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3.91 AVERAGE
3.91 AVERAGE
A very satisfying ending. The threads come together nicely and I think the right tone is hit. Dark, but not too dark. Broken, but not too broken. Lots of coincidence, but nothing that seems completely outrageous considering it's epic fantasy with sleeping gods possibly influencing the action. It's solid. More solid than Otherworld, less than Memory, Sorrow & Thorn. If aren't completely allergic to the previous books in the series then by all means pick this one up. It does more and more better.
Closer to a 3.75. I feel extremely conflicted about this book, even though I know I really liked it. For one, it had a very strange, and somewhat unsatisfying, ending for me. That might have truly been the point of it, but I can't be certain.
I think the tough part, as it is with any epic fantasy series, is taking the story as a whole. This started out excellent, and my overall feeling at the end was that it kind of limped to the finish line. Too often, the book felt like a chore to finish, and with so many storylines to finish (some with more value than others), the end result just felt somewhat lacking.
Tad Williams is and continues to be one of my favorite fantasy authors. I can't wait to see what comes up next, but thus ultimately doesn't end up being a series I'll be looking to revisit, even if it's better than most.
I think the tough part, as it is with any epic fantasy series, is taking the story as a whole. This started out excellent, and my overall feeling at the end was that it kind of limped to the finish line. Too often, the book felt like a chore to finish, and with so many storylines to finish (some with more value than others), the end result just felt somewhat lacking.
Tad Williams is and continues to be one of my favorite fantasy authors. I can't wait to see what comes up next, but thus ultimately doesn't end up being a series I'll be looking to revisit, even if it's better than most.
Tad Williams is an intriguing writer; I particularly like how he adds a touch of horror throughout his novels. I do think It could have been edited a tiny bit, but still a highly recommended read. I'm excited to move on to more of his work.
I really wish there were more authors like Tad Williams. He has spent three very long books slowly building up a fantasy epic to its climax, and at last the many different forces around Shadowmarch are about to clash. "Shadowheart" takes a LONG time to work its way to the climax, but it's still a brilliant, wrenching finale.
Picking up where the last book left off: Briony and Prince Eneas are leading a ragtag army to the castle, and the exiled Barrick is struggling with the effects of the Fireflower in a Qar citadel. And no sooner has Barrick recovered than he and the Qar queen Saqri set out on a journey into the gateways of the gods and the worlds of dreams, so that they can make their way to Shadowmarch.
Unfortunately, the Autarch Sulepis and the treacherous Tolly have virtually seized control of Shadowmarch Castle, and are planning to (separately) awaken gods for their own power. Allies and family are killed, treachery is unveiled, and the most terrifying enemy imaginable is about to attack all of them...
Like his Otherland and Memory, Sorrow and Thorn series, the Shadowmarch series expanded into a quadrilogy when the third book got too huge to actually be printed. Fortunately, this doesn't really throw off the balance of the book, since it merely feels like the last chunk of a vast, epic story.
And Williams' writing is sublime -- he twines together a dozen-plus plot threads into a shimmering, atmospheric tapestry. His prose is lush and almost dreamlike, and full of vibrant descriptions ("vines that bore nodding black flowers and leaves as purple as a bruise"). Actually, this book has some of the best writing I've ever seen from Williams -- the scenes where Barrick drifts through the misty fields of the dreaming dead are just exquisite.
But on the downside, the beginning is a little draggy (especially since it takes forever for Briony to actually do anything). And at the end, Williams is a little hasty in wrapping up some of the plot threads, like the ones about Anissa or Flint.
Williams further develops his massive cast -- a strong-willed princess, her tormented brother, a strange little boy, doughty Funderlings, ethereal Qar royals, and a runaway concubine -- and gives them all distinctive personalities. What's more, some of them evolve in very unexpected ways, but they all are stronger and better for the experience. Some of the conclusions are kind of unsatisfying (Quinnitan), but most of them are quite nice (Briony, Barrick).
It's kind of slow at times, but "Shadowheart" is a satisfying grand finale to Tad Williams' richly-imagined fantasy series. Compelling, powerful and beautifully-written.
Picking up where the last book left off: Briony and Prince Eneas are leading a ragtag army to the castle, and the exiled Barrick is struggling with the effects of the Fireflower in a Qar citadel. And no sooner has Barrick recovered than he and the Qar queen Saqri set out on a journey into the gateways of the gods and the worlds of dreams, so that they can make their way to Shadowmarch.
Unfortunately, the Autarch Sulepis and the treacherous Tolly have virtually seized control of Shadowmarch Castle, and are planning to (separately) awaken gods for their own power. Allies and family are killed, treachery is unveiled, and the most terrifying enemy imaginable is about to attack all of them...
Like his Otherland and Memory, Sorrow and Thorn series, the Shadowmarch series expanded into a quadrilogy when the third book got too huge to actually be printed. Fortunately, this doesn't really throw off the balance of the book, since it merely feels like the last chunk of a vast, epic story.
