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Shadowmarch #3
Shadowrise
A year ago, the March Kingdoms were at peace, the Eddon family held the throne, and all was right in Southmarch Castle. Now the family has been shattered. King Olin Eddon is a prisoner and his heir is slain. The royal twins Barrick and Briony have done their best to hold the kingdom together, but now Barrick has been captured and Briony has been forced to flee the castle. Old magics are stirring beneath the ancient castle and behind the Shadowline, and the machinations of gods, fairies, and mortals threaten to spread devastation across the entire world.
26 hours and 50 minutes
26 hours and 50 minutes
27 pages, Audible Audio
First published March 1, 2010
156 people are currently reading
3904 people want to read
About the author
Tad Williams
350 books7,847 followersTad Williams is a California-based fantasy superstar. His genre-creating (and genre-busting) books have sold tens of millions worldwide, in twenty-five languages. His considerable output of epic fantasy and science fiction book-series, stories of all kinds, urban fantasy novels, comics, scripts, etc., have strongly influenced a generation of writers: the ‘Otherland’ epic relaunches June 2018 as an MMO on steam.com. Tad is currently immersed in the creation of ‘The Last King of Osten Ard’, planned as a trilogy with two intermediary novels. He, his family and his animals live in the Santa Cruz mountains in a suitably strange and beautiful house. @tadwilliams @mrstad
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 238 reviews
April 30, 2020
Shadowrise smoothly picks up the action following the events that concluded Shadowplay. Princess Briony has revealed her true identity to the important players at the court in the Kingdom of Syan. Prince Barrick is still journeying in the Shadowlands burdened with the objective of taking Lady Porqupine's mirror to the blind King of Qul-na-qar. King Olin is still a prisoner of the Autarch of Xis whose force is planning to descend on Southmarch. Daikonas Vo still holds Qinnitan as a prisoner with the aim of completing his assigned task of returning her to her husband, the Autarch. Also, Captain Ferras Vansen is in the company of the court physician Chaven and Chert in Funderling town after his miraculous transportation from behind the Shadowline. Yasammez and her Qar army are planning to resume the attacks on Southmarch as she wishes to finally put an end to humanity for the suffering they have caused to her family and her people.
"‘The world is a ball of dung and we are the worms that live in it and eat each other.’ He turned his back on her, pausing only to add: ‘The one who eats all the others wins – but he is still the last living worm in a lump of shit.’"
Shadowmarch was originally planned as a trilogy. I read that when writing the final entry, Tad Williams' first draft came out at a huge 1500 pages so it was decided that it be split into two books. In similar fashion to Dust of Dreams from Malazan: Book of the Fallen, Shadowrise is the first part of what should be a huge novel. Like The Crippled God that followed Dust of Dreams, the final book in this series, Shadowheart, will complete this epic fantasy story. For me, Shadowrise is the weakest in the series so far, much as Dust of Dreams was in Malazan: Book of the Fallen and for many of the same reason. It is obviously part of a giant novel, being less exciting as a book in isolation, not having a real ending but just steadily moving the tale on, it's extremely drawn out in sections, very occasionally even pretty dull, yet it is slowly building up for what I hope will be an extremely stunning finale.
An aspect that I really like in this series is when characters ask themselves questions regarding what their relatives or friends are up to. For example, when Briony thinks "where was her father? Was Olin even alive?" and my brain will shout out in joy that it knows the answer, and that builds up the drama, and poses questions of what will happen when/ if they are united. I'm sure some of the scenes when characters will be reunited in Shadowheart are going to be monumentally emotional and extremely powerful.
"But of all the unusual feelings that swept through him as he walked this first time in the House of the People, the strangest was that Barrick Eddon felt as if he had at last, after a lifetime of exile, come home."
I find Prince Barrick's tale the most interesting to follow and I was not disappointed with where it led at the novel's finale. I really enjoy Ferras Vansen's point of view chapters too, especially now he spends a lot of page time with the extremely likeable Funderling, Chert. Princess Briony's sections are full of intense drama, political intrigue, shadowy characters, and betrayals that Robin Hobb would have been proud of writing. Qinnitan and Barrick's dream-link is intriguing and I am extremely interested to find out more regarding how and why they are linked that way. The point of view perspectives of Matt Tinwright and Sister Utta did little more here than to explain what was going on in Southmarch's walls and in the Qar camp respectively. The Gods are mentioned more frequently in Shadowrise too like they were in Shadowplay, and although they still sleep, I believe this key focus on the Gods stories will pay off in Shadowheart. Will the Gods finally walk the Earth again? Will they have scores to settle? What will be the place for the humans and the Qar if they do awaken?
It may seem that I have been pretty negative in this review but I still give Shadowrise a healthy 7/10 rating. I'm extremely engaged and enraptured by the Shadowmarch series overall and I predict that Shadowheart will be nothing short of absolutely spectacular. If this review sounds rushed at all, it probably was as I wanted to finish typing quickly so that I could get straight back to reading Williams' epic tale.
"‘The world is a ball of dung and we are the worms that live in it and eat each other.’ He turned his back on her, pausing only to add: ‘The one who eats all the others wins – but he is still the last living worm in a lump of shit.’"
Shadowmarch was originally planned as a trilogy. I read that when writing the final entry, Tad Williams' first draft came out at a huge 1500 pages so it was decided that it be split into two books. In similar fashion to Dust of Dreams from Malazan: Book of the Fallen, Shadowrise is the first part of what should be a huge novel. Like The Crippled God that followed Dust of Dreams, the final book in this series, Shadowheart, will complete this epic fantasy story. For me, Shadowrise is the weakest in the series so far, much as Dust of Dreams was in Malazan: Book of the Fallen and for many of the same reason. It is obviously part of a giant novel, being less exciting as a book in isolation, not having a real ending but just steadily moving the tale on, it's extremely drawn out in sections, very occasionally even pretty dull, yet it is slowly building up for what I hope will be an extremely stunning finale.
An aspect that I really like in this series is when characters ask themselves questions regarding what their relatives or friends are up to. For example, when Briony thinks "where was her father? Was Olin even alive?" and my brain will shout out in joy that it knows the answer, and that builds up the drama, and poses questions of what will happen when/ if they are united. I'm sure some of the scenes when characters will be reunited in Shadowheart are going to be monumentally emotional and extremely powerful.
"But of all the unusual feelings that swept through him as he walked this first time in the House of the People, the strangest was that Barrick Eddon felt as if he had at last, after a lifetime of exile, come home."
I find Prince Barrick's tale the most interesting to follow and I was not disappointed with where it led at the novel's finale. I really enjoy Ferras Vansen's point of view chapters too, especially now he spends a lot of page time with the extremely likeable Funderling, Chert. Princess Briony's sections are full of intense drama, political intrigue, shadowy characters, and betrayals that Robin Hobb would have been proud of writing. Qinnitan and Barrick's dream-link is intriguing and I am extremely interested to find out more regarding how and why they are linked that way. The point of view perspectives of Matt Tinwright and Sister Utta did little more here than to explain what was going on in Southmarch's walls and in the Qar camp respectively. The Gods are mentioned more frequently in Shadowrise too like they were in Shadowplay, and although they still sleep, I believe this key focus on the Gods stories will pay off in Shadowheart. Will the Gods finally walk the Earth again? Will they have scores to settle? What will be the place for the humans and the Qar if they do awaken?
