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The Winnowing Flame Trilogy #3
The Poison Song: The Winnowing Flame Trilogy, Book 3
From two time British Fantasy Award-winning author, Jen Williams, comes the epic conclusion to the Winnowing Flame trilogy. Exhilarating fantasy for fans of Robin Hobb.
All is chaos. All is confusion. The Jure'lia are weak, but the war is far from over.
Ebora was once a glorious city, defended by legendary warriors and celebrated in song. Now refugees from every corner of Sarn seek shelter within its crumbling walls, and the enemy that has poisoned their land won't lie dormant for long.
The deep-rooted connection that Tormalin, Noon and the scholar Vintage share with their Eboran war-beasts has kept them alive so far. But with Tor distracted, and his sister Hestillion hell-bent on bringing ruthless order to the next Jure'lia attack, the people of Sarn need all the help they can get.
Noon is no stranger to playing with fire and knows just where to recruit a new - and powerful - army. But even she underestimates the epic quest that is to come. It is a journey wrought with pain and sacrifice - a reckoning that will change the face of Sarn forever.
Join forces with the heroes of the Winnowing Flame Trilogy as they strive to silence the Jure'lia's poison song once and for all.
All is chaos. All is confusion. The Jure'lia are weak, but the war is far from over.
Ebora was once a glorious city, defended by legendary warriors and celebrated in song. Now refugees from every corner of Sarn seek shelter within its crumbling walls, and the enemy that has poisoned their land won't lie dormant for long.
The deep-rooted connection that Tormalin, Noon and the scholar Vintage share with their Eboran war-beasts has kept them alive so far. But with Tor distracted, and his sister Hestillion hell-bent on bringing ruthless order to the next Jure'lia attack, the people of Sarn need all the help they can get.
Noon is no stranger to playing with fire and knows just where to recruit a new - and powerful - army. But even she underestimates the epic quest that is to come. It is a journey wrought with pain and sacrifice - a reckoning that will change the face of Sarn forever.
Join forces with the heroes of the Winnowing Flame Trilogy as they strive to silence the Jure'lia's poison song once and for all.
Audible Audio
First published May 16, 2019
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About the author
Jen Williams
38 books1,637 followersJen Williams lives in London with her partner and their small ridiculous cat. Having been a fan of grisly fairy tales from a young age, these days Jen writes dark unsettling thrillers with strong female leads, as well as character-driven fantasy novels with plenty of adventure and magic. Her debut novel, The Copper Promise, kicked off the Copper Cat trilogy in 2014, and since then she has twice won the British Fantasy Award for her second trilogy, the Winnowing Flame. Her first thriller, Dog Rose Dirt, was published with HarperCollins in July 2021. Jen has two upcoming releases in 2023: Games for Dead Girls with Harpercollins, and Talonsister with Titan. When she’s not writing books she enjoys messing about with video games and embroidery, and also works as a part-time bookseller and a freelance copywriter.
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July 18, 2021
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The Poison Song was truly an outstanding conclusion; someone needs to find an antidote to cure the severely underrated state of this series ASAP.
After twelve books, I'm gratified that I finally finished a new book that I can rate 5 stars easily. Here we are, the third and last book in The Winnowing Flame Trilogy. Now that I’ve finished binge reading this trilogy within a week, I can safely say that Jen Williams seriously deserves a much larger readership. C’mon, this last book was a bloody amazing read; it’s easily one of the best concluding volumes I’ve ever read. Even though this is the last of the series, there was still new content—such as Noon’s past, the Fell-witch’s background, the winnowfire’s origins—for the readers to learn about. It has all come down to this installment; the past two books and the first half of The Poison Song were preparations for the heart-hammering second half of this book. I honestly don’t think I’ve read many fantasy series that are as cleverly crafted and imaginative as The Winnowing Flame Trilogy. Williams made sure that each installment has its own main conflicts to resolve and, at the same time, she was able to stealthily build solid foundations for the searing conclusion of this series. The plotlines, the characters and their motivations, have been fully established and Williams was able to utilize them properly to deliver a glorious and unforgettable book; I found myself completely enthralled by William’s storytelling ability.
As I’ve said before, what made this series escalate from great to amazing was the spectacular characterization of its diverse characters. Williams seriously has immense talent in writing memorable characters that are easy to empathize with. Characters that I thought weren’t important in the first book ended up playing a huge role. I loved reading the gradual developments in their respective personalities; none of the characters stayed the same as they were since their first appearance. So many events have happened and changed them. The themes of family and connection that Williams implemented were evident in the characters’—both good and evil—interactions. I found the changes in the character’s emotions and actions to be genuinely resonating, and they brought an incredibly powerful emotional weight. There were a lot of well-placed moments of reminiscence about their first encounters with each other and how they’ve changed since then; they were subtle, efficient, and mind-blowingly effective in tugging my heartstrings. It’s very rare for me to find romances in the high fantasy genre that’s not infuriating to read, but the relationships—whether it was family, friendship, or love—that Williams cultivated were extraordinarily beautiful and poignant. The characterizations and developments were extremely well-written throughout the entire trilogy. So much that by this installment even a small act of affection like calling another character “brother” or “friend” while they prepared for the final doom became tremendously impactful.
The final battle was exceptionally breathtaking. I really didn’t expect the scale of this series to become this big, but The Poison Song has greatly exceeded my expectation. When you’re going to read this book, think about the apocalyptic events you’re reading and how the series actually began with a wealthy archaeologist who hired a sexy vampiric-elf as her henchman, and then they stumbled upon a witch that can throw green flames; you’ll be emotional and amazed by how far they’ve come. Sic parvis magna—greatness from small beginnings—was thoroughly achieved with finesse. The last 40% was superbly unputdownable and filled with large-scale vivid battles. Destructive aerial-battles were engaged and colorful conflagrations blazed with all their might, as all living sentient races and creatures fought to decide the fate of the world.
There’s nothing left for me to say except that I’m going to miss this series and its characters dearly. No matter what the genre is being written, a good author can tell you a good story, and a great author can make you think “Wait a minute, things are looking pretty bad. Will they make it?” However, a brilliant author can pull you into this state of full immersion that removes any chances of having any other thoughts occurring in the first place; you’ll be too engrossed from being transported into the world to think about anything else, and you’ll live the journey of the characters that exist within its text. As many incredible storytellers have done before, THAT is exactly the kind of escapism experience provided by Williams in this riveting novel. The Poison Song is relentlessly intoxicating and stupendous; Williams has landed an utterly satisfying and bittersweet ending to The Winnowing Flame Trilogy. I absolutely recommend this trilogy to every adult fantasy readers. Whatever Jen Williams write next, even if it’s a Dragon Age fanfic, I’ll read it. Thank you to Jen Williams and The Winnowing Flame Trilogy for keeping me occupied for one week; it was truly time well-spent.
Series Review:
The Ninth Rain: 4.5/5 stars
The Bitter Twins: 4/5 stars
The Poison Song: 5/5 stars
The Winnowing Flame Trilogy: 13.5/15 stars
You can order the book from: Book Depository (Free shipping)
You can find this and the rest of my reviews at Novel Notions
The Poison Song was truly an outstanding conclusion; someone needs to find an antidote to cure the severely underrated state of this series ASAP.
After twelve books, I'm gratified that I finally finished a new book that I can rate 5 stars easily. Here we are, the third and last book in The Winnowing Flame Trilogy. Now that I’ve finished binge reading this trilogy within a week, I can safely say that Jen Williams seriously deserves a much larger readership. C’mon, this last book was a bloody amazing read; it’s easily one of the best concluding volumes I’ve ever read. Even though this is the last of the series, there was still new content—such as Noon’s past, the Fell-witch’s background, the winnowfire’s origins—for the readers to learn about. It has all come down to this installment; the past two books and the first half of The Poison Song were preparations for the heart-hammering second half of this book. I honestly don’t think I’ve read many fantasy series that are as cleverly crafted and imaginative as The Winnowing Flame Trilogy. Williams made sure that each installment has its own main conflicts to resolve and, at the same time, she was able to stealthily build solid foundations for the searing conclusion of this series. The plotlines, the characters and their motivations, have been fully established and Williams was able to utilize them properly to deliver a glorious and unforgettable book; I found myself completely enthralled by William’s storytelling ability.
“What you brought back, darling, was the truth. Which is rarely comfortable and never painless, but often, ultimately, worth knowing.”
As I’ve said before, what made this series escalate from great to amazing was the spectacular characterization of its diverse characters. Williams seriously has immense talent in writing memorable characters that are easy to empathize with. Characters that I thought weren’t important in the first book ended up playing a huge role. I loved reading the gradual developments in their respective personalities; none of the characters stayed the same as they were since their first appearance. So many events have happened and changed them. The themes of family and connection that Williams implemented were evident in the characters’—both good and evil—interactions. I found the changes in the character’s emotions and actions to be genuinely resonating, and they brought an incredibly powerful emotional weight. There were a lot of well-placed moments of reminiscence about their first encounters with each other and how they’ve changed since then; they were subtle, efficient, and mind-blowingly effective in tugging my heartstrings. It’s very rare for me to find romances in the high fantasy genre that’s not infuriating to read, but the relationships—whether it was family, friendship, or love—that Williams cultivated were extraordinarily beautiful and poignant. The characterizations and developments were extremely well-written throughout the entire trilogy. So much that by this installment even a small act of affection like calling another character “brother” or “friend” while they prepared for the final doom became tremendously impactful.
“Stay strong, my bravest, dearest friends. We fly as one.”
The final battle was exceptionally breathtaking. I really didn’t expect the scale of this series to become this big, but The Poison Song has greatly exceeded my expectation. When you’re going to read this book, think about the apocalyptic events you’re reading and how the series actually began with a wealthy archaeologist who hired a sexy vampiric-elf as her henchman, and then they stumbled upon a witch that can throw green flames; you’ll be emotional and amazed by how far they’ve come. Sic parvis magna—greatness from small beginnings—was thoroughly achieved with finesse. The last 40% was superbly unputdownable and filled with large-scale vivid battles. Destructive aerial-battles were engaged and colorful conflagrations blazed with all their might, as all living sentient races and creatures fought to decide the fate of the world.
“Beginnings and endings, flesh and bone, ink and paper. These are what stories are made of. Have we come to the ending yet?”
There’s nothing left for me to say except that I’m going to miss this series and its characters dearly. No matter what the genre is being written, a good author can tell you a good story, and a great author can make you think “Wait a minute, things are looking pretty bad. Will they make it?” However, a brilliant author can pull you into this state of full immersion that removes any chances of having any other thoughts occurring in the first place; you’ll be too engrossed from being transported into the world to think about anything else, and you’ll live the journey of the characters that exist within its text. As many incredible storytellers have done before, THAT is exactly the kind of escapism experience provided by Williams in this riveting novel. The Poison Song is relentlessly intoxicating and stupendous; Williams has landed an utterly satisfying and bittersweet ending to The Winnowing Flame Trilogy. I absolutely recommend this trilogy to every adult fantasy readers. Whatever Jen Williams write next, even if it’s a Dragon Age fanfic, I’ll read it. Thank you to Jen Williams and The Winnowing Flame Trilogy for keeping me occupied for one week; it was truly time well-spent.
Series Review:
The Ninth Rain: 4.5/5 stars
The Bitter Twins: 4/5 stars
The Poison Song: 5/5 stars
The Winnowing Flame Trilogy: 13.5/15 stars
You can order the book from: Book Depository (Free shipping)
You can find this and the rest of my reviews at Novel Notions
May 16, 2019
All the stars for this. ALL.
First, a warning. This review is spoiler free for this book, but not The Ninth Rain or The Bitter Twins. Look away now if you haven’t read them. Or better yet, go buy them and come back when you’re done. Trust me, you won’t regret it.
For those that have read the first two of the series, you’ll know that things are looking dire for pretty much everyone. Except maybe the Jure’lia, who are busy varnishing the land and killing as many of its human inhabitants as possible. If you thought their methods were stomach-churningly bad before, just wait. I, for one, don’t like bugs. If someone told me before reading these that I’d love a series focused through the lens of a bug invasion, one that includes spiders no less, I’d have told them not to be so silly. Or more choice words to that effect. Yet there are times here when I even felt a bit sorry for them; their clear lack of understanding about what it is to be human, to be individual but still connected to others through love and friendship, was actually quite affecting. Which is a hell of an achievement. And just one example of the author taking you to an emotional place you weren’t expecting. Especially when their place at top of the baddie food chain is threatened by someone else. On which note I just have to say that if you’re the kind of character making a host of creepy-crawlies set on world domination seem like they might be hard done by, your life has gone seriously wrong somewhere. Anyway, no prizes for guessing who that might be.
