Shadowheart

Shadowheart
Shadowmarch #4
Tad Williams
2 Stars
Fantasy
Epub, 738 Pages

the conclusion to the Shadowmarch tetralogy. A god is resurrected, but not the god Sulepsis [the mad monarch] thinks, the god is defeated. Brionny and Ferris get together, Barick becomes the leader of the Qar for its last generation and everyone else just kind of survives. I wasn’t impressed, sadly. I doubt I’ll ever re-read this series.

Disappointing, to be honest. But this whole series has been slow with no real payoff, imo. Even the ending was “wham, bam, thankyou ma’am”. I just never found a character who I really liked in this series and I kept waiting for someone to cheer for.

Shadowrise

Shadowrise
Shadowmarch #3
Tad Williams
Fantasy
3 Stars
dtb, 554 pages

the 3rd book of the Shadowmarch tetrology. I ended up reading this in short sections at lunch at work, and I think that really worked against this book. The way it was written made it so it needed to be read in 3-5 long reads.

Barrit ends up going through yet more stuff and meeting the King of the Qar, Briony makes it safely to another kingdom only to face assassination, etc and ends up fleeing back to Southmarch and the fruitcake godking reveals his plans to sacrifice the king of Southmarch to gain control of a god for his own personal use.

This book just didn’t really resonate with me, but I think I would have enjoyed it more if I had read it in fewer, but longer, sessions.

Shadowplay

Shadowplay
Shadowmarch #2
Tad Williams
fantasy
3 stars
641 pages

So much happens, so many side by side threads, that to summarize it is really hard. Ok, Briony escapes, ends up alone, is in the process of making contact with a possible ally. Barrick, with companions, is captured by a demi-god, escapes. Quinnitan is recaptured by the Autarch.