To Green Angel Tower

Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn #3

by Tad Williams

This is an Alternate Edition to Book ISBN: 9780756402983

As the evil minions of the undead Sithi Storm King prepare for the kingdom-shattering culmination of their dark sorceries and King Elias is drawn ever deeper into their nightmarish, spell spun world, the loyal allies of Prince Josua desperately struggle to rally their forces at the Stone of Farewell. And with time running out, the remaining members of the now devastated League of the Scroll have also gathered there to unravel mysteries from the forgotten past in an attempt to find something to strike down their unslayable foe.

But whether or not they are successful, the call of battle will lead the valiant followers of Josua Lackhand on a memorable trek to the haunted halls of Asu'a itself - the Sithi's greatest stronghold.

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Epic Fantasy, High Fantasy, Science Fiction Fantasy, Epic, Audiobook

1066 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 1993

About the author

Tad 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

Reviews

[Petrik · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review is a copy of the transcript of my video review on To Green Angel Tower

It is done… At 530k words long, To Green Angel Tower is the largest single-volume novel I’ve ever read. It is a mesmerizing slow-burn epic fantasy tome imbued with high-stakes pulse-pounding final chapters.

“Sorrow needed its brothers. Together they would make a music greater still.”

With that large word count accounted into consideration, I am feeling at a loss on how to unwrap my thoughts into a coherent review. But I shall try my best. I spent 18 days inside the world of Osten Ard reading To Green Angel Tower. For several years now, I have wanted to finish Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn trilogy by Tad Williams, and now I’ve done it. I feel satisfied. Not counting The Veiled Throne and Speaking Bones by Ken Liu as one, because they were one 700k words book divided into two volumes, To Green Angel Tower is, as I said, the biggest single-volume novel I have ever read in my life so far. And before you proceed to hear my review, I will first apologize now in case I end up sounding like I am rambling. But I have a lot of thoughts, and I want to deliver them. Like usual, this will be a spoiler-free series review, and my thoughts on whether To Green Angel Tower stick the landing.

“Good stories will tell you that facing the lie is the worst terror of all. And there is no talisman or magic sword that is half so potent a weapon as truth”

To Green Angel Tower is the third and final book in Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn trilogy. The story picks up from where Stone of Farewell ended. The evil minions of the undead Sithi Storm King are beginning their final preparations for the kingdom-shattering culmination of their dark sorceries, drawing King Elias ever deeper into their nightmarish, spell-spun world. As the Storm King’s power grows and the boundaries of time blur, the loyal allies of Prince Josua struggle to rally their forces at the Seduadra. There, too, Simon and the surviving members of the League of the Scroll have gathered in a desperate attempt to unravel mysteries from the forgotten past. For if the League can reclaim these age-old secrets of magic long buried beneath the dust of time, they may be able to reveal to Josua and his army the only means of striking down the unslayable foe. The novel tackles the heavy themes of life, death, leadership, friendship, suffering, war, and redemption, to mention a few. As you can probably tell from the enormous word count, I do not count To Green Angel Tower as an easy read. If, or when, modern fantasy readers tell me they feel burned out from the writing due to its length and slow pacing, I would actually understand. This is not the kind of fantasy tome you can read through quickly. The way to Green Angel Tower is slow and rewarding, and to get there, you have to really pay attention and be able to appreciate the wording. I will, however, maintain my notion if you love the characterizations, writing style, and pacing of The Realm of the Elderlings by Robin Hobb, there is a good chance you will love reading Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn trilogy.

“The punishment for being born . . . no, perhaps that is too much to be calling that. The punishment for being truly alive—that is fair to say. Welcome, Simon, to the world of those who are every day condemned to thinking and wondering and never ever knowing with certainness.”

Picture: To Green Angel Tower by Michael Whelan



I am late to the party of Osten Ard. To Green Angel Tower was first published in 1993; that’s 30 years ago! It was impossible for me to attain or read Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn back then, but it is better late than never. And if you are a reader who is late like me, meaning Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn have not been read by you yet, I want to help set your expectations accordingly. When people talk about Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn now, you will hear this series sparked the inspiration in numerous modern epic fantasy authors' stories. The most popular ones are A Song of Ice and Fire by George R. R. Martin and also The Kingkiller Chronicle by Patrick Rothfuss. These authors explicitly spoke about the importance of Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn to their writing craft and series. And you will find a lot of connections between Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn and A Song of Ice and Fire. I cannot deny I have a newfound appreciation for not only Tad Williams for writing this series, but also for George R. R. Martin in the way he used his inspirations and implemented them into his series without them ever feeling like copycats. But that is another topic for another day. Otherwise, this review will end up longer than it should be. More importantly, there is most likely one other thing you have heard from many other readers about the series: the first 200 pages of The Dragonbone Chair are slow-paced. This is true, but it is not the entire truth behind the pacing of Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn trilogy. It is not just the first 200 pages of The Dragonbone Chair, but the entire trilogy is a slow-burn epic fantasy series.

“A man who will not listen carefully to advice honestly given is a fool. Of course, a man who blindly takes any advice he receives is a bigger fool.”