It may seem that I have been pretty negative in this review but I still give Shadowrise a healthy 7/10 rating. I'm extremely engaged and enraptured by the Shadowmarch series overall and I predict that Shadowheart will be nothing short of absolutely spectacular. If this review sounds rushed at all, it probably was as I wanted to finish typing quickly so that I could get straight back to reading Williams' epic tale.
May 4, 2018
This series continues to be something of an enigma, but not in the usual sense of the word.
Sure, there's a number of great reveals in this volume that let us dive deeper and deeper into what the gods are and what they were and how they work. We understand the god's children, the Fae who are bursting out into this fantasy land and displacing or killing the lesser, or rather, quite equal humans.
There's even a great deal of good action and epic battles and tons of court intrigue and traveling on the road if hobnobbing with gods isn't your thing. It is my thing, however, and I count that part of the storytelling to be some of the most interesting. By far. Keyword STORYTELLING. Those of you who've read this will understand what I mean. It's quite beautiful how the gods and their lands work.
Dreams, imagination, passing on of immortality, the difficulty of children... all of it wraps up into something quite delicious.
And then there's the enigma.
How can something with such core awesomeness in an epic fantasy wind up having so many tedious passages? I'm sorry, but the book is too long. I might have said the same about the other two and by the look of things, the fourth is the worst.
Unfortunately, some storylines lost my interest. I might have perked up with the assassination attempts and the escapes and the times of good dialogue where reveals were being had, but the rest was full of sad tedium.
And yet I still rate this as a four star because on the whole, I love the story. That's the strength of Tad Williams and it's why I'm willing to slog a bit. It's worth it in the end. Especially this novel. The end was pretty fantastic and has me rearing to pick up the next. :)
But I shall wait a little. I need to recharge. :)
Sure, there's a number of great reveals in this volume that let us dive deeper and deeper into what the gods are and what they were and how they work. We understand the god's children, the Fae who are bursting out into this fantasy land and displacing or killing the lesser, or rather, quite equal humans.
There's even a great deal of good action and epic battles and tons of court intrigue and traveling on the road if hobnobbing with gods isn't your thing. It is my thing, however, and I count that part of the storytelling to be some of the most interesting. By far. Keyword STORYTELLING. Those of you who've read this will understand what I mean. It's quite beautiful how the gods and their lands work.
Dreams, imagination, passing on of immortality, the difficulty of children... all of it wraps up into something quite delicious.
And then there's the enigma.
How can something with such core awesomeness in an epic fantasy wind up having so many tedious passages? I'm sorry, but the book is too long. I might have said the same about the other two and by the look of things, the fourth is the worst.
Unfortunately, some storylines lost my interest. I might have perked up with the assassination attempts and the escapes and the times of good dialogue where reveals were being had, but the rest was full of sad tedium.
And yet I still rate this as a four star because on the whole, I love the story. That's the strength of Tad Williams and it's why I'm willing to slog a bit. It's worth it in the end. Especially this novel. The end was pretty fantastic and has me rearing to pick up the next. :)
But I shall wait a little. I need to recharge. :)
November 30, 2020
In the third volume of the Shadowmarch saga, Tad Williams slowly but purposefully brings together his numerous storylines.
Most of the protagonists are at the end of the book in or near Fortress Southmarch and it is obvious that this will be the location of the big showdown.
I can hardly tell you anything about the content of the book without spoiling it too much.
There were surprising twists and turns, but basically the story is drawing towards the grand finale in Volume 4. As a reader, however, I can't even begin to imagine what it will look like. Of course you have your characters that you appreciate less (the insane ruler of Xi) or more (King Olin), but it's hard to tell whether the evil villains will actually end up six feets under.
What happened to our young Barrick is also interesting and unexpected and I am very curious to see where this development will lead.
Overall, I'm very excited to read the end of the saga and find Volume 3 as mesmerizing as the previous parts.
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Im dritten Band der Shadowmarch-Saga führt Tad Williams seine zahlreichen Erzählstränge zwar langsam, aber zielgerichtet immer mehr zusammen.
Die meisten der Protagonisten befinden sich am Ende des Buches in oder in der Nähe der Südmarksburg und es ist offensichtlich, dass dies der Ort des großen Showdowns sein wird.
Ich kann gar nichts über den Inhalt des Buches erzählen, ohne womöglich zu sehr zu spoilern.
Es gab hin und wieder überraschende Wendungen, aber im Prinzip läuft die Geschichte auf das große Finale in Band 4 zu. Ich als Leserin kann mir jedoch noch nicht mal annähernd vorstellen, wie es aussehen wird. Man hat natürlich seine Charaktere, die man weniger (den wahnsinnigen Herrscher von Xi) oder mehr (König Olin) schätzt, aber es ist schwer zu sagen, ob dann tatsächlich die bösartigen Widerlinge das Zeitliche segnen werden.
Interessant und unerwartet ist auch, was unserem jungen Barrick zugestoßen ist und ich bin sehr gespannt, wo diese Entwicklung hinführt.
Ich bin insgesamt sehr gespannt auf das Ende der Saga und von Band 3 unvermindert begeistert.
Most of the protagonists are at the end of the book in or near Fortress Southmarch and it is obvious that this will be the location of the big showdown.
I can hardly tell you anything about the content of the book without spoiling it too much.
There were surprising twists and turns, but basically the story is drawing towards the grand finale in Volume 4. As a reader, however, I can't even begin to imagine what it will look like. Of course you have your characters that you appreciate less (the insane ruler of Xi) or more (King Olin), but it's hard to tell whether the evil villains will actually end up six feets under.
What happened to our young Barrick is also interesting and unexpected and I am very curious to see where this development will lead.
Overall, I'm very excited to read the end of the saga and find Volume 3 as mesmerizing as the previous parts.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Im dritten Band der Shadowmarch-Saga führt Tad Williams seine zahlreichen Erzählstränge zwar langsam, aber zielgerichtet immer mehr zusammen.
Die meisten der Protagonisten befinden sich am Ende des Buches in oder in der Nähe der Südmarksburg und es ist offensichtlich, dass dies der Ort des großen Showdowns sein wird.
Ich kann gar nichts über den Inhalt des Buches erzählen, ohne womöglich zu sehr zu spoilern.
Es gab hin und wieder überraschende Wendungen, aber im Prinzip läuft die Geschichte auf das große Finale in Band 4 zu. Ich als Leserin kann mir jedoch noch nicht mal annähernd vorstellen, wie es aussehen wird. Man hat natürlich seine Charaktere, die man weniger (den wahnsinnigen Herrscher von Xi) oder mehr (König Olin) schätzt, aber es ist schwer zu sagen, ob dann tatsächlich die bösartigen Widerlinge das Zeitliche segnen werden.