There’s a perfect balancing of moments of intimacy and personal reflection with ridiculously thrilling, world-altering battles. I’m talking magic and swords and flying creatures and enough bugs to make you feel itchy all over. The levels of awesome are dialled right up, with my particular favourite, Noon, putting on a proper show. Everyone gets the opportunity to demonstrate the very essence of who they are, in high energy action scenes as much as the smaller ones full of feeling and quiet understanding. Yet at this late stage, there’s still space for characters to grow, for them to better understand themselves even as we come to see them more clearly. So much in this book felt like a revelation, an unfolding of truths that had been hidden just out of sight, but that mean everything to both the characters and the story. It only serves to ramp the tension even higher because if coming to terms with the past allows the possibility of change and a new, more positive future, then the ever present danger threatening to wipe it all out before it’s begun is all the more terrifying, for them and for us. Thankfully, the sense of doom and legitimate possibility of death doesn’t get everyone down. Instead, there’s a kind of ‘are you kidding me with this shit?’ attitude that’s genuinely funny. Though everyone has their own blend of humour, characters like Noon and Vintage have snark down pat, and their eye-rolling irritation is something that feels both modern and yet perfectly apt when you’re dealing with an alien insect invasion on top of every other thing going horribly bloody wrong. I’m sure we’d all act exactly the same way, except perhaps with more screaming. This banter forms part of the author’s clever merging of contemporary, familiar ideas and sentiments with her wildly imaginative and entertaining world. It’s an appealing mix, a place where diverse characters and relationships are so normalised they don’t even feel like a thing, but you can still be ripped to shreds by Wildtouched creatures when you step outside your door.
'This is a very dangerous plan,’ said […] as she passed. ‘I’m not sure you can even call it a plan. It’s more like barefaced cheek.’
‘My darling,’ Vintage shuffled to the edge, the drop beyond the ledge was dizzying, ‘I think that’s the nicest thing anyone’s ever said to me.’
The characters really are everything, for me at least. Now that doesn’t mean the story isn’t well conceived or exciting or fun or all those other things which it clearly IS, just that I’d probably as happy reading a book of them doing normal stuff. Maybe that’s just wishful thinking, a reflection of the kind of life I wish for them now, after they’ve been through so much. After all they’ve put me through to boot. Perhaps we can have a follow up set years in the future when they’re living their mundane lives: shopping, going out for lunch, catching up with old friends at the yearly reunion, talking about the bad old days of the Ninth Rain over drinks. Seriously though, there are characters here that have an immediate impact and some that grow on you, but either way their hold on you is tight enough by the end that putting the book down is hard. (Though that might have had something to do with the death grip I had on my kindle from the stress of the ending…) Anyway… As you’d expect in the final instalment of a trilogy, the conflicts or issues between people, friends or couples or family, move towards some kind of understanding or resolution and it becomes clear that the lucky ones are being offered the potential for a happy ever after. Something you want so badly for them. But these are dark times and there are battles ahead. And you know, even if you don’t want to admit it to yourself, that maybe not everyone is going to make it through….
but I’m saying nothing.
An exceptional finale that exceeded every expectation and which epitomises the kind of inventive, diverse, and emotional fantasy writing the genre really needs. Everything about this series is so creative, so vibrant and refreshingly different that it almost needs to come with a caution. Beware reader, this is ground untrodden, an exhilarating yet hazardous journey. You have been warned.
ARC via Netgalley
First, a warning. This review is spoiler free for this book, but not The Ninth Rain or The Bitter Twins. Look away now if you haven’t read them. Or better yet, go buy them and come back when you’re done. Trust me, you won’t regret it.
For those that have read the first two of the series, you’ll know that things are looking dire for pretty much everyone. Except maybe the Jure’lia, who are busy varnishing the land and killing as many of its human inhabitants as possible. If you thought their methods were stomach-churningly bad before, just wait. I, for one, don’t like bugs. If someone told me before reading these that I’d love a series focused through the lens of a bug invasion, one that includes spiders no less, I’d have told them not to be so silly. Or more choice words to that effect. Yet there are times here when I even felt a bit sorry for them; their clear lack of understanding about what it is to be human, to be individual but still connected to others through love and friendship, was actually quite affecting. Which is a hell of an achievement. And just one example of the author taking you to an emotional place you weren’t expecting. Especially when their place at top of the baddie food chain is threatened by someone else. On which note I just have to say that if you’re the kind of character making a host of creepy-crawlies set on world domination seem like they might be hard done by, your life has gone seriously wrong somewhere. Anyway, no prizes for guessing who that might be.
There’s a perfect balancing of moments of intimacy and personal reflection with ridiculously thrilling, world-altering battles. I’m talking magic and swords and flying creatures and enough bugs to make you feel itchy all over. The levels of awesome are dialled right up, with my particular favourite, Noon, putting on a proper show. Everyone gets the opportunity to demonstrate the very essence of who they are, in high energy action scenes as much as the smaller ones full of feeling and quiet understanding. Yet at this late stage, there’s still space for characters to grow, for them to better understand themselves even as we come to see them more clearly. So much in this book felt like a revelation, an unfolding of truths that had been hidden just out of sight, but that mean everything to both the characters and the story. It only serves to ramp the tension even higher because if coming to terms with the past allows the possibility of change and a new, more positive future, then the ever present danger threatening to wipe it all out before it’s begun is all the more terrifying, for them and for us. Thankfully, the sense of doom and legitimate possibility of death doesn’t get everyone down. Instead, there’s a kind of ‘are you kidding me with this shit?’ attitude that’s genuinely funny. Though everyone has their own blend of humour, characters like Noon and Vintage have snark down pat, and their eye-rolling irritation is something that feels both modern and yet perfectly apt when you’re dealing with an alien insect invasion on top of every other thing going horribly bloody wrong. I’m sure we’d all act exactly the same way, except perhaps with more screaming. This banter forms part of the author’s clever merging of contemporary, familiar ideas and sentiments with her wildly imaginative and entertaining world. It’s an appealing mix, a place where diverse characters and relationships are so normalised they don’t even feel like a thing, but you can still be ripped to shreds by Wildtouched creatures when you step outside your door.
'This is a very dangerous plan,’ said […] as she passed. ‘I’m not sure you can even call it a plan. It’s more like barefaced cheek.’
‘My darling,’ Vintage shuffled to the edge, the drop beyond the ledge was dizzying, ‘I think that’s the nicest thing anyone’s ever said to me.’
The characters really are everything, for me at least. Now that doesn’t mean the story isn’t well conceived or exciting or fun or all those other things which it clearly IS, just that I’d probably as happy reading a book of them doing normal stuff. Maybe that’s just wishful thinking, a reflection of the kind of life I wish for them now, after they’ve been through so much. After all they’ve put me through to boot. Perhaps we can have a follow up set years in the future when they’re living their mundane lives: shopping, going out for lunch, catching up with old friends at the yearly reunion, talking about the bad old days of the Ninth Rain over drinks. Seriously though, there are characters here that have an immediate impact and some that grow on you, but either way their hold on you is tight enough by the end that putting the book down is hard. (Though that might have had something to do with the death grip I had on my kindle from the stress of the ending…) Anyway… As you’d expect in the final instalment of a trilogy, the conflicts or issues between people, friends or couples or family, move towards some kind of understanding or resolution and it becomes clear that the lucky ones are being offered the potential for a happy ever after. Something you want so badly for them. But these are dark times and there are battles ahead. And you know, even if you don’t want to admit it to yourself, that maybe not everyone is going to make it through….
but I’m saying nothing.
An exceptional finale that exceeded every expectation and which epitomises the kind of inventive, diverse, and emotional fantasy writing the genre really needs. Everything about this series is so creative, so vibrant and refreshingly different that it almost needs to come with a caution. Beware reader, this is ground untrodden, an exhilarating yet hazardous journey. You have been warned.
ARC via Netgalley
June 18, 2020
The Poison Song is the light at the end of the grimdark tunnel; its fantasy with heart.
Don't you just hate it when a story you love comes to an end? Whilst I am sad to take my leave from this trilogy, I am simultaneously overjoyed that it has staked its claim on my favourites shelf. In all honesty I was already planning where to put it after the second book, and it was not unexpected, as I loved the author’s Copper Cat trilogy too. She consistently writes fantasy of the highest echelon and I will shout it out at every chance I get so that more people will read her books.
So. If you have not yet started this series. This is me. Shouting at you. READ IT!
Just go ahead and buy the first book, The Ninth Rain. It won the British Fantasy Award for Best Fantasy Novel of 2018 for a very good reason. You can thank me later.
For the rest of us who are already part of this magical journey… (meaning spoilers for books one and two to follow)
What a thrilling journey it has been! This was always going to be a conclusion to remember, but as with her other series, the feature that makes The Winnowing Flame trilogy stand out is the characters and this was once again blatantly evident in The Poison Song. Tormalind, Noon, Bern, Aldasair, the war beasts, to mention but a few - Jen Williams has never faltered in the task of imbuing her characters with life, giving them all the tools necessary to worm their way (🐛 muhahahaha ) into our hearts, and the Winnowing Flame Trilogy is no exception. The growth they exhibit throughout is staggering. These are not flat characters stuck in a loop, but evolving, learning, loving, living beings who make the best of things through trial and error. The personal growth they exhibit is staggering and looking back at where they started and where they end up can set your head spinning. It is so easy to empathize with them all, but to highlight the skill at work here, I need to talk about the Jure’lia. This might be the final book of the trilogy, but I am still not over how great of an antagonist they are (are there any awards for best villain?) so I cannot help but discuss them for the umpteenth time. The complete alienness that Jen Williams has injected into these...things... It's not that they are vile or cruel or evil - after all, they are just true to their inherent nature. It’s that they are just so make-the-hair-stand-up-on-the-back-of-your-neck OTHER than us! Couple that with the vivid, sensory details that Ms Williams writing invokes and you have an alien species that you do not want to be thinking of when you go to bed. Or if you are afraid of insects. Or spiders. *shudders. All in all, taken together with their insectile forms (and keeping in mind how many of us have some kind of fear linked to certain insects) I doubt that a creepier antagonist has ever been captured on paper. And herein lies the artistry. An insectile, alien organism/species wreaking unmentionable atrocities across all of Sarn, staking their claim on your nightmare hit-list, and yet Ms Williams will weave her wand and almost make you feel sorry for them and those they have corrupted. Even if only for a moment. Magic, I tell you.
As if brilliant characters weren't enough though, the story is just as bloody good. When we last saw our heroes at the end of The Bitter Twins, they had been through a maelstrom of emotions. Terrible truths were uncovered and deeply devastating losses were inflicted upon them. The Poison song picks up a short time after, with our heroes still reeling from the events of the traumatic battle and the Jure’lia having gone into hiding. There is no respite for our heroes though, no time to rest on these meager laurels, as plans for the annihilation of the Jure’lia need to be formulated and put into motion. And what a ride we are taken on! This time around there is a noticeable uptick in the pace, with action right off the bat. I had no chance to put this one down and the story raced away to that last stand. But you would be mistaken if you thought that the author was done building this wildly imaginative world and just going for that big ending. Instead Ms Williams layers it with even more history, mythos and mystery - giving us a world so rich, diverse and wonderfully storied that I sincerely hope she will grace us with tales that revisit it in the future. When that big ending does arrive though… No punches are pulled. Tense, horrific, vivid, hard hitting and packing lots of spine-chilling creepiness thanks to the variety of insectile horrors that the Jure’lia bring to the table…
‘Fuck my old boots,’ shouted Vintage. ‘What is that thing?’
... this battle is one to remember.
My only complaint is a very slight one - the not so happily ever after one of the characters received. I had an idea it might happen as there was a palpable undercurrent running throughout the story, one that hinted at a possible bittersweet denouement, and when it did hit, it came with a bit of a surprise. I mean, I knew it was coming. I did try to prepare myself. And still, the rug was pulled out from under me. I had so hoped the ending would not go this way - what can I say? This was the only thing I did not like about the book, although most people will think that such a thing was necessary. Everything cannot go perfect they say - it’s part and parcel of the great ending. Me? I want my cake and I want to eat it too.
So apart from me being fussy over happy endings, The Poison Song is a delightful last chapter in what is easily one of the best fantasy trilogies in recent times. I might be sounding like a broken record by now, but Jen Williams’ writing has won me over, time and time again. She writes with a distinctive, fresh voice, giving us exciting new tales teeming with love, hope, diversity, friendship, family - things that are always worth fighting for in the face of adversity. Every time I think I cannot love it more, she surprises me. What more can I say? I’m all about fantasy. I adore it. I have read and enjoyed many types, but my favourite is the kind of fantasy that makes you feel really, really good. It gives you hope. It feeds your soul. It's the antithesis of grimdark. It’s The Winnowing Flame Trilogy. It’s what you should read next.
PS: My darling Vintage - easily one of my favourite characters ever: I hope to see more of you. This was an ending, but hopefully not THE ending.
‘Oh,’ she said, fighting against a wave of horror that threatened to stop her heart. ‘That particular monster can fuck right off.’
Series reviews
The Ninth Rain
The Bitter Twins
Don't you just hate it when a story you love comes to an end? Whilst I am sad to take my leave from this trilogy, I am simultaneously overjoyed that it has staked its claim on my favourites shelf. In all honesty I was already planning where to put it after the second book, and it was not unexpected, as I loved the author’s Copper Cat trilogy too. She consistently writes fantasy of the highest echelon and I will shout it out at every chance I get so that more people will read her books.
