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The Last King of Osten Ard #0.5
The Heart of What Was Lost: A Novel of Osten Ard
Following directly on from the events of TO GREEN ANGEL TOWER, the Norns and the Storm King Ineluki have been defeated at the Battle for the Hayholt; Seoman and Miriamele, the new king and queen, order their victorious armies to shadow the retreating Norns.
One of the enemy group is escorting the huge funeral cortege of one of their leaders, on their journey they become detached and trapped in the ancient fortress of Tangleroot on the frontier. As well as their dead lord, they carry a great magical artefact, a stone called the Heart of What Was Lost, one of the last relics of their ancient civilization. Soon the fortress is invested, the battle commences, and bloodshed and magic flow.
210 pages, Hardcover
First published January 3, 2017
465 people are currently reading
6644 people want to read
About the author
Tad Williams
350 books7,854 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 523 reviews
January 6, 2024
The Heart of What Was Lost is the action-packed epilogue to Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn trilogy, and it is also a great setup to The Last King of Osten Ard.
It has only been a few months since I finished reading Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn trilogy, and yet I already felt the strong pull to go back to Osten Ard. Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn trilogy by Tad Williams was one of the best highlights of 2023 for me. Starting from The Dragonbone Chair, I was enthralled up to the end of To Green Angel Tower, which, by the way, at more than 520,000 words long is the biggest single-volume novel I have ever read in my life. As I have mentioned several times, I am determined to read every book published in The Osten Ard Saga by Tad Williams. This is why… Before I dive into the sequel series titled The Last King of Osten Ard with its first installment, The Witchwood Crown, in 2024, I decided to read the bridge novel between the two series first: The Heart of What Was Lost. And I am glad I did this. Not only The Heart of What Was Lost work as an extra closure for To Green Angel Tower, but although I haven't started reading The Witchwood Crown yet, I have no doubt what I read here will be beneficial to my reading experience of the sequel series soon.
This does not mean you should read this solely for the purpose of reading The Last King of Osten Ard. At 78,000 words long, this is a relatively short novel, especially compared to any book in Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn trilogy. But the dual functions of the novel I mentioned earlier plus the addition of the book having an engaging story, ensure fans of the Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn trilogy can earn more satisfaction from reading it. That said, there is something to remember when you are going to read The Heart of What Was Lost for the first time. This is comparatively the most action-packed installment in The Osten Ard Saga. So far. I loved Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn trilogy, but action-packed is not what I would categorize it. The entire trilogy was a slow-burn narrative with minimal action or battle scenes. I was surprised by the action-oriented nature of The Heart of What Was Lost. Duke Isgrimnur is one of the main characters of the novel. He is the only returning POV character from the first trilogy. It was easy and quick for me to feel comfortable reading Isgrimnur's chapters. Porto and Endri are new characters that took me a long time to feel invested in. Fortunately, this is balanced by another new POV character, Viyeki the Builder, and I found Viyeki to be an intriguing character that provides needed insights into the Norns and the priceless gem named after the title of this book.
War is a central theme in The Heart of What Was Lost. The entire book is essentially building momentum toward the Siege of Nakigga and the details of the siege itself. The confrontations and fierce resistance between the two sides felt surprisingly humane, too, depending on how you observe the situation from both sides. Although it took a while before I felt connected with Porto and Endri, Tad Williams did a magnificent job of showing the brutality of the recurring cycle of war through their perspective. Maybe even more than Isgrimnur and Viyeki. Personally, for such a relatively short and war-oriented book, Tad Williams was efficient and effective at implementing more details about the intricate lore of the Osten Ard. There is no cliffhanger here. As I said, this book works both ways. As an epilogue to Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn trilogy and as a prelude to The Last King of Osten Ard. Some characters, their fates, and the world-building elements discussed here will, for sure, play a role in the sequel series.
The cycle of war is doomed to be repeated in The Last King of Osten Ard series. I am not sure how the second series will proceed. At all. And if my mind is a blank page, then I am eager to have these pages filled with Tad Williams' beautiful storytelling and writing again in The Last King of Osten Ard. The Heart of What Was Lost was a short and sweet return to the world of Osten Ard, and it made me even more excited to continue my journey in the series soon.
You can order this book from: Amazon | Blackwells (Free International shipping)
You can find this and the rest of my reviews at Novel Notions | I also have a Booktube channel
Special thanks to my Patrons on Patreon for giving me extra support towards my passion for reading and reviewing!
My Patrons: Alfred, Aliysa, Ambrosius, Andrew, Andrew W, Annabeth, Arliss, Barbara, Biskit, Brad, Cade, Chris, Christopher, Ciprian, Cullen, Dan, David, Donuts, Dylan, Edward, Elaine, Elias, Ellen, Francesca, Frank, Garrick, Gary, Gregory, Hamad, Helen, Jenn, Jesse, Joie, Jonathan, Jordan, Katrina, Kristina, Lara, Lourdes, Luis, Melinda, Michael, Michael, Mike, Miracle, Mordie, Nicholas, Norbert, Radiah, RCT, Redmischief, Samuel, Sarah, Sarah, Scott, Shawn, Sirbu, Steph, Stephanie, Tiffany, Tracy, Trish, TS, Wendy, Wick, Woodman, Xero, Yosi, Yuri, Zoe.
It has only been a few months since I finished reading Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn trilogy, and yet I already felt the strong pull to go back to Osten Ard. Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn trilogy by Tad Williams was one of the best highlights of 2023 for me. Starting from The Dragonbone Chair, I was enthralled up to the end of To Green Angel Tower, which, by the way, at more than 520,000 words long is the biggest single-volume novel I have ever read in my life. As I have mentioned several times, I am determined to read every book published in The Osten Ard Saga by Tad Williams. This is why… Before I dive into the sequel series titled The Last King of Osten Ard with its first installment, The Witchwood Crown, in 2024, I decided to read the bridge novel between the two series first: The Heart of What Was Lost. And I am glad I did this. Not only The Heart of What Was Lost work as an extra closure for To Green Angel Tower, but although I haven't started reading The Witchwood Crown yet, I have no doubt what I read here will be beneficial to my reading experience of the sequel series soon.
“We call darkness our friend, but when the elders tell us stories of the Garden, they talk of the holy, unending light that was there. How did shadows become our only dwelling?”
This does not mean you should read this solely for the purpose of reading The Last King of Osten Ard. At 78,000 words long, this is a relatively short novel, especially compared to any book in Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn trilogy. But the dual functions of the novel I mentioned earlier plus the addition of the book having an engaging story, ensure fans of the Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn trilogy can earn more satisfaction from reading it. That said, there is something to remember when you are going to read The Heart of What Was Lost for the first time. This is comparatively the most action-packed installment in The Osten Ard Saga. So far. I loved Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn trilogy, but action-packed is not what I would categorize it. The entire trilogy was a slow-burn narrative with minimal action or battle scenes. I was surprised by the action-oriented nature of The Heart of What Was Lost. Duke Isgrimnur is one of the main characters of the novel. He is the only returning POV character from the first trilogy. It was easy and quick for me to feel comfortable reading Isgrimnur's chapters. Porto and Endri are new characters that took me a long time to feel invested in. Fortunately, this is balanced by another new POV character, Viyeki the Builder, and I found Viyeki to be an intriguing character that provides needed insights into the Norns and the priceless gem named after the title of this book.
“Wars don’t end, he thought suddenly. They become stories, told to children. They become causes that are taken up by those who were not even born when the war started. But they don’t end. We are a fierce race, we men. We will give up even our short, precious lives for revenge—no, for justice. No wonder the immortals fear us.”
War is a central theme in The Heart of What Was Lost. The entire book is essentially building momentum toward the Siege of Nakigga and the details of the siege itself. The confrontations and fierce resistance between the two sides felt surprisingly humane, too, depending on how you observe the situation from both sides. Although it took a while before I felt connected with Porto and Endri, Tad Williams did a magnificent job of showing the brutality of the recurring cycle of war through their perspective. Maybe even more than Isgrimnur and Viyeki. Personally, for such a relatively short and war-oriented book, Tad Williams was efficient and effective at implementing more details about the intricate lore of the Osten Ard. There is no cliffhanger here. As I said, this book works both ways. As an epilogue to Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn trilogy and as a prelude to The Last King of Osten Ard. Some characters, their fates, and the world-building elements discussed here will, for sure, play a role in the sequel series.
“Do not neglect what beauty may have been created—if there were no flaws in order, life would be immeasurably poorer.”
The cycle of war is doomed to be repeated in The Last King of Osten Ard series. I am not sure how the second series will proceed. At all. And if my mind is a blank page, then I am eager to have these pages filled with Tad Williams' beautiful storytelling and writing again in The Last King of Osten Ard. The Heart of What Was Lost was a short and sweet return to the world of Osten Ard, and it made me even more excited to continue my journey in the series soon.
“A lesson is here for all: Do not trust in what seem to be the truths of the moment. Put your faith instead in the things that are eternal. Love our queen and love our mountain, love and remember the Garden That Was Lost, and the song of our race will find its proper melody.”
You can order this book from: Amazon | Blackwells (Free International shipping)
You can find this and the rest of my reviews at Novel Notions | I also have a Booktube channel
Special thanks to my Patrons on Patreon for giving me extra support towards my passion for reading and reviewing!
My Patrons: Alfred, Aliysa, Ambrosius, Andrew, Andrew W, Annabeth, Arliss, Barbara, Biskit, Brad, Cade, Chris, Christopher, Ciprian, Cullen, Dan, David, Donuts, Dylan, Edward, Elaine, Elias, Ellen, Francesca, Frank, Garrick, Gary, Gregory, Hamad, Helen, Jenn, Jesse, Joie, Jonathan, Jordan, Katrina, Kristina, Lara, Lourdes, Luis, Melinda, Michael, Michael, Mike, Miracle, Mordie, Nicholas, Norbert, Radiah, RCT, Redmischief, Samuel, Sarah, Sarah, Scott, Shawn, Sirbu, Steph, Stephanie, Tiffany, Tracy, Trish, TS, Wendy, Wick, Woodman, Xero, Yosi, Yuri, Zoe.
December 23, 2016
Where the hell have you been all my life Tad Williams?
As an avid reader of fantasy, I expect quite a few things when I read a new book. And this hit them all; it smashed them, destroyed them and utterly broke them. My expectations have never been so pleasantly met.
How come I only gave it four stars? Well, it’s not a full novel. This isn’t a new world, but a revamp of the old one. Now I’ve not read the previous trilogy (though I have ordered them since reading this) but I can immediately see that this book is intended as a bridge between the old and the new. It felt like a reminder for fans of what had happened, and an introduction for those who didn’t read it in the first place. So it’s like a kick-start for The Witchwood Crown that’s coming out in April. But in doing such a thing, Tad Williams completely demonstrates his skill as a writer.
A decent plot is important in all genres, fantasy included. This is created with ease and style here. Compelling characters are equally as essential; the characters here are flawed and conflicted. They’re emotions are natural and their actions justified. All the basic things are covered; however, the single thing that fantasy needs more than anything else is solid world building; it needs history and lore; it needs to feel like it has existed for centuries and will continue to exist after the events of the book. The story we are given should just be a glimpse into something much bigger. There should be a sense that there is so much more going on in this world, and it isn’t isolated to the events of the story we are reading.