Interessant und unerwartet ist auch, was unserem jungen Barrick zugestoßen ist und ich bin sehr gespannt, wo diese Entwicklung hinführt.
Ich bin insgesamt sehr gespannt auf das Ende der Saga und von Band 3 unvermindert begeistert.
September 7, 2020
3,5 estrellas.
Yo te quiero, Tad, pero igual te estás alargando un poquito. Sigo intrigada con el lunático del Autarca de Xis (y también con Quinnitan, aunque haya salido poco) pero algunas tramas parece que se alargan demasiado u ocupan más espacio del debido. Me ha gustado el intento de transformar a Briony de una Anya a una Sansa Stark, pero es obvio que las intrigas palaciegas no son lo suyo y escribirlas no le interesan tanto.
¿Sabéis qué le sigue interesando? Bran más allá del Muro. Perdón, Barrick al otro lado de la Línea de Sombra. Creo que su viaje se ha alargado demasiado. Entiendo que es la parte de más fantasía y Tad quiere desarollar ese mundo y sus gente, pero a mí me ha terminado resultando un poco pesado. Afortunadamente Bran parece tener ya enfilada su trama.
Hablando de tramas... Es obvio que existen resonancias con "Añoranzas y pesares" (la obra más famosa del autor) y aunque la repetición de ciertas historias como si fueran ecos no me molesta tanto, tengo que decir que en otros momentos se siente forzado. Briony y Ferras no son Miriamele y Simon, sobre todo porque Briony y Ferras se habrán visto como dos veces y en ambas ella lo despreció abiertamente.
Pero bueno, incluso con sus cosillas, parece que la historia ya se prepara para su fase final del todo y la verdad es que estoy intrigada. Pero la próxima resume, Tad, que me escribes unos mamotretos que sirven para desarrollar los bíceps.
Yo te quiero, Tad, pero igual te estás alargando un poquito. Sigo intrigada con el lunático del Autarca de Xis (y también con Quinnitan, aunque haya salido poco) pero algunas tramas parece que se alargan demasiado u ocupan más espacio del debido. Me ha gustado el intento de transformar a Briony de una Anya a una Sansa Stark, pero es obvio que las intrigas palaciegas no son lo suyo y escribirlas no le interesan tanto.
¿Sabéis qué le sigue interesando? Bran más allá del Muro. Perdón, Barrick al otro lado de la Línea de Sombra. Creo que su viaje se ha alargado demasiado. Entiendo que es la parte de más fantasía y Tad quiere desarollar ese mundo y sus gente, pero a mí me ha terminado resultando un poco pesado. Afortunadamente Bran parece tener ya enfilada su trama.
Hablando de tramas... Es obvio que existen resonancias con "Añoranzas y pesares" (la obra más famosa del autor) y aunque la repetición de ciertas historias como si fueran ecos no me molesta tanto, tengo que decir que en otros momentos se siente forzado. Briony y Ferras no son Miriamele y Simon, sobre todo porque Briony y Ferras se habrán visto como dos veces y en ambas ella lo despreció abiertamente.
Pero bueno, incluso con sus cosillas, parece que la historia ya se prepara para su fase final del todo y la verdad es que estoy intrigada. Pero la próxima resume, Tad, que me escribes unos mamotretos que sirven para desarrollar los bíceps.
August 28, 2010
For me, Tad Williams is a "comfortable author." I can rely on him to write engaging stories that don't push the envelope too far but still manage to inject enough creativity and energy to make reading enjoyable.
And he really has a handle on fairies. They're just alien enough so that you believe they're more than humans with pointed ears (unlike Terry Brook's "elves" in the Shannara series) but their motives remain comprehensible. A similar sense of otherworldliness also made Williams' earlier Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn stand out and explains, in part, the 4 stars I gave it.
I'm a little disappointed that, so far, Williams hasn't gone quite as far out on the limb in these books as he did in Memory; the series takes few risks. The northern continent of Eion differs little from early Renaissance Europe. The kingdom of Southmarch, which protects the more southerly lands from the fairies north of the Shadowline, can easily be mistaken for England (or perhaps Scotland is the better comparison). To the south, across the sea, lies Xis, a realm from the Arabian Nights ruled by a mad, Caligula-like figure, the Autarch Sulepis.
And the characters are familiar: Briony, the headstrong, spoiled daughter of Southmarch's king, who's forced to grow up when she's driven into exile; Barrick, her twin brother, crippled and lost on the wrong side of the Shadowline; Qinnitan, fleeing from the Autarch's harem and carrying the same fairy blood as the twins; Ferras Vansen, captain of the royal guard who harbors an unrequitable love for Briony; Chert, a simple Funderling stonemason caught up in events; Yasammez, the fairies' chief general, driven by a millennial anger to destroy humanity; and many others.*
But that's what makes Williams a "comfortable author." I know what I'm getting, and I know it'll be good.
He does begin to push the envelope more strongly in this third book, however, particularly in regards to the gods and the apocalyptic consequences of their return. Which is why Williams stands out among the crowd of Fantasy hacks today, and it makes him an author worth reading.
Recommended for the fantasy enthusiasts who like grand, multivolume epics and good storytelling.
* Perhaps too many "others." Williams' stories tend to get out of his control to fill up a lot of pages; he could use a good editor to prune the bushes.
And he really has a handle on fairies. They're just alien enough so that you believe they're more than humans with pointed ears (unlike Terry Brook's "elves" in the Shannara series) but their motives remain comprehensible. A similar sense of otherworldliness also made Williams' earlier Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn stand out and explains, in part, the 4 stars I gave it.
I'm a little disappointed that, so far, Williams hasn't gone quite as far out on the limb in these books as he did in Memory; the series takes few risks. The northern continent of Eion differs little from early Renaissance Europe. The kingdom of Southmarch, which protects the more southerly lands from the fairies north of the Shadowline, can easily be mistaken for England (or perhaps Scotland is the better comparison). To the south, across the sea, lies Xis, a realm from the Arabian Nights ruled by a mad, Caligula-like figure, the Autarch Sulepis.
And the characters are familiar: Briony, the headstrong, spoiled daughter of Southmarch's king, who's forced to grow up when she's driven into exile; Barrick, her twin brother, crippled and lost on the wrong side of the Shadowline; Qinnitan, fleeing from the Autarch's harem and carrying the same fairy blood as the twins; Ferras Vansen, captain of the royal guard who harbors an unrequitable love for Briony; Chert, a simple Funderling stonemason caught up in events; Yasammez, the fairies' chief general, driven by a millennial anger to destroy humanity; and many others.*
But that's what makes Williams a "comfortable author." I know what I'm getting, and I know it'll be good.
He does begin to push the envelope more strongly in this third book, however, particularly in regards to the gods and the apocalyptic consequences of their return. Which is why Williams stands out among the crowd of Fantasy hacks today, and it makes him an author worth reading.
Recommended for the fantasy enthusiasts who like grand, multivolume epics and good storytelling.
* Perhaps too many "others." Williams' stories tend to get out of his control to fill up a lot of pages; he could use a good editor to prune the bushes.