So. If you have not yet started this series. This is me. Shouting at you. READ IT!
Just go ahead and buy the first book, The Ninth Rain. It won the British Fantasy Award for Best Fantasy Novel of 2018 for a very good reason. You can thank me later.
For the rest of us who are already part of this magical journey… (meaning spoilers for books one and two to follow)
What a thrilling journey it has been! This was always going to be a conclusion to remember, but as with her other series, the feature that makes The Winnowing Flame trilogy stand out is the characters and this was once again blatantly evident in The Poison Song. Tormalind, Noon, Bern, Aldasair, the war beasts, to mention but a few - Jen Williams has never faltered in the task of imbuing her characters with life, giving them all the tools necessary to worm their way (🐛 muhahahaha ) into our hearts, and the Winnowing Flame Trilogy is no exception. The growth they exhibit throughout is staggering. These are not flat characters stuck in a loop, but evolving, learning, loving, living beings who make the best of things through trial and error. The personal growth they exhibit is staggering and looking back at where they started and where they end up can set your head spinning. It is so easy to empathize with them all, but to highlight the skill at work here, I need to talk about the Jure’lia. This might be the final book of the trilogy, but I am still not over how great of an antagonist they are (are there any awards for best villain?) so I cannot help but discuss them for the umpteenth time. The complete alienness that Jen Williams has injected into these...things... It's not that they are vile or cruel or evil - after all, they are just true to their inherent nature. It’s that they are just so make-the-hair-stand-up-on-the-back-of-your-neck OTHER than us! Couple that with the vivid, sensory details that Ms Williams writing invokes and you have an alien species that you do not want to be thinking of when you go to bed. Or if you are afraid of insects. Or spiders. *shudders. All in all, taken together with their insectile forms (and keeping in mind how many of us have some kind of fear linked to certain insects) I doubt that a creepier antagonist has ever been captured on paper. And herein lies the artistry. An insectile, alien organism/species wreaking unmentionable atrocities across all of Sarn, staking their claim on your nightmare hit-list, and yet Ms Williams will weave her wand and almost make you feel sorry for them and those they have corrupted. Even if only for a moment. Magic, I tell you.
As if brilliant characters weren't enough though, the story is just as bloody good. When we last saw our heroes at the end of The Bitter Twins, they had been through a maelstrom of emotions. Terrible truths were uncovered and deeply devastating losses were inflicted upon them. The Poison song picks up a short time after, with our heroes still reeling from the events of the traumatic battle and the Jure’lia having gone into hiding. There is no respite for our heroes though, no time to rest on these meager laurels, as plans for the annihilation of the Jure’lia need to be formulated and put into motion. And what a ride we are taken on! This time around there is a noticeable uptick in the pace, with action right off the bat. I had no chance to put this one down and the story raced away to that last stand. But you would be mistaken if you thought that the author was done building this wildly imaginative world and just going for that big ending. Instead Ms Williams layers it with even more history, mythos and mystery - giving us a world so rich, diverse and wonderfully storied that I sincerely hope she will grace us with tales that revisit it in the future. When that big ending does arrive though… No punches are pulled. Tense, horrific, vivid, hard hitting and packing lots of spine-chilling creepiness thanks to the variety of insectile horrors that the Jure’lia bring to the table…
‘Fuck my old boots,’ shouted Vintage. ‘What is that thing?’
... this battle is one to remember.
My only complaint is a very slight one - the not so happily ever after one of the characters received. I had an idea it might happen as there was a palpable undercurrent running throughout the story, one that hinted at a possible bittersweet denouement, and when it did hit, it came with a bit of a surprise. I mean, I knew it was coming. I did try to prepare myself. And still, the rug was pulled out from under me. I had so hoped the ending would not go this way - what can I say? This was the only thing I did not like about the book, although most people will think that such a thing was necessary. Everything cannot go perfect they say - it’s part and parcel of the great ending. Me? I want my cake and I want to eat it too.
So apart from me being fussy over happy endings, The Poison Song is a delightful last chapter in what is easily one of the best fantasy trilogies in recent times. I might be sounding like a broken record by now, but Jen Williams’ writing has won me over, time and time again. She writes with a distinctive, fresh voice, giving us exciting new tales teeming with love, hope, diversity, friendship, family - things that are always worth fighting for in the face of adversity. Every time I think I cannot love it more, she surprises me. What more can I say? I’m all about fantasy. I adore it. I have read and enjoyed many types, but my favourite is the kind of fantasy that makes you feel really, really good. It gives you hope. It feeds your soul. It's the antithesis of grimdark. It’s The Winnowing Flame Trilogy. It’s what you should read next.
PS: My darling Vintage - easily one of my favourite characters ever: I hope to see more of you. This was an ending, but hopefully not THE ending.
‘Oh,’ she said, fighting against a wave of horror that threatened to stop her heart. ‘That particular monster can fuck right off.’
Series reviews
The Ninth Rain
The Bitter Twins
September 6, 2020
I didn't realize how much I missed this world until I started reading this. Every thread converged beautifully, happy ending for some memorable characters and others were not so lucky.
A very entertaining series and a great finale. Highly recommended.
A very entertaining series and a great finale. Highly recommended.
December 22, 2021
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The Ninth Rain ★★★★
The Bitter Twins ★★★★
The Poison Song ★★★★ 1/4
The Winnowing Flame trilogy is definitely an underrated series! Book three only has around 1000 ratings on GR and I think that is a crime! These books check all the right boxes from the absolutely gorgeous covers to the fluent prose and characterization bleeding off the pages. It does even have animal companions with super powers so it can not get better than that! Darlings, if you haven’t read this series yet do yourself a favor and start with it asap!
The Poison Song continues the story after the events of the second book, it certainly does have the strongest beginning so far and just jumps into action from the start. The book then goes on to continue the story and tie up all the previous threads while adding more characters and backstories!
I love Williams writing because it is just unique and she has her own powerful voice that is specially prevalent when it comes to writing characters. I don’t think there is a single character that I hated because they’re all realistic and fleshed out. Lady Vintage is certainly one hell of a lady and I think she deserves a spot on one of my favorite characters of all time. The book does jump between the characters as each go on their own journey but there was never a dull moment because the flow was just immaculate!
And the Warbeasts are also awesome as hell! I always wanted to read a book with companions like these, we literally have dragons breathing fires and shooting thunderbolts, a giant bat with ice beams, flying cat and an acid throwing hybrid creature and this is not an exhaustive list! It kind of gave me Pokemon vibes and I really loved that! I wish we had more books with creatures like those!
I still think the world-building is eccentric and unlike anything I read before and I live for such creativity. The bugs, the oozing creatures and aliens are a nice surprise that I never saw coming before reading the books but is certainly something I enjoyed and was invested in. As in all books, the second half was better than the half one but the second half of this book wraps the whole trilogy not only the book itself which puts it on a whole new level!
Summary: I enjoyed the hell out of this series! There was a perfect mix of all the right elements and it was such an addicting read. It is a very underrated series and I think it is worth investing the time -and money- in! I hope we visit this world again sometime and I will keep an eye on whatever the author comes up with next!
“Beginnings and endings, flesh and bone, ink and paper. These are what stories are made of. Have we come to the ending yet?”
The Ninth Rain ★★★★
The Bitter Twins ★★★★
The Poison Song ★★★★ 1/4
The Winnowing Flame trilogy is definitely an underrated series! Book three only has around 1000 ratings on GR and I think that is a crime! These books check all the right boxes from the absolutely gorgeous covers to the fluent prose and characterization bleeding off the pages. It does even have animal companions with super powers so it can not get better than that! Darlings, if you haven’t read this series yet do yourself a favor and start with it asap!
The Poison Song continues the story after the events of the second book, it certainly does have the strongest beginning so far and just jumps into action from the start. The book then goes on to continue the story and tie up all the previous threads while adding more characters and backstories!
I love Williams writing because it is just unique and she has her own powerful voice that is specially prevalent when it comes to writing characters. I don’t think there is a single character that I hated because they’re all realistic and fleshed out. Lady Vintage is certainly one hell of a lady and I think she deserves a spot on one of my favorite characters of all time. The book does jump between the characters as each go on their own journey but there was never a dull moment because the flow was just immaculate!
And the Warbeasts are also awesome as hell! I always wanted to read a book with companions like these, we literally have dragons breathing fires and shooting thunderbolts, a giant bat with ice beams, flying cat and an acid throwing hybrid creature and this is not an exhaustive list! It kind of gave me Pokemon vibes and I really loved that! I wish we had more books with creatures like those!
I still think the world-building is eccentric and unlike anything I read before and I live for such creativity. The bugs, the oozing creatures and aliens are a nice surprise that I never saw coming before reading the books but is certainly something I enjoyed and was invested in. As in all books, the second half was better than the half one but the second half of this book wraps the whole trilogy not only the book itself which puts it on a whole new level!
Summary: I enjoyed the hell out of this series! There was a perfect mix of all the right elements and it was such an addicting read. It is a very underrated series and I think it is worth investing the time -and money- in! I hope we visit this world again sometime and I will keep an eye on whatever the author comes up with next!
February 15, 2020
Update for US readers who are interested. The ebooks are available on Google Playstore.
One word. INCREDIBLE.
The Winnowing Flame Trilogy has earned a perfect 5-star rating from me and deserved ALL of it. The Poison Song not only lived up to its astoundingly good prequels, but it also delivered an exquisitely emotional and satisfying conclusion.
I've always refrained from mentioning plot points in my reviews for concluding books to avoid inadvertent spoilers. Instead, I will explain why I believe that Jen Williams' sophomore trilogy is absolutely worth your time and money.
I loved everything about these books - from the enthralling story to the eldritch worldbuilding and amazing characters, and the earnest writing - everything! While I've seen a few comments on the relatively slow start to the first book, I was addicted right from the get-go. I adore fantasy stories which skillfully weave the worldbuilding threads into the narrative. In this trilogy, the reader learns in tandem with the primary characters as they tried to uncover the mysteries of the world they live in.
Sarn is a world that has suffered over a millennium of repeated invasions of an alien race termed as the worm people, or Jure'lia. Just as the origins of the Jure'lia remained as an enigma throughout all those centuries, so it was with the once-mighty Eborans, the defenders of Sarn against these invasions. The Eborans are an elf-like race with a much longer lifespan, and greater beauty and strength. But they are all slowly dying from an inexorable disease. Then we have the fell-witches who are 'cursed' with the ability to wield highly destructive winnowfire through taking life energy from any living thing around them. Let me assure you that although some of these worldbuilding elements may seem familiar, none of them is remotely derivative as Williams' applied some serious ingenuity to create a unique setting which is wildly evocative and vibrant.
The story in this trilogy was already riveting from the gradual and surprising revelations of all the unknowns. What made it truly unforgettable and captivating was the wonderfully written characters. Complex, flawed and compelling, Williams lovingly crafted a diverse cast of characters to carry her brilliantly conceived narrative about the importance of connections and memories. Nothing makes me love a book more than having emotional resonance, and this was amplified by the magnitude of how much these characters mattered to me.
I've also noticed that Williams tended towards writing mature characters who have been through a lot in life. Firstly, this means that you won't find typical young adult themes. It also means that most of these individuals have emotional baggage from their past lives before they came together. The kind of character interaction and evolution that arises from bringing such people together - the bonds and relationships that are formed - make for some of the most convincing and engaging characterisations that I've ever read. The snarky humour in the dialogue and banter is also pure gold.
There is such natural ease and honesty in Williams' writing that the story and its characters take centre stage. I've always appreciated simplicity in writing that conveys what it needs to without bloat or self-indulgence. With the looming world-ending threat at large, no one has time for contemplative philosophies anyway. Speaking of the world-ending threat, the antagonist is remarkably well-written. Gaining insights into the Jure'lia's motivations behind their extended invasion was most enlightening and also unexpectedly stirring. One can easily imagine that in another story told from a different perspective, these worm people can even be viewed as the protagonist.
The one thing that I've yet to mention, however, is the exhilarating action scenes. What would you expect when you have flying war-beasts and giant worm-like ships that shit big bugs. Behold, battle scenes that defy the conventions of either straight-up fantasy or a grand space opera. There is also the ominous reality that our beloved heroes are always outnumbered by the enemy which made all the fight scenes immensely thrilling. That Williams somehow made it all work without seeming ludicrous is yet another notable achievement.
The Winnowing Flame Trilogy hooked me right from the start. It then lured me ever deeper with its bewitching siren song and finally left me in a wreck of emotions. It is very rare for me to rate a trilogy 5-stars across all books, but this one truly deserved all of it. I highly recommend these books to every fantasy fan, especially if you are craving for that spark of originality. Yes, even if you have an aversion to bugs.
You can purchase a copy of this book from Amazon UK | Book Depository (Free shipping worldwide)
You can also find this, and my other reviews at Novel Notions.
One word. INCREDIBLE.
The Winnowing Flame Trilogy has earned a perfect 5-star rating from me and deserved ALL of it. The Poison Song not only lived up to its astoundingly good prequels, but it also delivered an exquisitely emotional and satisfying conclusion.