For better or worse, the slow-burn narration of Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn will be the crucial determining factor on whether you will like the series or not. I can safely say this. If you dislike The Dragonbone Chair due to its slow pace, I do not think the rest of the trilogy will work better for you. You cannot start reading this trilogy with the expectations the second half of The Dragonbone Chair, or the entirety of The Stone of Farewell and To Green Angel Tower, would have a faster-pace narration accompanied with many action or battle scenes. You will be sorely disappointed. I am a fan of reading slow-paced fantasy series, and even then, I still would have loved to know about this before I started reading Stone of Farewell and To Green Angel Tower. Other readers might feel differently about this, but I found the pacing in The Dragonbone Chair to be the most balanced of the trilogy.

“When you stare at something too long, you lose sight of other things that are just as important.

It needs to be mentioned, though, the slow-paced narration was not a prominent detrimental point in my reading experience. Not at all. For several reasons I will discuss soon, it always feels good to be reading Tad Williams’ storytelling and prose. And I sincerely hope you do not misconstrue my statement. For a trilogy this large, the number of vast pivotal battles or action sequences that occurred is less than ten times. That is relatively few, especially compared to many modern epic fantasy series. But the impact these scenes have is nothing short of tremendous. Each book in the trilogy ended with a bang, and the climax sequence in To Green Angel Tower is one of the best I have ever read. The convergences at Hayholt were insane. The intensity was fully charged, kept, and escalated for the last—more or less—200 pages of the book. The battles and the race against time were absolutely breathtaking. The scenes of decimation and the crimson light that shines in the darkness of the storm were so vivid in my imagination. Add all the revelations and answers regarding the three great swords and the character's motivation we witness in the climax sequences to every fantastic point I just mentioned, and it is no longer a surprise how To Green Angel Tower catapulted itself into becoming one of my favorite books. It was crazy how great the final few chapters were.

“To fight a war, you must believe it can accomplish something. We fight this one to save John’s kingdom, or perhaps even to save all of mankind... but isn’t that what we always think? That all wars are useless—except the one we’re fighting now?”

Picture: Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn by Djamila Knopf



I won’t lie. There was a part of me that felt To Green Angel Tower was too long for its own good as I read my way through it. And at the end of the journey, I still think there were some parts that could be cut off from the book to strengthen the pacing. But the immensely impactful payoffs at the end of To Green Angel Tower were worth reading every page of Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn. I have become attached to a lot of the characters, too. The trilogy is filled with a relatively extensive cast of characters. And the character-driven narration allowed me to easily care and be inside the POV character’s mind. Hearing their thoughts. Understanding their reasons. Simon, Binabik, Josua, Miriamele, Eolair, Tiamak, Isgrimmnur, Maegwyn, Eolair, Jiriki, Cadrach, and more. I can’t get into all the fine details on why many characters in the series were likable, flawed, and well-written. But, of course, this doesn’t mean I like all of them. In my opinion, Hernystiri’s story, Maegwyn, and Eolair’s POV chapters could have fewer spotlights, and it would hands down make the books better for me. I started to feel invested in these two POV characters only from the middle of To Green Angel Tower. Before that, it was a struggle to read through their chapters.

“Each one of has our own sorrows, Princess… It’s no shame to take them to heart. The only sin is to forget that other folk have theirs, too—or to let pity for yourself slow your hand when someone needs help.”

And were there other frustrating parts with the characterizations or their decisions? Totally. Several life-changing important secrets were purposefully hidden by a few main characters for a long time with similar reasons along the line of... “I can’t talk about it. I want to tell you. But I can’t. It brings me much pain.” And obviously, they always end up telling their secrets anyway. Without spoilers, although the reasonings were understandable, these scenes certainly tested my patience. I am not a fan of this trope. The Wheel of Time is notorious for it. And for a while, this trope plus the slow burn narrative of To Green Angel Tower made me briefly sure I would not give this book a 5 stars rating. Until I was proven wrong, as I said, by how much groundwork Tad Williams has prepared. Everything exploded brilliantly in the final 200 pages of To Green Angel Tower. It was utterly incredible. Even though I have some issues with To Green Angel Tower, the immersion of the world-building, the lore, the flawed characters, the prose, and the climax sequences more than made up for them. Tad Williams stuck the landing.

“You see what I am saying. Everything that has happened to us is madness, but when we look back, it all seems to have followed logically from one moment to the next.

Picture: The Norns by Donato Giancola



What I’m going to say next will be subjective. But for me, there’s something about the world of Osten Ard that makes me want to go back to it again. I already felt this when I was reading The Dragonbone Chair, and now that I’m done with the trilogy, I can already feel the pull of the world drawing me back in. The world-building and lore in this trilogy are intricate and extraordinary. You will feel like you’re really in Osten Ard. Escapism is one of the main reasons readers love reading fantasy novels and series, and Tad’s writing can conjure that kind of vivid imagery and melancholic transportation. This pull and immersive reading experience is an irresistible charm of The Osten Ard Saga. I lost count of how many readers have mentioned reading The Dragonbone Chair always feels like coming back home. I can already feel that even though I just finished reading the series. The world of Osten Ard may brim with treachery and perilous times, but the beauty of the landscape and the calm before the storm moments were, in a contrasting way, as impactful as the devastating battles. Being back with the characters and the world of Osten Ard can bring comfort. I definitely would love to read what happens next after the end of To Green Angel Tower. To be back with all the surviving characters again. Fortunately, I will get what I wish for in the sequel series: The Last King of Osten Ard.