In essence, for me, great fantasy needs to feel like a role playing game in which immersion is fixed by this idea that we could go anywhere at any time. How can you tell that I’m a Dungeons and Dragons fan boy and an Elder Scrolls franchise addict? But the point is, good writing and world building needs to take us away. Fantasy is all about escapism, and it becomes most prominent when the world is so strongly established.
This is what I look for in fantasy, and I found every last bit of it here.
After reading this I’m so excited for the first book in the new trilogy when it comes out. I want to see how the ending of this will affect the rest of the world. After the siege was resolved at the end of this, and truly moving sacrifices and legacies made, things won’t be the same again. There are big changes coming to the Norns and the mortals, and I’m most definitely going to be there to see them.
-I received this copy in a Goodreads giveaway in exchange for an honest review.
As an avid reader of fantasy, I expect quite a few things when I read a new book. And this hit them all; it smashed them, destroyed them and utterly broke them. My expectations have never been so pleasantly met.
How come I only gave it four stars? Well, it’s not a full novel. This isn’t a new world, but a revamp of the old one. Now I’ve not read the previous trilogy (though I have ordered them since reading this) but I can immediately see that this book is intended as a bridge between the old and the new. It felt like a reminder for fans of what had happened, and an introduction for those who didn’t read it in the first place. So it’s like a kick-start for The Witchwood Crown that’s coming out in April. But in doing such a thing, Tad Williams completely demonstrates his skill as a writer.
A decent plot is important in all genres, fantasy included. This is created with ease and style here. Compelling characters are equally as essential; the characters here are flawed and conflicted. They’re emotions are natural and their actions justified. All the basic things are covered; however, the single thing that fantasy needs more than anything else is solid world building; it needs history and lore; it needs to feel like it has existed for centuries and will continue to exist after the events of the book. The story we are given should just be a glimpse into something much bigger. There should be a sense that there is so much more going on in this world, and it isn’t isolated to the events of the story we are reading.
In essence, for me, great fantasy needs to feel like a role playing game in which immersion is fixed by this idea that we could go anywhere at any time. How can you tell that I’m a Dungeons and Dragons fan boy and an Elder Scrolls franchise addict? But the point is, good writing and world building needs to take us away. Fantasy is all about escapism, and it becomes most prominent when the world is so strongly established.
This is what I look for in fantasy, and I found every last bit of it here.
After reading this I’m so excited for the first book in the new trilogy when it comes out. I want to see how the ending of this will affect the rest of the world. After the siege was resolved at the end of this, and truly moving sacrifices and legacies made, things won’t be the same again. There are big changes coming to the Norns and the mortals, and I’m most definitely going to be there to see them.
-I received this copy in a Goodreads giveaway in exchange for an honest review.
June 30, 2022
Re-Read 6/29/22:
I'm reading through all the novels related to this world, just having finished the original huuuuge trilogy. This one takes place only six months after and gives us something really special: time in the wilds, fighting the Nords even after the war is effectively over. Because life and anger never really ends, not for mortals or immortals.
I really enjoyed the moral quandaries, the history, and the heart of what was lost. :)
Original Review:
I was somewhat skeptical about hopping into this one because it *appeared* to be a full-length novel masquerading as a bridge between Williams' original fantasy series and a later incarnation in the same world. I mean, it's nearly ten hours in audio, and yet it's only a #0.5 in reading order? Yikes. But then, that's Tad Williams for you. His books are HUGE. Small print, mondo page count. Yak-chokers. If a full novel can be considered nothing more than an *appetizer* in comparison, then it is what it is. Welcome to the land of the giants. :)
THAT BEING SAID.
I'm so glad I read it. It's a great refresher after twenty-odd years since reading the original brick house. The Norns, the menfolk, the Duke, and all the different races of immortals are brought to life for us. It includes the history of the conflict, the smattering of the magics, the fundamental differences in culture, thought, and even their old history, the nature of their making... all of it came back to me. :)
So what else did we get? Oh, just an epic battle between the Duke and the immortals, mixing up our expectations and flipping everything on its head again. Our sympathies are meant to be challenged.
And already we have a grand defeat, an epic loss, a freaking cool setup, and expectations of much evil to come thanks to the fundamental misunderstanding between the races.
Does this sound like most fantasies? Hmmm. Possibly, at least a little, but Tad Williams has one great thing going for him.
Skill. Great writing. Careful attention to detail. Great characters. And EPIC blowouts. He's kinda go-to guy for this kind of thing. Most of us will agree. We've all been blown away at one point or another. And he's BACK. :) :)
I'm reading through all the novels related to this world, just having finished the original huuuuge trilogy. This one takes place only six months after and gives us something really special: time in the wilds, fighting the Nords even after the war is effectively over. Because life and anger never really ends, not for mortals or immortals.
I really enjoyed the moral quandaries, the history, and the heart of what was lost. :)
Original Review:
I was somewhat skeptical about hopping into this one because it *appeared* to be a full-length novel masquerading as a bridge between Williams' original fantasy series and a later incarnation in the same world. I mean, it's nearly ten hours in audio, and yet it's only a #0.5 in reading order? Yikes. But then, that's Tad Williams for you. His books are HUGE. Small print, mondo page count. Yak-chokers. If a full novel can be considered nothing more than an *appetizer* in comparison, then it is what it is. Welcome to the land of the giants. :)
THAT BEING SAID.
I'm so glad I read it. It's a great refresher after twenty-odd years since reading the original brick house. The Norns, the menfolk, the Duke, and all the different races of immortals are brought to life for us. It includes the history of the conflict, the smattering of the magics, the fundamental differences in culture, thought, and even their old history, the nature of their making... all of it came back to me. :)
So what else did we get? Oh, just an epic battle between the Duke and the immortals, mixing up our expectations and flipping everything on its head again. Our sympathies are meant to be challenged.
And already we have a grand defeat, an epic loss, a freaking cool setup, and expectations of much evil to come thanks to the fundamental misunderstanding between the races.
Does this sound like most fantasies? Hmmm. Possibly, at least a little, but Tad Williams has one great thing going for him.
Skill. Great writing. Careful attention to detail. Great characters. And EPIC blowouts. He's kinda go-to guy for this kind of thing. Most of us will agree. We've all been blown away at one point or another. And he's BACK. :) :)
August 29, 2018
A small novel in its own (compared to the trilogy), The Heart of What Was Lost picks up events after the Battle of Hayholt ended. Duke Isgrimnur follows the Norns right to their den, the last standing city built by the old race, the city of Nakkiga.
There is an epic battle alright, but what this volume mainly does is telling the story of the Norns*. If in the previous trilogy we only know them as the infamous pawns of the Storm King, we now get the full picture. And I must say, I rooted for them. They are an old race about to be extinct, which lost their lands to men. However, unlike their golden relatives, the Sithi, which are more peaceful and forgetful, they are not. They could only think of revenge and getting back their lands. However, now, on the brink of extinction, cornered in the last place where they have a chance, the only thing they can do is trying to survive… But without a doubt they will rise again in the future.
Tad Williams is a master crafter of characters. Their story literally melted my heart. 24 years later after he wrote the last volume of the original trilogy, To Green Angel Tower , he came back to the realm of Osten Ard with an even more richer worldbuilding and characterization and also with the first volume of a new series, set 30 years after the events in the last part. Well fitted the number, because almost 30 years have passed since he wrote the first, The Dragonbone Chair .
As expected, I had a great time enjoying this novel and his superb writing.
*My strong guess is that they are the inspiration for the White Walkers. GRRM said them to be “strange, beautiful. Think the Sidhe made of ice, something like that - a different sort of life… inhuman, elegant, dangerous". Sidhe is a Celtic fairy-like creature, which also gave the Sithi name here. Maybe he drew his inspiration from Celtic mythology directly, as Tad Williams here, but after reading these four volumes, I stand by my above opinion :P
There is an epic battle alright, but what this volume mainly does is telling the story of the Norns*. If in the previous trilogy we only know them as the infamous pawns of the Storm King, we now get the full picture. And I must say, I rooted for them. They are an old race about to be extinct, which lost their lands to men. However, unlike their golden relatives, the Sithi, which are more peaceful and forgetful, they are not. They could only think of revenge and getting back their lands. However, now, on the brink of extinction, cornered in the last place where they have a chance, the only thing they can do is trying to survive… But without a doubt they will rise again in the future.
Tad Williams is a master crafter of characters. Their story literally melted my heart. 24 years later after he wrote the last volume of the original trilogy, To Green Angel Tower , he came back to the realm of Osten Ard with an even more richer worldbuilding and characterization and also with the first volume of a new series, set 30 years after the events in the last part. Well fitted the number, because almost 30 years have passed since he wrote the first, The Dragonbone Chair .
As expected, I had a great time enjoying this novel and his superb writing.
*My strong guess is that they are the inspiration for the White Walkers. GRRM said them to be “strange, beautiful. Think the Sidhe made of ice, something like that - a different sort of life… inhuman, elegant, dangerous". Sidhe is a Celtic fairy-like creature, which also gave the Sithi name here. Maybe he drew his inspiration from Celtic mythology directly, as Tad Williams here, but after reading these four volumes, I stand by my above opinion :P
November 11, 2016
It is great being back in Osten Ard! While this book is short and set directly after the events of To Green Angel Tower, Williams does an excellent job of recreating the atmosphere of the original trilogy while setting up the events that will lead to The Witchwood Crown, the first book in the new forthcoming trilogy. The Heart of What Was Lost is a self-contained story featuring some of our favorite characters. And the prose is as lyrical as anything Williams has written. Even though this could have disastrous, Williams choosing to delve more into the Norn culture and history also worked. I am rabid for more! The Witchwood Crown can't get here soon enough! Thank you, Tad, for returning to Osten Ard!
July 29, 2024
Great bridge between the older trilogy and the new books! I love how this is written from both viewpoints in the war, both the mortals and the Norns. It makes you think back also to the Memory, Sorrow & Thorn series and why things happened the way they happened. There's not many events in this book, just one big event, the war after the "killing" of the Storm King Ineluki. Can't wait for the next installment in the Osten Ard series!
January 2, 2017
Pre-Read: I don't "Squee" for much.... But a new Osten Ard novel? "SQUEEEEEEE!"
Post-Read: What a great start to 2017! Reading thus was like revisiting an old friend, who then introduces you to NEW friends.
Granted, I'm biased, since Memory, Sorrow and Thorn is one of go-to reccs for fantasy series, but it seems like this would be a good primer to the world/series for new readers. It's been WAY Too long since I've revisited this world!
Post-Read: What a great start to 2017! Reading thus was like revisiting an old friend, who then introduces you to NEW friends.
Granted, I'm biased, since Memory, Sorrow and Thorn is one of go-to reccs for fantasy series, but it seems like this would be a good primer to the world/series for new readers. It's been WAY Too long since I've revisited this world!