I've always refrained from mentioning plot points in my reviews for concluding books to avoid inadvertent spoilers. Instead, I will explain why I believe that Jen Williams' sophomore trilogy is absolutely worth your time and money.
I loved everything about these books - from the enthralling story to the eldritch worldbuilding and amazing characters, and the earnest writing - everything! While I've seen a few comments on the relatively slow start to the first book, I was addicted right from the get-go. I adore fantasy stories which skillfully weave the worldbuilding threads into the narrative. In this trilogy, the reader learns in tandem with the primary characters as they tried to uncover the mysteries of the world they live in.
Sarn is a world that has suffered over a millennium of repeated invasions of an alien race termed as the worm people, or Jure'lia. Just as the origins of the Jure'lia remained as an enigma throughout all those centuries, so it was with the once-mighty Eborans, the defenders of Sarn against these invasions. The Eborans are an elf-like race with a much longer lifespan, and greater beauty and strength. But they are all slowly dying from an inexorable disease. Then we have the fell-witches who are 'cursed' with the ability to wield highly destructive winnowfire through taking life energy from any living thing around them. Let me assure you that although some of these worldbuilding elements may seem familiar, none of them is remotely derivative as Williams' applied some serious ingenuity to create a unique setting which is wildly evocative and vibrant.
The story in this trilogy was already riveting from the gradual and surprising revelations of all the unknowns. What made it truly unforgettable and captivating was the wonderfully written characters. Complex, flawed and compelling, Williams lovingly crafted a diverse cast of characters to carry her brilliantly conceived narrative about the importance of connections and memories. Nothing makes me love a book more than having emotional resonance, and this was amplified by the magnitude of how much these characters mattered to me.
I've also noticed that Williams tended towards writing mature characters who have been through a lot in life. Firstly, this means that you won't find typical young adult themes. It also means that most of these individuals have emotional baggage from their past lives before they came together. The kind of character interaction and evolution that arises from bringing such people together - the bonds and relationships that are formed - make for some of the most convincing and engaging characterisations that I've ever read. The snarky humour in the dialogue and banter is also pure gold.
"All people need, in my experience, is a little push in the right direction. Or a giant kick up the arse. I am always happy to provide either."
There is such natural ease and honesty in Williams' writing that the story and its characters take centre stage. I've always appreciated simplicity in writing that conveys what it needs to without bloat or self-indulgence. With the looming world-ending threat at large, no one has time for contemplative philosophies anyway. Speaking of the world-ending threat, the antagonist is remarkably well-written. Gaining insights into the Jure'lia's motivations behind their extended invasion was most enlightening and also unexpectedly stirring. One can easily imagine that in another story told from a different perspective, these worm people can even be viewed as the protagonist.
The one thing that I've yet to mention, however, is the exhilarating action scenes. What would you expect when you have flying war-beasts and giant worm-like ships that shit big bugs. Behold, battle scenes that defy the conventions of either straight-up fantasy or a grand space opera. There is also the ominous reality that our beloved heroes are always outnumbered by the enemy which made all the fight scenes immensely thrilling. That Williams somehow made it all work without seeming ludicrous is yet another notable achievement.
The Winnowing Flame Trilogy hooked me right from the start. It then lured me ever deeper with its bewitching siren song and finally left me in a wreck of emotions. It is very rare for me to rate a trilogy 5-stars across all books, but this one truly deserved all of it. I highly recommend these books to every fantasy fan, especially if you are craving for that spark of originality. Yes, even if you have an aversion to bugs.
You can purchase a copy of this book from Amazon UK | Book Depository (Free shipping worldwide)
You can also find this, and my other reviews at Novel Notions.
August 28, 2023
Actual rating: 12 pathetic stars. And a half.
Bloody shrimping hell of the stinking fish.
That bloody shrimping ENDING.
Jen Williams, thank thee very much, you just killed me most deadly dead. Come to think of it, you're so nefariously ruthless, you might as well adopt my murderous children and take over my Vicious Overlord job while I learn to knit or something. Because, seriously, when it comes to inflicting excruciatingly traumatizing emotional pain to puny humans? I'm a complete amateur compared to you.
P.S. I might possibly write a spectacularly crappy review for this bookif once I recover from it. Maybe. In a century or two. Or three.
· Book 1: The Ninth Rain ★★★★★
· Book 2: The Bitter Twins ★★★★★
➽ October 10, 2018: we have a cover!!!!!!!!
Allergic to gifs? You might maybe perhaps want to take a few steps back and stuff. You are quite welcome.
AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!
We have a publication date!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!
The book is up for pre-order!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!
P.S. I'm not excited about this. Oh, no. Absolutely not. Nope nope nope. NOT ME.
P.P.S.
Bloody shrimping hell of the stinking fish.
That bloody shrimping ENDING.
Jen Williams, thank thee very much, you just killed me most deadly dead. Come to think of it, you're so nefariously ruthless, you might as well adopt my murderous children and take over my Vicious Overlord job while I learn to knit or something. Because, seriously, when it comes to inflicting excruciatingly traumatizing emotional pain to puny humans? I'm a complete amateur compared to you.
P.S. I might possibly write a spectacularly crappy review for this book
· Book 1: The Ninth Rain ★★★★★
· Book 2: The Bitter Twins ★★★★★
➽ October 10, 2018: we have a cover!!!!!!!!
Allergic to gifs? You might maybe perhaps want to take a few steps back and stuff. You are quite welcome.
AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!
We have a publication date!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!
The book is up for pre-order!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!
P.S. I'm not excited about this. Oh, no. Absolutely not. Nope nope nope. NOT ME.
P.P.S.
January 9, 2022
Spoiler Free Series Review: https://youtu.be/OEmofcrpNas
Last book of the year! So despite having lots of depression and anxiety this week I really really enjoyed this conclusion. I was not surprised since I have loved all the other installments. I think this might be my least favorite but I think it is a fantastic ending so I guess to be the worst of a 5 star series where I gave each book 5 stars is really splitting hairs. The world is so vividly described and if you ever wanted to read a cinematic fantasy series I think this is worth your time. The battles are large, there are stakes, the banter is fantastic and entertaining. I don't think this series is "deep" but I also don't think its shallow or one note. Its somewhere in the middle and a very entertaining time with a really well thought out world, antagonist and epic moments that always had me on the edge of my seat. Also even though you can only get these from the UK these paperbacks actually don't have tight spines and I really loved the font size and covers, which is probably not important to most of you but I did thoroughly enjoy reading from the physical editions of this book.
Last book of the year! So despite having lots of depression and anxiety this week I really really enjoyed this conclusion. I was not surprised since I have loved all the other installments. I think this might be my least favorite but I think it is a fantastic ending so I guess to be the worst of a 5 star series where I gave each book 5 stars is really splitting hairs. The world is so vividly described and if you ever wanted to read a cinematic fantasy series I think this is worth your time. The battles are large, there are stakes, the banter is fantastic and entertaining. I don't think this series is "deep" but I also don't think its shallow or one note. Its somewhere in the middle and a very entertaining time with a really well thought out world, antagonist and epic moments that always had me on the edge of my seat. Also even though you can only get these from the UK these paperbacks actually don't have tight spines and I really loved the font size and covers, which is probably not important to most of you but I did thoroughly enjoy reading from the physical editions of this book.
January 11, 2022
I'm trying to remember the last time a series finale felt this perfectly satisfying - plot-lines and characters' arcs all brought to such an emotional, fulfilling conclusion (although, often enough, a heart-wrenching one: keep some tissues at hand, folks), the worldbuilding familiar by now like my own neighborhood but still full of many nooks and crannies left to explore, the sense of impending doom an ending which is also the beginning of many incredible adventures to come - but nothing comes to mind, really: Game of Thrones, maybe? BUHAHAHAHAHA! Yeah, riiight.
The previous books of The Winnowing Flame trilogy set the bar perilously high for Williams, but like the champ she is, she gives the world yet another masterpiece (again, I'm trying to think of another series that manages to sustain such a consistently stellar quality in all its installments, and I'm coming up empty-handed: perhaps Game of Thr.... BUHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!)
The Poison Song clearly feels like a goodbye to the gang, to their enemies and to Sarn: the characters themselves sense that Things Are Coming to an End, reminiscing as they are about times long past, and circularity is in fact a big theme in the book - a poisoned world, a poisoned past, poisoned bodies, poisoned memories. Heroes and villains alike are bruised and battered, but backing off is not an option and the winners get it all. It's showtime!
And while there are several plot-lines that need to be brought to a conclusion here, Williams won't be rushed: there's still time to explore some creepy patches of the Wild with Vin, Tor and Noon, to meet new people, check in on old acquaintances and visit some far-away corners of the world. The kaleidoscopic narrative, with several POVs intertwined in the space of the same chapter, the characters busy in various parts of Sarn and the tension so very carefully measured out by the author (Williams is the queen of bookish jump scares: my heart took a serious hit and I'm pretty sure by the end of the book I grew some new white hair), set the perfect stage for the final showdown between the various forces at play.
It ends with a bang, which is the sound of Williams smashing your heart with a mallet.
It ends as it should, with tears and hope and the knowledge you've just witnessed something awesome happening in front of your eyes.
To be honest, a couple of plot lines didn't feel especially convincing to me: wouldn't . Mmm. Maybe I've missed some nuances here, but the resolution of these sub-plots felt a little bit forced to me.
But. Minor complaints aside, I've been thinking about what The Winnowing Flame reminds me of, why it felt so familiar, and I think I've got it: it's one of those stories, which one usually encounters in her younger years, that stay forever with you, part of your inner landscape as much as your own memories, shaping your future interests and tastes. As an adult, I've read plenty of incredible, memorable books, but that special magic is somehow harder to come by once you grow up: well, I've found it again here.
So long, darlings.
The previous books of The Winnowing Flame trilogy set the bar perilously high for Williams, but like the champ she is, she gives the world yet another masterpiece (again, I'm trying to think of another series that manages to sustain such a consistently stellar quality in all its installments, and I'm coming up empty-handed: perhaps Game of Thr.... BUHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!)
The Poison Song clearly feels like a goodbye to the gang, to their enemies and to Sarn: the characters themselves sense that Things Are Coming to an End, reminiscing as they are about times long past, and circularity is in fact a big theme in the book - a poisoned world, a poisoned past, poisoned bodies, poisoned memories. Heroes and villains alike are bruised and battered, but backing off is not an option and the winners get it all. It's showtime!
And while there are several plot-lines that need to be brought to a conclusion here, Williams won't be rushed: there's still time to explore some creepy patches of the Wild with Vin, Tor and Noon, to meet new people, check in on old acquaintances and visit some far-away corners of the world. The kaleidoscopic narrative, with several POVs intertwined in the space of the same chapter, the characters busy in various parts of Sarn and the tension so very carefully measured out by the author (Williams is the queen of bookish jump scares: my heart took a serious hit and I'm pretty sure by the end of the book I grew some new white hair), set the perfect stage for the final showdown between the various forces at play.
It ends with a bang, which is the sound of Williams smashing your heart with a mallet.
It ends as it should, with tears and hope and the knowledge you've just witnessed something awesome happening in front of your eyes.
To be honest, a couple of plot lines didn't feel especially convincing to me: wouldn't . Mmm. Maybe I've missed some nuances here, but the resolution of these sub-plots felt a little bit forced to me.
But. Minor complaints aside, I've been thinking about what The Winnowing Flame reminds me of, why it felt so familiar, and I think I've got it: it's one of those stories, which one usually encounters in her younger years, that stay forever with you, part of your inner landscape as much as your own memories, shaping your future interests and tastes. As an adult, I've read plenty of incredible, memorable books, but that special magic is somehow harder to come by once you grow up: well, I've found it again here.
So long, darlings.
November 21, 2021
A redeeming third novel. So much is happening that I barely had time to breathe.
The characters finally gain some depth, the villain lives up to her role, and everything wraps up nicely, even if mostly predictable.
Overall, it's a lovely story, light, and entertaining, as long as you don't expect a masterpiece.
The characters finally gain some depth, the villain lives up to her role, and everything wraps up nicely, even if mostly predictable.
Overall, it's a lovely story, light, and entertaining, as long as you don't expect a masterpiece.
October 31, 2024
4,5/5 stars I really enjoy the series.
August 11, 2023
This review may contain mild spoilers for all three books.
Well here we are at the end of The Winnowing Flame trilogy and once again Jen Williams has left me heartbroken. Reader beware, this is a trilogy that will take you on the wildest emotional rollercoaster you’ve ever ridden, but it’s worth every teardrop.
The Poison Song is the final instalment, where our characters, no, not just characters, our friends, make their final stand. It’s all or nothing. The Jure’lia Queen may be licking her wounds after the ending of The Bitter Twins but she will not stay down for long. Nor will her pet, Hestillion who searches for new ways, new creatures to create and unleash on Sarn until either all is destroyed or under their control. Meanwhile Tor, Noon, Vintage, Aldasair and Bern, along with their war-beasts, plot their next move, and in doing so make unexpected alliances. Noon has brought The Winnowry down, she has freed the Fell-Witches who were so cruelly imprisoned, and now it is time for them to show their true power. Could they be a formidable force who might just change the course of this war?