July 5, 2019
The puzzle is starting to take shape; such an intricate story with so many threads and such a delight to decipher! Barrick’s story is the best in this volume: from a whinny, crippled adolescent, he becomes a powerful young man, but everything comes with a price.
Briony is heading home to regain the kingdom from the hands of traitorous Tolly. She has learned a few things while away so she becomes a tough young lady.
Meanwhile, the mad Autarch of Xis is on his way to Southmarch, where he plans to wake up the God who is asleep under the castle, deep down below the caverns of the Funderlings. But he is not the only one. The more the story advances, the more complicated becomes.
On to the fourth…
Briony is heading home to regain the kingdom from the hands of traitorous Tolly. She has learned a few things while away so she becomes a tough young lady.
Meanwhile, the mad Autarch of Xis is on his way to Southmarch, where he plans to wake up the God who is asleep under the castle, deep down below the caverns of the Funderlings. But he is not the only one. The more the story advances, the more complicated becomes.
On to the fourth…
December 5, 2025
Trust in Tad.
This is definitely a really slow burn but the highs here can be unparalleled. In book 2 we sort of have an explosion of POV characters which took away a bit of the focus from what made book 1 so effective, mostly a single setting and intricate politics.
If you're used to his pacing from his other series you know what to expect, his series reward patience and have the feeling of a rich, alive world that doesn't always have high octane events firing on all cylinders constantly like some modern fantasy can be.
Some of the POVs here don't have a ton of progression and can feel at times like we're inching slowly to where they need to be on the huge map for the finale, however some of the moment to moment stuff continues to be fantastic. At times it feels like there's too much packed into a four book trilogy and some of the elements need room to breathe or even be in a much longer series.
One storyline in particular is one of the best fantasy storylines I've experienced, and I've read a lot of fantasy.
The writing continues to be poetic and weighty, Tad is a master at his craft and the sentence to sentence level of prose is immaculate.
The world building is intricate and deep, we're finally getting some answers to mysteries that have been ongoing for the whole series and also get some juicy Osten Ard connections.
This makes me really excited for the final book as this is essentially the first half of the final book in his 4 book trilogy. He's doing something special here and it brings in a lot of elements of fantasy that I love and brings a unique perspective to them, the darker tone and elements of horror really hit well for me.
This is definitely a really slow burn but the highs here can be unparalleled. In book 2 we sort of have an explosion of POV characters which took away a bit of the focus from what made book 1 so effective, mostly a single setting and intricate politics.
If you're used to his pacing from his other series you know what to expect, his series reward patience and have the feeling of a rich, alive world that doesn't always have high octane events firing on all cylinders constantly like some modern fantasy can be.
Some of the POVs here don't have a ton of progression and can feel at times like we're inching slowly to where they need to be on the huge map for the finale, however some of the moment to moment stuff continues to be fantastic. At times it feels like there's too much packed into a four book trilogy and some of the elements need room to breathe or even be in a much longer series.
One storyline in particular is one of the best fantasy storylines I've experienced, and I've read a lot of fantasy.
The writing continues to be poetic and weighty, Tad is a master at his craft and the sentence to sentence level of prose is immaculate.
The world building is intricate and deep, we're finally getting some answers to mysteries that have been ongoing for the whole series and also get some juicy Osten Ard connections.
This makes me really excited for the final book as this is essentially the first half of the final book in his 4 book trilogy. He's doing something special here and it brings in a lot of elements of fantasy that I love and brings a unique perspective to them, the darker tone and elements of horror really hit well for me.
March 20, 2010
Ok, so I am a fan of Tad Williams and will read almost anything he prints for adults Howeve, this series got off to a bit of a rocky start with the first book, which was very tightly written and, in fact a little to tight. It felt more like a scripted, by the numbers fantasy book. Much of it seemed like he was trying to write a more original, grown up version of the Memory, Sorrow and Thorn series. It was still good and interesting but it seemed like too much was going on yet nothing was happening. The second book picked up and got better, with a lot of unexpected stuff and, imho, a really imaginative world taking shape.
This book, the third, is fantastic. Much of the plot falls into place and the theology of the world comes into focus and becomes a front and center part of the plot. The representations of good and evil become confused and some annoying characters become interested. And the world itself, with its people's, fairies and gods, really comes into its own and feels like a believable, renassaince era world...
So, the point of this poor review is that if the first book seemed a bit dry, hang in there and keep going, because it gets really good.
This book, the third, is fantastic. Much of the plot falls into place and the theology of the world comes into focus and becomes a front and center part of the plot. The representations of good and evil become confused and some annoying characters become interested. And the world itself, with its people's, fairies and gods, really comes into its own and feels like a believable, renassaince era world...
So, the point of this poor review is that if the first book seemed a bit dry, hang in there and keep going, because it gets really good.
June 6, 2022
2.5ish. Things are finally starting to happen here, though ludicrously late and after a lot of often maddeningly protracted setup. I haven’t yet read a book by Tad Williams that didn’t have serious pacing problems, and for what seem to be many reasons. If you were reading this you might ask why I keep pressing on with these often desperately slow and overlong books. Now and then I ask myself, too. There is much to love here, but also a lot that’s dull, whether because it could hardly be interesting in any form (I’m thinking particularly of the many digressions into the storyworld’s byzantine mythology here, an annoying aspect of all three books so far but something this latest volume is especially in love with), or because it goes on much, much too long, or both. When, about a hundred pages from the end of this book, I suddenly had the feeling that here at last was narrative propulsion and a stronger, tighter sense of causation etc., I also felt like I’d just finished reading a kind of 1,900-page prologue. That’s a bit overstated, of course; there’s Greatdeeps in the second book and a few other moments of suspense, incident, and contact between characters and subplots. But there has also been a truly incredible amount of time spent watching characters walking around brooding, characters thinking about other characters who are a continent away, characters discussing whispered rumours of coming darkness and coming enemies and coming threats that have been coming, coming, coming for three novels now and still aren’t here. The separate subplots (of which, to my eye, there are two too many) were beginning to seem like parallel lines, but at last it looks like they’re about to converge. So I’m very, very cautiously optimistic for book 4 of 4.
August 3, 2015
This continues to be a great, sprawling epic.
It's not exactly a quick read, though. I found myself able to put it down and read other books, but I was always able to come back to it and instantly know right where I'd left off and what was happening. It's because of Williams' characters. He creates real people, and the instant you see their name, you know exactly what they're doing. The one problem I have with this book/series is Barrick. Him wandering around with the gross raven was the only part that dragged. This book ends with a fantastic plot twist centered on Barrick, but I wish we could have gotten there sooner!
It's not exactly a quick read, though. I found myself able to put it down and read other books, but I was always able to come back to it and instantly know right where I'd left off and what was happening. It's because of Williams' characters. He creates real people, and the instant you see their name, you know exactly what they're doing. The one problem I have with this book/series is Barrick. Him wandering around with the gross raven was the only part that dragged. This book ends with a fantastic plot twist centered on Barrick, but I wish we could have gotten there sooner!
May 5, 2023
2023- Time to do a reread. Our characters are beginning to gather from the corners of the world.