November 27, 2016
Right off the bat, let me tell you just how great it was to finally return to the world of Osten Ard! I read To Green Angel Tower when it initially came out in 1993, so I've been waiting for over two decades to discover what happens next. Many thanks to Tad Williams and his wife Deborah for sending me a set of page proofs of The Heart of What Was Lost a couple of months ago so I could have an early read of one of my most eagerly anticipated speculative fiction titles of 2017! I knew that bottle of wine I supplied for a dinner a few years back would pay off one day!
One thing about the cover blurb before I begin this review, though. Williams mentioned that this tale was meant to be a novella which ultimately grew in size and became a short novel. With the blurb stating that The Heart of What Was Lost is the perfect introduction for new readers, I was afraid that the story would have been padded with material meant to refresh readers' memories and provide newbies with enough information to understand what is going on. Thankfully (or not), for Williams fans at least, absolutely no effort is made to reacquaint readers with the Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn storylines. The page proofs I read contained no "what has gone before" section, but here's to hoping that the final version will. As it was, I had to go back and reread the notes I took when I first read the series back in the 90s.
Hence, I must stress out the fact that this book is not meant for anyone not familiar with the characters and plotlines of the original trilogy. If you have yet to visit Osten Ard, then The Heart of What Was Lost is definitely not for you. Read The Dragonbone Chair and its sequels. This one is a vignette of sorts focusing on the aftermath of the fall of Ineluki and the events which will come to be known as the Siege of Nakkiga. Without any context, it would likely make for a lackluster read. But for fans who have been waiting for years for exactly this, this book is a doozy!
Here's the blurb:
New York Times-bestselling Tad Williams’ ground-breaking epic fantasy saga of Osten Ard begins an exciting new cycle! • Perfect beginning for new readers!
The perfect introduction to the epic fantasy world of Osten Ard, The Heart of What Was Lost is Tad Williams’ follow-up to his internationally bestselling landmark trilogy. Osten Ard inspired a generation of modern fantasy writers, including George R.R. Martin, Patrick Rothfuss, and Christopher Paolini, and defined Tad Williams as one of the most important fantasy writers of our time.
A NOVEL OF OSTEN ARD
At the end of Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn, Ineluki the Storm King, an undead spirit of horrifying, demonic power, came within moments of stopping Time itself and obliterating humankind. He was defeated by a coalition of mortal men and women joined by his own deathless descendants, the Sithi.
In the wake of the Storm King’s fall, Ineluki’s loyal minions, the Norns, dark cousins to the Sithi, choose to flee the lands of men and retreat north to Nakkiga, their ancient citadel within the hollow heart of the mountain called Stormspike. But as the defeated Norns make their way to this last haven, the mortal Rimmersman Duke Isgrimnur leads an army in pursuit, determined to end the Norns’ attacks and defeat their ageless Queen Utuk’ku for all time.
Two southern soldiers, Porto and Endri, joined the mortal army to help achieve this ambitious goal—though as they venture farther and farther into the frozen north, braving the fierce resistance and deadly magics of the retreating Norns, they cannot help but wonder what they are doing so very far from home. Meanwhile, the Norns must now confront the prospect of extinction at the hands of Isgrimnur and his mortal army.
Viyeki, a leader of the Norns’ military engineers, the Order of Builders, desperately seeks a way to help his people reach their mountain—and then stave off the destruction of their race. For the two armies will finally clash in a battle to be remembered as the Siege of Nakkiga; a battle so strange and deadly, so wracked with dark enchantment, that it threatens to destroy not just one side but quite possibly all.
Trapped inside the mountain as the mortals batter at Nakkiga’s gates, Viyeki the Builder will discover disturbing secrets about his own people, mysteries both present and past, represented by the priceless gem known as The Heart of What Was Lost.
In terms of worldbuilding, I was aware that the format of this book would probably preclude much depth. Surprisingly, Tad Williams nevertheless managed to imbue this one with lots of layers. True, most of the groundwork has been laid out in Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn. But this one focuses on new players for the most part, so I was pleasantly surprised that The Heart of What Was Lost could pack such a powerful punch as far as worldbuilding is concerned. This is mostly due to the fact that we get a Norn point of view, which was great. The Sithi and the Norn are not your typical elf-like race, and for some reason Williams is the only fantasy author who can bring out the darker nature of the fairy folk in such a fashion. To finally get the opportunity to discover more about the inner workings of the Norn society was doubtless the most fascinating aspect of this novel. As far as geography is concerned, the tale occurs in the far north. It begins on the Frostmarch Road as Duke Isgrimnur's army is pursuing what is left of the Norn troops fleeing back to Nakkiga, where a brutal siege will take place. The duke and his men will soon find out that, cornered with nowhere else to go, the Hikeda'ya will sell their lives dearly. Sadly, this book features the same old map from the original trilogy. Let's hope that The Witchwood Crown will sport a new, more detailed map of Osten Ard.
The characterization was a bit uneven. It was a pleasure to have Duke Isgrimnur back as a POV protagonist. His storyline creates a continuity between The Heart of What Was Lost and Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn, so it was nice to have him back. The story takes place a few weeks following the events chronicled in To Green Angel Tower, so the man is the same character we have come to love in the first series. Porto's point of view, however, was often a bit extraneous. I understand that both he and Endri are meant to convey the rank and file's perspective and allow us to witness events through the eyes of someone other than the duke. And yet, as the plot moved forward, I found that Porto's sections occasionally got in the way of the important stuff. Also, as far as striking a balance between the various perspectives, I felt that it might have worked better with only Isgrimnur and Viyeki had been POV protagonists. Speaking of the Builder, his point of view is by far the most interesting, for it offers readers a wealth of information regarding the Norn and Nakkiga. Problem is, although intelligent and talented, Viyeki is a brown-nosing sycophant. And even if he grows a backbone before the end, it's hard to root for him. Especially given that the book features a number of captivating Hideka'ya, chief among them Yaarike, High Magister of the Order of Builders, General Suno'ku, and Akhenabi, Lord of Song. The same goes of Ayaminu, the mysterious Sitha-woman observer sent to accompany the duke's army.
There are a few slow-moving parts here and there, but the pace is never really an issue. Given the length of this one, I expected no less. But it will be interesting to see if Tad Williams has learned from his errors of the past and if he'll keep the rhythm more or less fluid in what will certainly be the doorstopper installments of The Last King of Osten Ard. He proved that he could do so in the Bobby Dollar books, so here's to hoping that he'll manage to dodge the bullet that prevented many a reader from enjoying The Dragonbone Chair and the subsequent volumes of the first trilogy.
As I mentioned earlier, The Heart of What Was Lost is nothing more than a vignette, a brief episode focusing on the Siege of Nakkiga. And though it's a satisfying read, it doesn't capture the imagination the way Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn did. What it does, however, is set the stage perfectly for The Witchwood Crown and its sequels. Viyeki's point of view, especially, unveils so much information about the Hideka'ya factions and their plans of vengeance against the mortals. The Storm King is no more and Queen Utuk'ku has yet to regain consciousness, but it is obvious that the Norn will not go quietly into the night. I can't wait to find out what happens next!
So much so that if George R. R. Martin's The Winds of Winter and Tad Williams' The Witchwood Crown came out on the same day (not going to happen, but just for the sake of argument), right now I'd probably read the latter first.
In the end, The Heart of What Was Lost is the perfect companion book for anyone who loved Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn and the perfect setup book for The Last King of Osten Ard. Read it and try to contain your excitement as we wait for The Witchwood Crown to be published. God knows I can't!
As an aside, I'm wondering if Williams still plans to release A Chronicle in Stone, a collection of short stories set in Osten Ard, now that he is hard at work on the second series. Haven't heard anything about it for years, so I figure that this project has been postponed for the immediate future.
For more reviews, check out www.fantasyhotlist.blogspot.com
One thing about the cover blurb before I begin this review, though. Williams mentioned that this tale was meant to be a novella which ultimately grew in size and became a short novel. With the blurb stating that The Heart of What Was Lost is the perfect introduction for new readers, I was afraid that the story would have been padded with material meant to refresh readers' memories and provide newbies with enough information to understand what is going on. Thankfully (or not), for Williams fans at least, absolutely no effort is made to reacquaint readers with the Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn storylines. The page proofs I read contained no "what has gone before" section, but here's to hoping that the final version will. As it was, I had to go back and reread the notes I took when I first read the series back in the 90s.
Hence, I must stress out the fact that this book is not meant for anyone not familiar with the characters and plotlines of the original trilogy. If you have yet to visit Osten Ard, then The Heart of What Was Lost is definitely not for you. Read The Dragonbone Chair and its sequels. This one is a vignette of sorts focusing on the aftermath of the fall of Ineluki and the events which will come to be known as the Siege of Nakkiga. Without any context, it would likely make for a lackluster read. But for fans who have been waiting for years for exactly this, this book is a doozy!
Here's the blurb:
New York Times-bestselling Tad Williams’ ground-breaking epic fantasy saga of Osten Ard begins an exciting new cycle! • Perfect beginning for new readers!
The perfect introduction to the epic fantasy world of Osten Ard, The Heart of What Was Lost is Tad Williams’ follow-up to his internationally bestselling landmark trilogy. Osten Ard inspired a generation of modern fantasy writers, including George R.R. Martin, Patrick Rothfuss, and Christopher Paolini, and defined Tad Williams as one of the most important fantasy writers of our time.
A NOVEL OF OSTEN ARD
At the end of Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn, Ineluki the Storm King, an undead spirit of horrifying, demonic power, came within moments of stopping Time itself and obliterating humankind. He was defeated by a coalition of mortal men and women joined by his own deathless descendants, the Sithi.
In the wake of the Storm King’s fall, Ineluki’s loyal minions, the Norns, dark cousins to the Sithi, choose to flee the lands of men and retreat north to Nakkiga, their ancient citadel within the hollow heart of the mountain called Stormspike. But as the defeated Norns make their way to this last haven, the mortal Rimmersman Duke Isgrimnur leads an army in pursuit, determined to end the Norns’ attacks and defeat their ageless Queen Utuk’ku for all time.
Two southern soldiers, Porto and Endri, joined the mortal army to help achieve this ambitious goal—though as they venture farther and farther into the frozen north, braving the fierce resistance and deadly magics of the retreating Norns, they cannot help but wonder what they are doing so very far from home. Meanwhile, the Norns must now confront the prospect of extinction at the hands of Isgrimnur and his mortal army.
Viyeki, a leader of the Norns’ military engineers, the Order of Builders, desperately seeks a way to help his people reach their mountain—and then stave off the destruction of their race. For the two armies will finally clash in a battle to be remembered as the Siege of Nakkiga; a battle so strange and deadly, so wracked with dark enchantment, that it threatens to destroy not just one side but quite possibly all.
Trapped inside the mountain as the mortals batter at Nakkiga’s gates, Viyeki the Builder will discover disturbing secrets about his own people, mysteries both present and past, represented by the priceless gem known as The Heart of What Was Lost.
