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paracyclops's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
relaxing
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This second part of Tad Williams's Memory, Sorrow and Thorn series felt very consistent with the first, in terms of style and the continuation of the narrative. So far, so exemplary, as an essay in the techniques of epic fantasy writing. The structure of The Stone of farewell is carefully managed, with multiple threads woven together to produce a single, continually apprehensible narrative, and strong differentiation of both characters, and geographic or cultural regions. The worldbuilding is clearly inspired by Tolkien, in terms of both its layering of historical and mythological stories, and its repurposing of primary-world linguistics. Williams's imaginary languages are clearly based on Northern European models, apart from those of the 'Sithi' (his elves), whose phonology sounds as though it is intended to emulate some indigenous American languages. He gives each of his cultures' proper nouns a consistent music, that helps the reader to orientate themselves in his world—many fantasy writers seem to fail completely at this task, so I appreciated the care that was taken over it here.
Williams's 'Sithi' are very much more alien than Tolkien's elves, and more overtly 'magical', but they are also somehow less mysterious, which I think is emblematic of the work as a whole. There is a certain clarity and simplicity to cause and effect, a certain sense of completeness in the characters' knowledge (taken as a whole), that conspire to make this world feel more prosaic than it might (although it avoids the kind of pseudo-technological instrumentalism that mars so many fantasy worlds with overt 'magic systems'). The writing, however, is very engaging, and the characters are varied, and often likeable. Unlike Tolkien, Williams is a professional novelist, possessed of the technical skills to keep things texturally varied through the long journeys that most of the narrative threads are filled with. I have to say though, although I was never exactly bored, I often found myself wondering why Williams had spent so long saying 'Character X travelled from Point A to Point B'. I do love long books, but I like them to be as crammed with incident, thematic content and ideas as short books are. This one could have been cut by a third or more without losing anything, for me. Overall, however, it's a very enjoyable read, with narrative tension and forward momentum managed expertly to keep the reader hungering for the next page, the next chapter, and the next book.
Williams's 'Sithi' are very much more alien than Tolkien's elves, and more overtly 'magical', but they are also somehow less mysterious, which I think is emblematic of the work as a whole. There is a certain clarity and simplicity to cause and effect, a certain sense of completeness in the characters' knowledge (taken as a whole), that conspire to make this world feel more prosaic than it might (although it avoids the kind of pseudo-technological instrumentalism that mars so many fantasy worlds with overt 'magic systems'). The writing, however, is very engaging, and the characters are varied, and often likeable. Unlike Tolkien, Williams is a professional novelist, possessed of the technical skills to keep things texturally varied through the long journeys that most of the narrative threads are filled with. I have to say though, although I was never exactly bored, I often found myself wondering why Williams had spent so long saying 'Character X travelled from Point A to Point B'. I do love long books, but I like them to be as crammed with incident, thematic content and ideas as short books are. This one could have been cut by a third or more without losing anything, for me. Overall, however, it's a very enjoyable read, with narrative tension and forward momentum managed expertly to keep the reader hungering for the next page, the next chapter, and the next book.
petitemass15's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
bia_reicht's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
dr_dwegon's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
medium-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? It's complicated
4.5
cereus7's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
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
4.0
polarism's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
lachiemorris's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
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? No
3.75
i found this to be a step up from the first book. the characters are coming into there own - especially simon who i've warmed up to more. but i found the pace of this one to be odd. it felt as if so much and so little happened. the opening of the book opens swinging with some major information, before slowly fizzling into slow travel logs. these travel logs sadly carry on for quite some time, only to be broken up by either a chapter of pure action, or of a character that doesn't really have an arc to fill us in of some happenings.
miriamele suffers the most from this, she's the character im the most intrigued by as i dont see - yet - what will happen with her arc, but yet over the course of this book things just happen to her. the cadrach dynamic is interesting, but yet it can't really carry what is a lacking arc for her. only a handful of chapter fragments of hers are plot interesting, the rest are just there, which sucks.
simon got the better end of this travel log book, for his chapters held interest. its clear he's the main character, for everything around him seems so much more interesting and thought out. his travel logs are either mind numbing, or tense, for he actually has action. his end of book chapters are phenomenal, and the very last one is icing on the cake.
as well, world building is amazing, but it can feel at times tad is just telling you things for the sake of it. and if its paying off in the next book, i wouldn't know, for the information is lathered thick leaving it hard to remember at times. but yet, i'm still excited to finish the trilogy
miriamele suffers the most from this, she's the character im the most intrigued by as i dont see - yet - what will happen with her arc, but yet over the course of this book things just happen to her. the cadrach dynamic is interesting, but yet it can't really carry what is a lacking arc for her. only a handful of chapter fragments of hers are plot interesting, the rest are just there, which sucks.
simon got the better end of this travel log book, for his chapters held interest. its clear he's the main character, for everything around him seems so much more interesting and thought out. his travel logs are either mind numbing, or tense, for he actually has action. his end of book chapters are phenomenal, and the very last one is icing on the cake.
as well, world building is amazing, but it can feel at times tad is just telling you things for the sake of it. and if its paying off in the next book, i wouldn't know, for the information is lathered thick leaving it hard to remember at times. but yet, i'm still excited to finish the trilogy
daanjansen96's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
befoooremoonrise's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25