Absolutely delighted to get back into Osten Ard after all these years.

So much so that I might have to start at the beginning again to relive it

This was a welcome return to the world of Osten Ard with a stand alone story that sandwiches well between the Memory, Sorrow and Thorn trilogy and the upcoming Last King of Osten Ard trilogy. The novel follows Duke Isgrimnur as he attempts to purge the remaining Norns from the land. What I really liked about this book was that it allows the reader into the minds of the Norns. We find out more about their culture and practices and come to see that they have fears and beliefs like the 'goodies'. There has been a shift in fantasy fiction away from good versus evil and this book reflects that. It also does what Williams does so well; battles, sieges, magic (although not very much), character and motivation. You can see the development of Williams' writing since the first trilogy and it was a pleasure to read something that did so much in just a couple of hundred pages.

Unable to download except for title page and copyright page - I know he's a great writer .. and I'd have liked to put up comment on this specific book ...

Please note, my review is not based on the text itself because I was not ever given it. I like Tad Williams but, to get approved for a book on Netgalley that I could promote through numerous avenues on the internet, and of course, I was feeling quite ecstatic due to the fact that Tad is a legend of fantasy writing, to then realise that I was only sent a four-page blurb only. was slightly frustrating.