2019
Looking forward to the conclusion of this series later this year.
2019
Looking forward to the conclusion of this series later this year.
January 21, 2019
In the third part of this series, the pace of the story is lowered as much has been done in the two previous and so there is a gap that needs to be covered. Of course, there are many small moments of tension but they are not very decisive for the continuation. This slower pace, therefore, allows the author to show us other aspects of the heroes of this story, but also of those who are in the opposing camp, with the half-mad king from the South stealing the show. Beyond that, some protagonists of the story are involved in political games while others are trying to solve the mystery and understand why all this is done and what the ultimate goal is. In the end, this purpose is revealed, and so the fourth part is left to resolve everything. This happens in a book that is different from the previous ones as the author shows his humorous side more with many clever dialogues and his ability to deepen in his heroes. At the same time, he tells us some stories that are not directly related to what we read, thus expanding our perception of the fantastic world he has created, something I always find it positive of in this genre. So we keep going well and the last part promises a lot.
Στο τρίτο μέρος αυτής της σειράς ο ρυθμός της ιστορίας χαμηλώνει καθώς πολλά έχουν γίνει στα δύο προηγούμενα και έτσι υπάρχει κάποιο κενό που πρέπει να καλυφθεί. Φυσικά υπάρχουν πολλές μικρές στιγμές έντασης αλλά δεν είναι πολύ καθοριστικές για τη συνέχεια. Αυτός ο πιο αργός ρυθμός, λοιπόν, επιτρέπει στο συγγραφέα να μας δείξει και άλλες πλευρές των ηρώων αυτής της ιστορίας αλλά κι αυτων που είναι στο αντίπαλο στρατόπεδο, με κορυφαίο τον ημίτρελο βασιλιά από τον νότο που κλέβει τη παράσταση. Πέρα από αυτό κάποιοι πρωταγωνιστές της ιστορίας εμπλέκονται σε πολιτικά παιχνίδια ενώ άλλοι προσπαθούν να λύσουν το μυστήριο και να καταλάβουν γιατί γίνονται όλα αυτά και ποιος είναι ο τελικός σκοπός. Στο τέλος αυτός ο σκοπός αποκαλύπτεται και έτσι μένει το τέταρτο μέρος για να κριθούν τα πάντα. Αυτά συμβαίνουν σε ένα βιβλίο που είναι διαφορετικό από τα προηγούμενα καθώς ο συγγραφέας δείχνει περισσότερο την χιουμοριστική πλευρά του με πολλούς έξυπνους διαλόγους αλλά και την ικανότητα του να εμβαθύνει στους ήρωες του. Την ίδια ώρα μας αφηγείται κάποιες ιστορίες που δεν έχουν άμεση σχέση με αυτά που διαβάζουμε, επεκτείνοντας έτσι την αντίληψή μας για τον φανταστικό κόσμο που έχει δημιουργήσει, κάτι που σε αυτό το είδος το θεωρώ πάντα θετικό. Οπότε καλά συνεχίζουμε και το τελευταίο μέρος υπόσχεται πολλά.
Στο τρίτο μέρος αυτής της σειράς ο ρυθμός της ιστορίας χαμηλώνει καθώς πολλά έχουν γίνει στα δύο προηγούμενα και έτσι υπάρχει κάποιο κενό που πρέπει να καλυφθεί. Φυσικά υπάρχουν πολλές μικρές στιγμές έντασης αλλά δεν είναι πολύ καθοριστικές για τη συνέχεια. Αυτός ο πιο αργός ρυθμός, λοιπόν, επιτρέπει στο συγγραφέα να μας δείξει και άλλες πλευρές των ηρώων αυτής της ιστορίας αλλά κι αυτων που είναι στο αντίπαλο στρατόπεδο, με κορυφαίο τον ημίτρελο βασιλιά από τον νότο που κλέβει τη παράσταση. Πέρα από αυτό κάποιοι πρωταγωνιστές της ιστορίας εμπλέκονται σε πολιτικά παιχνίδια ενώ άλλοι προσπαθούν να λύσουν το μυστήριο και να καταλάβουν γιατί γίνονται όλα αυτά και ποιος είναι ο τελικός σκοπός. Στο τέλος αυτός ο σκοπός αποκαλύπτεται και έτσι μένει το τέταρτο μέρος για να κριθούν τα πάντα. Αυτά συμβαίνουν σε ένα βιβλίο που είναι διαφορετικό από τα προηγούμενα καθώς ο συγγραφέας δείχνει περισσότερο την χιουμοριστική πλευρά του με πολλούς έξυπνους διαλόγους αλλά και την ικανότητα του να εμβαθύνει στους ήρωες του. Την ίδια ώρα μας αφηγείται κάποιες ιστορίες που δεν έχουν άμεση σχέση με αυτά που διαβάζουμε, επεκτείνοντας έτσι την αντίληψή μας για τον φανταστικό κόσμο που έχει δημιουργήσει, κάτι που σε αυτό το είδος το θεωρώ πάντα θετικό. Οπότε καλά συνεχίζουμε και το τελευταίο μέρος υπόσχεται πολλά.
September 7, 2023
Definitely my least favorite so far but still really good and it’s only part 1 of a planned trilogy so it should be expected to be the weakest link.
All the characters have been split up and are having their own adventures. Although is it considered an adventure if you’re trying to save mankind?
The Autarch of Xis has made his move and his prepared to take control of the Gods (don’t see that going well)
The Qar are split. Some want to kill all humans and some are trying to pass down knowledge to help everyone in the upcoming war.
Barrick has finally made it to his destination in the Shadowline to receive the answers he’s been needing.
Briony is trying to survive in a foreign court but something isn’t right.
Qinnitan is trying to escape Vo, who may the most badass evil character I’ve ever read.
All in all I enjoyed this installment but I could use a break after reading two in a row. Tad is a great writer but can be mentally draining after a while.
All the characters have been split up and are having their own adventures. Although is it considered an adventure if you’re trying to save mankind?
The Autarch of Xis has made his move and his prepared to take control of the Gods (don’t see that going well)
The Qar are split. Some want to kill all humans and some are trying to pass down knowledge to help everyone in the upcoming war.
Barrick has finally made it to his destination in the Shadowline to receive the answers he’s been needing.
Briony is trying to survive in a foreign court but something isn’t right.
Qinnitan is trying to escape Vo, who may the most badass evil character I’ve ever read.
All in all I enjoyed this installment but I could use a break after reading two in a row. Tad is a great writer but can be mentally draining after a while.
March 1, 2017
Dieser dritte Teil ist teilweise etwas langatmig, an anderen Stellen aber auch sehr spannend. David Nathan liest auch dieses Hörbuch wieder großartig. Ich freue mich auf das Finale der Reihe.
July 27, 2015
I have the occasional argument with friends about whether Tad Williams has anything of his own to say. While I agree that
Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn
was derivative, I thought
Otherland
was innovative and interesting, as was
The War of the Flowers
. The first two books of
Shadowmarch
seemed to bear out that promise.