In terms of worldbuilding, I was aware that the format of this book would probably preclude much depth. Surprisingly, Tad Williams nevertheless managed to imbue this one with lots of layers. True, most of the groundwork has been laid out in Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn. But this one focuses on new players for the most part, so I was pleasantly surprised that The Heart of What Was Lost could pack such a powerful punch as far as worldbuilding is concerned. This is mostly due to the fact that we get a Norn point of view, which was great. The Sithi and the Norn are not your typical elf-like race, and for some reason Williams is the only fantasy author who can bring out the darker nature of the fairy folk in such a fashion. To finally get the opportunity to discover more about the inner workings of the Norn society was doubtless the most fascinating aspect of this novel. As far as geography is concerned, the tale occurs in the far north. It begins on the Frostmarch Road as Duke Isgrimnur's army is pursuing what is left of the Norn troops fleeing back to Nakkiga, where a brutal siege will take place. The duke and his men will soon find out that, cornered with nowhere else to go, the Hikeda'ya will sell their lives dearly. Sadly, this book features the same old map from the original trilogy. Let's hope that The Witchwood Crown will sport a new, more detailed map of Osten Ard.
The characterization was a bit uneven. It was a pleasure to have Duke Isgrimnur back as a POV protagonist. His storyline creates a continuity between The Heart of What Was Lost and Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn, so it was nice to have him back. The story takes place a few weeks following the events chronicled in To Green Angel Tower, so the man is the same character we have come to love in the first series. Porto's point of view, however, was often a bit extraneous. I understand that both he and Endri are meant to convey the rank and file's perspective and allow us to witness events through the eyes of someone other than the duke. And yet, as the plot moved forward, I found that Porto's sections occasionally got in the way of the important stuff. Also, as far as striking a balance between the various perspectives, I felt that it might have worked better with only Isgrimnur and Viyeki had been POV protagonists. Speaking of the Builder, his point of view is by far the most interesting, for it offers readers a wealth of information regarding the Norn and Nakkiga. Problem is, although intelligent and talented, Viyeki is a brown-nosing sycophant. And even if he grows a backbone before the end, it's hard to root for him. Especially given that the book features a number of captivating Hideka'ya, chief among them Yaarike, High Magister of the Order of Builders, General Suno'ku, and Akhenabi, Lord of Song. The same goes of Ayaminu, the mysterious Sitha-woman observer sent to accompany the duke's army.
There are a few slow-moving parts here and there, but the pace is never really an issue. Given the length of this one, I expected no less. But it will be interesting to see if Tad Williams has learned from his errors of the past and if he'll keep the rhythm more or less fluid in what will certainly be the doorstopper installments of The Last King of Osten Ard. He proved that he could do so in the Bobby Dollar books, so here's to hoping that he'll manage to dodge the bullet that prevented many a reader from enjoying The Dragonbone Chair and the subsequent volumes of the first trilogy.
As I mentioned earlier, The Heart of What Was Lost is nothing more than a vignette, a brief episode focusing on the Siege of Nakkiga. And though it's a satisfying read, it doesn't capture the imagination the way Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn did. What it does, however, is set the stage perfectly for The Witchwood Crown and its sequels. Viyeki's point of view, especially, unveils so much information about the Hideka'ya factions and their plans of vengeance against the mortals. The Storm King is no more and Queen Utuk'ku has yet to regain consciousness, but it is obvious that the Norn will not go quietly into the night. I can't wait to find out what happens next!
So much so that if George R. R. Martin's The Winds of Winter and Tad Williams' The Witchwood Crown came out on the same day (not going to happen, but just for the sake of argument), right now I'd probably read the latter first.
In the end, The Heart of What Was Lost is the perfect companion book for anyone who loved Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn and the perfect setup book for The Last King of Osten Ard. Read it and try to contain your excitement as we wait for The Witchwood Crown to be published. God knows I can't!
As an aside, I'm wondering if Williams still plans to release A Chronicle in Stone, a collection of short stories set in Osten Ard, now that he is hard at work on the second series. Haven't heard anything about it for years, so I figure that this project has been postponed for the immediate future.
For more reviews, check out www.fantasyhotlist.blogspot.com
February 5, 2017
Tad Williams was my gateway to fantasy novels. Other than some YA fantasy, Stephen King & the occasional curiosity pick from the fantasy section of Walden (and Star Wars, Star Trek if those count), I didn't really read genre fiction until I came across Otherland, and got really obsessed with it. Years of my life since then have been marked out by ongoing discussions with fellow Tad fans, and now I've known Tad so long it's like my favorite uncle has a new novel out.
Anyway, while I've since become a fairly steady reader of fantasy - and have even been to a few World Fantasy Cons - I don't always enjoy fantasy. The biggest trip-up for me is clunky, overwhelming worldbuilding, where I get incredibly bored as the writer lists every conceivable detail in the character's line of sight and sound. I often feel like the D&D DM has gone off on a terrible tangent, and I'm sitting there waiting to roll the damn dice already.
So, Tad doesn't do that. Tad is a master of worldbuilding, the kind that welcomes you into a different universe and puts you smack dab in the middle of it all before you even know it. He uses a careful balance of scenic detail and narrative perspective to weave his story, and the reader learns what the world is all about just as much through dialogue, idioms, and characterization as from narrative passages. Osten Ard is that kind of a thoroughly developed world that once you visit, you have that place in your heart as much as any place you've visited in the physical world.
All the while, the story is captivating; in turns sad, surprising and thrilling. For me, the takeaway was that war is never quite tidily wrapped up. Wars from a thousand years ago influence the wars of today. Here, weeks after the official "end" of the war, lingering battles are waged, and the precarious feeling pervades that it may never completely end.
Tad doesn't have villains, exactly. This is one of his personal worldviews that makes his fiction so strong and powerful. Instead, he explores different viewpoints. One side sees the other as terrifying, evil and unknowable. From the other side's perspective, they have a long, rich history, and have been hunted and harassed by a selfish, violent race.
I wasn't sure which side I wanted to vanquish which in this story. I found this pleasantly uncomfortable, a reminder that there is always, always, always another side, and justice may come only from the ability to put yourself in the other's shoes.
The Heart of What Was Lost is a skillful reflection on some pretty giant themes: war, loss, humanity, legacy, justice... But in the end, it's also just a really great story.
Thanks, Tad. I can't wait to see what you do with the upcoming series.
Anyway, while I've since become a fairly steady reader of fantasy - and have even been to a few World Fantasy Cons - I don't always enjoy fantasy. The biggest trip-up for me is clunky, overwhelming worldbuilding, where I get incredibly bored as the writer lists every conceivable detail in the character's line of sight and sound. I often feel like the D&D DM has gone off on a terrible tangent, and I'm sitting there waiting to roll the damn dice already.
So, Tad doesn't do that. Tad is a master of worldbuilding, the kind that welcomes you into a different universe and puts you smack dab in the middle of it all before you even know it. He uses a careful balance of scenic detail and narrative perspective to weave his story, and the reader learns what the world is all about just as much through dialogue, idioms, and characterization as from narrative passages. Osten Ard is that kind of a thoroughly developed world that once you visit, you have that place in your heart as much as any place you've visited in the physical world.
All the while, the story is captivating; in turns sad, surprising and thrilling. For me, the takeaway was that war is never quite tidily wrapped up. Wars from a thousand years ago influence the wars of today. Here, weeks after the official "end" of the war, lingering battles are waged, and the precarious feeling pervades that it may never completely end.
Tad doesn't have villains, exactly. This is one of his personal worldviews that makes his fiction so strong and powerful. Instead, he explores different viewpoints. One side sees the other as terrifying, evil and unknowable. From the other side's perspective, they have a long, rich history, and have been hunted and harassed by a selfish, violent race.
I wasn't sure which side I wanted to vanquish which in this story. I found this pleasantly uncomfortable, a reminder that there is always, always, always another side, and justice may come only from the ability to put yourself in the other's shoes.
The Heart of What Was Lost is a skillful reflection on some pretty giant themes: war, loss, humanity, legacy, justice... But in the end, it's also just a really great story.
Thanks, Tad. I can't wait to see what you do with the upcoming series.
July 2, 2017
I'm not gonna lie...it was reeeeally strange reading such a short book that was written by Tad Williams. Usually I put one of his books in my backpack and I feel that motherfucker in there like a deadly weapon waiting for me to bludgeon somebody to death with it.
Not so with The Heart Of What Was Lost. I mean, I get it...its just a story that bridges MS&T and The Last King of Osten Ard together. It's not meant to be a full-length, epic, Tad Williams masterpiece. It is a tool that tidies up a few loose ends and sets the stage for what we are about to get with the new trilogy.
And that's the cool thing about all of it. Most normal authors would have probably written a forward or a prologue explaining things in a few paragraphs or, at the most, a couple of pages and be done with it. However, Tad ain't no normal author; He's a freaking word Wizard! And so, he created this story, and by doing that he added another layer of history and depth onto Osten Ard that just makes the whole world that much richer and more alive!
The Heart of What Was Lost might be short in length but it put a twist on everything that I thought I knew and surprised me in ways I wasn't expecting.
Not everything is always what it seems - and this story proves that. I thought it was a good thing to hate the White Foxes. They were evil and deserved to die. The good guys win and the bad guys lose. That's how stories work, right? Well, not if you're Tad Williams it isn't. Dude is a tricky mother-fucker and now my head is spinning and I don't know what to think.
I'll tell ya this much though - I am so freaking stoked to read The Witchwood Crown now it's down-right ridiculous!
And I guess that's really what this book is. An appetizer. And god damn is it ever tasty!
Not so with The Heart Of What Was Lost. I mean, I get it...its just a story that bridges MS&T and The Last King of Osten Ard together. It's not meant to be a full-length, epic, Tad Williams masterpiece. It is a tool that tidies up a few loose ends and sets the stage for what we are about to get with the new trilogy.
And that's the cool thing about all of it. Most normal authors would have probably written a forward or a prologue explaining things in a few paragraphs or, at the most, a couple of pages and be done with it. However, Tad ain't no normal author; He's a freaking word Wizard! And so, he created this story, and by doing that he added another layer of history and depth onto Osten Ard that just makes the whole world that much richer and more alive!
The Heart of What Was Lost might be short in length but it put a twist on everything that I thought I knew and surprised me in ways I wasn't expecting.
Not everything is always what it seems - and this story proves that. I thought it was a good thing to hate the White Foxes. They were evil and deserved to die. The good guys win and the bad guys lose. That's how stories work, right? Well, not if you're Tad Williams it isn't. Dude is a tricky mother-fucker and now my head is spinning and I don't know what to think.
I'll tell ya this much though - I am so freaking stoked to read The Witchwood Crown now it's down-right ridiculous!
And I guess that's really what this book is. An appetizer. And god damn is it ever tasty!
January 20, 2020
Ein guter Übergang für die folgende Reihe - sehr kampflastig, aber interessant, um mehr über die Hintergründe aus Osten Ard und die Nornen zu erfahren
Auch wenn das Buch als "Einstieg" in die Welt von Osten Ard betitelt wird, würde ich schon raten, zuerst die Reihe um die großen Schwerter zu lesen. Vieles erklärt sich hier zwar von selbst, doch ohne die umfangreiche Vorgeschichte ist es doch schwierig, die ganzen Zusammenhänge zu erkennen.
