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dromwald's review against another edition
4.0
Great to be back in Osten Ard again after so many years - even if the visit was somewhat brief compared to Williams' other forays into the universe. Strange too to find myself cheering on the Norns for a change.
osutton's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
songwind's review against another edition
4.0
An interesting follow up to Memory, Sorrow and Thorn. Unlike the classic trilogy, this one features Norn POV characters, giving the adversaries more depth and sympathy.
Though the story of the Norn's retreat and Isgrimnur's siege of Stormspike is complete in itself, I wonder what it will be setting up for later.
Though the story of the Norn's retreat and Isgrimnur's siege of Stormspike is complete in itself, I wonder what it will be setting up for later.
ti_leo's review against another edition
4.0
Leicht nostalgisch angehauchte vier Sterne, die originalen Osten Ard-Bücher haben mich maßgeblich für Fantasy angefixt. Es passiert letztlich nicht viel, deshalb reicht es klar nicht für fünf Sterne. Als Einstimmung (und kleine Auffrischung) auf die neuen Bücher, Hexenholzkrone usf. passt es sehr gut, daher mehr als drei Sterne. Nötig zum Verständnis der neuen Bücher ist es nicht, wenn man die originalen Bücher zumindest gelesen hat, aber es macht das Lesen nochmal interessanter, da man ein paar der Charaktere schon etwas besser kennt und versteht.
ryanteston's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
tani's review against another edition
5.0
4.5 stars, rounded up because I've been too stingy this year. I really had my doubts going into this novella. First of all, it's been more than a decade since I read the Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn books, and although I know that I really liked them, I do not remember much from them. So, I wasn't sure how accessible this novella would be for me. Second, I've read quite a few books by Tad Williams, and the shortest was also what I would consider the weakest, so I was a bit worried that he just wouldn't be able to pull off a story in such a short amount of time.
In retrospect, both of these worries were unfounded. Although the story mentions events from the original trilogy, it does not assume that you know anything about them. Instead, it very subtly holds your hand and makes sure to give you the details you need to understand what's going on. Considering that this follows directly on from the end of Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn, I thought this was really well-done and helpful to me. I never felt lost, and I don't think anyone else would either.
As for the length, I was extremely impressed with how Williams handled that. I feel like I've read actual novels with less substance than this novella. And I loved the format that he took here. Basically, the novella has 3 different perspectives. The first is Isgrimnur, a duke of the north, who I believe was a fairly significant character from the original series. (I can't say I remember much beyond his name, though, so I could be wrong.) The second is Porto, a common soldier on his way to a guard position in the north, who gets pulled into things as common soldiers do. And the third is Viyeki, a Norn Builder and minor noble who is part of the host of Norns being chased.
I absolutely loved the complexity that having these three perspectives gave the story. We see Isgrimnur's struggle between making choices that are good for his country and choices that are driven by his own hatred. We see the fear and helplessness of Porto, embroiled in a fight that he didn't quite sign up for, and isn't really equipped to deal with. And we see the struggle between tradition and change in Norn society through Viyeki. There are also occasional snippets from a Norn historical text to add yet another layer. It makes it very clear just how many grey areas there are in war, and I thought it made for wonderful story-telling.
Of course, reading this also gave me a burning desire to read The Witchwood Crown, and I'm going to have to spend the week wrestling with whether or not I break my book-buying ban in order to obtain a copy. But I guess that's a nice problem to have, right?
In retrospect, both of these worries were unfounded. Although the story mentions events from the original trilogy, it does not assume that you know anything about them. Instead, it very subtly holds your hand and makes sure to give you the details you need to understand what's going on. Considering that this follows directly on from the end of Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn, I thought this was really well-done and helpful to me. I never felt lost, and I don't think anyone else would either.
As for the length, I was extremely impressed with how Williams handled that. I feel like I've read actual novels with less substance than this novella. And I loved the format that he took here. Basically, the novella has 3 different perspectives. The first is Isgrimnur, a duke of the north, who I believe was a fairly significant character from the original series. (I can't say I remember much beyond his name, though, so I could be wrong.) The second is Porto, a common soldier on his way to a guard position in the north, who gets pulled into things as common soldiers do. And the third is Viyeki, a Norn Builder and minor noble who is part of the host of Norns being chased.
I absolutely loved the complexity that having these three perspectives gave the story. We see Isgrimnur's struggle between making choices that are good for his country and choices that are driven by his own hatred. We see the fear and helplessness of Porto, embroiled in a fight that he didn't quite sign up for, and isn't really equipped to deal with. And we see the struggle between tradition and change in Norn society through Viyeki. There are also occasional snippets from a Norn historical text to add yet another layer. It makes it very clear just how many grey areas there are in war, and I thought it made for wonderful story-telling.
Of course, reading this also gave me a burning desire to read The Witchwood Crown, and I'm going to have to spend the week wrestling with whether or not I break my book-buying ban in order to obtain a copy. But I guess that's a nice problem to have, right?
mxsallybend's review against another edition
4.0
It's hard to believe it's been over twenty years since I last visited Osten Ard. In that time I finished high school, completed my Bachelor's degree, got married, and embarked on a career that saw me spend 15 years with the same company. When I heard Tad Williams was returning to the world of Simon and Miriamele, I was cautiously excited. I haven't had a lot of luck revisiting the fantasy sagas of my youth, but I remembered Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn as being deeper and more complex, hence the cautious optimism.