“'Come and face your doom, you ugly worm bastards!' His shout echoed around the cavern, fluttering against the walls and bouncing back like a frightened bird, but something about it made him grin all the wider. Here we are, in your secret den, he thought. Crawling right up your arsehole.”
In every review I hark on about how emotionally driven this series is and at the risk of repeating myself this book made me cry long before anything tragic had even happened. Over the course of the trilogy these characters have become part of me, Sarn for all its dangers felt like a home, and the war-beasts felt like real protective companions. My fondness for each of them grew with every book, with every trial they faced I could feel their pain, especially in this book as they all go on quite the journey. Noon confronts her past and finally remembers the devastating event that she had blocked for so many years, her despair at facing the truth was hard to read when we the reader know she has done so much good, as was reading about Tor facing his diminishing health with the Crimson Flux. Yet there were happier moments too, with Noon and Tor finally facing their feelings for one another, with Vintage’s growing friendship with Chenlo, a former Winnowry agent, and the love between Aldasair and Bern, two characters who would risk all to save each other. There is much self reflection, much growth and much sacrifice and these moments made me just as emotional as the devastating parts. These characters share an unbreakable family bond, made even stronger by their war-beasts, yet Williams makes clear that none of them were indestructible and at any given moment she could rip one right out of the story. Damn her!
“Stay strong, my bravest, dearest friends. We fly as one.”
Throughout the first half of this book our characters all have separate side quests and not all of them seem successful at first glance as many result in further disasters. This did feel like the plot was stalling somewhat but in truth, once the threads all begin to come together, we discover that they all help to widen our knowledge of Sarn, of the magic that lies within the lands, of the cultural diversity and ways of life, and of the Jure’lia’s corrupted history. This is a novel that balances many light and dark themes which Williams explores in various ways. For example, Agent Chenlo’s extracts from her journal tell the story of fell-witch children being captured and imprisoned by Winnowry agents, yet once Noon sets them free from their trauma and they are able to realise that their power can be used for good, for a heroic purpose. As we travel through a diverse cultural city such as Jarlsbad, buzzing with life and commerce, we see such a direct contrast to the ruins of Ebora. Then as we discover how the Jure’lia’s nest has fouled much of the surrounding land, we also see there are those who have made a home, a life, underground right beside the ants and live relatively well. What pulls all of the people of Sarn together is that of hope, and this is the force which drives this novel to its superb conclusion.
Williams delivers one of the most epic battles I’ve read. With our band of heroes fighting in the sky on their majestic, armoured, war beasts desperately holding back the behemoths, with those on the ground defending Ygersil, the tree god, against the invading burrowers with every ounce of strength they have, and with those infiltrating the Jure’lia Queen’s lair to find her core memory crystal, this battle held many scenes of sheer thrilling delight. Eborans, witches, men and beasts all banding together, putting aside past prejudices and wrong doings to save Sarn, honestly made my heart soar. The visual aspects of each character facing their own opponents to conquer, their own methods of fighting, made the scope of this battle incredible. Think End Game but much better!
Once I had reached the final chapter, saying goodbye to my beloved darlings was not easy by any means, yet I was left satisfied. The Poison Song concludes this tale on a note of sadness and a time of healing, but also on the prospect of a brighter, peaceful future. There is also scope for more stories to be told, more adventures to go on, and so I hope one day to see Williams return to Sarn. Until then, here’s a few wise words from Vintage:
“All people need, in my experience, is a little push in the right direction.
Or a giant kick up the arse. I am always happy to provide either.”
Well here we are at the end of The Winnowing Flame trilogy and once again Jen Williams has left me heartbroken. Reader beware, this is a trilogy that will take you on the wildest emotional rollercoaster you’ve ever ridden, but it’s worth every teardrop.
The Poison Song is the final instalment, where our characters, no, not just characters, our friends, make their final stand. It’s all or nothing. The Jure’lia Queen may be licking her wounds after the ending of The Bitter Twins but she will not stay down for long. Nor will her pet, Hestillion who searches for new ways, new creatures to create and unleash on Sarn until either all is destroyed or under their control. Meanwhile Tor, Noon, Vintage, Aldasair and Bern, along with their war-beasts, plot their next move, and in doing so make unexpected alliances. Noon has brought The Winnowry down, she has freed the Fell-Witches who were so cruelly imprisoned, and now it is time for them to show their true power. Could they be a formidable force who might just change the course of this war?
“'Come and face your doom, you ugly worm bastards!' His shout echoed around the cavern, fluttering against the walls and bouncing back like a frightened bird, but something about it made him grin all the wider. Here we are, in your secret den, he thought. Crawling right up your arsehole.”
In every review I hark on about how emotionally driven this series is and at the risk of repeating myself this book made me cry long before anything tragic had even happened. Over the course of the trilogy these characters have become part of me, Sarn for all its dangers felt like a home, and the war-beasts felt like real protective companions. My fondness for each of them grew with every book, with every trial they faced I could feel their pain, especially in this book as they all go on quite the journey. Noon confronts her past and finally remembers the devastating event that she had blocked for so many years, her despair at facing the truth was hard to read when we the reader know she has done so much good, as was reading about Tor facing his diminishing health with the Crimson Flux. Yet there were happier moments too, with Noon and Tor finally facing their feelings for one another, with Vintage’s growing friendship with Chenlo, a former Winnowry agent, and the love between Aldasair and Bern, two characters who would risk all to save each other. There is much self reflection, much growth and much sacrifice and these moments made me just as emotional as the devastating parts. These characters share an unbreakable family bond, made even stronger by their war-beasts, yet Williams makes clear that none of them were indestructible and at any given moment she could rip one right out of the story. Damn her!
“Stay strong, my bravest, dearest friends. We fly as one.”
Throughout the first half of this book our characters all have separate side quests and not all of them seem successful at first glance as many result in further disasters. This did feel like the plot was stalling somewhat but in truth, once the threads all begin to come together, we discover that they all help to widen our knowledge of Sarn, of the magic that lies within the lands, of the cultural diversity and ways of life, and of the Jure’lia’s corrupted history. This is a novel that balances many light and dark themes which Williams explores in various ways. For example, Agent Chenlo’s extracts from her journal tell the story of fell-witch children being captured and imprisoned by Winnowry agents, yet once Noon sets them free from their trauma and they are able to realise that their power can be used for good, for a heroic purpose. As we travel through a diverse cultural city such as Jarlsbad, buzzing with life and commerce, we see such a direct contrast to the ruins of Ebora. Then as we discover how the Jure’lia’s nest has fouled much of the surrounding land, we also see there are those who have made a home, a life, underground right beside the ants and live relatively well. What pulls all of the people of Sarn together is that of hope, and this is the force which drives this novel to its superb conclusion.
Williams delivers one of the most epic battles I’ve read. With our band of heroes fighting in the sky on their majestic, armoured, war beasts desperately holding back the behemoths, with those on the ground defending Ygersil, the tree god, against the invading burrowers with every ounce of strength they have, and with those infiltrating the Jure’lia Queen’s lair to find her core memory crystal, this battle held many scenes of sheer thrilling delight. Eborans, witches, men and beasts all banding together, putting aside past prejudices and wrong doings to save Sarn, honestly made my heart soar. The visual aspects of each character facing their own opponents to conquer, their own methods of fighting, made the scope of this battle incredible. Think End Game but much better!
Once I had reached the final chapter, saying goodbye to my beloved darlings was not easy by any means, yet I was left satisfied. The Poison Song concludes this tale on a note of sadness and a time of healing, but also on the prospect of a brighter, peaceful future. There is also scope for more stories to be told, more adventures to go on, and so I hope one day to see Williams return to Sarn. Until then, here’s a few wise words from Vintage:
“All people need, in my experience, is a little push in the right direction.
Or a giant kick up the arse. I am always happy to provide either.”
November 22, 2022
Very good, but a bit unnecessary?
I have finally reached the end of this epic and weird fantasy trilogy, and WHAT A RIDE IT HAS BEEN! While this was a gratifying conclusion, I have mixed feelings about this book. Let me explain.
The Poison Song is an excellent book with great pacing and epic character moments, and it provides many answers to the readers’ unanswered questions. However, I can’t escape the feeling that this series would have been better as a duology. I could very easily see The Bitter Twins having been the ending of this series if the author decided to rewrite some bits and edit some parts out of this series. Why do I feel this way? For the sole reason that the war against the Jure’lia started to feel slightly repetitive towards the end of this book. It just felt like this series should have ended just a bit earlier, which is very unfortunate. While I’ve enjoyed reading this series, and I do consider this as one of my favourite series now, I was glad to have come to the end.
That being said, this is a very solid book and a great conclusion. The Winnowry Flame trilogy is now one of my all-time favourite series and one I will recommend frequently. I am very excited to see what Williams will write next!
3.5 / 5 stars
I have finally reached the end of this epic and weird fantasy trilogy, and WHAT A RIDE IT HAS BEEN! While this was a gratifying conclusion, I have mixed feelings about this book. Let me explain.
The Poison Song is an excellent book with great pacing and epic character moments, and it provides many answers to the readers’ unanswered questions. However, I can’t escape the feeling that this series would have been better as a duology. I could very easily see The Bitter Twins having been the ending of this series if the author decided to rewrite some bits and edit some parts out of this series. Why do I feel this way? For the sole reason that the war against the Jure’lia started to feel slightly repetitive towards the end of this book. It just felt like this series should have ended just a bit earlier, which is very unfortunate. While I’ve enjoyed reading this series, and I do consider this as one of my favourite series now, I was glad to have come to the end.
That being said, this is a very solid book and a great conclusion. The Winnowry Flame trilogy is now one of my all-time favourite series and one I will recommend frequently. I am very excited to see what Williams will write next!
3.5 / 5 stars
August 24, 2022
Really stunning series-end with the grand epic battle but also the smaller, shattering, heart-wrenching moments with the beloved characters we grew to care for so much.
Cephalon, Hest - you two were cruel and twisted and yet the turnaround was a thrill to watch.
Noon - so much backstory and loss, tragedy, heart-ache and raw talent in this one.
Vintage - one of my all-time fave characters, darlings, and don't you forget it.
Tyranny - a mess, but a product of a harsh world and an understandable mess.
Aldasair & Bern - Two brave, kind, opposite souls who I grew great fondness for.
Tor - as the author says, a sexy elf who's not really an elf but more a reluctant knight in Eboran armour.
- Kirune, Vostok, Sharrik, Helcate and the others - war-beasts of the best, and varied kind. Loyal and strong and true to their cause even when unsure of their purpose at first.
When I think back on this there's a variety of characters over the series, but all of those I just mentioned I think will stay with me as they just felt very raw and more real. They are the key characters and the emotions and tragedy and terror they all face bonds and crushes them in many ways. I found the characterisation in this series very strong and it just grew as Williams wrote more in the voices of these characters.
Uniqueness - this series has it. There are mounts of giant bats, and griffins, dragons, war-beast mash-ups and more. The world is cursed with poison which makes twisted creatures and the worm people are their own breed of horror.
Love - there's a lot of love and a lot to love here, from found family, to kinship, to brothers, sisters, and romance both straight and LGBTQIA+. I really enjoyed the way that relationships played out, were tested, twisted and targeted, but stood true and showed their worth. The love and bonds of friends and family were a key theme across this series and the acceptance and trials of family/relations were also a key sticking point.
Action - so much of it in the end of this in particular. Although this is the third and final it starts a little slower as we have a fair amount more 'backstory' in this one, particularly about Noon and fell-witches in general. This took a bit of time to get into but once I did the story took off and the final 1/3 is a rollercoaster.
Overall - great, probably one of the best series for imagination and creative flair I've read in a good while and I will be watching future releases by Williams. I wish I could continue in this world, but in the meantime I am excited to see what she does next. 5*s
Cephalon, Hest - you two were cruel and twisted and yet the turnaround was a thrill to watch.
Noon - so much backstory and loss, tragedy, heart-ache and raw talent in this one.
Vintage - one of my all-time fave characters, darlings, and don't you forget it.
Tyranny - a mess, but a product of a harsh world and an understandable mess.
Aldasair & Bern - Two brave, kind, opposite souls who I grew great fondness for.
Tor - as the author says, a sexy elf who's not really an elf but more a reluctant knight in Eboran armour.
- Kirune, Vostok, Sharrik, Helcate and the others - war-beasts of the best, and varied kind. Loyal and strong and true to their cause even when unsure of their purpose at first.
When I think back on this there's a variety of characters over the series, but all of those I just mentioned I think will stay with me as they just felt very raw and more real. They are the key characters and the emotions and tragedy and terror they all face bonds and crushes them in many ways. I found the characterisation in this series very strong and it just grew as Williams wrote more in the voices of these characters.
Uniqueness - this series has it. There are mounts of giant bats, and griffins, dragons, war-beast mash-ups and more. The world is cursed with poison which makes twisted creatures and the worm people are their own breed of horror.