Vor allem, da viele Namen und Bezeichnungen auftauchen, die einen sonst überfordern könnten, da man nicht einordnen kann wie sie zusammenhängen - und man auch vielen Figuren begegnet, die schon vorher eine Rolle gespielt haben. Zu diesen hätte man sonst gar keinen Bezug; ich hätte mich auf jeden Fall schwer getan. Dafür gibt es aber am Ende auch einige erklärende Worte zu den Feen, also den Sithi und Nornen, die eine große Rolle spielen, sowie ein Glossar mit allen wichtigen Personen.
Das Buch ist eine Art Zwischenspiel würde ich sagen, bevor es mit der neuen Reihe weitergeht. Die Menschen streben danach, das Volk der Nornen endgültig auszulöschen und folgen ihrer Spur in den eisigen Norden. Dabei lernt man auch endlich mehr über die Hikeda´ya, wie die Nornen ursprünglich heißen - ihre Denkweise, ihre Vergangenheit und ihre Ziele.
Das gelingt zum einen durch die Sichtweise von Viyeki, dem Heeresvormann der Bauleute und dessen Meister, den Großmagister Yaarike. Die Aufteilung der Clans bei den Nornen und ihr Zusammenwirken fand ich sehr interessant!
Zum anderen wurde auch aus der Perspektive von Isgrimnur erzählt, einem Herzog aus Rimmersgard, den man schon aus den Vorgängerbänden kennt, und zwei Soldaten aus dem fernen Perdruin, welche die Schlachten aus ihrer ganz eigenen Sicht erleben.
Hauptsächlich geht es wirklich um Kämpfe, deren Vorbereitungen, Planungen und Ausführungen - aber eben auch, welche Intentionen dahinterstecken. Sowas muss man mögen.
Das Misstrauen zwischen den Völkern befeuert natürlich den Krieg, den Hass auf die Gegner und die daraus resultierenden Missverständnisse, die beide Seiten zu ihren äußersten Mitteln treiben. Während jeder denkt, auf verlorenem Posten zu stehen, wird alles mobilisiert und jede mögliche Idee ergriffen, die doch noch zum Sieg führen könnte.
Ein gelungener "Zwischenband", um einen Übergang zu schaffen und den Weg zu bereiten für die neue Reihe "Der letzte König von Osten Ard". Zumindest sind hier viele Grundsteine gelegt, die sicher in den Fortsetzungen eine Rolle spielen. Ich freu mich drauf!
Auch wenn das Buch als "Einstieg" in die Welt von Osten Ard betitelt wird, würde ich schon raten, zuerst die Reihe um die großen Schwerter zu lesen. Vieles erklärt sich hier zwar von selbst, doch ohne die umfangreiche Vorgeschichte ist es doch schwierig, die ganzen Zusammenhänge zu erkennen.
Vor allem, da viele Namen und Bezeichnungen auftauchen, die einen sonst überfordern könnten, da man nicht einordnen kann wie sie zusammenhängen - und man auch vielen Figuren begegnet, die schon vorher eine Rolle gespielt haben. Zu diesen hätte man sonst gar keinen Bezug; ich hätte mich auf jeden Fall schwer getan. Dafür gibt es aber am Ende auch einige erklärende Worte zu den Feen, also den Sithi und Nornen, die eine große Rolle spielen, sowie ein Glossar mit allen wichtigen Personen.
Das Buch ist eine Art Zwischenspiel würde ich sagen, bevor es mit der neuen Reihe weitergeht. Die Menschen streben danach, das Volk der Nornen endgültig auszulöschen und folgen ihrer Spur in den eisigen Norden. Dabei lernt man auch endlich mehr über die Hikeda´ya, wie die Nornen ursprünglich heißen - ihre Denkweise, ihre Vergangenheit und ihre Ziele.
Das gelingt zum einen durch die Sichtweise von Viyeki, dem Heeresvormann der Bauleute und dessen Meister, den Großmagister Yaarike. Die Aufteilung der Clans bei den Nornen und ihr Zusammenwirken fand ich sehr interessant!
Zum anderen wurde auch aus der Perspektive von Isgrimnur erzählt, einem Herzog aus Rimmersgard, den man schon aus den Vorgängerbänden kennt, und zwei Soldaten aus dem fernen Perdruin, welche die Schlachten aus ihrer ganz eigenen Sicht erleben.
Hauptsächlich geht es wirklich um Kämpfe, deren Vorbereitungen, Planungen und Ausführungen - aber eben auch, welche Intentionen dahinterstecken. Sowas muss man mögen.
Das Misstrauen zwischen den Völkern befeuert natürlich den Krieg, den Hass auf die Gegner und die daraus resultierenden Missverständnisse, die beide Seiten zu ihren äußersten Mitteln treiben. Während jeder denkt, auf verlorenem Posten zu stehen, wird alles mobilisiert und jede mögliche Idee ergriffen, die doch noch zum Sieg führen könnte.
Ein gelungener "Zwischenband", um einen Übergang zu schaffen und den Weg zu bereiten für die neue Reihe "Der letzte König von Osten Ard". Zumindest sind hier viele Grundsteine gelegt, die sicher in den Fortsetzungen eine Rolle spielen. Ich freu mich drauf!
June 5, 2024
80/100
Tad the Chad strikes again. Witchwood Crown here I come
Tad the Chad strikes again. Witchwood Crown here I come
December 5, 2025
My rating 4.8
The epic fantasy novel "The Heart of What Was Lost - The Last King of Osten Ard by Tad Williams is an excellent continuation of the Three Swords series, which takes place after the last book "Green Angel Tower". The author has returned to this series after a long time and this is the first of the books that starts the new series "The Last King of Osten Ard". I love the writing and character development in which Tad Williams draws us in like a true artist, so that in the end, you wonder who is good and who is not.
The world was almost destroyed when the Storm King Ineluki, an undead spirit of terrifying demonic power, nearly stopped Time and destroyed the human race. He was defeated by a coalition of mortals and his immortal descendants, the Sith. The surviving Ineluki loyal subjects, the Norns, retreated north to their kingdom, committing atrocities on their way among the villages of men. They were followed by an army of northerners led by Duke Isgrimnur, who fought the Norns with merciless ferocity. Because of the atrocities committed by the Norns, the Duke was determined to destroy their kind at all costs. The battles with the surviving pale Norns were deadly, and no one knew if they would survive the next day. Worse still, the dark magic used by the Norns was involved, but despite everything, they were few in number, and Duke Isgrimnur knew it. The losses on both sides were terrible, but Duke Isgrimnur did not want to stop until he had destroyed them. Whether he would succeed, only the Gods knew.
I recommend the book to all fans of epic fantasy.
The epic fantasy novel "The Heart of What Was Lost - The Last King of Osten Ard by Tad Williams is an excellent continuation of the Three Swords series, which takes place after the last book "Green Angel Tower". The author has returned to this series after a long time and this is the first of the books that starts the new series "The Last King of Osten Ard". I love the writing and character development in which Tad Williams draws us in like a true artist, so that in the end, you wonder who is good and who is not.
The world was almost destroyed when the Storm King Ineluki, an undead spirit of terrifying demonic power, nearly stopped Time and destroyed the human race. He was defeated by a coalition of mortals and his immortal descendants, the Sith. The surviving Ineluki loyal subjects, the Norns, retreated north to their kingdom, committing atrocities on their way among the villages of men. They were followed by an army of northerners led by Duke Isgrimnur, who fought the Norns with merciless ferocity. Because of the atrocities committed by the Norns, the Duke was determined to destroy their kind at all costs. The battles with the surviving pale Norns were deadly, and no one knew if they would survive the next day. Worse still, the dark magic used by the Norns was involved, but despite everything, they were few in number, and Duke Isgrimnur knew it. The losses on both sides were terrible, but Duke Isgrimnur did not want to stop until he had destroyed them. Whether he would succeed, only the Gods knew.
I recommend the book to all fans of epic fantasy.
June 14, 2017
What is the purpose of war? Who wins who loses? Are the good guys really good and the bad guys really bad? These are some of the questions Tad Williams makes his reader ask themselves while reading The Heart of What Was Lost.
This a fantastic novella/short novel/novel by Mr. Tad Williams. Let me start by saying, I first read Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn this year and I fell in love with the world of Osten Ard. I loved the politics and the cultures. I loved the characters, and the world. It was an amazing trilogy that I couldn't put down. I wasn't sad to say goodbye to Osten Ard yet, because as I started the trilogy, I discovered Tad Williams has a new series set in the same world coming out. The purpose of this book is to be a bridge that connects Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn to The Last King of Osten Ard.
In this story, we have Duke Isgrimnur leading a military attack against the retreating Norns. We get reintroduced to Duke Isgrimnur and Sludig, meet new friends like Porto, Endri, and we even get the point of view of some Norns like Viyeki and Hayyano. The Norn pov's are a great addition to the text. Are the norn's still evil? yes? They're still the villains, and they still hate the mortals, but we see a lot more from their perspective and how they come to see the world around them and see things. This moral complexity is what makes this book intriguing. I'm excited to see how Williams continues with this perspective in his new trilogy. I like how instead of good vs evil, we see both sides, and we see more shades of grey. We see how prejudices control people, and how they lead to conflict. We see how war damages people, changes people, ruins lives. I won't say anymore because I won't spoil. But, if you like fantasy, you deserve to read Tad Williams.
Pros: Everything, the characterization, the prose, the themes, it's just absolutely beautiful
Cons: I kind of wanted more Norn pov, I found that to be the most compelling part of the book.
This a fantastic novella/short novel/novel by Mr. Tad Williams. Let me start by saying, I first read Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn this year and I fell in love with the world of Osten Ard. I loved the politics and the cultures. I loved the characters, and the world. It was an amazing trilogy that I couldn't put down. I wasn't sad to say goodbye to Osten Ard yet, because as I started the trilogy, I discovered Tad Williams has a new series set in the same world coming out. The purpose of this book is to be a bridge that connects Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn to The Last King of Osten Ard.
In this story, we have Duke Isgrimnur leading a military attack against the retreating Norns. We get reintroduced to Duke Isgrimnur and Sludig, meet new friends like Porto, Endri, and we even get the point of view of some Norns like Viyeki and Hayyano. The Norn pov's are a great addition to the text. Are the norn's still evil? yes? They're still the villains, and they still hate the mortals, but we see a lot more from their perspective and how they come to see the world around them and see things. This moral complexity is what makes this book intriguing. I'm excited to see how Williams continues with this perspective in his new trilogy. I like how instead of good vs evil, we see both sides, and we see more shades of grey. We see how prejudices control people, and how they lead to conflict. We see how war damages people, changes people, ruins lives. I won't say anymore because I won't spoil. But, if you like fantasy, you deserve to read Tad Williams.
Pros: Everything, the characterization, the prose, the themes, it's just absolutely beautiful
Cons: I kind of wanted more Norn pov, I found that to be the most compelling part of the book.
January 5, 2017
(After having the honour of reading the manuscript and offering some thoughts about it, I'm so glad read the final version and to be able to speak openly about it at last.)