These old stories are like blood. They run through people, even when they don’t know it or think about it. He considered this idea for a moment. But even if you don’t think about them, when the bad times come, the old stories come out on every side. And that’s just like blood, too.

Lastly, I cannot end this review without briefly discussing our main character: Simon Mooncalf/Snowlock. I have read many fantasy books now. A lot of fantasy main characters with a similar background as Simon. But Simon does stand out from the rest. I loved reading his story and his character development. Do I want to slap him at times? Oh, you bet. Simon reminded me of Fitz on several occasions. Fitz from The Realm of the Elderlings is another flawed and beloved character I want to slap multiple times throughout the series. Simon is not an exception to this. And yet, I cannot help but still like him. His friendship with Binabik is so cherishable. His frustrations and tantrums with the state of the world felt believable. His feelings for Miriamele never felt out of place. He is a teenager, and he behaves like one. And it is refreshing to see how much luck played a part in Simon's role and story. He is not a mega-powerful character, but his kindness and willingness to do what is right despite his fear supported the construction of his luck. Despite all the development and his feats, Simon said it himself, he still has the heart of a scullion. And this is evident throughout the narrative. It makes his character development realistic and genuine.

“For John Presbyter knew that in both war and diplomacy—as also with love and commerce, two other not dissimilar occupations—the rewards usually do not fall to the strong or to even the just, but rather to the lucky. John also knew that he who moves swiftly and without undue caution makes his own luck.”

Picture: Simon Mooncalf by Alex Chen



For its rewarding ending, satisfying reading experience, and irreplaceable achievements in the genre, I cannot give To Green Angel Tower anything less than a 5 stars rating. Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn is a classic epic fantasy that needs to be remembered and talked about more often by modern fantasy readers. Tad Williams clearly cares about the beauty and flow of his prose, and the storytelling, the lore, and the writing are worth savoring. Take your time. Appreciate the magnificence of Osten Ard. The Last King of Osten Ard is not as popular as Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn, but I heard from the fans of the series who continue their journey in Osten Ard that the sequel series is even superior. I am incredibly excited to read them. I already own the remaining available books in The Osten Ard Saga, and I will read them all next year in 2024. Until then, reading Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn together with my friends have been a precious memory. And I want to close this review by thanking everyone who joined me in reading or rereading Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn.

“Your days will be long together. Remember these moments always, but do not ignore the sad times, either. Memory is the greatest of gifts.”

Series Review:

The Dragonbone Chair: 5/5 stars
Stone of Farewell: 4/5 stars
To Green Angel Tower: 5/5 stars

Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn: 14/15 stars

Picture: Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn by Michael Whelan



You can order this book from: Blackwells (Free International shipping)

You can find this and the rest of my reviews at Novel Notions | I also have a Booktube channel

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[Library of a Viking · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing conclusion but also too long. 1600 pages is crazy 😅

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, that was... something. Tad Williams, it seems, was ahead of his time in having the final volume of something have to be split across two volumes, as I actually read To Green Angel Tower across two paperbacks, each of which had 800 pages. It was a very long, meandering, interesting journey, at times bogged down by tedium, but at times full of tension, building up to a dramatic finale.

In writing about the first book of this series I mentioned that this is kind of like a brother to The Wheel of Time and early Guy Gavriel Kay. Like, it's really interesting to see how it fits in the lineage of fantasy - you can see both the parts where it was obviously inspired by the likes of Tolkien and the parts where it has provided some inspiration to some of those who have come since in turn. For me, finding this trilogy years later, it's like looking into an old family photograph and seeing a picture of an uncle you'd never seen before. Maybe you only knew his name because it was mentioned in passing a couple of times.

Then it's kind of stunning to see how he looks like the rest of the family but he's also his own person, and you kinda wish you knew what his story was. In real life if this happened you probably wouldn't know about this uncle because he's in jail or something, so obviously this analogy isn't perfect. Imagine if he walked through that door one day, though, and wanted to tell you all about his life story in great detail. Some things would bore you, but mostly you'd be really curious, and he's a good storyteller, your uncle, and since you've thought about him your whole life you'd want to hear about it all anyway. That's Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn.

Epic fantasy, swords and sorcery and all that at some times, kind of a gothic horror at others, prose that gives off a legitimate sense of dread. It's a fun read, though it's dense; even a long book doesn't usually take me almost a month to plow through. That's not because it was boring, though, but because I wanted to savor it, and I did. It isn't something to rush through. There are many strands to the plot, all over the world, and unsurprisingly, they all come together in ways that I didn't expect, although of course I'm not exactly notorious as a plot guesser anyway.