Love - there's a lot of love and a lot to love here, from found family, to kinship, to brothers, sisters, and romance both straight and LGBTQIA+. I really enjoyed the way that relationships played out, were tested, twisted and targeted, but stood true and showed their worth. The love and bonds of friends and family were a key theme across this series and the acceptance and trials of family/relations were also a key sticking point.
Action - so much of it in the end of this in particular. Although this is the third and final it starts a little slower as we have a fair amount more 'backstory' in this one, particularly about Noon and fell-witches in general. This took a bit of time to get into but once I did the story took off and the final 1/3 is a rollercoaster.
Overall - great, probably one of the best series for imagination and creative flair I've read in a good while and I will be watching future releases by Williams. I wish I could continue in this world, but in the meantime I am excited to see what she does next. 5*s
June 27, 2019
Well. That was a bloody satisfying read! I was breathing heavily all through the dramatic finale and yes, there were a few tears at the end. What a trip! I adored the war-beasts especially Helcate and even Celaphon at the end. Vintage, Tor, Noon , Hestillion were fully developed characters, at the core of the story while the other characters were also just as richly described and understood: Aldasair and Bern, Chenlo, Okkar and Tyranny. This was a truly original and imaginative trilogy, a mostly fantasy and sci fi blend. Book hangover coming this way...this was The Book With All the Gifts.
September 14, 2019
Ugly-crying too much right now, will review soon!
June 10, 2019
Spoiler-free
I kinda envy the people who are discovering this trilogy, or Williams’ other trilogy The Copper Cat now, because I would love to rediscover the amazing worlds she’s able to create.
Now I can’t believe this journey is over already. The Winnowing Flame trilogy has been a delight to read. Also very painful and my heart is broken and I’m crying.
I love the world William’s created here. It’s huge and imaginative with lots of different people inhabiting it. And dark shit too. I really wished there was a map that went along with the books because lots of travelling around is being done and I like having a kind of visual representation of where characters are locating or moving to/from. Also fantasy maps are great in general.
And so many great characters. I rooted immediately in book one for Vintage, Tor and Moon. They, and other characters are incredibly well written and I love the dynamic between them and how their relationships develop throughout the series. I love them so fecking much. And I don’t think I need to say I love the war-beasts. Kirune and Helcate are my especially preciousesss.
Everyone should read Jen Williams. Her works deserve all the recognition.
It will be one of the best decisions you’ll make.
I kinda envy the people who are discovering this trilogy, or Williams’ other trilogy The Copper Cat now, because I would love to rediscover the amazing worlds she’s able to create.
Now I can’t believe this journey is over already. The Winnowing Flame trilogy has been a delight to read. Also very painful and my heart is broken and I’m crying.
I love the world William’s created here. It’s huge and imaginative with lots of different people inhabiting it. And dark shit too. I really wished there was a map that went along with the books because lots of travelling around is being done and I like having a kind of visual representation of where characters are locating or moving to/from. Also fantasy maps are great in general.
And so many great characters. I rooted immediately in book one for Vintage, Tor and Moon. They, and other characters are incredibly well written and I love the dynamic between them and how their relationships develop throughout the series. I love them so fecking much. And I don’t think I need to say I love the war-beasts. Kirune and Helcate are my especially preciousesss.
Everyone should read Jen Williams. Her works deserve all the recognition.
It will be one of the best decisions you’ll make.
January 13, 2020
After reading the second book, I wasn't so sure if I wanted to buy the third one. Especially as it cost twice as much. Fortunately for me, my brother had purchased the entire series, after reading the first one, and so I was able to borrow it.
At the ending of book 2 Noon set out to take revenge on the Winnowry, where she showed great restraint. After that the starting point of the story is this:
- The Jure'lia are in disarray after Bern messed with their memories (though it is never explained why the memories of the world they destroyed are so important to them), therefore Hest builds herself a command crew and strategically attacks human settlements. Why does the head cheerleader have an intimate knowledge of military strategy? Who knows.
- Bern is still affected by the link to the Jure'lia and therefore a mess.
- Tor just found out that he got the crimson flux and is either hiding in the dreamscape of the amber tablets or drinking himself into a stupor.
- Vintage and a Winnowry agent named Chenlo, who has been gathering fell-witches and bringing them to Ebora in the aftermath of the Winnowry's destruction, seek to convince Tyranny to give back the stolen war-beast or at least join their efforts. Of course, Tyranny is more or less a Cersei character, whose arrogance stems from the mistaken belief that she is invincible so I am not entirely certain what the plan was.
- Noon is taken by She Who Laughs, who wants her to remember how her family/tribe died as these events are vital to winning this war.
And for the first half of the book, not much about the situation will change. Then Alasdair tries to talk some sense into Tor. At first, it looks as if he told Alasdair something to appease him and then went back to drinking. But a few chapters later, he suddenly figures out where the Jure'lia retreated to (because apparently the Eboran army never once came up with the brilliant idea of following the enemy home and finishing them once and for all). That is the point when the plot finally gets going. Before that, the only interesting part was Vintage and Chenlo.
I really liked the first book. The setting was an unusual combination and the characters were likable. And even though the fate of the Eborans or the fell-witches was depressing, the trio of heroes made up for that with their camaraderie and good-natured banter.
By the second book, their character progression came to a screeching halt, some of them like Tor (I always had the impression that the author didn't know what to do with him) even seemed to devolve. The world building was still interesting, but it didn't fit well together. For example, the Eborans being the result of a failed experiment didn't add anything to the story. If, on the other hand, the author had added a subplot that the Eborans' arrogance hindered the war and after being taken down a peg, they started working with the humans, therefore, getting their first victory as a unit, this would have been better. Lastly, compared to the first book there was a huge change in tone. It became way more dramatic. The Eborans (and thus of course Tor) couldn't catch a break. I was reminded of overly dramatic series such as Party of Five (and I hate those).
In the third book, it took even longer to get things rolling (in the second a third of the book was about everybody feeling sorry for themselves). The book could be summarized into drama - drama - battle - drama - battle - drama. At least in the second half, Tor finally started becoming interesting again. Hest's motivations still didn't make much sense (maybe if she told somebody about her conversations in the dreamscape somebody would have figured out that the Jure'lia queen was down there - the way the reader did - but nobody considered her a traitor until she actively started working with them). And even though all storylines are concluded, the book feels a little unfinished, e.g. there were always these prologue chapters such as Vintage writing to her nephew, which mostly were used to introduce world-building elements. In the end, Vintage embarks on a journey to find out what happened to her family. But, we never find out.
If you are into drama then you will probably like book two and three. I, however, was looking for a more light-hearted fantasy series like Eli Monpress or The Elenium. After reading the first book I believed that I had found one, which, the lack of character growth or the somewhat disjointed world-building aside, is the main reason, why I found book 2 and 3 so disappointing. I did, however, like the author's writing style. There were some great elements there, only the way she combines them into a whole needs some work. I also would suggest getting the opinion of a man on her male characters, as some of them didn't seem very realistic, which is often a problem when authors have to write about the opposite gender, but here it was particularly noticeable.
At the ending of book 2 Noon set out to take revenge on the Winnowry, where she showed great restraint. After that the starting point of the story is this:
- The Jure'lia are in disarray after Bern messed with their memories (though it is never explained why the memories of the world they destroyed are so important to them), therefore Hest builds herself a command crew and strategically attacks human settlements. Why does the head cheerleader have an intimate knowledge of military strategy? Who knows.
- Bern is still affected by the link to the Jure'lia and therefore a mess.
- Tor just found out that he got the crimson flux and is either hiding in the dreamscape of the amber tablets or drinking himself into a stupor.
- Vintage and a Winnowry agent named Chenlo, who has been gathering fell-witches and bringing them to Ebora in the aftermath of the Winnowry's destruction, seek to convince Tyranny to give back the stolen war-beast or at least join their efforts. Of course, Tyranny is more or less a Cersei character, whose arrogance stems from the mistaken belief that she is invincible so I am not entirely certain what the plan was.
- Noon is taken by She Who Laughs, who wants her to remember how her family/tribe died as these events are vital to winning this war.
And for the first half of the book, not much about the situation will change. Then Alasdair tries to talk some sense into Tor. At first, it looks as if he told Alasdair something to appease him and then went back to drinking. But a few chapters later, he suddenly figures out where the Jure'lia retreated to (because apparently the Eboran army never once came up with the brilliant idea of following the enemy home and finishing them once and for all). That is the point when the plot finally gets going. Before that, the only interesting part was Vintage and Chenlo.
I really liked the first book. The setting was an unusual combination and the characters were likable. And even though the fate of the Eborans or the fell-witches was depressing, the trio of heroes made up for that with their camaraderie and good-natured banter.
By the second book, their character progression came to a screeching halt, some of them like Tor (I always had the impression that the author didn't know what to do with him) even seemed to devolve. The world building was still interesting, but it didn't fit well together. For example, the Eborans being the result of a failed experiment didn't add anything to the story. If, on the other hand, the author had added a subplot that the Eborans' arrogance hindered the war and after being taken down a peg, they started working with the humans, therefore, getting their first victory as a unit, this would have been better. Lastly, compared to the first book there was a huge change in tone. It became way more dramatic. The Eborans (and thus of course Tor) couldn't catch a break. I was reminded of overly dramatic series such as Party of Five (and I hate those).
In the third book, it took even longer to get things rolling (in the second a third of the book was about everybody feeling sorry for themselves). The book could be summarized into drama - drama - battle - drama - battle - drama. At least in the second half, Tor finally started becoming interesting again. Hest's motivations still didn't make much sense (maybe if she told somebody about her conversations in the dreamscape somebody would have figured out that the Jure'lia queen was down there - the way the reader did - but nobody considered her a traitor until she actively started working with them). And even though all storylines are concluded, the book feels a little unfinished, e.g. there were always these prologue chapters such as Vintage writing to her nephew, which mostly were used to introduce world-building elements. In the end, Vintage embarks on a journey to find out what happened to her family. But, we never find out.
If you are into drama then you will probably like book two and three. I, however, was looking for a more light-hearted fantasy series like Eli Monpress or The Elenium. After reading the first book I believed that I had found one, which, the lack of character growth or the somewhat disjointed world-building aside, is the main reason, why I found book 2 and 3 so disappointing. I did, however, like the author's writing style. There were some great elements there, only the way she combines them into a whole needs some work. I also would suggest getting the opinion of a man on her male characters, as some of them didn't seem very realistic, which is often a problem when authors have to write about the opposite gender, but here it was particularly noticeable.
July 11, 2019
I missed the light-hearted feeling and humour of the previous books.
Also I loved little excerpts from Vintage's letters/journal at the beginning of each chapter in the first two books. Here they are replaced by pages of the diary of agent Chenlo and they didn't do much me.
Otherwise it's an excellent conclusion to the series. Worldbuilding and characterisation are top notch.
Also I loved little excerpts from Vintage's letters/journal at the beginning of each chapter in the first two books. Here they are replaced by pages of the diary of agent Chenlo and they didn't do much me.
Otherwise it's an excellent conclusion to the series. Worldbuilding and characterisation are top notch.
June 20, 2019
Epic and emotional, The Poison Song is the perfect conclusion to the Winnowing Flame trilogy. If you haven't read this series yet, you're missing out. Seriously.
January 11, 2025
what do you mean…what do you mean??
Bookstagram | Blog
Bookstagram | Blog
January 22, 2023
Quick series review:
1. very cool ideas, occasionally mediocre execution
2. increased lack of organic plot points beyond the first book
3. clear and concise writing, but sometimes as a negative since the writing cannot keep you engrossed to gloss over the execution issues
4. characters are decent, Tor and Noon have interesting internal conflicts, especially in the third book
5. worldbuilding ideas are intriguing, but there is tenuous cohesion, and nothing seems to have any weight, any impact so we flit from one somewhat forgettable thing to another that could have been developed into excellence by the writing and storytelling; I felt there was lack of tension for the main characters or the plot stakes
6. everything in this world felt very close, an issue of scale: it felt like the entire continent of Sarn could have fit onto my university campus
7. fun to read non-human characters with distinct personalities
The books were mostly solid adventure fantasy with sci-fi elements: the greatest draw was the worldbuilding aspects and some character arcs (Noon) but it began to feel tiring by the third book because of their lack of depth, at least what I expected after reading the first book, which seems the most focused and consistently fun to read. Even with all the negatives I listed, the books were still mostly decent reads. Certain scenes, sequences, and characters were quite enjoyable to follow.