And Williams' writing is sublime -- he twines together a dozen-plus plot threads into a shimmering, atmospheric tapestry. His prose is lush and almost dreamlike, and full of vibrant descriptions ("vines that bore nodding black flowers and leaves as purple as a bruise"). Actually, this book has some of the best writing I've ever seen from Williams -- the scenes where Barrick drifts through the misty fields of the dreaming dead are just exquisite.
But on the downside, the beginning is a little draggy (especially since it takes forever for Briony to actually do anything). And at the end, Williams is a little hasty in wrapping up some of the plot threads, like the ones about Anissa or Flint.
Williams further develops his massive cast -- a strong-willed princess, her tormented brother, a strange little boy, doughty Funderlings, ethereal Qar royals, and a runaway concubine -- and gives them all distinctive personalities. What's more, some of them evolve in very unexpected ways, but they all are stronger and better for the experience. Some of the conclusions are kind of unsatisfying (Quinnitan), but most of them are quite nice (Briony, Barrick).
It's kind of slow at times, but "Shadowheart" is a satisfying grand finale to Tad Williams' richly-imagined fantasy series. Compelling, powerful and beautifully-written.
This series was an amazing adventure. The last book, gives so much closure while asking many more questions. I'd love a continuation of this series.
This series was an amazing adventure. The last book, gives so much closure while asking many more questions. I'd love a continuation of this series.
This book was a satisfying ending to an altogether enjoyable series. Despite the series' many downs where the plot often dragged and trudged, it had lots of exciting and intense moments. And though the books are lengthy, Tad’s writing style makes them easy to go through. I see that I rated both book 1-2 three stars and book 3-4 four stars. I don’t remember if it is because an actual increase in the series or just me being able to give the books more attention now. Going back to my reviews for the books I see that I was in a distractive state when reading book 2.
And just like with the previous books, this was bit slow paced on several parts. Some stuff could have been quickened up with less page time, and boy did the ending post-battle draaaag. Like I get Tad wanted to tie up all knots but he could have done it in less pages.
I ended up enjoying most of the characters by the end. Just a few couple, like Vash and Vo I cared very little about, and these two especially I kept mixing up with each other. Barrick’s POV was my favourite, despite him being a little emo edgelord at times. But loved being in the shadowlands and seeing all the weird stuff and meeting all kinds of fairy creatures. And Barrick did grow out a little of his antics. He was also accompanied through a big chunk of the series by a talking raven called Skurn and I loved Skurn.
After I finished Memory, Sorrow and Thorn a couple of years ago, I felt very done with Simon’s story. I really felt that To Green Angel Tower wrapped up his story good so I never felt the need to start reading the sequel, Last King of Osten Ard. For Shadowmarch, however, I wouldn’t be too opposed reading a sequel series. There’s an openness to more stories I would like to explore.
And just like with the previous books, this was bit slow paced on several parts. Some stuff could have been quickened up with less page time, and boy did the ending post-battle draaaag. Like I get Tad wanted to tie up all knots but he could have done it in less pages.
I ended up enjoying most of the characters by the end. Just a few couple, like Vash and Vo I cared very little about, and these two especially I kept mixing up with each other. Barrick’s POV was my favourite, despite him being a little emo edgelord at times. But loved being in the shadowlands and seeing all the weird stuff and meeting all kinds of fairy creatures. And Barrick did grow out a little of his antics. He was also accompanied through a big chunk of the series by a talking raven called Skurn and I loved Skurn.
After I finished Memory, Sorrow and Thorn a couple of years ago, I felt very done with Simon’s story. I really felt that To Green Angel Tower wrapped up his story good so I never felt the need to start reading the sequel, Last King of Osten Ard. For Shadowmarch, however, I wouldn’t be too opposed reading a sequel series. There’s an openness to more stories I would like to explore.
A thrilling, monumental conclusion to a true fantasy epic. Obviously a matter of taste, I thought the payoff for such a lengthy series was exceptional.
It's been a good while since I read this book. I recall it as a fairly "standard" fantasy story of a kingdom in peril and the (mostly royal) people who need to save it. I don't think I'll be rereading it any time soon, but if you're looking for a classical fantasy story like that, this is a fine enough candidate.
Wow.
After not being able to put down book 3 because of the constant flow of information, this one I had to walk away from at one point because it was so heartbreaking. I thought I knew how things were going to end.
I should know better by now.
This was probably the best ending I have read in a long time. Tad Williams knows his stuff, and knows how to make you want to stay up to finish once the ending is in sight.
While I don't agree with everything that happened in the ending, it's OK, because it fits the meticulously crafted world he created. And it leaves me wanting to know more about what happens to these all too human characters.
After not being able to put down book 3 because of the constant flow of information, this one I had to walk away from at one point because it was so heartbreaking. I thought I knew how things were going to end.
I should know better by now.
This was probably the best ending I have read in a long time. Tad Williams knows his stuff, and knows how to make you want to stay up to finish once the ending is in sight.
While I don't agree with everything that happened in the ending, it's OK, because it fits the meticulously crafted world he created. And it leaves me wanting to know more about what happens to these all too human characters.