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dinapetko's review
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
the_windrunner94's review against another edition
adventurous
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
qjbrown96's review against another edition
3.0
All in all I’m pretty disappointed in this series. It’s just too damn long. Tad always writes long winded, but I can usually justify it but this series should be half as long. I thought the first 2 books were really good and I was very interested but I think Tad decided to change the path of the plot to differentiate this series from Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn but I hated it. I give this series as a whole 3 stars
jesslynh's review against another edition
3.0
Would give it a 3.5 if Goodreads allowed it. I loved the series, but found myself saying "Is that it?" at the end. I swear to you the story just stopped. It ended with a period, but felt like it was mid-sentence. For a series that was extended an additional book so the author could properly finish--that is unforgivable. I will admit that if I think over every major and some minor characters, okay, I guess sime stories could be ended there, but to leave us hanging with Briony and Barrick is a major faux pas. At least give me an epilogue 50 or 100 years later (I know, predictable) that shows me the state of the kingdoms.
Heavy sigh....
My only other complaint is that Mr. Williams REALLY needs help with the romance angle. The major romance scenes where the main characters confess their love actually felt uncomfortable to read it was so awkwardly written. I could/would totally overlook the romance angle were it not for the ending.
I wonder if Mr. Williams got sick or a new editor. Maybe the publisher told him to get on with it. Okay, I'm stopping now befor I downgrade to 2.5 stars
Heavy sigh....
My only other complaint is that Mr. Williams REALLY needs help with the romance angle. The major romance scenes where the main characters confess their love actually felt uncomfortable to read it was so awkwardly written. I could/would totally overlook the romance angle were it not for the ending.
I wonder if Mr. Williams got sick or a new editor. Maybe the publisher told him to get on with it. Okay, I'm stopping now befor I downgrade to 2.5 stars
msandgren's review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
cameronkc's review against another edition
3.0
I liked it a little more than 3 but a little less than 4 stars. The last book wraps things up neatly, all the characters stories roll into one another. I found myself glossing over a number of the story lines that just were not that interesting (the poet, Birony) and focusing on one that was better than the rest (Barricks).
Enjoyable summertime read, but don't rush out to get it.
Enjoyable summertime read, but don't rush out to get it.
kadomi's review against another edition
4.0
So, this was it, the end of the Shadowmarch books. While I still love Tad Williams dearly and find he is a tremendous writer, I ultimately find the series of four books contains flaws that diminish the pleasure.
Above all, it is a story on an epic scale with a fantastic theme. It's an interesting look at world religions, really, and it's probably easy to see similarities between some of our modern religions. The story of the world's Godwars is almost the same for Trigon believers, Xixians and Qar, and yet the details differ. It's a story about terrifying gods and the wrongs they have done each other. That part I loved and really enjoyed how this story built in books 2 and 3.
Shadowheart is a satisfying conclusion. In fact, it has over 100 pages of after the big event closure for every single storyline, and there were a lot of those. I just wish that to get to this conclusion, we did not have to suffer through so much redundancy.
A weakness I felt keenly was that the underground battles with Ferras Vansen were just happening too often. They left me with no impact by the end. Too many battle scenes left me numb and bored with it.
The more I read Shadowheart, the more I was annoyed that some parts of Shadowrise were absolutely unnecessary. What was the point of Briony staying at Syan's court? I love me some court intrigue and politics, and I loved this part, but ultimately, when you look at the overall series, it didn't do anything for it at all. Sure, I guess you have to explain Briony's character growth, but this part and many others of the series could have done with more editing. I love that Tad Williams is such a verbose author, but this was a bit too much.
In retrospect, I have the same issue with the Greatdeeps parts from book 2. What was the ultimate point, other than character growth for Barrick? It could have been much shorter and would still have been good.
I realize I sound unhappy, and yet I am still saying that this is a four stars book. It is, because Tad Williams writes beautifully, and the overall story is fantastic and moving. It could just have been 500 pages or more shorter and would have been a more satisfying experience.
For now I will say that Memory, Sorrow and Thorn and Otherlands both are better series. And yet, I will continue buying everything he'll ever write.
Above all, it is a story on an epic scale with a fantastic theme. It's an interesting look at world religions, really, and it's probably easy to see similarities between some of our modern religions. The story of the world's Godwars is almost the same for Trigon believers, Xixians and Qar, and yet the details differ. It's a story about terrifying gods and the wrongs they have done each other. That part I loved and really enjoyed how this story built in books 2 and 3.
Shadowheart is a satisfying conclusion. In fact, it has over 100 pages of after the big event closure for every single storyline, and there were a lot of those. I just wish that to get to this conclusion, we did not have to suffer through so much redundancy.
A weakness I felt keenly was that the underground battles with Ferras Vansen were just happening too often. They left me with no impact by the end.
Spoiler
I wasn't even able to shed a tear when Calomel and Jesper Sledge died.The more I read Shadowheart, the more I was annoyed that some parts of Shadowrise were absolutely unnecessary. What was the point of Briony staying at Syan's court? I love me some court intrigue and politics, and I loved this part, but ultimately, when you look at the overall series, it didn't do anything for it at all. Sure, I guess you have to explain Briony's character growth, but this part and many others of the series could have done with more editing. I love that Tad Williams is such a verbose author, but this was a bit too much.
In retrospect, I have the same issue with the Greatdeeps parts from book 2. What was the ultimate point, other than character growth for Barrick? It could have been much shorter and would still have been good.
I realize I sound unhappy, and yet I am still saying that this is a four stars book. It is, because Tad Williams writes beautifully, and the overall story is fantastic and moving. It could just have been 500 pages or more shorter and would have been a more satisfying experience.
For now I will say that Memory, Sorrow and Thorn and Otherlands both are better series. And yet, I will continue buying everything he'll ever write.
shane_tiernan's review against another edition
4.0
So as last books-in-a-series go, this wasn’t bad at all. Overall I think the series suffered from being too long, but then I can’t say I ever really got bored. Case-in-point would be the ending. I did this book on audio and the climax of the story happened around disc 23. The book came with 27 discs. So that meant about 3 hours of story (15% of the entire book) was dedicated to the wrap up, during which any questions you might have about pretty much any character who appeared in any of the 4 books, is answered.
Anyway, I did actually tear up at least once so that’s saying something right? After living with these characters for the last 6 months or so, and having their voices brought to life by a wonderful narrator I guess I can admit that without it damaging my masculine image too much. It’s been a long time since I’ve read an entire series of fantasy novels, these won’t go down as my favorite series but they were definitely enjoyable and Mr. Williams definitely has a talent for making things seem real. I never once felt taken “out of the story” by something that didn’t make sense to me.
Anyway, I did actually tear up at least once so that’s saying something right? After living with these characters for the last 6 months or so, and having their voices brought to life by a wonderful narrator I guess I can admit that without it damaging my masculine image too much. It’s been a long time since I’ve read an entire series of fantasy novels, these won’t go down as my favorite series but they were definitely enjoyable and Mr. Williams definitely has a talent for making things seem real. I never once felt taken “out of the story” by something that didn’t make sense to me.
mbs1236's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
jmschomers's review against another edition
3.0
Series just kinda dragged along. The ending was just a bunch of match making. I liked most of the book, but the conclusion was ~120 pages.