Cheesy at times, yes, wrapped up in fantasy cliches that were perhaps a bit more fresh in the late 1980s but have been tread many more times in the years since, sure. But then again, humans have told a lot of stories by now and it's hard to make something that's completely unlike anything that's been done before. What you can do is build a world that is all its own, with a rich history that is not just another Europe analogue, fill it up with characters, and make stuff happen. I liked the journey up the fantasy family tree.

[Alex W · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sweeping epic that provided a fitting, exciting, and enjoyable conclusion to a wonderful trilogy. I am really looking forward to reading more of Tad Williams' books, especially those set in Osten Ard!

[Bradley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've finally returned to this fantastic fantasy land after thirty years and it is as I remember it: Vast epic fantasy that turns most of the old (old as of this book's first entry into the field) on its head. No dwarves or elves the way we might have seen them in Tolkein or any of the many sword & sorcery or D&D novels, but rich, deep worldbuilding that stays far away from overpowered magics or equally overpowered characters.

The first two books in this trilogy were immensely popular for the time, ushering forth the equally popular Game of Thrones and WoT novels that would come out a short time later, sharing a vast page count and depth, but it was the third book in Tad William's trilogy that makes it all worthwhile and complete. And it was published in TWO huge volumes for a total of approximately 1,100 pages.

To summarize is pointless, but I can broadly say that we have an epic war of two brothers for a kingdom, the oncoming storm of the Storm King with his undead army, and the culmination of the mystery and magic of the three magic swords (seemingly intelligent, inexorable) and the fates of broken or breaking magicians, immortals, and more.

But above all, we follow regular people, so totally out of their depth, as they desperately try to survive against such odds.

It's so satisfying. :) I'm so glad I came back to all this.

I've read the sequels and will be re-reading them, as well. So far, I'm pretty amazed and I appreciate it all more now than I did the first time. The writing is truly gorgeous and detailed. :)

[Jake Bishop · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is almost hard to review, because it is basically 4 books, just in terms of length. I have been reading it as the main book I have been reading for 16 days.

Overall, I thought it was good. I definitely was expecting to like it more, I had it as one of my 5 star predictions at the start of the year, and it did not come close to that. My enjoyment was somewhat uneven, with some bits being a bit of a struggle. With some being great. It is a great bridge in the genre, which I know is among many peoples all time favorites, but I have to say I will not have to join those people. I don't regret reading it, I enjoyed reading it, but am never going to reread it.

Also please stop telling people that the first 150 pages of The Dragonbone Chair is dreadfully slow.

For one, the start of The Dragonbone Chair is good, and second it gives people the idea that things will take of after that. The entire thing is a slow burn. Expect things to continue at a comparable pace. I don't know maybe i'm crazy, but please tell me if you are someone who really had to slog through the start of book 1, but love the rest of the series. I am curious if this exists. I can get liking the start of DBC less than the rest, but I would love to know if anyone actually would have DNFed without that warning, and then the series became one of your favorites.

I think basically I would sum it up as this. Memory Sorrow and Thorn's main plot is not super complicated, and moves quite slowly. However it has a lot of interesting and creative subplots. This kinda gives the wrong idea, because I guess you could make the case that many of the subplots are actually a part of the main plot. Which is true, a lot of them are connected. However it is also true that while reading them, a lot of them do not feel connected. It is also true that there are quite a few subplots that are purely there to stand on their own.

My guess is if I was someone who really enjoyed all the subplots, I would feel this entire series was amazing from beginning to end. However my enjoyments of the subplots was mixed. I thought some were fantastic (hello ghants, you are creepy, and cool), and some where a bit of a slog (hi Maegwin). Overall this resulted in me being less invested in the finale then i'm sure many would be. And I will say I found some aspects of the climax to be a bit of a let down, while really enjoying some aspects. And then for the most part I enjoyed the falling action, and thought it ended in a really good place. I liked the destination, but not all of the journey.


The next thing that held me back into for the most part enjoying this series, but it not being an all time favorite, is that I did not get uber attached to any of the characters. I think basically the entire cast of this series is good. They are distinctive, have their own motivations. I don't really have anyone who I think is one dimensional, or just a character there to serve the plot. So that's good. However on the flipside I did not personally have a single member of this cast who was super interesting, that I was super invested in.

This leaves me without much to criticize about the characters, but also you are never going to see an MS&T character on my all time favorite list. Most of my favorite series contend for my favorite series because if they have a protagonist(I have to preface the existence of a protagonist because Erikson exists) he is one of my favorites of all time, and I think a huge amount of the supporting cast basically could be as compelling, but we only have room to have the page time for one protagonist. For this series the protagonist is kinda in the middle of the pack. I'm totally fine with him being an idiot, I actually enjoy this about him, I just found his development to kinda just be....basic. Sorry Simon. Then there is a big list of side characters who if you ask me about I will probably go. Oh ya, I like them, they are good.

What I actually consider my favorite part of this series is the worldbuilding. Excluding LotR(because it isn't a trilogy, it is a book, so why would it be included) this is one of the most well fleshed out worlds of any trilogy I have read. It is a combination of classic fantasy, and really crazy, creative stuff that comes from Tad's brain. It has history, magic, culture, cool fantasy races(really really cool fantasy races actually), and cool castles and cities.

