 "A great second part" | 2009-10-06 |
| - Reviewed By User: A38I1Z2MNN6F2U |
| In part two of the epic story, williams again tells a great story that you just don't want to put down. I'm glad i came onto these books after they were all published because i was able to do a marathon session cuz i never wanted to stop the story. |
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 "Middle book blues" | 2009-09-10 |
| - Reviewed By noxush |
| 'The Stone of Farewell' is the middle book of Tad Williams's 'Memory, Sorrow & Thorn' trilogy, and as such it is a bit of a mixed bag. The positives include appealing characters, several interesting plot lines and a comprehensive back story for his world. The negatives include a slow paced and somewhat mundane plot. The whole book feels like Williams is maneuvering the pieces around on the chessboard to get them where he wants them for the final book without regard to making the journey compelling. This wouldn't necessarily be an issue, except 'The Stone of Farewell' weighs in at 700+ pages in paperback. This was a definite step back from 'The Dragonbone Chair'. |
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| "tad williams underated" | 2009-03-19 |
| - Reviewed By User: A1YYA3T9FY6QU2 |
tad williams is underated as a writer. these books are classics. and the michael whelan covers are some of the artists best work.
this second book in mememory sorrow and thorn advances the story in both beautiful and horrific ways
very good book
brian d |
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 "Lack of character development and slow passages hold this story back" | 2008-12-21 |
| - Reviewed By User: A28WU40220OSRW |
If you look at the reviews for the first book in this series, many complain about a very very slow start. I agreed with those people and ended up skipping to the last 1/5 to see what happened. Based on that, it appeared the story was about to pick up the pace.
The story does indeed pick up the pace, but the main character, Simon, grows very little. After over 1,000 pages, he's still a bumbling kitchen boy. Yes, he's done a few 'great' things, but they are all by accident, luck, etc...He still has no training in magic, no great skill as a swordsman, no magical abilities which give him power, and no great intellect to think of clever plans or snappy dialogue. He's...just...an...average...boy. Who gets lucky. If that is your idea of a grand fantasy, following around a boy who literally has nothing remarkable going for him, where every other character he meets is more remarkable, then this is for you. Personally, I'll take a Terry Goodkind hero who is perhaps _too_ perfect, but infinitely more integral to the story than some idiot lackey who bumbles his way to victory which is what you're given here.
Additionally, there are many long slow passages, like 7-10 pages of description at a time. These could have easily been pared down to 1-2 pages, but we have to keep hearing about how cold it is, how the bones ache, etc...I've never seen anyone so enthralled with giving you a play-by-play of each step on a path a character takes. Get on with it already!
The reason I gave it 2 stars is because there are just enough interesting parts, mysteries, new places uncovered, that you at least feel the need to keep skipping around just to see what happens. As torturous as it may be, I'm even considering picking up the last one just to know what happens. I may only read 100 out of the 700 pages, but you gotta do what you gotta do. |
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| "Amazing!!!!" | 2008-09-11 |
| - Reviewed By subaru_no_miko |
| This is one of the best fantasy stories I've ever read, and I couldn't wait to get this book right after I finished Dragonbone Chair. A plus for this version: this book is larger in size, easy to hold, and much easier to read. A must buy!!!! |
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| "A Splendid Sequel to a Fantastic Series" | 2008-04-29 |
| - Reviewed By User: A2IZIBK01H8GQM |
This is the second time I have read Tad Williams epic fantasy series, "Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn." The first time through, when I was fifteen years old, and the series had only been out for a couple years, I didn't understand that I was reading a unique, and unprecedented series. I wasn't aware that many of the other series I would read in the next thirteen years would be only pale shadows of this series in terms of quality and originality - all I knew at the time was that I couldn't put the books down.
I've learned a lot in the thirteen years since I first read the series. I've learned that the fantasy genre is a chaotic, fickle ocean of "literature", filled with terrible novels, surrounded by shores mediocre novels, with only a small island of great stories in the center. I've read hundreds of fantasy books and series, and while some were great, and many were good, a vast majority were underwhelming - even some that many critics consider greats, I can barely make it through the first or second book in the series.
I picked up "The Dragonbone Chair," the first book in the series, a few weeks ago, with the intentions of just browsing a little bit while I was bored. Little did I know that this act would take me back in time, and once again, I wouldn't be able to put the book(s) down until they were done. However, I'm reviewing the second book, "Stone of Farewell," because I just turned the last page this morning, and it is freshest in my mind.
Farewell picks up literally where Dragonbone left off, with one group of heroes fleeing for their lives, and the second group in an uncertain scenario after besting the villains atop Ursheim mountain. We immediately get a feel that this novel will not only be continuing the important main sequence, but will also be expanding on other important characters as new plot lines, new information, and new characters are introduced. It is these new characters that I believe I was so fascinated with. Every single one has his or her own personality, with quirks and annoyances, as well as heroic and comforting properties. One character who we have had no reason up until now to believe is anything other than a rogue and scoundrel shows a side that helps us understand his predicament, and even gives us some sympathy towards him. Other characters, who seemed infallible and unbreakable are shown to have human flaws and weaknesses that truly make us empathize with them. The characters learn from their experiences and actually grow because of them.
Stone of Farewell is where Tad Williams begins to really pick up the plot, and show that the stakes are high. He is not afraid to kill of a character just because we love him, and he is not afraid to show evil at its worst. The villains have true motivations that slowly begin to become apparent, but all their motivations are their own, and unique. The Storm King wants something different from the Norn Queen, who in turn wants something other than what Pryrates wants, who's goals have nothing to do with Elias. Webs of intrigue are sewn masterfully, and the twists are surprising, while at the same time logical.
The different cultures and kingdoms really stand out as well. It is extremely obvious that sithi society is nothing like that of the Erkynlanders, and that Qanucs are not just short Rimmersmen. All the cultures have their own religions, societies, arts, crafts, languages, and lifestyles, and each is as real as the next. It is almost hard to believe this is written about a fantasy world, and not just a past version of Earth.
Tad's writing itself seems to also have made a few leaps by this book. It is perhaps a little-known fact that "Dragonbone" was his breakthrough into the fantasy genre, and many readers could tell this - I couldn't, the first time I read, but I could this time around. However, by the second chapter of the second book, I could swear I was reading the works of someone so established in the genre, that I thought, "How could this series not be one of the most popular, well-known fantasy series around??" This book is also where we see a true break from the standard Tolkien-esque fantasy, and the plot takes real, unique directional leaps that have never been seen before or since.
I was able to stop turning pages long enough to write this review, but "To Green Angel Tower" is calling me, and I fear I must come to beck. I don't know if I will ever read this series again, ten or twenty years from now, but I know that the world of Osten Ard is a great place to visit, and I wouldn't mind coming back to hear the stories again. If you're looking for a great fantasy series to read that is different in style and plot from Tolkien, Eddings, Feist, and Jordan, then I highly recommend giving this series a try. Many people have said that the first 150 pages of Dragonbone are too slow, but I just think it's a slow acceleration to a non-stop joyride, giving you all the background information you need to jump headlong into the series. You won't regret picking this book up. |
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