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3.86 AVERAGE
3.86 AVERAGE
Rich, deep, high fantasy. Great characters, crafted by a true word-smith.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This series has so clearly been the inspiration for other fantasy authors, and I am glad I decided to read it. The world feels very immersive, and I love the characters- and not just the major characters! The book is definitely slow going and takes some getting used to, but I’m hoping it continues to pay off in the rest of the series.
It felt like reading a Robin Hobb book.
There's a lot of interesting things namely some characters, some snips of world building and the prose, but boy oh boy it's way too meandering and poorly edited.
Being heavily inspired by all the classic fantasy and Tolken-esque tropes didn't help at all since I'm not a fan of such stuff.
Eh, not sure if I'll be continuing the series.
There's a lot of interesting things namely some characters, some snips of world building and the prose, but boy oh boy it's way too meandering and poorly edited.
Being heavily inspired by all the classic fantasy and Tolken-esque tropes didn't help at all since I'm not a fan of such stuff.
Eh, not sure if I'll be continuing the series.
adventurous
mysterious
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Before even reading a word, potential readers are greeted by an onslaught of disclaimers warning us of the dreaded "slog", so much so that I almost put off reading this altogether. I'm so glad I read this because after just one book, Tad might already be one of my favourite authors. My enjoyment reading through the first 200 pages was so different than I expected to the point that it's actually been an almost radical eye opening experience that has forever changed the influence reviews have on my reading choices.
From the first chapter I was hooked. Yes it's slow in that much of the first 200 pages is just Simon roaming around the castle, but it never felt pointless. This tied in with Tad's beautiful writing, the relationship between Simon & Morgenes, and the lore being so intriguing kept me hooked. Weirdly enough it was actually the middle section of the book that felt the slowest for me, though that's not to say I didn't enjoy it because I still loved it for the most part.
I originally planned to take a break before beginning book 2, but part 3 of this book (the final 200 - 300 pages) was so phenomenal that I literally started the next book right away.
From the first chapter I was hooked. Yes it's slow in that much of the first 200 pages is just Simon roaming around the castle, but it never felt pointless. This tied in with Tad's beautiful writing, the relationship between Simon & Morgenes, and the lore being so intriguing kept me hooked. Weirdly enough it was actually the middle section of the book that felt the slowest for me, though that's not to say I didn't enjoy it because I still loved it for the most part.
I originally planned to take a break before beginning book 2, but part 3 of this book (the final 200 - 300 pages) was so phenomenal that I literally started the next book right away.
adventurous
adventurous
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
5/5
The Dragonbone Chair was a book that I had been anticipating for a quite a while. I had heard virtually only good things about it, aside from the few naysayers who believed the book to be too slow. I’m happy to say that Tad Williams did not disappoint, and succeeded in executing one of the most fun, atmospheric, and enthralling first books that I’ve read.
The prose really are the star of the show here. Tad Williams really is a wordsmith of massive proportion, expertly imbuing every paragraph with gorgeous visuals, and a rhythmic cadence.
On top of that, the world is something that feels incredibly unique for how many times the fantasy genre has built off of worlds like this after the fact. What first seems like a medieval land populated only by humans, bereft of magic or anything of fantastical nature is very quickly subverted, from a throne made of the remains of a slain dragon, to magical swords crafted from meteors, and ancient elf-like races that are clearly an inspiration for GRRM’s Children of The Forest.
“He who is certain he knows the ending of things when he is only beginning them is either extremely wise or extremely foolish; no matter which is true, he is certainly an unhappy man, for he has put a knife in the heart of wonder.”
To the people who say that the book is slow, yes, they’re right. It takes nearly 300 pages for the plot to really ramp up, as the first third of the book is focused on world building, and our protagonist, Simon, who I have already come to love by the ending of this entry. There is a very compelling plot here, one in which I won’t reveal, that almost feels secondary to the lovely characters that Williams has created, in the same vein as Wheel of Time, there is a character from every walk of life, someone for everyone.
I am very excited to continue this series, as I already feel like the land of Osten Ard is a second home. It has that beautiful nostalgic feeling that is hard for me to get from books nowadays, and I eagerly await my embarkation on the journey of the next book.
“Piercing My Hearte there is A Golden Dagger; That is God
Piercing God's Hearte there is a Golden Needle; That is me.”
The Dragonbone Chair was a book that I had been anticipating for a quite a while. I had heard virtually only good things about it, aside from the few naysayers who believed the book to be too slow. I’m happy to say that Tad Williams did not disappoint, and succeeded in executing one of the most fun, atmospheric, and enthralling first books that I’ve read.
The prose really are the star of the show here. Tad Williams really is a wordsmith of massive proportion, expertly imbuing every paragraph with gorgeous visuals, and a rhythmic cadence.
On top of that, the world is something that feels incredibly unique for how many times the fantasy genre has built off of worlds like this after the fact. What first seems like a medieval land populated only by humans, bereft of magic or anything of fantastical nature is very quickly subverted, from a throne made of the remains of a slain dragon, to magical swords crafted from meteors, and ancient elf-like races that are clearly an inspiration for GRRM’s Children of The Forest.
“He who is certain he knows the ending of things when he is only beginning them is either extremely wise or extremely foolish; no matter which is true, he is certainly an unhappy man, for he has put a knife in the heart of wonder.”
To the people who say that the book is slow, yes, they’re right. It takes nearly 300 pages for the plot to really ramp up, as the first third of the book is focused on world building, and our protagonist, Simon, who I have already come to love by the ending of this entry. There is a very compelling plot here, one in which I won’t reveal, that almost feels secondary to the lovely characters that Williams has created, in the same vein as Wheel of Time, there is a character from every walk of life, someone for everyone.
I am very excited to continue this series, as I already feel like the land of Osten Ard is a second home. It has that beautiful nostalgic feeling that is hard for me to get from books nowadays, and I eagerly await my embarkation on the journey of the next book.
“Piercing My Hearte there is A Golden Dagger; That is God
Piercing God's Hearte there is a Golden Needle; That is me.”
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No