Shadowrise, unfortunately, bogs down substantially. It's not bad, but it is dull. The complex plot moves on, and Williams does a good job of keeping all the key characters in play. Potentially intriguing things happen, but somehow they're not really intriguing. For one thing, he doesn't really explore them - they just happen, then are left behind. While all the characters are on desperate, life and death quests, the book somehow becomes just a series of events - "this happened, then this happened, then that happened, then the other thing happened". Even the complex relationships of the gods, which we learn more about, didn't really hold my interest. One revelation apparently intended as a key tipping point in the human-fairy relationship evoked no more from me than acknowledgement - because I never got very deeply involved.
The book isn't bad - it just feels like filler. Williams notes that he intended it to be shorter, and it probably would have been a better book that way. One case when one wishes for a firmer editorial hand.
I already have Shadowheart , book 4 of the series, but I feel as if I can fairly well predict what will happen in that heavy volume. I foresee more of the same - moving, complex parts, but no great surprises. I hope I'm wrong.
If you're considering whether to read past book 2, and you're not a die-hard Williams fan, I'm afraid I have to advise against. Too big an investment of time for too little return.
Shadowrise, unfortunately, bogs down substantially. It's not bad, but it is dull. The complex plot moves on, and Williams does a good job of keeping all the key characters in play. Potentially intriguing things happen, but somehow they're not really intriguing. For one thing, he doesn't really explore them - they just happen, then are left behind. While all the characters are on desperate, life and death quests, the book somehow becomes just a series of events - "this happened, then this happened, then that happened, then the other thing happened". Even the complex relationships of the gods, which we learn more about, didn't really hold my interest. One revelation apparently intended as a key tipping point in the human-fairy relationship evoked no more from me than acknowledgement - because I never got very deeply involved.
The book isn't bad - it just feels like filler. Williams notes that he intended it to be shorter, and it probably would have been a better book that way. One case when one wishes for a firmer editorial hand.
I already have Shadowheart , book 4 of the series, but I feel as if I can fairly well predict what will happen in that heavy volume. I foresee more of the same - moving, complex parts, but no great surprises. I hope I'm wrong.
If you're considering whether to read past book 2, and you're not a die-hard Williams fan, I'm afraid I have to advise against. Too big an investment of time for too little return.
May 9, 2019
It's somewhat easy to see why this is a bit of a bastard child for Williams. In some ways, I think it's much better than Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn. A lot of that has to do with Williams being a more mature storyteller at this point in his career. The characterization, conflicts, and so on are just much more interesting. There's a savageness Williams has with his characters in this series that's kind of fascinating.
But everything is just so unfamiliar and alien. I think it keeps most readers at a remove. Where Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn was riffing on Tolkien and expectations of the genre, this series twists the genre into something very different. We don't have elves and dwarves here. Or, kind of we do. But they're so very different. The Qar are just such a completely alien species to humans and I think it's a testament to Williams' writing that they continue to feel alien and bizarre even through three books.
But this is certainly detrimental to the popularity of the series. What is familiar here is sort of torn apart, shredded, and cast to the wind. And even when we believe we're on a familiar sort of journey, with a mentor leading an inexperienced hero through the world, all of that is quickly smashed and the characters are left reeling, fleeing for their lives.
Williams has created a very dangerous and bizarre world here, and I think he mostly does it very well. Like most of his series, it's gotten better and more interesting as we move forward. But what's interesting is that even when Williams begins to show his hand and reveal big pieces of information here, the meaning remains somewhat opaque and alien. We get some big reveals in this novel, but, somehow, none of them bring us that much closer to the mysteries. Or, they do, but they remain alien, inhuman. And even as our hearts break for the Qar, for their tragedy, there's a part of us that still finds them slightly repulsive, too alien to really connect with.
But, yes, really digging this now. I had my doubts through books one and two, but Williams has this lethargic way of building something enormously cool through the gradual accretion of mass.
But everything is just so unfamiliar and alien. I think it keeps most readers at a remove. Where Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn was riffing on Tolkien and expectations of the genre, this series twists the genre into something very different. We don't have elves and dwarves here. Or, kind of we do. But they're so very different. The Qar are just such a completely alien species to humans and I think it's a testament to Williams' writing that they continue to feel alien and bizarre even through three books.
But this is certainly detrimental to the popularity of the series. What is familiar here is sort of torn apart, shredded, and cast to the wind. And even when we believe we're on a familiar sort of journey, with a mentor leading an inexperienced hero through the world, all of that is quickly smashed and the characters are left reeling, fleeing for their lives.
Williams has created a very dangerous and bizarre world here, and I think he mostly does it very well. Like most of his series, it's gotten better and more interesting as we move forward. But what's interesting is that even when Williams begins to show his hand and reveal big pieces of information here, the meaning remains somewhat opaque and alien. We get some big reveals in this novel, but, somehow, none of them bring us that much closer to the mysteries. Or, they do, but they remain alien, inhuman. And even as our hearts break for the Qar, for their tragedy, there's a part of us that still finds them slightly repulsive, too alien to really connect with.
But, yes, really digging this now. I had my doubts through books one and two, but Williams has this lethargic way of building something enormously cool through the gradual accretion of mass.
April 4, 2023
A bit too bloated for the story being told but still enjoyable. Definitely understandable why this is considered lesser Williams. However, I'm anticipating the finale.
April 10, 2011
Yes, that's right, I've juiced this rating to four stars, because as my band teacher taught, avoid the middle of the road. No, actually, the first book was a crappy two star, while the second was a borderline three, and this book is really getting better. Highlights (my laptop is dying) include his ever-improving depiction of madman Autarch Sulepis from the POV of his incredibly normal prime minister and the unbelievably satisfying way in which he wraps up the book with Barrick's storyline reaching a not only unexpected but sensible and loosely verisimilitudinous climax.
I was wondering if the series was going to end with this book (I'd forgotten that the reviews on the back cover promised an ending in the unpublished Book 4), so important is Barrick's piece of the plot, but there's still probably just enough to wrap up in one full additional novel. It's funny how many, many elements of the final resolution are quite clear, including Barrick and Quinnitan's roles in the future (the fact that Quinnitan has any bloody purpose being in the novels at all is an unexpectedly refreshing twist), but I'm still looking forward to seeing how Tad chooses to resolve all the piddling little questions like how many of the flock of POV and other major characters he needs to kill to raise sufficient tension, who Briony marries (I mean, duh, it's Vansen, you've known that since his first POV, but it would be REALLY refreshing if Tad chose to marry her off to...the obvious candidate in this book...MUCH more verisimilitude there), etc.
I was wondering if the series was going to end with this book (I'd forgotten that the reviews on the back cover promised an ending in the unpublished Book 4), so important is Barrick's piece of the plot, but there's still probably just enough to wrap up in one full additional novel. It's funny how many, many elements of the final resolution are quite clear, including Barrick and Quinnitan's roles in the future (the fact that Quinnitan has any bloody purpose being in the novels at all is an unexpectedly refreshing twist), but I'm still looking forward to seeing how Tad chooses to resolve all the piddling little questions like how many of the flock of POV and other major characters he needs to kill to raise sufficient tension, who Briony marries (I mean, duh, it's Vansen, you've known that since his first POV, but it would be REALLY refreshing if Tad chose to marry her off to...the obvious candidate in this book...MUCH more verisimilitude there), etc.
