Required Reading

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Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Shadowplay by Tad Williams




The book chronicles the clash between Fae and Mortal as well as the machinations of a China like empire.   As I mentioned after the first book in the series, Shadowmarch, this book has a bit of the flavor of the last Williams book I read, The War of the Flowers.   The story continues where Shadowmarch left off.

Repeating myself from the Shadowmarch review, the complexity of Williams world crafting is just amazing.   He provides detail and then he provides details on the detail.  I revel in his carefully crafted characters and environment.

Williams writes with a gourmand attitude on his characters.   There is a wealth of personalities and foibles.   His characters are alive and become more real page by page.   They have flaws and faults and demonstrate both laudable and despicable behavior.

The sibling relationship between Barrick and Briony is nearly severed by circumstances beyond their control.   Each of them is now developed as more of a stand alone character rather than a matched pair.

Chert and family are back and in the center of the Shadowmarch conflict.   Barrick’s quest pairs him with Ferras and Stormlantern, one of their enemies.  

There are almost too many wonderful characterizations even the crow has surprising aspects.  Again this book is definitely a banquet not a lunch.   The settings are painted with a clarity that makes you shiver in the unnatural Fae fog.   

This is the 2nd book in the Shadowmarch series and I will look forward to reading the rest.

I highly recommend the book and the series.

Body of work of <a type="amzn"> Tad Williams </a>




This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

2 comments:

  1. Great book, and a great series. Barrick grated on my nerves a bit, but he finally seemed to start maturing a bit towards the end of this one.

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  2. Bob, I thought Barrick was far more annoying than just grating! I'm guessing that Williams knows at least one privileged, spoiled brat to so accurately nail that behavior. If you haven't read his War of the Flowers, do so. I thought it was as good as the Dragonbone Chair.

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