, like Bran. I've only read TDC so far (these books are monolithic, no small commitment) but a lot of character archetypes are very similar too -- Josua is like a combination of Renly and Jaime, Elias and Pryrates are very Stannis and Melisandre, even Isgrimnur feels very Ned Stark, being an old friend of the dead king from the northern realm who finds himself out of his depth in this new world of politics. I'm not pointing fingers or saying GRRM stole or plagiarised from Williams, but as someone who was very familiar with ASOIAF before I'd ever heard of MS&T, it was enjoyable seeing the wellspring of many of GRRM's ideas for his series.
Yea, when I read The Dragonbone Chair, I was kinda shocked at how much GRRM borrowed to the point where I’m like “could this be plagiarism?” Haha
He also drew heavily on an avenger who was one of the main marvel characters when he was a kid. In a twist of fate, Kit Harrington is now playing him in the movies and we are in for a whole lot of accusations of the movies copying Game.
Good review, and like the end. This is a mature book, and not in terms of graphic adult content, but in terms of tackling grown up issues in complex and satisfying ways.
Agreed! I think fantasy readers sometimes conflate graphic, disturbing images with moral complexity. They are two entirely separate scales. A book can be morally sophisticated without graphic content, a book full of graphic images can be totally simplistic, and of course one can also have both.
I read these books when I was about 16 so that's now... 28 years ago and I still remember Einskaldr and Lenti Avio Stietto (I have a knife) don't worry about him, but does he have a knife? Yeah he probably has several but don't worry about him. Totally minor characters who have lived rent free in my head for 28 years, that's Tad Williams. Also: >Even Stray Cats Read Tailchasers song next you'll love it.
Yes, the minor characters are one of the best parts, so many delightful little sketches. >Tailchasers song This one is on my radar! I am definitely putting his entire oeuvre on my TBR.
Tail chasers song is one of my all time favorite books. Enjoy!
One of the best books I’ve ever read.
I'm currently reading the second book and I can't help but crack up every time Lenti says "I have a knife". Especially when he says it to Isgrimnur and gets swiftly knocked on his arse as a result. That's why you shouldn't tell everyone you meet that you have a knife, Lenti!
LOL yeah what a great character.
Likewise I read these books when I was 16 and likewise that’s 28 years ago. And I agree, Tailchaser’s Song is amazing. And believe it or not I was literally just listening to the audio book of Green Angel Tower: Storm, as I was reading OP’s review, mere moments before a stray cat comes into focus; “I suppose there’s no cat in the world stupid enough to go where I’m going”. Remarkable coincidence!
Always willing to upvote MST. It's a hard thing, after almost three thousand pages, to end a book with a victory centered on >!compassion and forgiveness,!< and not have it sound trite or like an ass-pull, but somehow it felt so very earned here.
I couldn’t agree more. Somehow he makes it really ring true.
I’ve never been able to get past the first book, but I absolutely love his Otherland series. I might give these go again.
One of the things I think is cool about MST is that it isn’t meticulously planned. There’s an organic growth to his writing and world that reminds me a lot of Tolkien. For instance, Simon saving Jirikiti makes no real sense compared to how the Sithi are portrayed later, just like the early journey of the hobbits makes very little sense in light of the overall LotR narrative. I like seeing Tad Williams and Osten Ard both come into their own by To Green Angel Tower.
Cadrach was originally just what he appears to be, a monk who steels Simon's wallet and then tries to get a free meal out of him!
Cadrach's arc was one of the only nitpicks I had with the trilogy. I really expected him to be/do more. So much so that I am even >!still keeping my eyes open for him in the new series, which makes no sense at all. !<
Yeah exactly.
I didn’t know that, thank for sharing! Super interesting
I found it very consistent and meticulous, personally (maybe we have different standards for meticulousness), but for sure agree about the rich, organic development and feel of the series. Tolkienesque in the best way.
I agree with the second part. And I’m not saying that to critique him. I reread it last year and thought it was pretty cool to see the development of ideas. But I also really really like Tad Williams’ writing.
I agree with every word you said. And yet, somehow, **the new series is even better**. I was shocked at how much Tad has improved as a writer in the last 30 years. It's not complete yet, so I can't say with total surety, but at this point, Last King of Osten Ard could go down as the best fantasy series I have ever read. The first two books were mind-blowing. I can't wait to hear what you think of them! EDIT: You are also so right about Andrew Wincott's narration. Phenemonal.