February 23, 2011
My favorite quote so far, from Tinwright's mother:
"Didn't the good book always say people are to be sausaged?"
"Solaced, mother, solaced"
"Didn't the good book always say people are to be sausaged?"
"Solaced, mother, solaced"
April 9, 2017
Zanimljivo! Zanimljivo! Zanimljivo! Radnja se sve više i više zapetljava, baš me zanima što će biti do kraja.
January 20, 2025
Overall I am enjoying this series quite a bit! The parts that are keeping it 5 stars from me which are just personal preference are 1. There is one storyline in particular and seemingly many settings where it’s just vague misty twilight and 2. All of the gods and their part of the story. Both things I just don’t find interesting or engaging. So I am a bit bored and just kind of waiting for those sections to be over with when they happen. Many storylines I am very excited to see what happens and how things all wrap up in the last book.
September 7, 2021
Check out my youtube channel where I review books
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCg4e...
The series is getting better and better. Tad Williams continues to weave an interesting multi layered story. The plot is coming together and secrets are coming out. I am hoping the ending is good as I will be finishing the last book in a few months.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCg4e...
The series is getting better and better. Tad Williams continues to weave an interesting multi layered story. The plot is coming together and secrets are coming out. I am hoping the ending is good as I will be finishing the last book in a few months.
October 17, 2023
Proudly driving the Tad Williams bandwagon!
April 25, 2012
Where Shadowplay really picked up the pace from Shadowmarch not only in terms of action, but in terms of originality and creativity, Shadowrise continues forward in one direction, but I feel steps backwards in the other. The story really comes into its own in this book, with all the characters starting to sound much more like full entities instead of cardboard cut-outs, and a lot of really great ideas are introduced (or expanded upon). Despite this, however, I found myself feeling restless throughout large portions of the book - other than Barrick's various adventures beyond the Shadowline, very little in the way of action happened. Don't get me wrong, I'm not looking for R.A. Salvatore-style nothing-ever-stops-happening fantasy, but I felt through reading this book that I would really like to just skip passed major sections and get back to the story, which to me, seemed odd considering its placement in the series. In particular, I found Captain Vansen's storyline to be extremely dull, and seemed almost like filler to me - which is a shame, because during the first two books, Vansen was my favorite character.
Something else I've noticed is that I feel that Tad Williams' prose doesn't have the grace it once had. I did not pick up on this through the first two books, possibly because I was enthralled by the origins of the story as well as by a lot of action, but during the slower parts of Shadowrise, this really stood out to me. When I look at series like Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn and Otherland, where I have memorized passages of text because of how they stand out to me as being so beautifully-well crafted, I definitely feel that Shadowmarch is a slight step down. Some of it these feelings I attribute to my overall unrest with the book, but some I feel come from some new stylistic choices Williams had made in these books - such as becoming a bit more graphic in his speaking of sex (though nothing like Martin, who I often call the Stephen King of fantasy).
Without a doubt though, one of Tad Williams' greatest strengths as a writer is his ability in a series for the penultimate volume to finally begin putting together all the plot pieces like a puzzle - and like a puzzle, the picture becomes clear in a way that is very satisfying to the reader. This story does not disappoint in that regard - the way Barrick's history with the Qar is slowly revealed, similarly overlapping various reveals of his father Olin, and the slave girl Qinnitan, is pure genius, and I found myself being very delighted to read the last few chapters where the reveals became more important. This made me hunger for more, which is another of Williams' stronger authorial techniques, and one that he has not yet failed at delivering as far as I'm concerned.
Overall, I would say this book is a pretty strong B+ for the fantasy genre as a whole, but well below average for Tad Williams (who I make no excuses for being my favorite author - fantasy or otherwise).
I will not be able to start Shadowheart until next week, but from the non-spoiler reviews I've read, I expect it to really pick up the pace to go out with a bang.
Something else I've noticed is that I feel that Tad Williams' prose doesn't have the grace it once had. I did not pick up on this through the first two books, possibly because I was enthralled by the origins of the story as well as by a lot of action, but during the slower parts of Shadowrise, this really stood out to me. When I look at series like Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn and Otherland, where I have memorized passages of text because of how they stand out to me as being so beautifully-well crafted, I definitely feel that Shadowmarch is a slight step down. Some of it these feelings I attribute to my overall unrest with the book, but some I feel come from some new stylistic choices Williams had made in these books - such as becoming a bit more graphic in his speaking of sex (though nothing like Martin, who I often call the Stephen King of fantasy).
Without a doubt though, one of Tad Williams' greatest strengths as a writer is his ability in a series for the penultimate volume to finally begin putting together all the plot pieces like a puzzle - and like a puzzle, the picture becomes clear in a way that is very satisfying to the reader. This story does not disappoint in that regard - the way Barrick's history with the Qar is slowly revealed, similarly overlapping various reveals of his father Olin, and the slave girl Qinnitan, is pure genius, and I found myself being very delighted to read the last few chapters where the reveals became more important. This made me hunger for more, which is another of Williams' stronger authorial techniques, and one that he has not yet failed at delivering as far as I'm concerned.
Overall, I would say this book is a pretty strong B+ for the fantasy genre as a whole, but well below average for Tad Williams (who I make no excuses for being my favorite author - fantasy or otherwise).
I will not be able to start Shadowheart until next week, but from the non-spoiler reviews I've read, I expect it to really pick up the pace to go out with a bang.
January 21, 2018
Urgh, this book is far too slow again.
Barrick
Again, a lot of this book feels prolonged. Chert keeps haring off after Flint - like he did the past book, and it makes no sense. If I were Chert, I would have tied Flint up. Qinnitan's plotline makes little movement - it's just her journey in space that we care about, and there's little change in her character. Similarly, we did not need all the details of Vansen - there's no character development, and the only significance to the plot is .
Worse: we keep moving on just as we settle into one character's narrative. I find this constant change in point-of-view annoying.
I can say that there is a lot of movement - characters travel a lot, but there doesn't seem to be any character development - save for perhaps Briony, who is shaped by her experiences, and Barrick, who gets .
1.5 stars.
Barrick
Again, a lot of this book feels prolonged. Chert keeps haring off after Flint - like he did the past book, and it makes no sense. If I were Chert, I would have tied Flint up. Qinnitan's plotline makes little movement - it's just her journey in space that we care about, and there's little change in her character. Similarly, we did not need all the details of Vansen - there's no character development, and the only significance to the plot is .
Worse: we keep moving on just as we settle into one character's narrative. I find this constant change in point-of-view annoying.
I can say that there is a lot of movement - characters travel a lot, but there doesn't seem to be any character development - save for perhaps Briony, who is shaped by her experiences, and Barrick, who gets .
1.5 stars.