Overall, 6-6.5/10
1. very cool ideas, occasionally mediocre execution
2. increased lack of organic plot points beyond the first book
3. clear and concise writing, but sometimes as a negative since the writing cannot keep you engrossed to gloss over the execution issues
4. characters are decent, Tor and Noon have interesting internal conflicts, especially in the third book
5. worldbuilding ideas are intriguing, but there is tenuous cohesion, and nothing seems to have any weight, any impact so we flit from one somewhat forgettable thing to another that could have been developed into excellence by the writing and storytelling; I felt there was lack of tension for the main characters or the plot stakes
6. everything in this world felt very close, an issue of scale: it felt like the entire continent of Sarn could have fit onto my university campus
7. fun to read non-human characters with distinct personalities
The books were mostly solid adventure fantasy with sci-fi elements: the greatest draw was the worldbuilding aspects and some character arcs (Noon) but it began to feel tiring by the third book because of their lack of depth, at least what I expected after reading the first book, which seems the most focused and consistently fun to read. Even with all the negatives I listed, the books were still mostly decent reads. Certain scenes, sequences, and characters were quite enjoyable to follow.
Overall, 6-6.5/10
September 19, 2022
An enjoyable closure to this trilogy.
Sadly I do feel like this trilogy peaked at book one. But I still will 100% be recommending it to so many ppl. This trilogy brings so much uniqueness to the book world. Being such a genre bending book it feels special. A true blend of fantasy and sci-fi.
It also has one of my favourite portrayals of animal companions. It was the right balance of personality, then mattering to the story and the fun of having a talking flying animal friend. Kirune forever <3
I loved so many of the discussions this book has on family ties and how they aren't just about blood, on connections in general and the human need for connection over all other things.
I thoroughly enjoyed my time with Noon, Tor and Vintage. Some incredible characters. And such an incredible world.
But this book fell flat for me in terms of an overall series. Because so many loose ties or useless adventures. The characters although incredible their arcs all fell flat for me. There wasn't a lot of character growth. And a lack of stakes. I never believed that we were truly endanger of losing the final battle or of losing a character we loved
But still I 100% checking out this trilogy. And will be open to reading more from the author.
Sadly I do feel like this trilogy peaked at book one. But I still will 100% be recommending it to so many ppl. This trilogy brings so much uniqueness to the book world. Being such a genre bending book it feels special. A true blend of fantasy and sci-fi.
It also has one of my favourite portrayals of animal companions. It was the right balance of personality, then mattering to the story and the fun of having a talking flying animal friend. Kirune forever <3
I loved so many of the discussions this book has on family ties and how they aren't just about blood, on connections in general and the human need for connection over all other things.
I thoroughly enjoyed my time with Noon, Tor and Vintage. Some incredible characters. And such an incredible world.
But this book fell flat for me in terms of an overall series. Because so many loose ties or useless adventures. The characters although incredible their arcs all fell flat for me. There wasn't a lot of character growth. And a lack of stakes. I never believed that we were truly endanger of losing the final battle or of losing a character we loved
But still I 100% checking out this trilogy. And will be open to reading more from the author.
September 11, 2019
Fantastic finale to a fantastic fantasy series.
Very well wrapped up; poignant and satisfying, humorous in all the right places, with plenty of action and intrigue. A 'must read' fantasy trilogy that does not trail off toward the end. Highly recommended.
Very well wrapped up; poignant and satisfying, humorous in all the right places, with plenty of action and intrigue. A 'must read' fantasy trilogy that does not trail off toward the end. Highly recommended.
October 12, 2022
Jewel of my heart.
May 25, 2022
Very satisfying ending to a glorious trilogy! This review is primarily for The Poison Song but does cover the trilogy as a whole as well. Williams does a masterful job in world building here, with onion-like layers slowing being peeled back as the series unfolded. We knew from the first book that the 'worm people' have been invading Sarn for thousands of years, coming in great waves called rains. In the second book, we discovered that the great 'god tree' of Ebora, whose sap imparted lengthy lifespans and healed all wounds was actually a 'seed' from yet another alien race, who gallivanted across the universe planting such seeds as experiments. And, tragically for Tor and other Eborans, they learned that it was the sap that separated them from the rest of humanity; they were at one point humans as well.
This volume starts off with the destruction of the Winnowry by Noon and her bonded dragon, freeing the 'fell-witches' from their captivity. The 'worm people' have gone to ground to regroup and we know there will be a massive showdown somewhere down the line. Yet, as interesting as the plot is, this is really a character driven story penned by a master. Our main protagonist is Vintage, an archeologist of a sort, who is interested in the remains of previous worm-people invasions and the 'wilds' that their wrecks produce in abundance. She has traveled over most of Sarn and is curious (and stubborn) to a fault. Noon, the former fell-witch, is also a great lead, gaining confidence in her abilities as the series progresses. Tor, the lackadaisical Eboran, who has traveled with Vintage, is a great tragic figure, who fled dying Ebora to enjoy life before he too fell victim to the bloody flux, which has killed most Eborans after their tree god died. We also have Tor's sister Hest, who has teamed up with the worm people for complicated reasons and her bonded dragon.
The war beasts born from the god tree are varied and complex as well, from gungho to go to war to more philosophical. In the past, the war beasts were born from the god tree when the worm people invaded, and then died, with their memories going back to the god tree for the next time they were needed.
Finally, not quite sure how I would slot this tale in a genre; it is not heroic fantasy, although there are aspects of that here for sure. The mixture of alien races experimenting with humanity adds some zest to the mix for sure and this is a nice hybrid of SFF. Williams easy prose and fun dialogue really moves this along. It did remind me a bit of Ann McCaffrey's work, but this is not a YA dragon story by any means. If you are into fantasy, I highly recommend this one! 4.5 stars, happily rounding to 5
This volume starts off with the destruction of the Winnowry by Noon and her bonded dragon, freeing the 'fell-witches' from their captivity. The 'worm people' have gone to ground to regroup and we know there will be a massive showdown somewhere down the line. Yet, as interesting as the plot is, this is really a character driven story penned by a master. Our main protagonist is Vintage, an archeologist of a sort, who is interested in the remains of previous worm-people invasions and the 'wilds' that their wrecks produce in abundance. She has traveled over most of Sarn and is curious (and stubborn) to a fault. Noon, the former fell-witch, is also a great lead, gaining confidence in her abilities as the series progresses. Tor, the lackadaisical Eboran, who has traveled with Vintage, is a great tragic figure, who fled dying Ebora to enjoy life before he too fell victim to the bloody flux, which has killed most Eborans after their tree god died. We also have Tor's sister Hest, who has teamed up with the worm people for complicated reasons and her bonded dragon.
The war beasts born from the god tree are varied and complex as well, from gungho to go to war to more philosophical. In the past, the war beasts were born from the god tree when the worm people invaded, and then died, with their memories going back to the god tree for the next time they were needed.
Finally, not quite sure how I would slot this tale in a genre; it is not heroic fantasy, although there are aspects of that here for sure. The mixture of alien races experimenting with humanity adds some zest to the mix for sure and this is a nice hybrid of SFF. Williams easy prose and fun dialogue really moves this along. It did remind me a bit of Ann McCaffrey's work, but this is not a YA dragon story by any means. If you are into fantasy, I highly recommend this one! 4.5 stars, happily rounding to 5
December 31, 2019
I've spent the past six months (a) unwilling to take this off my currently reading shelf because I love love love looking at the cover, and (b) thinking I was going to write a brilliant review of this brilliant book.
But the review it's getting is:
This trilogy was hands-down my favorite read for 2019, and what I've been recommending to everyone in RL who asks me about my recent reading and also enjoys fantasy/SF. I can't give it a higher compliment than that.
Everything about it was excellent. It manages to have terrific, memorable characters living in a well-defined world and participating in an epic yet personal story that kept me reading as fast as I could while also never wanting to finish it. Its overarching examination of connections -- and the importance of connection -- between people is insightful and moving, and never preachy. The idea of "the poison song" is going to stay with me and break my heart forever. And this final volume managed to wrap it up absolutely satisfactorily, something so many trilogies don't manage.
This is also the one series that got me approached on the train this year by someone else who loves this author and was so excited to see more books from her. His admiration of her was as great as mine, and trust me, it is completely deserved.
I need to read Jen Williams's previous trilogy, and I'm on board to reread this, and everything else she writes, ever.
US publishers, pick this writer up! I had to order these books from the UK because they are not available in North America. And there is just no excuse for that, because this series was fantastic.
But the review it's getting is:
This trilogy was hands-down my favorite read for 2019, and what I've been recommending to everyone in RL who asks me about my recent reading and also enjoys fantasy/SF. I can't give it a higher compliment than that.
Everything about it was excellent. It manages to have terrific, memorable characters living in a well-defined world and participating in an epic yet personal story that kept me reading as fast as I could while also never wanting to finish it. Its overarching examination of connections -- and the importance of connection -- between people is insightful and moving, and never preachy. The idea of "the poison song" is going to stay with me and break my heart forever. And this final volume managed to wrap it up absolutely satisfactorily, something so many trilogies don't manage.
This is also the one series that got me approached on the train this year by someone else who loves this author and was so excited to see more books from her. His admiration of her was as great as mine, and trust me, it is completely deserved.
I need to read Jen Williams's previous trilogy, and I'm on board to reread this, and everything else she writes, ever.
US publishers, pick this writer up! I had to order these books from the UK because they are not available in North America. And there is just no excuse for that, because this series was fantastic.
March 2, 2021
[9.64/10]
Stunning. S.T.U.N.N.I.N.G. Stuuuuuuunning. !!!!!
I fell head over heels for this series with the first book in this series and each following book just got better and better. This is, without a doubt, one of the best fantasy series I've read. It's up there with The Faithful and the Fallen, Green Bone Saga and Stormlight Archive for me, especially on the level of how attached I am to the characters. And, Jen Williams is not afraid to PUT THEM THROUGH IT, ugh my heart!
This book had one of my favourite ever fantasy tropes, executed in such a pitch perfect way at exactly the right time. It was so satisfying to read.
The whole ending sequence was so well written, from the big battle using the multi-POV to impeccable effect in fight sequences to the quieter character moments within battle. It was like a masterclass in storytelling.
Noon, Tor, Vintage and the rest of the cast (including the war beasts!) are part of me now and I will absolutely be returning to this wonderful world many times in the future.
Stunning. S.T.U.N.N.I.N.G. Stuuuuuuunning. !!!!!
I fell head over heels for this series with the first book in this series and each following book just got better and better. This is, without a doubt, one of the best fantasy series I've read. It's up there with The Faithful and the Fallen, Green Bone Saga and Stormlight Archive for me, especially on the level of how attached I am to the characters. And, Jen Williams is not afraid to PUT THEM THROUGH IT, ugh my heart!
This book had one of my favourite ever fantasy tropes, executed in such a pitch perfect way at exactly the right time. It was so satisfying to read.
The whole ending sequence was so well written, from the big battle using the multi-POV to impeccable effect in fight sequences to the quieter character moments within battle. It was like a masterclass in storytelling.
Noon, Tor, Vintage and the rest of the cast (including the war beasts!) are part of me now and I will absolutely be returning to this wonderful world many times in the future.
December 3, 2021
The final installment in Jen Williams' adult fantasy The Winnowing Flame trilogy - still wild and inventive, but the unpolished writing style and lack of presence and heft to the characters and their relationships held this book and the whole trilogy back for me. Still, I think the first book, The Ninth Rain, is great and is the best of the three. 3/5
Trigger warnings for terminal illness, mild sexual content, child death, and body horror.
Even though I have some problems with this trilogy and Williams' writing style, I still think that these books are examples of the ideal adult fantasy midlist. Big ideas, high energy, not too long, a bit edgy, just maybe not the greatest execution or boasting the widest appeal. A midlist filled with daring books with lots of ideas, especially ones with a lighthearted tone, would keep me busy and happy as a reader til the end of time.
I wish I loved this trilogy as much as others do. I love the ideas, and I like a couple of the characters quite a lot, but the series' contents being unproblematic isn't enough to make me rank this series any higher than any other averagely okay series.
I'll be honest. Most of this book was meh for me. There were a few isolated moments where I felt a surge of affection for the story and its characters, mostly involving Tor, Kirune, Vintage, or Noon. Otherwise, the plot does not feel nearly as urgent or climatic or epic as I expected the final book in this trilogy to feel.
Williams' writing style has almost no push or pull to it in The Poison Song, meaning that emotions come and go as they're described explicitly in the text, but aren't expressed in any deeper or more relatable way in the writing. I'm told a character feels something, but that's it, it's just a word on the page. Events come and go too, and the writing usually expresses high octane battles with the same energy and tone as it expresses scenes of characters sitting around and talking about strategy or memories or whatever. The writing leaves the whole book with a flat, bland tone to it that doesn't suit the story or characters. Every book in the trilogy is like this.
Williams also tends to use a lot of vague language in her writing that fails to draw in the reader and causes the execution to lack energy. For example, she'll say characters do a thing "somehow," or a character went "somewhere," or "perhaps" something is this way, and similar nonspecific, noncommittal language is often used to describe scenery, clothing, dreams, and more. For me, this writing style kept my attention wandering rather than riveted.
On top of the writing, the plot itself is just not that interesting. My expectations were set pretty high after The Ninth Rain because of the weirdness of the worldbuilding, how creepy the Jure'lia were, and how dynamic the main three characters (Noon, Tor, and Vintage) were. The Bitter Twins let me down in that aspect, especially with how utterly underwhelmed I was by the war beasts and their characterizations, and how inconsequential most of book 2's events were to the plot and development of the characters. The Poison Song does no better.