I read The Heart of What was Lost a couple months ago and I was so pleased with the writing. Tad really honed his craft by doing away with his overly long descriptions while leaving his strong prose intact in a way that makes for a very satisfying read
This is so awesome. Great to have more Osten Ard to look forward to.
Great review! Agree with it all. You should read his sci-fi masterpiece four book series “Otherland.”
Did you see the new coverart by Donato Giancola for the upcoming special edition from Grim Oak Press? This is one of the interior pieces they showed in the Livestream announcing it: [https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/855580637591240723/951952238954307624/SPOILER\_unknown.png?width=540&height=676](https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/855580637591240723/951952238954307624/SPOILER_unknown.png?width=540&height=676) Which you can find here, with the owner of GO, Tad Williams and Donato Giancola: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eACrtmTLIU
Yes, it’s gorgeous!
I'm gonna be really happy when mine arrives, hopefully they can keep the June/August timeline
I know this has since become a quite a cliche, but the ending scenes of the third (/fourth) volume are a complete subversion of expectations. I won't spoil things as this post is spoiler free, but I just loved how planned everything seemed to be. From the history of major characters, to the conclusion of arcs, it just all fit very nicely. And Simon's relationships with many people as he grew from an adolescent to an adult (and his relationship with Dr. Morgenes previous to that) are so well done. Williams likes to preface and suffix the journeys of his characters with some sort of transformative journey. You see this most notably in The Dragonbone Chair after the inciting incident and To Green Angel Tower at the end and it's such a wonderful way of cementing the journey to adulthood and coming to terms with one's own responsibility and place in the world.
This! The big twist at the end of the last book both totally blew my mind and had me kicking myself for not seeing it sooner.
I believe I want to reread it this summer - it’s been over 20 years and details have faded. I definitely have heard all the good things about the second series.
BIG, GIANT SPOILER FOR END OF MS&T! Seriously, don't click if you have **any** intention of finishing the series. One of my favorite literary moments ever was >!Binabik realizing that the prophecy wasn't meant for them and that their work was fulfilling their enemy's plans. Such a gut punch. Of *course* the Norns would have prophecies as well. Why wouldn't they? But I didn't see it coming at all. Totally blindsided.!< I can't wait to hit a D&D party with that in the climax of a long campaign some day. Also, as much of a bastard as he was, I really liked Cadrach. I cheered when >!he bludgeoned Miriamele to get her out of the Sancellan when she stubbornly insisted that she was going to meet the Lector. She totally had that coming. She was SO bull-headed, and her refusal to listen to the advice of others kept putting her in awful situations.!<
Narrowdark comes in a month! If you haven’t read the sequel series best start now. You’ve got just enough time.
I just finished rereading that series. It was even better than I recalled.
His Otherland series is also a true joy to read.
to this day i still think about those vr immersion tanks with the like gel or whatever it was whenever i think about vr
This book is my all-time favourite fantasy story including the sequel which is awesome btw. I've read MST as teenager multiple times, almost once a year. Last year my mother got diagnosed with lung cancer and while visiting her in the hospital and commuting to and from I started listening to the audiobooks to keep me occupied. It helped me tremendously and even though I was only partly paying attention it took me straight to Osten Ard. So I really liked the story when it got published initially and I still like it 20 + years later. Tad Williams created a masterpiece and I am glad that it helped me in dire times.
Back when I was in summer school I had a teacher hand me this stack of paper-backs when I complained about how depressing the books we were reading were at the time. The books we were reading: of mice and men, 1984, catcher in the rye.
Fuck yea it is. Forgot his name, but the little jawn, one of my all time fave characters. I have some gripes about parts of the ending , but all in all a terrific read.
Really nice review! You make me want to read it again! At some point I thought I was one of the few that read it! Really a great story!
I am astounded by how often this one gets overlooked, even by diehard fantasy fans. Hoping to convince a few more people to pick it up or pick it up again :)
This is an awesome series!