On the surface, this book seems cold and dark, a perfect read for snowy January nights. But underneath the grimness of war, of death and destruction, the story has a warm and hopeful heart, as Tad's books always do.
When we left Osten Ard at the end of To Green Angel Tower – just recently for the characters, years or even decades ago for many of us readers – it was on a bright and hopeful note. But now that we return, we also return to the cold of the Storm King's magical winter and to the brutality of war, neither of which has ended suddenly after the battle at the Hayholt.*ir reasons for doing what they did, and were not evil in their own eyes, they were still very clearly the antagonists. But now, it's not so easy to pick a side.
I remember Tad saying that once that, since George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire was a reaction to Memory, Sorrow and Thorn, his plan for The Last King of Osten Ard was to “keep the conversation going”.
I think I do see some of that influence in The Heart of What Was Lost, in how the story generally feels darker, and in how both sides of the conflict have equally valid reasons to fight.
On the surface, this book seems cold and dark, a perfect read for snowy January nights. But underneath the grimness of war, of death and destruction, the story has a warm and hopeful heart, as Tad's books always do.
When we left Osten Ard at the end of To Green Angel Tower – just recently for the characters, years or even decades ago for many of us readers – it was on a bright and hopeful note. But now that we return, we also return to the cold of the Storm King's magical winter and to the brutality of war, neither of which has ended suddenly after the battle at the Hayholt.*ir reasons for doing what they did, and were not evil in their own eyes, they were still very clearly the antagonists. But now, it's not so easy to pick a side.
I remember Tad saying that once that, since George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire was a reaction to Memory, Sorrow and Thorn, his plan for The Last King of Osten Ard was to “keep the conversation going”.
I think I do see some of that influence in The Heart of What Was Lost, in how the story generally feels darker, and in how both sides of the conflict have equally valid reasons to fight.
And yet, it still feels like a brighter, warmer story than A Song of Ice and Fire – admittedly, it's been years since I read the books, and I've only seen two seasons of Game of Thrones so far, but it all feels so hopeless, with everyone either dying or turning out to be awful, or both.
That's never the case with Tad's books. People die, and die in awful ways, but there are also true friendships like the one between Porto and Endri, there are people like Yaarike mentoring their successors, willing to make drastic changes to ensure the survival of their people, like Suno'ku, there are people willing to negotiate, like Isgrimnur.
And even if all of these can't bring about a happy ending, the knowledge that all these people exist, and that there are true friendship and love and honour, that is the warm heart of the book, that is what makes me feel hopeful for Osten Ard. (And more hopeful even for our own world.)
February 22, 2019
++SPOILERS++
Written many years after the Green Angel Tower book, this one appears to be a short segue into continuing the series.
The book was certainly different from the others.
First, to me, it is a bit expensive. The ebook was 12 bucks and only 222 pages.
My observation is that the author seems to have changed his writing style, I noticed he reduced the intricate details that gave such life to his other books, and in doing so, sacrificed world building and character depth. IMHO.
I had little love for any of the characters. I wasn't even sure whose side I should be on. The Norns or the Rimmersguard. I really didn't like either.
I did like Endri, who ends up dying of course.. and I can't help but wonder if the author is following the fad started by George RR Martin in killing off likable characters. I did like Porto, but he didn't feature in the book very much to my dismay.
The Norn builder (whose name starts with a V..Vikeya or something)could be likable but seems too passive IMHO. His wife is cold and nags him all the time which just keeps with this authors consistency of writing females as being pretty negative all around.
The one warrior female, who I did not like due to her thirst for killing and her act of burning a man alive, had potential if she changed her ways but she dies here too.
I think the whole idea of Norns resorting to having to breed with their human slaves is a put off for me already and I'm not sure if I will continue the series, I have to think on it awhile. Apparently the next book is due out in June 2017, so I have time to decide.
Safety: Blood violence gore. No cursing, no sex. No romance
Written many years after the Green Angel Tower book, this one appears to be a short segue into continuing the series.
The book was certainly different from the others.
First, to me, it is a bit expensive. The ebook was 12 bucks and only 222 pages.
My observation is that the author seems to have changed his writing style, I noticed he reduced the intricate details that gave such life to his other books, and in doing so, sacrificed world building and character depth. IMHO.
I had little love for any of the characters. I wasn't even sure whose side I should be on. The Norns or the Rimmersguard. I really didn't like either.
I did like Endri, who ends up dying of course.. and I can't help but wonder if the author is following the fad started by George RR Martin in killing off likable characters. I did like Porto, but he didn't feature in the book very much to my dismay.
The Norn builder (whose name starts with a V..Vikeya or something)could be likable but seems too passive IMHO. His wife is cold and nags him all the time which just keeps with this authors consistency of writing females as being pretty negative all around.
The one warrior female, who I did not like due to her thirst for killing and her act of burning a man alive, had potential if she changed her ways but she dies here too.
I think the whole idea of Norns resorting to having to breed with their human slaves is a put off for me already and I'm not sure if I will continue the series, I have to think on it awhile. Apparently the next book is due out in June 2017, so I have time to decide.
Safety: Blood violence gore. No cursing, no sex. No romance
December 30, 2016
Opens with two of my favorite characters, Isgrimnur and Sludig, from MS&T and keeps on going. Loved every word. The return to Osten Ard. Can't wait for the next 3 books.
October 28, 2018
U svijetu fantastike, mnogo je sjajnih pisaca i njihovih jednako sjajnih književnih djela. Lako se zaljubiti u epske fantastične sage, predivno je stalno otkrivati nove pisce i nove svjetove, a još je ljepše vraćati se onima u koje ste se još davnih dana zaljubili. U tom moru fantastike, naići ćete na razna imena, koja će vas u raznim mjerama oduševiti, ali neka će od tih imena zauvijek ostati, da tako kažem, 'the imena' (ili Imena s velikim I, kako bi ih možda nazvao Joe Abercrombie u nekom od svojih romana), pisci čija djela čine same stupove fantasy žanra. Tad Williams jedan je od njih.
30 je godina prošlo otkako je izašao roman 'Prijestolje od zmajokosti', prvi dio epskog fantastičnog serijala 'Sjećanje, tuga i trn', u kojem je nas je Tad Williams upoznao sa svijetom Osten Arda. Sam je serijal (neočekivano) postao bestseler, i jedan od najznačajnijih fantastičnih serijala uopće, koji će kasnije inspirirati mnoge druge pisce i postaviti temelje za mnoge druge fantastične svjetove. I sam je G.R.R. Martin u nekoliko navrata istaknuo kako mu je upravo ovaj serijal poslužio kao inspiracija za njegovu 'Pjesmu leda i vatre'.
Kada bih vam pokušala prepričati o čemu se radi u 'Sjećanju, tuzi i trnu', ova bi se recenzija i sama pretvorila u epski dugačak tekst, a ujedno bih vam i spojlala sam serijal. Sve što trebate znati jest to da je 'Sjećanje, tuga i trn' serijal čija radnja prethodi 'Srcu svega izgubljenog', a samo 'Srce svega izgubljenog' zapravo predstavlja roman-most između ovog, i serijala 'Posljednji kralj Osten Arda', prvi dio kojeg će izaći negdje na proljeće iduće godine.
E sad, ako se pitate možete li pročitati ovaj roman bez da ste pročitali 'Sjećanje, tugu i trn', odgovor je - da. Tad Williams ovdje će vas u dovoljnoj mjeri upoznati sa samim svijetom Osten Arda, nabaciti koji hint na neke od bitnih prijašnjih događaja i likova koji su u tim događajima sudjelovali, ali sama priča ne oslanja se u tolikoj mjeri na prethodne događaje, već stoji sama za sebe. Ovaj roman dobar je uvod u svijet Osten Arda za one čitatelje koji se ovaj svijet tek spremaju upoznati, dok je, za one koji su ovaj svijet već prije posjetili, on sjajna prilika za povratak u taj svijet, kao i priprema za ono što tek dolazi u 'Posljednjem kralju Osten Arda'.
Radnja romana ispričana je iz četiri gledišta, odnosno kroz četiri različita lika: vojvode Isgrimnura (jednog od likova koje smo već upoznali u prvom serijalu), koji je odlučan u svojoj namjeri da istrijebi Norne jednom zauvijek, zatim Porta, vojnika u Isgrimnurovoj vojsci, te Viyekija i Yaarike, koji su oboje Norni. [Mala digresija: Norni su u prvom serijalu bili vjerni podanici zlog kralja koji je naumio uništiti ljudski rod, što ih i same čini, jel', zlima. Zato je tu Isgrimnurova žarka želja za istrijebljenjem Norna.] Isgrimnurova vojska s jedne strane, Norni s druge, sve vodi prema epskoj bitci obavijenoj magijom, u kojoj bi obje zaraćene strane mogle biti uništene.
Ono što postoji u ovom romanu, a u što nismo imali uvida u 'Sjećanju, tuzi i trnu', je bolje razumijevanje Norna i prilika da upoznamo njih i njihovu kulturu direktno iz njihove točke gledišta. U 'Sjećanju, tuzi i trnu' Norni su predstavljali antagoniste priče, a sve što smo o njima doznavali, doznavali smo posredno, preko Sitha. [Mala digresija: Sithi su praktički sestrinska rasa Norna, nešto poput Sitha i Jedija iz Ratova zvijezda, ajmo reći.] Za one koji su čitali 'Sjećanje, tugu i trn', bolje upoznavanje Norna dodat će još jednu dimenziju čitavom svijetu Osten Arda koji su već upoznali.
Svojim pisanjem Tad Williams gradi originalne, fantastične i maštovite svjetove i priča nezaboravne epske priče. U tim pričama, bitke, osvete i nasilje vješto su izbalansirane s humorom, intrigama, magijom i epskim avanturama. Williamsova priča ponekad je topla, ponekad zalazi u mračna razdoblja, ponekad se bavi junacima, ponekad zlikovcima. Posebnost Williamsovog pisanja je u njegovoj vještini da dodaje sloj po sloj kompleksnosti i veće dubine u priču koja se na početku čini prilično crno-bijelom. Vještina je to koju nemaju mnogi, a koju samo najbolji, poput Tolkiena, Martina i Abercrombieja, mogu iskoristiti tako da stvore nešto neponovljivo, originalno i očaravajuće; nešto ćemu će se generacije za generacijama čitatelja uvijek rado vraćati.
Bez obzira jeste li ili niste pročitali 'Sjećanje, tugu i trn', ako ste ljubitelj fantastike, ovaj roman smatrajte obaveznom literaturom. A nakon njega (ili prije, kako vam je draže), obavezno pročitajte i 'Sjećanje', i pridružite mi se u nestrpljivom iščekivanju 'Posljednjeg kralja Osten Arda'. Bit će to još jedna posebna epska avantura. Jedva čekam!