For most of the book, the main characters are separated, so while some work is done in developing them individually (besides Vintage - she doesn't really develop at all in the whole trilogy as she has few to no internal conflicts, versus someone like Tor whose entire character is built on internal conflict), their relationships don't develop at all. A lot of time is spent with Bern and Aldasair as well, and I've found that I'm simply not interested in them at all. Their relationship is sweet, but there's nothing to it beyond mutual concern and mutual attraction, though this is the same for all the romantic relationships in this trilogy. I simply felt nothing for either of these characters, even when Bern was in trouble.
Most of The Poison Song is taken up with the characters getting split up, and then trying to get them back together. This made the plot feel way overly simplistic. Any air of mystery or even creepiness to the world, its lore, and its villains is simply gone. This was the one aspect that redeemed The Bitter Twins plot for me, and it's what made me so excited while reading The Ninth Rain, but it turns out the climax of this book and the trilogy, the way to solve the entire plot, is just to hit the big bad with a really big stick - meaning, of course, Noon's winnowfire powers. All the revelations of The Bitter Twins amount to nothing, Micanal's findings help the characters do nothing beyond Tor realizing that the Behemoths travel in a pattern in his dreams, which feels pretty flimsy for the huge detour that book 2 was. Especially considering what was learned about the origin of the Eborans - it all means nothing in the end.
The plot has no concern for what everyone else in Ebora is doing, the tree god means nothing and does nothing except for solve some loose plot threads in an offhanded epilogue-like summary chapter, and we learn that while our characters are off feeling bad for one another, entire cities are being systematically obliterated by Hestillion. In the meantime, our heroes make no plans, no strategies, nothing in advance, only as a last desperate reaction, besides the augmentation to the winnowfire. It was just way frustrating to read about and made me extremely impatient for the story to end so the plot holes and plot conveniences would finally stop piling up on top of one another.
What's supposed to carry this series is the fun characters and their relationships. The Poison Song even puts big thematic weight on "connections," both between the villains and between the heroes. But I didn't feel much of anything for any of the characters' connections. There were a couple of emotional one-liners here or there, but no truly emotional arcs. When characters are reunited after a long harrowing time of being apart, there was usually a brief but extremely anticlimatic reunion, and the scene would hurry on to strategy chatter or reiterating plot points that we already know about. It made me feel like there was nothing to look forward to in this book, because I couldn't trust that there would be emotional or lore-based payoff to any of the plot points.
There was lots of repetition in the writing as well, both on the sentence and word choice level, but also on the level that Williams tells us about the same plot points and revelations again and again by having characters inform other characters about events that the listeners didn't witness. But WE witnessed it, so I would have hoped that an editor would have asked Williams to make changes to stop the pacing from being so glacial so often in this book. This book overall needed more editing, with the misuse of words and phrases, and the sometimes clunky writing and plotting. There are so many chapters that span a few pages, but the only interesting and important thing that happens, happens in the last paragraph, while the rest of the chapter is a reiteration, people walking and talking and thinking, or generally doing nothing important.
While The Poison Song frustrated me, I still liked some things. While I was super disappointed with how anticlimatic and aimless Hestillion and Celaphon's stories were, I liked that there was tension between them. While the Jure'lia ended up not being as creepy or interesting or tricksy as I was expecting them to be, I liked that the queen got some interesting scenes with Bern and had such a strange relationship with Hestillion. While I've always felt that Noon is the most disconnected-feeling and underwritten of the mains, I liked the final trick she pulls on Tor and her implied connection to the final epilogue chapter. While Tor frustrated me in book 2, I mostly really liked him in this book and he reminded me why I liked him so much in book 1.
I still hold to the adage: Ideas are cheap, execution is everything. It's not enough to just show us imagination - wild-touched bears are awesome, but they're just there to look at on the page while there's a very boring conversation going on. It's not enough to tell us that the Jure'lia are eldritch and disgusting and move in really weird ways, when they have no thoughts or plans beyond "hit the other guys with a big stick" and the lore connecting them to the Eborans is abandoned and not paid off in a cool plot or lore moment at all. While the romantic relationships in the books are unproblematic, there is little to no tension or interest in those relationships beyond moments of sleeping together and being concerned about one another, and nothing more.
Still, the aesthetic of this series is different from most of what's out there, and there's merit in that on its own. I can see myself rereading The Ninth Rain since that's the book with the most promise lore wise and character wise, and it doesn't have the war beasts lol. Kirune was the only one I ended up liking, and based on the way he's written in The Poison Song versus all the other war beasts, Williams agrees with me. I doubt that I'd want to pick up books 2 or 3 again though. Still, I'm glad I read the whole trilogy.
Trigger warnings for terminal illness, mild sexual content, child death, and body horror.
Even though I have some problems with this trilogy and Williams' writing style, I still think that these books are examples of the ideal adult fantasy midlist. Big ideas, high energy, not too long, a bit edgy, just maybe not the greatest execution or boasting the widest appeal. A midlist filled with daring books with lots of ideas, especially ones with a lighthearted tone, would keep me busy and happy as a reader til the end of time.
I wish I loved this trilogy as much as others do. I love the ideas, and I like a couple of the characters quite a lot, but the series' contents being unproblematic isn't enough to make me rank this series any higher than any other averagely okay series.
I'll be honest. Most of this book was meh for me. There were a few isolated moments where I felt a surge of affection for the story and its characters, mostly involving Tor, Kirune, Vintage, or Noon. Otherwise, the plot does not feel nearly as urgent or climatic or epic as I expected the final book in this trilogy to feel.
Williams' writing style has almost no push or pull to it in The Poison Song, meaning that emotions come and go as they're described explicitly in the text, but aren't expressed in any deeper or more relatable way in the writing. I'm told a character feels something, but that's it, it's just a word on the page. Events come and go too, and the writing usually expresses high octane battles with the same energy and tone as it expresses scenes of characters sitting around and talking about strategy or memories or whatever. The writing leaves the whole book with a flat, bland tone to it that doesn't suit the story or characters. Every book in the trilogy is like this.
Williams also tends to use a lot of vague language in her writing that fails to draw in the reader and causes the execution to lack energy. For example, she'll say characters do a thing "somehow," or a character went "somewhere," or "perhaps" something is this way, and similar nonspecific, noncommittal language is often used to describe scenery, clothing, dreams, and more. For me, this writing style kept my attention wandering rather than riveted.
On top of the writing, the plot itself is just not that interesting. My expectations were set pretty high after The Ninth Rain because of the weirdness of the worldbuilding, how creepy the Jure'lia were, and how dynamic the main three characters (Noon, Tor, and Vintage) were. The Bitter Twins let me down in that aspect, especially with how utterly underwhelmed I was by the war beasts and their characterizations, and how inconsequential most of book 2's events were to the plot and development of the characters. The Poison Song does no better.
For most of the book, the main characters are separated, so while some work is done in developing them individually (besides Vintage - she doesn't really develop at all in the whole trilogy as she has few to no internal conflicts, versus someone like Tor whose entire character is built on internal conflict), their relationships don't develop at all. A lot of time is spent with Bern and Aldasair as well, and I've found that I'm simply not interested in them at all. Their relationship is sweet, but there's nothing to it beyond mutual concern and mutual attraction, though this is the same for all the romantic relationships in this trilogy. I simply felt nothing for either of these characters, even when Bern was in trouble.
Most of The Poison Song is taken up with the characters getting split up, and then trying to get them back together. This made the plot feel way overly simplistic. Any air of mystery or even creepiness to the world, its lore, and its villains is simply gone. This was the one aspect that redeemed The Bitter Twins plot for me, and it's what made me so excited while reading The Ninth Rain, but it turns out the climax of this book and the trilogy, the way to solve the entire plot, is just to hit the big bad with a really big stick - meaning, of course, Noon's winnowfire powers. All the revelations of The Bitter Twins amount to nothing, Micanal's findings help the characters do nothing beyond Tor realizing that the Behemoths travel in a pattern in his dreams, which feels pretty flimsy for the huge detour that book 2 was. Especially considering what was learned about the origin of the Eborans - it all means nothing in the end.
The plot has no concern for what everyone else in Ebora is doing, the tree god means nothing and does nothing except for solve some loose plot threads in an offhanded epilogue-like summary chapter, and we learn that while our characters are off feeling bad for one another, entire cities are being systematically obliterated by Hestillion. In the meantime, our heroes make no plans, no strategies, nothing in advance, only as a last desperate reaction, besides the augmentation to the winnowfire. It was just way frustrating to read about and made me extremely impatient for the story to end so the plot holes and plot conveniences would finally stop piling up on top of one another.
What's supposed to carry this series is the fun characters and their relationships. The Poison Song even puts big thematic weight on "connections," both between the villains and between the heroes. But I didn't feel much of anything for any of the characters' connections. There were a couple of emotional one-liners here or there, but no truly emotional arcs. When characters are reunited after a long harrowing time of being apart, there was usually a brief but extremely anticlimatic reunion, and the scene would hurry on to strategy chatter or reiterating plot points that we already know about. It made me feel like there was nothing to look forward to in this book, because I couldn't trust that there would be emotional or lore-based payoff to any of the plot points.
There was lots of repetition in the writing as well, both on the sentence and word choice level, but also on the level that Williams tells us about the same plot points and revelations again and again by having characters inform other characters about events that the listeners didn't witness. But WE witnessed it, so I would have hoped that an editor would have asked Williams to make changes to stop the pacing from being so glacial so often in this book. This book overall needed more editing, with the misuse of words and phrases, and the sometimes clunky writing and plotting. There are so many chapters that span a few pages, but the only interesting and important thing that happens, happens in the last paragraph, while the rest of the chapter is a reiteration, people walking and talking and thinking, or generally doing nothing important.
While The Poison Song frustrated me, I still liked some things. While I was super disappointed with how anticlimatic and aimless Hestillion and Celaphon's stories were, I liked that there was tension between them. While the Jure'lia ended up not being as creepy or interesting or tricksy as I was expecting them to be, I liked that the queen got some interesting scenes with Bern and had such a strange relationship with Hestillion. While I've always felt that Noon is the most disconnected-feeling and underwritten of the mains, I liked the final trick she pulls on Tor and her implied connection to the final epilogue chapter. While Tor frustrated me in book 2, I mostly really liked him in this book and he reminded me why I liked him so much in book 1.
I still hold to the adage: Ideas are cheap, execution is everything. It's not enough to just show us imagination - wild-touched bears are awesome, but they're just there to look at on the page while there's a very boring conversation going on. It's not enough to tell us that the Jure'lia are eldritch and disgusting and move in really weird ways, when they have no thoughts or plans beyond "hit the other guys with a big stick" and the lore connecting them to the Eborans is abandoned and not paid off in a cool plot or lore moment at all. While the romantic relationships in the books are unproblematic, there is little to no tension or interest in those relationships beyond moments of sleeping together and being concerned about one another, and nothing more.
Still, the aesthetic of this series is different from most of what's out there, and there's merit in that on its own. I can see myself rereading The Ninth Rain since that's the book with the most promise lore wise and character wise, and it doesn't have the war beasts lol. Kirune was the only one I ended up liking, and based on the way he's written in The Poison Song versus all the other war beasts, Williams agrees with me. I doubt that I'd want to pick up books 2 or 3 again though. Still, I'm glad I read the whole trilogy.
August 16, 2024
“Sometimes it is not easy to go home”.
Tercer y última parte de la trilogía de Jen Williams “The Willowing Flame”. No voy a negar que me entristecí un poco. Ojalá la traduzcan en español porque merece mucho la pena.
“You cannot protect them for all things.”
Esta novela ha sido bastante intensa. No quiero decir mucho por riesgo a destripar la historia. Me ha gustado mucho, ha estado mejor que la segunda parte, pero mi favorita será el primer libro.
El mundo que ha creado la autora me ha encantado, así como los personajes. Lo único que si me gustaría comentar es que ha habido partes del argumento que me han dejado fría, y con algunos vacíos que me hubieran gustado que se me respondieran.
Ha sido un buen descubrimiento y se convierte en una de mis mejores lecturas del año, así como una saga que voy a recomendar sí o también.
“This is what it does to us, the endless war”.
Tercer y última parte de la trilogía de Jen Williams “The Willowing Flame”. No voy a negar que me entristecí un poco. Ojalá la traduzcan en español porque merece mucho la pena.
“You cannot protect them for all things.”
Esta novela ha sido bastante intensa. No quiero decir mucho por riesgo a destripar la historia. Me ha gustado mucho, ha estado mejor que la segunda parte, pero mi favorita será el primer libro.
El mundo que ha creado la autora me ha encantado, así como los personajes. Lo único que si me gustaría comentar es que ha habido partes del argumento que me han dejado fría, y con algunos vacíos que me hubieran gustado que se me respondieran.
Ha sido un buen descubrimiento y se convierte en una de mis mejores lecturas del año, así como una saga que voy a recomendar sí o también.
“This is what it does to us, the endless war”.
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