February 16, 2012
The third book of the Shadowmarch series is the Tad Williams I fell in love with when I read Memory, Sorrow and Thorn. The pace has now picked up completely, and things are happening everywhere. Characters that were only annoying in the first two books are now compelling and interesting. Who would have thought that I'd ever enjoy reading about a disgusting, talking raven? We still have all the same story viewpoints. Briony in Syan, Barrick's voyage through the Shadowlands, Ferras Vansen and Chert in Funderling Town, the Autarch of Xis and Olin, Qinnitan and her captor, Matt Tinwright in Southmarch and a few glimpses at Duchess Merolanna and Sister Utta in captivity.
I personally found the Matt Tinwright and Chert viewpoints to be the least interesting. Matt is too overdone, but he was much improved on the previous books. I don't know what bothers me about Chert, but he just seems dull. I do however want to know the truth about Flint. .
In Shadowrise, Tad Williams finally starts unveiling some of the secrets that he's been building since the first book. We find out what the Pact of Glass and the Fireflower are. We find out the autarch's plans and the truth about the Curse of the Eddon family. Everything is pointing at Southmarch now, and book 4 should solve those final secrets that are still left. There are still quite a few. What's Qinnitan's story? What's Hendon Tolly's plan and what game is Chaven playing? What's this Avin Brone curveball? And will we ever find out what other plans Ynnir had for Flint? The whole series has so many strings that make up the story, and they're still not all unraveled. I think he'll be able to pull this off to a satisfying conclusion, and I cannot wait to read Shadowheart now.
I personally found the Matt Tinwright and Chert viewpoints to be the least interesting. Matt is too overdone, but he was much improved on the previous books. I don't know what bothers me about Chert, but he just seems dull. I do however want to know the truth about Flint. .
In Shadowrise, Tad Williams finally starts unveiling some of the secrets that he's been building since the first book. We find out what the Pact of Glass and the Fireflower are. We find out the autarch's plans and the truth about the Curse of the Eddon family. Everything is pointing at Southmarch now, and book 4 should solve those final secrets that are still left. There are still quite a few. What's Qinnitan's story? What's Hendon Tolly's plan and what game is Chaven playing? What's this Avin Brone curveball? And will we ever find out what other plans Ynnir had for Flint? The whole series has so many strings that make up the story, and they're still not all unraveled. I think he'll be able to pull this off to a satisfying conclusion, and I cannot wait to read Shadowheart now.
July 24, 2016
"Shadowrise" lifts a few more veils and deepens the various plots running through this fine, four-book fantasy epic. In this third volume, Tad Williams again resists tossing in new elements willy-nilly, instead getting the big wheels of this story moving a bit more inexorably toward a climax.
At Southmarch castle, the fairy folk begin their assault above ground and deep in the warrens of the stone-dwelling Funderlings, as the reasons for their obsession with the castle become clearer. The imposing Qar bitch Yasammez finally sets the destruction plans in motion with the evident failure of Prince Barrick to successfully fulfill the Pact of the Glass and deliver a mirror deep in the shadow realms of the Qar that will save the fairy queen. But not so fast. Barrick's quest does continue, and his adventures in search of the city of Sleep and the Dreamless (after being pursued by the slow but sticky-fiber-throwing cocoon-y Silkins) with the talking Raven, Skurn, are exciting and highlight "Shadowrise." They're joined by a patchwork-clad human we've met before who now is trapped in the beclouded fairy realm.
Meanwhile, the ruthless Autarch of Xis continues his journey to Southmarch, his reasons similar to the Qar's. Qar blood and god's blood are mixed up in the troubles, but for now the gods still sleep.
Princess Briony survives attempts to kill her and flees again, finding a new ally.
Deep beneath Southmarch, Funderlings and a few humans try to stop the finally moving Qar invasion, ratcheting up the Funderling angle that sometimes had dragged in the earlier books.
With the third book under my belt, it becomes increasingly evident that those who somewhat understandably bailed after the series' first book, "Shadowmarch," missed out. Williams really did know what he was doing, and his tale is quite good even through an inconsistent start. Spending more and more time with these strong characters is increasingly rewarding.
At Southmarch castle, the fairy folk begin their assault above ground and deep in the warrens of the stone-dwelling Funderlings, as the reasons for their obsession with the castle become clearer. The imposing Qar bitch Yasammez finally sets the destruction plans in motion with the evident failure of Prince Barrick to successfully fulfill the Pact of the Glass and deliver a mirror deep in the shadow realms of the Qar that will save the fairy queen. But not so fast. Barrick's quest does continue, and his adventures in search of the city of Sleep and the Dreamless (after being pursued by the slow but sticky-fiber-throwing cocoon-y Silkins) with the talking Raven, Skurn, are exciting and highlight "Shadowrise." They're joined by a patchwork-clad human we've met before who now is trapped in the beclouded fairy realm.
Meanwhile, the ruthless Autarch of Xis continues his journey to Southmarch, his reasons similar to the Qar's. Qar blood and god's blood are mixed up in the troubles, but for now the gods still sleep.
Princess Briony survives attempts to kill her and flees again, finding a new ally.
Deep beneath Southmarch, Funderlings and a few humans try to stop the finally moving Qar invasion, ratcheting up the Funderling angle that sometimes had dragged in the earlier books.
With the third book under my belt, it becomes increasingly evident that those who somewhat understandably bailed after the series' first book, "Shadowmarch," missed out. Williams really did know what he was doing, and his tale is quite good even through an inconsistent start. Spending more and more time with these strong characters is increasingly rewarding.
October 17, 2013
This is the Third book in a series of four thick epic fantasy series. Like many middle books it has a tendency to drag a bit. I found that Barriks adventures in Fairy land somewhat tedious and hero's quest.
William's novel structure is not as clear. However, despite the rather flabby prose it is still a gripping book. His adventures with Briony and Qinnitan are especially riveting. I am thoroughly engrossed by the story surrounding the Autarch. The Egyptian god king from the desert adds more risk than even the otherworldliness of the fairies.
If you are a fan of big meaty epics then please read this book. It is not a book for the fainthearted or someone that has problems keeping track of multiple plotlines and a cast of thousands. But if you find book like that challenging and fun then you will love this series.
William's novel structure is not as clear. However, despite the rather flabby prose it is still a gripping book. His adventures with Briony and Qinnitan are especially riveting. I am thoroughly engrossed by the story surrounding the Autarch. The Egyptian god king from the desert adds more risk than even the otherworldliness of the fairies.
If you are a fan of big meaty epics then please read this book. It is not a book for the fainthearted or someone that has problems keeping track of multiple plotlines and a cast of thousands. But if you find book like that challenging and fun then you will love this series.
January 22, 2011
This time "only" four stars, because some passages felt too packed with stuff, which should have been better to be handled in a longer chapter. But still fascinating, and I'm wondering, what'll happen to those characters, we currently don't know, where they are and what they're going to do. I'm sure, that the cloaked beggar is Shaso - back from the dead -, and I really hope to see Sparrow again. I also hope, that Sulepis will get, what he deserves! And I'm looking forward to the clash of gods, which will happen for sure. If only gods with eachother or gods with Quar, mankind and the other races involved - we'll see.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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