Oh also, as I read diligently, I got used to the adverbs Tad threw in consistently. It did annoy me for a while, but I got used to them and they started to feel natural during To Green Angel Tower.

Oh ya, this series has good prose. I think Tad Williams prose is at its best when he is setting a scene, or doing some kinda weird dream sequence, or sequence in the head of someone who is delirious in some way.

And finally the action is fine, not what the series is about, although Tad has a tendency to start a fight, have that fight be in a desperate situation, and then the PoV character we are in gets knocked out. Then when they wake up the other characters have found a way to not die. I found it annoying. I don't care if you skip an action scene where the outcome is obvious. In fact I would encourage authors to skip fight scenes were the outcome is obvious, and the inclusion of the details of that fight scene does not do anything for the characters, plot, theme, or world. But when it happens in fight scenes where it looks like the good guys are losing, it kinda makes every other fight scene less tense, because I know the author might not have to worry about finding a way for the characters I am cheering for to get out of it.

Anyway, I don't feel like typing more. I liked the series, I like many other series more. The Dragonbone Chair is comfortably my favorite in the trilogy. I did not expect that, as I usually like endings a lot, and most people seem to like To Green Angel Tower the most.


7.3/10

[Wanda Pedersen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A satisfying ending to an engaging trilogy. I can see why this final tome was originally published in two parts—it was a definite door-stop! I sprained my wrist two years ago, and I found that old injury aching at the end of lengthy reading sessions!

However, the size of the volume was necessary in order to tie up the many, many loose ends from the first two books. I especially appreciated the return of “Rachel the Dragon” as an honoured elder lady, even as I grieved the loss of other characters. I also have to say that I appreciated the focus on Miriamele, despite the fact that she often came across as spoiled and irrational. I was able to endure that portrayal because Simon was often angry and petulant for no particular reason that I could discern either. Equal opportunity bad behaviour!

I appreciated that Osten Ard was not just a clone of Middle Earth. Williams gave the world his own structure and rules, and created unique creatures and challenges for his characters. I really liked the ending--it worked for me. I always feel the tug of emotion as the war ends and the circle of friends must split up to return to their own lives—happy to get back to normal, sad to be parted.

Book number 267 in my Science Fiction & Fantasy reading project.

[Claudia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Phew! Three volumes and exactly one month later I finally finished this mammoth series. It’s a long, long journey but totally worth it.

Although it’s kind of LOTR copycat in terms of structure, it has its own original world, diverse characters and an intricate, multilayered plot. Peter Jackson would make a hell of a movie out of it.

This finale volume puts together all the pieces of the puzzle. Every loose thread is weaved in the big canvas. Being a classic fantasy it has a happy ending but not without sacrifices. Your heart will be melted, torn apart and put back together.

As I said in the previous volume, the series is indeed very long, but I don’t think anything could have been removed because there is no infodump, nor details without importance. There is not a dull moment in the whole series and every little hint finds its closure in the end.

Some people ask me why I read fantasy. It’s because it offers a bit of escapism, indeed, but that’s not the main reason. It’s because I love the worlds created, the valours – courage, friendship, loyalty -, love for nature and its ‘children’ and because good always prevails. And for I have a great time reading it - it’s so damn fun and exciting!

[Spencer Orey · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is a great story here, but it's surrounded by bloat. There are a lot of POV characters who didn't always feel necessary. There are many unnecessary travel adventures. It's aged in a frustrating way, and the gender politics have aged particularly poorly.

But then sometimes the book would be so good!! I wish the whole book could have been that good.

The story has some good twists and overall it was nice to revisit how a sprawling character-driven trilogy like this stuck the landing in the 90s. When it came out, I bet it was amazing.

[Maja · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm quite enjoying this trilogy. Actually read half of it just today. Which was like 400 pages. Didn't mean to, but I was stupid enough to think reading a chapter or two before beginning to work on my thesis was a great idea. It was a great idea, depending on how you look at it. On one hand, I finished the book days earlier than planned.

Now onto part 2 and then write a proper review (hopefully).

[Jimmy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wrapped up all the loose ends in a meaningful fashion. I feel like all my reading paid off and I will think about this story a lot in my future. It's all you can ask for of an epic fantasy. Masterpiece.

[Pavle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Na kraju, za Vilijamsov serijal mogu da kažem samo da je relikt nekog prošlog, strpljivijeg doba fantastike, što je i svojesvrsna prednost - više vremena posvećeno je karakterizaciji i organskom oživljavanju sveta kroz neposredno iskustvo života u njemu - ali i mana - neke stvari prosto su ostarile loše ili se u međulicu pretvorile u kliše, ako to tada nisu bile. Svakako mi je drago što sam posvetio par meseci ležernom čituckanju ovog golemog zaključka trilogije, i verujem da ću se vratiti svetu Osten Arda kad tad.

