Just finished "Into the Narrowdark" by Tad Williams. It's the third book of the 4 book "The Last King of Osten Ard" series, which is the sequel to the series "Memory, Sorrow and Thorn" that starts with The Dragonbone Chair.
I loved this book, although it's dark and bitter and sad. It's beautiful too.
If you're feeling frustrated with the Rothfusses and Martins of this world who can't seem to finish their stories, Tad Williams might be the answer.
May 27, 2025, 3:11 PMTad Williams finishes things.
When we're all dead and gone, the books that will still be read are by people who finish things.
@Zumbador Thank you, I haven't read anything by him. I *am* frustrated by the Rothfusses and less so the Martins (I stopped caring) and also Melanie Rawn who wrote 2/3 books of the Ruins of Ambrai when I was a teenager and it's been eating away at me since. How was it meant to end?!
@Vidyala
I actually have a hard time imagining how Rothfus can possibly pay off all the story threads he set up in the first two books.
@Zumbador I agree. He kind of went off the rails in book two especially. I don't think he has an end for that story, and at this point even if he did I'm not sure I'd read it.
@Vidyala there were also some weird sexist story lines that really put me off. Disappointing
@Zumbador Agreed, haha, I just stopped myself from mentioning it because I’m always out here being a feminist killjoy 😂 but I agree with you! If someone were starting with Tad Williams is there one book you’d recommend most?
The Dragonbone Chair is a good one. It seems to be a stereotypical epic fantasy (kitchen boy fails upward into heroism) but I think it's so much better than that. First of a series.
The War Of the Flowers is a stand alone book I enjoyed. Contemporary /fae fantasy
The City of Golden Shadow is also really good. More science fictionish but still very fantasy. First of a 4 book series. Children dissappear into a weaponised vr game.
@Zumbador Thank you for the recommendations!