30 je godina prošlo otkako je izašao roman 'Prijestolje od zmajokosti', prvi dio epskog fantastičnog serijala 'Sjećanje, tuga i trn', u kojem je nas je Tad Williams upoznao sa svijetom Osten Arda. Sam je serijal (neočekivano) postao bestseler, i jedan od najznačajnijih fantastičnih serijala uopće, koji će kasnije inspirirati mnoge druge pisce i postaviti temelje za mnoge druge fantastične svjetove. I sam je G.R.R. Martin u nekoliko navrata istaknuo kako mu je upravo ovaj serijal poslužio kao inspiracija za njegovu 'Pjesmu leda i vatre'.
Kada bih vam pokušala prepričati o čemu se radi u 'Sjećanju, tuzi i trnu', ova bi se recenzija i sama pretvorila u epski dugačak tekst, a ujedno bih vam i spojlala sam serijal. Sve što trebate znati jest to da je 'Sjećanje, tuga i trn' serijal čija radnja prethodi 'Srcu svega izgubljenog', a samo 'Srce svega izgubljenog' zapravo predstavlja roman-most između ovog, i serijala 'Posljednji kralj Osten Arda', prvi dio kojeg će izaći negdje na proljeće iduće godine.
E sad, ako se pitate možete li pročitati ovaj roman bez da ste pročitali 'Sjećanje, tugu i trn', odgovor je - da. Tad Williams ovdje će vas u dovoljnoj mjeri upoznati sa samim svijetom Osten Arda, nabaciti koji hint na neke od bitnih prijašnjih događaja i likova koji su u tim događajima sudjelovali, ali sama priča ne oslanja se u tolikoj mjeri na prethodne događaje, već stoji sama za sebe. Ovaj roman dobar je uvod u svijet Osten Arda za one čitatelje koji se ovaj svijet tek spremaju upoznati, dok je, za one koji su ovaj svijet već prije posjetili, on sjajna prilika za povratak u taj svijet, kao i priprema za ono što tek dolazi u 'Posljednjem kralju Osten Arda'.
Radnja romana ispričana je iz četiri gledišta, odnosno kroz četiri različita lika: vojvode Isgrimnura (jednog od likova koje smo već upoznali u prvom serijalu), koji je odlučan u svojoj namjeri da istrijebi Norne jednom zauvijek, zatim Porta, vojnika u Isgrimnurovoj vojsci, te Viyekija i Yaarike, koji su oboje Norni. [Mala digresija: Norni su u prvom serijalu bili vjerni podanici zlog kralja koji je naumio uništiti ljudski rod, što ih i same čini, jel', zlima. Zato je tu Isgrimnurova žarka želja za istrijebljenjem Norna.] Isgrimnurova vojska s jedne strane, Norni s druge, sve vodi prema epskoj bitci obavijenoj magijom, u kojoj bi obje zaraćene strane mogle biti uništene.
Ono što postoji u ovom romanu, a u što nismo imali uvida u 'Sjećanju, tuzi i trnu', je bolje razumijevanje Norna i prilika da upoznamo njih i njihovu kulturu direktno iz njihove točke gledišta. U 'Sjećanju, tuzi i trnu' Norni su predstavljali antagoniste priče, a sve što smo o njima doznavali, doznavali smo posredno, preko Sitha. [Mala digresija: Sithi su praktički sestrinska rasa Norna, nešto poput Sitha i Jedija iz Ratova zvijezda, ajmo reći.] Za one koji su čitali 'Sjećanje, tugu i trn', bolje upoznavanje Norna dodat će još jednu dimenziju čitavom svijetu Osten Arda koji su već upoznali.
Svojim pisanjem Tad Williams gradi originalne, fantastične i maštovite svjetove i priča nezaboravne epske priče. U tim pričama, bitke, osvete i nasilje vješto su izbalansirane s humorom, intrigama, magijom i epskim avanturama. Williamsova priča ponekad je topla, ponekad zalazi u mračna razdoblja, ponekad se bavi junacima, ponekad zlikovcima. Posebnost Williamsovog pisanja je u njegovoj vještini da dodaje sloj po sloj kompleksnosti i veće dubine u priču koja se na početku čini prilično crno-bijelom. Vještina je to koju nemaju mnogi, a koju samo najbolji, poput Tolkiena, Martina i Abercrombieja, mogu iskoristiti tako da stvore nešto neponovljivo, originalno i očaravajuće; nešto ćemu će se generacije za generacijama čitatelja uvijek rado vraćati.
Bez obzira jeste li ili niste pročitali 'Sjećanje, tugu i trn', ako ste ljubitelj fantastike, ovaj roman smatrajte obaveznom literaturom. A nakon njega (ili prije, kako vam je draže), obavezno pročitajte i 'Sjećanje', i pridružite mi se u nestrpljivom iščekivanju 'Posljednjeg kralja Osten Arda'. Bit će to još jedna posebna epska avantura. Jedva čekam!
January 3, 2017
'The Heart Of What Was Lost' by Tad Williams - some thoughts (spoiler free)
January 3rd 2017 sees the long awaited return of Tad Williams to the land of Osten Ard which was the setting for his mammoth beast of a trilogy (or quadrilogy if you bought the paperback version) Memory, Sorrow and Thorn. I was fortunate enough to get hold of an advance copy so here are my thoughts.
It has been 23 years (give or take) since Tad wrote in this setting and since then has gone on to write other series in other worlds - Otherland, Shadowmarch, The Bobby Dollar series - and the stand alone novel War of the Flowers. My main concerns when hearing of the return to writing in Osten Ard, I guess, were, would it be the same OA we left behind all those years ago, would the characters feel the same?
I can safely and happily say that after only a few pages reading THoWWL it was clear that we were back in Osten Ard I remember and all was good. I guess it was the literary equivalent of comfy slippers and a favourite arm chair.
The story is set just after events at Green Angel Tower. The day has been won, Ineluki, The Storm King, has been defeated and his Norn army are in retreat, heading north to their ancient citadel Nakkiga harried by an army led by Duke Isgrimnur.
Character views come from both sides and although the Norns are the obvious 'bad guys' Williams does a good job of making us bothered about them. You feel for their plight as they rush toward Stormspike and (hopefully) safety. Don't get me wrong though, there are still heinous acts performed by some of their number (one of which, quite early on, had me thinking for days 'did they really just do that?). But also there are moments of poetic beauty in here - the revelation of The Heart of What Was Lost (don't worry it'll all make sense when you read it) nearly moved me to tears.
All things, as they must, come to an end and as this chapter in the history of Osten Ard closes both sides are put through the wringer. How it all ends I will leave you to find out for yourselves but what I will say is, I'm glad Tad decided to return to Osten Ard and to allow us to travel the paths again with him, THoWWL leaves me waiting eagerly for The Witchwood Crown, the first in he series 'The Last King of Osten Ard (Spring 2017)
One final thought, and this is just a personal thing really. When I first picked up The Dragonbone Chair (Memory, Sorrow and Thorn book 1) back in 1988 I was a mere strippling of 21 years old. The character of Simon was very easy to associate with but now, with The Heart of What Was Lost more or less ending M,S and T I find myself knocking on the door of 50 and find myself associating more with Duke Isgrimnur (older and more weary I guess).
January 3rd 2017 sees the long awaited return of Tad Williams to the land of Osten Ard which was the setting for his mammoth beast of a trilogy (or quadrilogy if you bought the paperback version) Memory, Sorrow and Thorn. I was fortunate enough to get hold of an advance copy so here are my thoughts.
It has been 23 years (give or take) since Tad wrote in this setting and since then has gone on to write other series in other worlds - Otherland, Shadowmarch, The Bobby Dollar series - and the stand alone novel War of the Flowers. My main concerns when hearing of the return to writing in Osten Ard, I guess, were, would it be the same OA we left behind all those years ago, would the characters feel the same?
I can safely and happily say that after only a few pages reading THoWWL it was clear that we were back in Osten Ard I remember and all was good. I guess it was the literary equivalent of comfy slippers and a favourite arm chair.
The story is set just after events at Green Angel Tower. The day has been won, Ineluki, The Storm King, has been defeated and his Norn army are in retreat, heading north to their ancient citadel Nakkiga harried by an army led by Duke Isgrimnur.
Character views come from both sides and although the Norns are the obvious 'bad guys' Williams does a good job of making us bothered about them. You feel for their plight as they rush toward Stormspike and (hopefully) safety. Don't get me wrong though, there are still heinous acts performed by some of their number (one of which, quite early on, had me thinking for days 'did they really just do that?). But also there are moments of poetic beauty in here - the revelation of The Heart of What Was Lost (don't worry it'll all make sense when you read it) nearly moved me to tears.
All things, as they must, come to an end and as this chapter in the history of Osten Ard closes both sides are put through the wringer. How it all ends I will leave you to find out for yourselves but what I will say is, I'm glad Tad decided to return to Osten Ard and to allow us to travel the paths again with him, THoWWL leaves me waiting eagerly for The Witchwood Crown, the first in he series 'The Last King of Osten Ard (Spring 2017)
One final thought, and this is just a personal thing really. When I first picked up The Dragonbone Chair (Memory, Sorrow and Thorn book 1) back in 1988 I was a mere strippling of 21 years old. The character of Simon was very easy to associate with but now, with The Heart of What Was Lost more or less ending M,S and T I find myself knocking on the door of 50 and find myself associating more with Duke Isgrimnur (older and more weary I guess).
November 5, 2025
Válka po válce nikdy nekončí. Nejen o tom je tahle trpká jednohubka odehrávající se půl roku po událostech poslední knihy. A ač mám Tada raději v rozmáchlé podobě, tohle mě na pár místech trefně popíchlo. Některé věci se čas od času sežerou sami, a není potřeba proti nim ani namířit meč.
Tak.
A já si jdu nakročit do dalšího dobrodrůža.
Tak.
A já si jdu nakročit do dalšího dobrodrůža.
July 11, 2017
Osten Ard is a truly magical world, but its mysteries and secrets are deep and dark. So buckle up and prepare yourself. As the Mountain Folk say: Welcome stranger. The paths are treacherous today.
Blurb: The Heart of What Was Lost takes place in the half-year after the end of To Green Angel Tower, and tells of the attempt by Isgrimnur and a force largely made up of Rimmersgard soldiers to destroy the remaining Norns as they flee back to their homeland and their mountain. It also answers some questions about what actually happened in the immediate aftermath of the fall of Green Angel Tower.
Let me first say that you do not need to read the original trilogy to read this book, but hopefully it will make you interested in doing so to. The book carries a self-contained story, and in true style the author manages to build full characters, a vibrant and living setting, and an intriguing plot that keeps the reader on its toes, and creates as many mysteries as it reveals answers. We are also introduced to the very complex relationship between the humans and the elf-like races of the Sithi and Norns, as well as a glimpse into the relationship between those two races themselves.
There is action and suspense within these 200 pages to please any reader, but it is the warring of ideas, and the battles within characters that carry the heaviest consequences. The characters, like real people, carry flaws, come into contact with realities that conflict with their understanding, and are forced to change, or perhaps face unbeing…
It is a very satisfying read, and at the same time it leaves me wanting more. Just as it should.