4

[Carrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This trilogy was pretty much my first into fantasy. It was right after my first child was born and I had a lot of time stuck in the house to read. I had kind of thought fantasy was for, you know, geekish people which was a problem considering my husband and two best friends were all into it. I have now entered the geek and proud of it crowd. These books were wonderful and I have not stopped reading fantasy since.

[Matt Quann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wrapping up more than 2000 pages of storytelling, To Green Angel Tower is a wholly satisfying conclusion to a super solid and influential fantasy series. Though I found the first book, The Dragonbone Chair , to be a bit plodding with innumerable ancillary characters, by the time I started To Green Angel Tower I might as well have been preparing a thesis in Osten Ard's lore. It is at first a challenge to acclimate to the slow seduction and melancholy tone of Williams' world, but it is a challenge well worth undertaking.

While I'd never say that To Green Angel Tower carries on at a blistering pace (Sanderson's action-forward, hard-to-put-down fantasy this is not), the book deals heavily in revelation, long-awaited confrontation, and some exciting reunions. The book, more or less, opens with a group of our heroes a few days before a messy battle for the Stone of Farewell. From there, the book alternates between great action scenes, interesting lore bits, and answers to questions I've had since the first book. There's still some travelogues that go on a bit too long, but its much more streamlined here than it ever was in the first two books.

It's also really tough to tie things together in a meaningful fashion. Luckily, To Green Angel Tower contains some great surprises while delivering a conclusion that left me both pleased and hungry for more. Luckily, Williams has once more taken up the pen in service of Osten Ard and his sequel trilogy is already in motion. Though I'll probably take a bit of a break, I think I'll be checking in on these characters sooner than I would have originally anticipated.

All in all, a great conclusion to a very worthwhile trilogy. I'm glad I stuck it out with this one, it'll remain a favourite fantasy world of mine for some time to come.

[4.5 Stars]

*Still planning on a trilogy-spanning review to be published sometime soon.

[Kevin Jenkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

90/100

best paced of the series despite being uber long, was completely engaged throughout and never bored. tied up the storylines in a satisfying way, including a wild climax. character work excels what was done in both of the previous two entries. just an all around really good book

[Ivan · Rating 3 out of 5]

My last book of 2022. Review might come when I have less of a hangover.

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truly amazing👏Can't wait to continue my adventures in Osten Ard‼️

[Joshua Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this first half of the trilogy finale - or 3rd book in this 4-book trilogy - a LOT more than the previous installment. The pacing felt fluid with very few exceptions, I began to connect with the characters more, and the world-building aspects-the strongest component of these books in my opinion-really shined in this volume. It did feel a bit overlong, especially if you think of it as half of the series finale, but overall enjoyed this and look forward to reading To Green Angel Tower: Storm very soon.

[Xara Niouraki · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a whole, it was an entertaining series. I enjoyed the feeling of classic fantasy that it gave me, especially since I've been reading a lot of dark fantasy lately. I was satisfied with the conclusion, but I had several problems with the third book.

First of all, it is huge. I don't have a problem with big books, but this one made me wish that it were smaller. I grew tired of it as I was reading it.

Secondly, the series is full of repetitions. I felt that half the pages of the series were descriptions... How many times do I have to read a description of the underground corridors of Asua??? How many times did Simon come close to insanity??? The thing I hated most was the repetition of vocabulary. I literally hate the word mooncalf after reading the series....

Most of the women in the book (not that there were many)were annoying. The worst one was Miriamele. I wish I could punch her in the face. She was constantly running away without consulting anyone.

Morgenes manuscript: Ok Morgenes was wise and wrote the manuscript to help everyone. The thing that bothered me was that the characters kept reading the same thing again and again and discovering new clues and info. Maybe if they had more sources of info I would be more convinced.

Finally, the characters were plain stupid many times. Many things were in front of their eyes and they kept talking and arguing and did something totally dumb in the end.

[Rachel (TheShadesofOrange) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.0 Stars
This is a solid ending to the trilogy. I enjoyed the writing and character work.

[Zach Reads Fantasy · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ║ A massive final tome that sticks the landing! To Green Angel Tower is a towering achievement in epic fantasy, a triumph of storytelling. Tad Williams delivers a stunning conclusion that pulls all the threads together into something deeply satisfying.

Finishing this monster of a book felt like a victory. I’m grateful it was worth it, because I definitely had my doubts along the way. This is the longest book I’ve ever read — probably the longest I ever will. The final act is massive, cinematic, and packed with surprises. I was floored by how the slow groundwork of the first two volumes and the first half of this one finally paid off.

Simon grew on me here. He eventually evolved into his own person, not just a single-purposed archetype. Other characters like Binabik, Isgrimnur, and Elias really shined. Even Miriamele improved a lot for me. One gripe: Maegwin’s storyline felt unnecessary, dragging the pace down at times. She had a few decent moments near the end, but honestly, her arc could have been ruthlessly cut without losing anything important — and probably improving the series overall.

