Fantasy Books

 

Title: Stone of Farewell / Book Two of Memory, Sorrow and Thorn

Author: Tad Williams

Summary: It is a time of darkness, dread, and ultimate testing for the realm of Osten Ard, for the wild magic and terrifying minions of the undead Sithi ruler, Ineluki the Storm King, are spreading their seemingly undefeatable evil across the kingdom. With the very land blighted by the power of Ineluki's wrath, the tattered remnants of a once-proud human army flee in search of a last sanctuary and rallying point - the Stone of Farewell, a place shrouded in mystery and ancient sorrow.

And even as Prince Josua seeks to rally his scattered forces, Simon and the surviving members of the League of the Scrolls are desperately struggling to fulfill missions which will take them from the fallen citadels of humans to the hidden mountain caves of the Qanuc trolls...across storm-tormented waters to discover the truth behind an almost-forgotten legend...to the secret heartland of the Sithi, where the near-immortals must at last decide whether to ally with the race of men in a final war against those of their own blood...

Review: The book picks up where the previous volume left off. Stone Of Farewell finds various protagonists scattered about the world on quests to try and stop the Storm King and his minions. While Simon finds himself in the homeland of Binabik, his troll friend, events are getting bigger as the minions of the Storm King begin to destroy the last threat by the allies. Josua and a group of survivors from Castle Naglimund find themselves on the run from the Storm King’s troops, while other groups find their homelands being attacked by invaders. In this dark and weary time, it is revealed that they should attempt to gather at the Stone Of Farewell, an ancient Sithi city, where they can prepare to fight back against the armies of King Elias.

Williams does an excellent job of maintaining all the different plot lines together, keeping the overall plot moving along and not boring the readers. One of the most interesting aspects of this story involves the elf-like Sithi. They have some involvement in the first book, but they have a greater role in the second novel. Another aspect worth mentioning is the setting of the Sithi homeland, a very beautiful and alien place that is well detailed by Williams. The imagery of the place is vivid and lucid through Tad Williams's imagination. It's almost as if you're actually seeing it through a window as you read along. He does a really good job of making these characters more than the standard "elves" that usually make an appearance in fantasy novels. I think Tad Williams does a good job in developing his characters to fit the situations as the plot progresses and his creation of the Sithi is most interesting. A great continuation from the first book. Definitely an entertaining feast worth reading.

Rating: 10 out of 10