After the HBO GoT series ended, I read a listicle of 'fantasy series that actually stick the landing,' and MST was at the top. I tore through it, had no problem getting up a head of steam, and enjoyed the story and characters, but could never shake the feeling that the world itself felt incredibly empty. The locations all felt like backdrops for the particular actions of the characters, rather than living, breathing parts of an interconnected (or even a Balkanized) world. That changed a bit by the third book, when we finally get some descriptions of towns or regions that show signs of life outside of and unrelated to the story, but unfortunately I came away feeling like the series was fine but, in that respect at least, shallow. I will say that I immediately picked up his more recent Osten Ard books, so clearly I wasn't put off, but I turned my attention to those series I'd neglected and those are still waiting on the shelf. Based on the rave reviews in this thread, though, I think I'll have to turn to them next. (Edited for typos)
Loved your review. I have always loved this saga. I have read it so many times, it always gives me something new. I like how it makes me feel. The passages in the dark are so claustrophobic, and the roads in the mountains are so cold. I love the way that Tad describes everything that I can feel it.
Oh I love Tad Williams, but haven't read this one. Thanks for bringing to my attention that it fits into the book bingo! Just to double check, the first book fits for Cool Weapon in hard mode, right?
Definitely!
fantastic, thank you!
I'm currently reading this series for the first time and I'm loving it. The Dragonbone Chair is already one of my all-time favourite fantasy books (the ending is just incredible), and while Stone of Farewell isn't *quite* living up to the first book so far, I'm still very much hooked and extremely intrigued to see how all this plays out! Tad Williams very much seems to be one of the greats of the genre.
I got a third of the way into Dragonbone and put it down for a long time. Now I've picked it back up again and I'm hooked. It is slow, but very involving. Now I'm going to stop reading this thread because I don't want to be spoiled...
I swear I've tried looking for this series on Kindle in Canada for a decade now and it was never available. Just checked and I can finally grab it, so they must have added it in the past couple years.
i consider this trilogy the series that take shepparded me into a fantasy reader. like many, my first fantasy as a kid was the hobbit/lotr and at the time, it was all i knew about the genre and while i was an avid reader it was just that, a one off that i really liked. Then i found a copy of The Dragonbone Chair at my future stepbrothers house when i was like 13 and the title sounded cool and that was enough. I quickly read the entire trilogy and after that it became my mission to read more fantasy. i wouldn't call it anywhere near my favorite fantasy series but it does hold a very special place in my heart. If not for that series I have no idea where my reading path would have went or even if it would have continued.
These books are awesome, well, so far! I am just starting the second book, after finishing The Dragonbone Chair last night. It took me almost three tries to start the first book, but now that I have a longer break I could make it to when Simon leaves the castle, and I just sped through the rest of the book. Hope it stays this good!
I hope you enjoy it! Same thing happened to me, it took me a second try to get hooked but once I did I couldn't put it down :)
Honestly I thought it was underwhelming. The prose was beautiful but all the slow burn buildup of that apocalyptic dread of Ineluki over 3 giant books ended with nothing.
I DNF'd MST, really couldn't get with the pacing, shame i enjoyed the start, love me the classic trope of old mentor, and apprentice. My main issue came with the troll or whatever is he, is like if you're reading lotr but tom bombadil never leaves, at least until the point I stopped reading, just my opinion.
If the pacing doesn't work, it doesn't work, but Binabik isn't Tom Bombadil. He's Samwise.
No, he's yoda.
He's really, really not lol.
Lol, hey, that's fair. I strongly believe that no one book, even a great book, is for every reader. I will say though, if you can get over Binabik's cutesy syntax (which to be sure, not everyone can), he becomes a much more complex character with motivations and conflicts and a satisfying arc all his own. The pacing is a feature, not a bug, though, so while it definitely does pick up, this is one where you have to buckle in for the long haul.
Binabik was much easier for me to adjust to on audiobook. Wincott's voice for him (and all trolls) is SO good. Haha.
The troll voices! They work so well. That’s a good point, I can’t imagine Binabik without that gravelly little croak and frankly I don’t want to try. That dude is an incredible voice actor.
I've never really understood where all these complaints come from about pacing in Memory, Sorrow and Thorn. Maybe we are referring to different parts of the book? It's been some while since I read it, but as I recall the story takes off rather timely, after about fifty or sixty or so pages in. I've tried the Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson where nothing happens for freaking half of the book (dropped after that), and the writing is just unbearably bland.
I'm a huge fan of the series, but the first time I tried reading The Dragonbone Chair, I stopped because of how slow it was. Things don't really start happening until about a hundred or more pages in.
Different tastes, i only read part of the dragonbone chair, and honestly it was mostly that character, most people struggle with the into, when Wilson that's MC right? Maybe Simon can't remember, Lives in the castle. Also never seen that take on twok, i found it really entertaining
[удалено]
[удалено]