Parts of the first half of this third book were slow enough that I questioned my commitment again, but once the action hit, it hit hard. Williams’ prose is vivid, intricate, and beautiful, and his world-building matured from another Tolkien offshoot into something unique, massive, and inspiring. Osten Ard feels rich and lived-in, built on the fantastical foundations that classic fantasy fans love. Tad Williams helped steer the genre toward modern fantasy’s complexity. I can clearly see how Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn helped inspire authors like George R.R. Martin. Superb creativity pushing the limits of the genre back in the early ’90s.

This series isn’t a quick read; it’s a marathon. To Green Angel Tower feels like the brutal final uphill stretch. Honestly, the trilogy reads like six or seven books, not three. So much time, space, and breath are spent in this world that I almost couldn’t help but fall for it by the end. Watching characters finally collide, long-held questions answered, sudden deaths, and plot lines converge was glorious. In hindsight, the slow build, deep lore, and patient character work were essential to making the ending hit as hard as it does. It’s not perfect — and Williams’ long-winded style definitely isn’t for everyone — but I’m glad I stuck with it. I’m even adding his newer Osten Ard books to my TBR now. This trilogy demanded a lot, but it gave back even more with this awesome finale.

Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn by Tad Williams
Book 1: The Dragonbone Chair 3.5/5
Book 2: Stone of Farewell 3/5
Book 3: To Green Angel Tower 5/5

[Trent · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is somewhat hard to know exactly how to judge 'To Green Angel Tower'.

On the one hand, it's beautifully written, with wonderful characters and an engaging plot. I have absolutely zero issues proclaiming Tad Williams as one of the best writers alive. He is a true wordsmith, and some of the passages of this book and series will stay with me forever.

On the other hand, this book is LONG. And often very slow. The audiobook alone is a staggering 64 HOURS long. It took me months of inconsistent listening to finish it. It's not that it wasn't good, but it wasn't always engaging enough for me to feel like I HAD to listen to it.

That said, the ending is wonderful - and the new sequel trilogy is even better.

Ultimately, I'm not surprised that this book (and series) is so beloved by many fantasy readers and writers. It does bridge the gap between Tolkien and modern-day fantasy beautifully. It's not perfect, however, and your mileage may vary when things slow down.

Recommended for sure, but perhaps not for everyone.

[Zoe Stewart (Zoe's All Booked) · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a way to end a great trilogy! This was exactly my kind of book, but I can see how it would drag for some people and not be enjoyable. I listened to the entire trilogy on audio, the Andrew Wincott version and I highly recommend!

[mikey · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5

A beautiful, and warm ending to the longest book I’ve ever read, and most certainly one of my new favorites.

Equal parts long and enthralling, To Green Angel Tower is a masterful epic fantasy conclusion. It delivers a punchy and emotional narrative, with twists and turns that were not the norm during this era of fantasy writing. 530k words of ornate, well thought out writing, world building, and a wonderfully characterized cast, from the main protagonist to tertiary characters that most people would not give a second thought to.

In a book this big, there are bound to be things that I will forget to talk about, so I’ll touch on a few of my favorite aspects of this book and then I’ll be done.

Romance: The main romance in this series snuck up on me, as I wasn’t sure if it was even going to come to fruition after the events of the first two books, but man it did, and I’m so happy for it. Simon and Miriamele’s relationship goes through the romantic trenches in this book, and they manage to make it out, not without scars, both literal and physical, but they do make it. Their dialogue when talking to each other in these situations really did hurt, because I cared so much about both of them, and I really did just want to see them happy. This isn’t something I was expecting to be invested in while reading an epic fantasy story, but this is just another way Tad Williams has elevated himself among his peers.

The Climax: The magic in Memory Sorrow and Thorn up to this point had always been more subtle. Aside from a few situations, the magic and its relationship with the realm of Osten Ard is that of secrecy and obscurity. All this changes at the end of the book, when reality itself is torn apart from the uniting of the three magic swords, both summoning the Storm King and literally turning back time to ages past. Then, with the combination of the Swordbearers letting go of their damaging emotions, such as sorrow and hatred, combined with the magic arrow being shot from Miriamele, banished the Storm King back to whence he came. It was a whiplash in the best way possible, Tad Williams delivering one of many punches to the reader’s perceived knowledge of his world. I can’t wait to start The Last King of Osten Ard for many reasons, and being absorbed back into this well loved world is one of them.


Conclusion: Upon the ending of this trilogy, there is once again a whirlwind of emotions. The League of The Scroll is wounded, the Hayholt is without a king and is in tatters from the siege, but the realm is safe. A war across the entire world has been prevented, the Storm King cannot terrorize the mortals or his enemies the Sithi, and his once-alive minions, the Norns, are retreating. Simon believes that his work is done, until the epiphany from Doctor Morgenes writings, strikes him. His ancestor was both the founder of the League, and a former king of Osten Ard. Simon and Miriamele finally both admit to loving one another truly, and are both made to be the new king and queen of the realm, and set to work on rebuilding their home, with eyes set on creating a better future for all beings, not just humans.

This is a wonderful trilogy, with subversions of fantasy tropes that went on to become the norm for fantasy writers everywhere, with a writing style that is as thought provoking as it is beautiful, and characters that feel real and nuanced. It is undoubtedly a slow burn, and it’s not going to be for everyone, but anyone who wants both a history lesson in fantasy, and story that might have a lasting impact on you, read Memory Sorrow and Thorn.