*** *** ***
Edit/Reread notes
Having read the book a second time, I stand by my earlier review and rating. I'll just add that while I don't think it's necessary to read this book before The Witchwood Crown, I do believe it will give you more pleasure to do so, and it gives some deeper insights into the world of Osten Ard.
Plus, it really is a terrific little story.
Blurb: The Heart of What Was Lost takes place in the half-year after the end of To Green Angel Tower, and tells of the attempt by Isgrimnur and a force largely made up of Rimmersgard soldiers to destroy the remaining Norns as they flee back to their homeland and their mountain. It also answers some questions about what actually happened in the immediate aftermath of the fall of Green Angel Tower.
Let me first say that you do not need to read the original trilogy to read this book, but hopefully it will make you interested in doing so to. The book carries a self-contained story, and in true style the author manages to build full characters, a vibrant and living setting, and an intriguing plot that keeps the reader on its toes, and creates as many mysteries as it reveals answers. We are also introduced to the very complex relationship between the humans and the elf-like races of the Sithi and Norns, as well as a glimpse into the relationship between those two races themselves.
There is action and suspense within these 200 pages to please any reader, but it is the warring of ideas, and the battles within characters that carry the heaviest consequences. The characters, like real people, carry flaws, come into contact with realities that conflict with their understanding, and are forced to change, or perhaps face unbeing…
It is a very satisfying read, and at the same time it leaves me wanting more. Just as it should.
*** *** ***
Edit/Reread notes
Having read the book a second time, I stand by my earlier review and rating. I'll just add that while I don't think it's necessary to read this book before The Witchwood Crown, I do believe it will give you more pleasure to do so, and it gives some deeper insights into the world of Osten Ard.
Plus, it really is a terrific little story.
July 14, 2019
Now I have to admit that it has been far too many years since I read the original Memory, Sorry and Thorn series (some refer to it as the Dragonbone chair) so even though I remember it fondly (that along with the Belgariad were how I got in to reading Fantasy but that is a story for another day).
So when I got to pick up a copy of this book I was more than a little intrigued - once I had got past the reference to Osten Ard since I remember it as Memory.... you get the idea.
First off yes it is promoted as the start of a new series and yes it is however reading the back of the next book this feels more like an interlude or introduction as it has been over 20 years since the previous serious finished.
That said you could pick this book up and enjoy it with little or no knowledge of went on before since all you need is explained in this book, but thankfully in not a manner than makes it feel like you are being patronised or given an obvious history lesson.
The action is fast and almost from page one and for me really does convey a sense of presence - yes you meet a number of characters but for me its the scenery and environment which take centre stage but never at the expense of pace or characters. I will admit its been a while since I have read any Tad Williams and I forgot how much I enjoyed it. So be prepared for a slew of further reviews...
So when I got to pick up a copy of this book I was more than a little intrigued - once I had got past the reference to Osten Ard since I remember it as Memory.... you get the idea.
First off yes it is promoted as the start of a new series and yes it is however reading the back of the next book this feels more like an interlude or introduction as it has been over 20 years since the previous serious finished.
That said you could pick this book up and enjoy it with little or no knowledge of went on before since all you need is explained in this book, but thankfully in not a manner than makes it feel like you are being patronised or given an obvious history lesson.
The action is fast and almost from page one and for me really does convey a sense of presence - yes you meet a number of characters but for me its the scenery and environment which take centre stage but never at the expense of pace or characters. I will admit its been a while since I have read any Tad Williams and I forgot how much I enjoyed it. So be prepared for a slew of further reviews...
January 4, 2017
Review
Memory Sorrow and Thorn forms a seminal part of my reading life and direction. I stumbled across The Dragonbone chair in 1990 when i had just become a single parent. I was trapped indoors with nappies, and all the other new baby things, it was still in the era of 4 channels of nothing on TV and only so many videos to watch. I was a huge fan of David Gemmell, and was branching out into other authors, but i was far from a huge reader. This Tad Williams series broke open mew worlds, new ideas and new opportunities. It led to reading the Many Colored Land a SCI/ FI Fantasy cross over, this led to many other series (this was one of the few sci fi series i ever read, i don’t like it much, The Otherland series is one of the few others i really love). in short that series kept me sane and opened a myriad of wonderful worlds.
Rest of the review:
https://parmenionbooks.wordpress.com/...
March 16, 2017
I read Memory, Sorrow and Thorn ages ago. I really can't remember anything. Except for like 3 names and the cover of the last book.
This book takes place 6 months after that series ended and is a sort of conclusion to that series, but also a prequel to the new one.
The bad guys are running back to the mountains and the good guys are chasing them...BUT, damn I rooted for the bad guys! Did I hate them back when? I have no idea. But here he made me sympathise with them. They wanted their land back. They wanted to protect their people. And if the humans won this last siege then everyone woman and child would be killed, raped and left to rot. The humans were angry and no, I did not see it from the perspective. I rooted for the Norns. I really liked how he did that. And I hope that in this new series I can still root for them, but I fear they might turn really bad and mad again.
I really enjoyed this short book. And I must read the series that comes out this summer. I am def looking forward to it now.
This book takes place 6 months after that series ended and is a sort of conclusion to that series, but also a prequel to the new one.
The bad guys are running back to the mountains and the good guys are chasing them...BUT, damn I rooted for the bad guys! Did I hate them back when? I have no idea. But here he made me sympathise with them. They wanted their land back. They wanted to protect their people. And if the humans won this last siege then everyone woman and child would be killed, raped and left to rot. The humans were angry and no, I did not see it from the perspective. I rooted for the Norns. I really liked how he did that. And I hope that in this new series I can still root for them, but I fear they might turn really bad and mad again.
I really enjoyed this short book. And I must read the series that comes out this summer. I am def looking forward to it now.
June 25, 2019
It's so good to be back into the world of Osten Ard!!! This book was so action packed and gave so much insight into the history and culture of the Norns and their relationship with the Rimmersmen.
This book was focused on the war between the Norns and the Rimmersmen. It was so action packed! I enjoyed how Tad Williams would have a chapter on the Norns POV and then next chapter have it be the Rimmersmen POV. The poor Norns =/ Endri was an interesting new character too. Interesting to hear more about Duke Isgrimnur too. I loved all the tricks the Norns would do on the Rimmersmen. You never knew what was going to happen next.
I was sad that there was nothing about Simon and Miriamele <3 I was excited to read about how they're taking on the kingdom! And what their lives are like now, but it's okay I guess lol
I didn't want it to enddddd lol This book was the length of an average book but to Tad Williams it was so short! lol I wanted moaaaaaaaaaar.
This book was focused on the war between the Norns and the Rimmersmen. It was so action packed! I enjoyed how Tad Williams would have a chapter on the Norns POV and then next chapter have it be the Rimmersmen POV. The poor Norns =/ Endri was an interesting new character too. Interesting to hear more about Duke Isgrimnur too. I loved all the tricks the Norns would do on the Rimmersmen. You never knew what was going to happen next.
I was sad that there was nothing about Simon and Miriamele <3 I was excited to read about how they're taking on the kingdom! And what their lives are like now, but it's okay I guess lol
I didn't want it to enddddd lol This book was the length of an average book but to Tad Williams it was so short! lol I wanted moaaaaaaaaaar.
February 5, 2017
I'm... rooting for the Norns now. What the hell? As ever, Tad Williams doesn't just put you in someone else's shoes. He makes you dance in them. Climb mountains. Walk the world. He makes you own those shoes. He makes you love them. Cunning bastard.
March 29, 2023
This novella gives us insight in what happened after the first and before the second Osten Ard saga. The most interesting thing about is that it is told from the perspective of the Norns.
In this story it is really difficult to find positive traits in the humans, even in those we were loving and admiring in the previous books. Tad Williams shows us here that the Norns had very good reasons to try eliminating the human race. But of course it is just a matter of perspective.
I really enjoyed to learn more about the Norns’ ritualized culture, their history and their lifestyle (even though it appeared often very foreign to me), particularly when comparing it to the rude and rough ways of the humans.
The novella is much more compact and less verbose than the previous books and therefore also much less detailed in the storytelling.
On the other hand on notices that Tad Williams has matured in his writing skills, which made the read very enjoyable for me.
I recommend this novella and rate it with 4 stars.
In this story it is really difficult to find positive traits in the humans, even in those we were loving and admiring in the previous books. Tad Williams shows us here that the Norns had very good reasons to try eliminating the human race. But of course it is just a matter of perspective.
I really enjoyed to learn more about the Norns’ ritualized culture, their history and their lifestyle (even though it appeared often very foreign to me), particularly when comparing it to the rude and rough ways of the humans.
The novella is much more compact and less verbose than the previous books and therefore also much less detailed in the storytelling.
On the other hand on notices that Tad Williams has matured in his writing skills, which made the read very enjoyable for me.
I recommend this novella and rate it with 4 stars.
August 7, 2017
Again, I read this one when I was on vacation with no access to the internet or to a good keyboard, so this won't be a full review.
(To clarify: I read this on Amtrak, almost in one sitting except for the 100 minute break I took to watch Jason & the Argonauts on my iPad.)
This is, obviously, a much shorter book than any of the main Osten Ard volumes; I get the feeling that this was Tad Williams kind of dipping his toes back into the world before starting a full-blown trilogy. The book takes place shortly after the events of To Green Angel Tower and covers the human armies' pursuit of the fleeing Norn forces. The interesting thing: Much of the book is told from the point of view of some of those Norns, who, in the original trilogy, had been portrayed as kind of a faceless, evil horde; now we get to see things from their point of view and, if we can't really support what they were doing, we at least get a better sense of why they were on the side of Ineluki, the Storm King.
It does also introduce a few characters who will be onstage in The Witchwood Crown, and provides an explanation for some of the changes to the world we see in the new book.
Definitely worth reading if you're a fan of Osten Ard and planning to continue to the new trilogy.
(To clarify: I read this on Amtrak, almost in one sitting except for the 100 minute break I took to watch Jason & the Argonauts on my iPad.)
This is, obviously, a much shorter book than any of the main Osten Ard volumes; I get the feeling that this was Tad Williams kind of dipping his toes back into the world before starting a full-blown trilogy. The book takes place shortly after the events of To Green Angel Tower and covers the human armies' pursuit of the fleeing Norn forces. The interesting thing: Much of the book is told from the point of view of some of those Norns, who, in the original trilogy, had been portrayed as kind of a faceless, evil horde; now we get to see things from their point of view and, if we can't really support what they were doing, we at least get a better sense of why they were on the side of Ineluki, the Storm King.
It does also introduce a few characters who will be onstage in The Witchwood Crown, and provides an explanation for some of the changes to the world we see in the new book.
Definitely worth reading if you're a fan of Osten Ard and planning to continue to the new trilogy.
May 19, 2024
"Wars don't end, he thought suddenly. They become stories, told to children. They become causes that are taken up by those who were not even born when the war started. But they don't end. We are a fierce race, we men. We will give up even our short, precious lives for revenge - no, for justice. No wonder the immortals fear us."
November 5, 2019
I wanted to enjoy this more than I did but it concerned characters I wasn't overly keen on in Memory, Sorrow and Thorn. Onto the next saga of Osten Ard!
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