The Heart of What Was Lost is what I would call an epic novella. It captures the essence of the original trilogy, including the world-building and the mythology, but does so on a smaller scale. This is an intimate tale of two companies, Human and Norn, engaging in a series of sad, desperate sieges. It's a story of loss, the thirst for revenge, and the drive to preserve a race. There's no grand heroism or thoughts of conquest here, just a battle for survival in the face of extermination.
There are two character pairings at the heart of the story putting a face on the horrors of genocidal war. Porto and Endri book-end the story, soldiers from the same hometown in the south who strike up a friendship on the trail. It's astounding just how well Williams is able to not only build these characters in so few pages, but establish a relationship that tugs at the reader, especially during the darkness of the final chapter. Viyeki and Yaarike, meanwhile, are Builders from the north, master and apprentice who find themselves caught between loyalties and ethics before the end. Again, Williams does such a strong job of drawing them for us, it's all too easy to empathise with the difficult choice that is ultimately forced upon them.
As you'd expect from Tad Williams, the set pieces here are magnificent, from frozen forests, to ruined keeps, to the mountain depths. The sieges are powerful and exciting, with incredible sacrifices required of each side, with moments of both glory and horror. There is a scene of fire that may be one of the best that Williams has ever written, and another of death and undeath that surprised me with its power.
I wondered how much of this would be recap and rehash, connecting Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn with The Last King of Osten Ard, and the answer is almost none. This reads like a lost epilogue from To Green Angel Tower, a story that continues effortlessly from the original. There are a few small details to spark the reader's memory, but nothing that would serve to welcome new readers into the world. The Heart of What Was Lost is a story that stands on its own, important because of what has gone before, and . . . well, we'll have to wait until June to see how it ties into The Witchwood Crown.
Originally reviewed at Beauty in Ruins
The Heart of What Was Lost is what I would call an epic novella. It captures the essence of the original trilogy, including the world-building and the mythology, but does so on a smaller scale. This is an intimate tale of two companies, Human and Norn, engaging in a series of sad, desperate sieges. It's a story of loss, the thirst for revenge, and the drive to preserve a race. There's no grand heroism or thoughts of conquest here, just a battle for survival in the face of extermination.
There are two character pairings at the heart of the story putting a face on the horrors of genocidal war. Porto and Endri book-end the story, soldiers from the same hometown in the south who strike up a friendship on the trail. It's astounding just how well Williams is able to not only build these characters in so few pages, but establish a relationship that tugs at the reader, especially during the darkness of the final chapter. Viyeki and Yaarike, meanwhile, are Builders from the north, master and apprentice who find themselves caught between loyalties and ethics before the end. Again, Williams does such a strong job of drawing them for us, it's all too easy to empathise with the difficult choice that is ultimately forced upon them.
As you'd expect from Tad Williams, the set pieces here are magnificent, from frozen forests, to ruined keeps, to the mountain depths. The sieges are powerful and exciting, with incredible sacrifices required of each side, with moments of both glory and horror. There is a scene of fire that may be one of the best that Williams has ever written, and another of death and undeath that surprised me with its power.
I wondered how much of this would be recap and rehash, connecting Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn with The Last King of Osten Ard, and the answer is almost none. This reads like a lost epilogue from To Green Angel Tower, a story that continues effortlessly from the original. There are a few small details to spark the reader's memory, but nothing that would serve to welcome new readers into the world. The Heart of What Was Lost is a story that stands on its own, important because of what has gone before, and . . . well, we'll have to wait until June to see how it ties into The Witchwood Crown.
Originally reviewed at Beauty in Ruins
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary ARC of this title from the publisher in exchange for review consideration. This does not in any way affect the honesty or sincerity of my review.
blodeuedd's review against another edition
4.0
I read Memory, Sorrow and Thorn ages ago. I really can't remember anything. Except for like 3 names and the cover of the last book.
This book takes place 6 months after that series ended and is a sort of conclusion to that series, but also a prequel to the new one.
The bad guys are running back to the mountains and the good guys are chasing them...BUT, damn I rooted for the bad guys! Did I hate them back when? I have no idea. But here he made me sympathise with them. They wanted their land back. They wanted to protect their people. And if the humans won this last siege then everyone woman and child would be killed, raped and left to rot. The humans were angry and no, I did not see it from the perspective. I rooted for the Norns. I really liked how he did that. And I hope that in this new series I can still root for them, but I fear they might turn really bad and mad again.
I really enjoyed this short book. And I must read the series that comes out this summer. I am def looking forward to it now.
This book takes place 6 months after that series ended and is a sort of conclusion to that series, but also a prequel to the new one.
The bad guys are running back to the mountains and the good guys are chasing them...BUT, damn I rooted for the bad guys! Did I hate them back when? I have no idea. But here he made me sympathise with them. They wanted their land back. They wanted to protect their people. And if the humans won this last siege then everyone woman and child would be killed, raped and left to rot. The humans were angry and no, I did not see it from the perspective. I rooted for the Norns. I really liked how he did that. And I hope that in this new series I can still root for them, but I fear they might turn really bad and mad again.
I really enjoyed this short book. And I must read the series that comes out this summer. I am def looking forward to it now.