[Jonathan Koan · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a beast of a book! This book is epic in all the definitions of the term. Tad Williams really wanted to leave it all out on the field, and he certainly did.

My first praise of the book is the middle portion of the book. The whole story of Miriamele and Simon was just spectacularly done. Every time they were in a chapter, together or separated I was hooked and really interested to find out what would happen. I thought that their will-they/won't-they romance was just incredibly written throughout. And both characters seemed relatable and their decisions totally understandable.

I also really enjoyed Josua's storyline throughout the book, particularly with (Character name redacted for spoilers) and his wife, Vorzheva. I thought that he became a complex and really compelling character (reminded me or Rand from the Wheel of Time, actually).

I did not really care for reading about all of the other characters in the book, and felt like that was one place where it dragged. I know there were a lot of ploththreads in the first two books, but it seems to have just exploded here. Tad Williams was trying to write the epic dramatis personae's you'd find in the Wheel of Time or Game of Thrones, but I think the story would have been much better served as having a cast more like the Shannara books or the Symphony of Ages series. The book could have been significantly shorter and moved the plot quicker.

I also did not love all of the visions and dreams and prophecies that kept happneing in the book. All of that could have been conveyed in a much faster method.

If these two things, supporting character POVs and the Dream/Visions/Prophecy sequences had been cut (or at least cut down), the book could have been several hundred pages shorter (at least 300) and been much better for it.

The ending, I must admit, is epic and awesome. It is a worthy payoff for the series, and I was really interested to see what would happen, especially in the Denoumont, which I thought was very well done.

Overall, I'll give this book an 8 out of 10. The heights of this book are much better than books 1 and 2, but it's just too long for it's own worth. And the series is really unevenly designed having two books be mid-length and one book be massively ridiculously lenghthed. But I still loved the book overall. 8 out of 10.

[Craig · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s not perfect, and it’s a novel that (silly to point out, maybe, in reference to a 1,100-page book) sometimes feels overlong even though, thinking back, I can’t quite see what might have been left out to shorten it that wouldn’t have been a loss of something that deserved its place. But To Green Angel Tower is such an emotionally satisfying conclusion and such an extraordinarily impressive narrative that it seems wrong to withhold anything from it here.

Though this whole series struggles a bit with scale. Epic fantasy’s world-making scope, because it’s a cliché and an inevitability, often ends up seeming predictable and sort of small and hard to really feel somehow as a consequence. As so often, working within those conventions makes for some oddities here. (Does it make sense, for example, for characters to wonder whether a particular species of immortal beings is real or the stuff of legend when a conflict with these beings happened in living memory, during the just-ended reign of old king John? This isn’t quite like wondering whether fairies are real; it’s a bit more like Americans thinking back to the 1960s and wondering whether the Vietnamese were real or just a myth.) And as so often with these epic-scale, cast-of-thousands, end-the-existential-threat-by-having-the-humble-hero-confront-the-incarnation-of-pure-evil-with-the-magical-whatsit-and-fulfill-the-ancient-prophecy hero’s-journey monomyths, what ends up bearing the greatest emotional and narrative weight is all much, much smaller, in wonderfully well-drawn characters embroiled in human-scale matters. And at these things Williams is so masterful as to dispose pretty much any reader to forgive a few formal and structural creakinesses.

[Max · Rating 5 out of 5]

That was another great reread! This series is absolutely one of the best I've ever read. I love the adventure, love the characters and the writing style. I am excited the author is still writing and I can't wait for the next installment of the Osten Ard series.

I reread the series once every few years, and it still entertains me. Sometimes I suddenly feel like I read something new, there's always something to discover in Osten Ard!

During my 2024 reread I actually cried a little during the wrap up. Maybe it was because I was addled with a fever, but the conclusion also touched me a lot.

[Leah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loooooooooove <3 I don't even know how to review this book... it's massive. LOT's happen... it's amazing. I especially loved Miriamele's plot, and Tiamak's. Interesting new build characters on Cadrach and Camaris too.

[Eddie · Rating 5 out of 5]

One reads such words, and what can one say but... Williams!"

The only negative I got and it’s not really a negative is because there’s so much to read. You really gotta digest slowly cause if you read it fast or if you listen to it at a higher speed, you lose some of the beauty, with in the scene’s and its characters!!

This is my third reread and you always catch something that you miss the previous read !!!!!

[Craig · Rating 5 out of 5]

“A man who will not listen carefully to advice honestly given is a fool. Of course, a man who blindly takes any advice he receives is a bigger fool.”

Tad Williams is criminally underrated in the fantasy genre. It's like everyone forgot about this cat. He's the sole reason why George R R Martin sampled and created awesome ideas for the smash hit Song of Ice and Fire. He also was a huge inspiration to Patrick Rothfuss. The man deserves more credit.

Memory, Sorrow and Thorn is a kick-ass Fantasy series that I cannot recommend enough. All the stars!