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scifi's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
5.0
BROTHERS OF THE WIND while being one of the briefest entries in the Osten Ard Saga (and one of the shortest books Williams has ever written) is easily one of the series' best offerings. It is a detailed recounting of a tale first heard in THE DRAGONBONE CHAIR, about Ineluki and Hakatri, two Zida'ya brothers who met tragedy while on the hunt for the dreadful black dragon, Hidohebhi. While the premise of the novel is simple enough, the execution demonstrates Williams' talent for layered, complex storytelling.
Here the tale is recounted through the eyes of Pamon Kes, Hakatri's most faithful Tinukeda’ya companion. Williams uses Kes in a subtle way to interrogate identity, culture, and particularly the loss of both, in such an interesting way. Pamon Kes has lived and served among the Zida'ya all his life, never knowing many of his own people, much of his own history, or even having a grasp on his own language. This sort of...cultural displacement is not uncommon in our own world, so seeing Williams weave this into the narrative, and doing it so well, was very compelling. It made Pamon relatable and also sympathetic at times.
This is the first and only (but not the last...?) time Hakatri has appeared and already he is a standout character within the context of entire series. He's honorable, brave, and so openly kind/understanding. He remains this way even in spite of debilitating pain that is inflicted upon him while hunting the black worm Hidohebhi. He is not without fault, or flaws. For example, his love for his brother, Ineluki, blinded him to the reality that Ineluki was being lead down a dark and treacherous path by the silver masked Hikeda'ya Queen, Utuku. Perhaps, if he had seen his brother for who he was, the events of the original trilogy wouldn't have happened.
Not that Ineluki isn't justified to an extent for his anger and dark thoughts in this book. His deep seated hatred of the mortals isn't one dimensional, because the character isn't one dimensional. Tad manages to flesh this character out in a way the original trilogy could not, as it was mostly from the perspective of the humans. We're shown that even before mortals give him a concrete reason to loathe them, Ineluki seems to suffer from depression, or at least bouts of melancholy, which frustrates him to no end, as he doesn't understand why "deadly spirits haunt him".
“ Other days, when I am happy, the sun seems to shine on everything—all is brightness and color, like the winged attendants of the Yásira. But when I am angry or mournful again, it seems as if I walk in a dark gorge like the dragon’s swamp, but it is a place I can never leave.”
It's an added layer to the character that adds such an interesting context to his descent into darkness, and his taking on the mantle of Storm King. Ineluki is not innocent, and he is not a good person, but this additional texture does make him complex. Wholly an improvement over his one-note portrayal in MEMORY, SORROW, and THRON.
There are many other characters that walk in and out of this story as well, some familiar, some new. All of them are well written and compelling and the history and depth they add to this world are very welcome indeed.
My anticipation for the next entry, INTO THE NARROWDARK, is at an all time high. There are several implications that are made in this entry that have me eager to see what, if anything, comes of them. It may be presumptuous, but Tad hasn't let me down before, and I doubt he'll start doing so now.
spacebee's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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
5.0
edebell's review against another edition
5.0
I was going to write a thoughtful review, but I can't. So many layers, so much to say. Admittedly, I am one of the Storyteller's Children, and there is backstory and nuance but...I don't know that I've ever enjoyed a book so much. Stunning.
[The violence is gently, kindly presented, but strong content notes for acid/fire damaged skin and chronic pain.]
Update: A major retail site apparently thought, like, by saying "children" - Tad is my Dad? As opposed to an in-world reference as part of an acknowledgment of what an admirer I am as both a reader and a writer. So I did leave this updated review there:
I have maybe never enjoyed a book so much. Both for the story, the connection to the Osten Ard world, and the absolute skill of fantasy craft within these pages. This is Fantasy. Both ancestral and reborn. As a reader, I couldn't put it down. As a writer, I just gasp at the ever-growing skill and nuance of Tad Williams. This is a stunning, tremendous, book.
[The violence is gently, kindly presented, but strong content notes for acid/fire damaged skin and chronic pain.]
Update: A major retail site apparently thought, like, by saying "children" - Tad is my Dad? As opposed to an in-world reference as part of an acknowledgment of what an admirer I am as both a reader and a writer. So I did leave this updated review there:
I have maybe never enjoyed a book so much. Both for the story, the connection to the Osten Ard world, and the absolute skill of fantasy craft within these pages. This is Fantasy. Both ancestral and reborn. As a reader, I couldn't put it down. As a writer, I just gasp at the ever-growing skill and nuance of Tad Williams. This is a stunning, tremendous, book.
leitnerkev's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Nice contextual add to the Osten Ard lore. Fundamentally not much there for a book but the author does try to make the story of Ineluki's descent a more human, generous story
arkron's review against another edition
4.0
Synopsis: A Great Worm has come down again from the north, a beast called Hidohebhi, the Blackworm.
A thousands years before the tale of Memory, Sorrow & Thorn starts with the Dragonbone Chair, two brothers of the immortal fay folk of the Sithi live in the beautiful town Asu’a. One is the stupid and proud younger brother Ineluki, who will later be known as the undead Storm King. The other brother and the main protagonist of this novel is steady and loyal Hakatri, whose tale features him as the Burning Man, one of the greatest tragic heroes of the Zida’ya (as the Sithi call themselves).
Hakatri lives as a well-reknown member of the Sithis’ leaders together with his beautiful wife, his children, cosseted by his faithful servant Pamon Kes.
One day, a human leader comes to Asu’a and asks for help, because they can’t handle a beast alone which destroys their livestock and killed men. Ineluki makes a terrible oath that he will destroy the monster. Hakatri follows him to protect his brother and is dragged into a disaster changing his life forever, and not in a good way.
Their investigations lead to the identification of the monster as one of the Great Worms which they won’t be able to fight all alone. They have to find help, not only in fighting force, but also in knowledge how to fight the beast.
The story is told from Pamon Kes’s perspective, who has to face questions about his identity as one of the Tinukeda`ya, a Changeling, as he struggles to save his master Hakatri.
Review: I am so happy that Tad Williams decided to return to Osten Ard in order to investigate this epic tale from the distant past. It fully dives into the culture and setting of the Sithi, Norns, and Changelings in a time when they still lived in cities.
Readers of the series know the antagonist Ineluki, the Storm Lord. In parts, this novel tells also his way to destruction. But mostly, it focuses on the heroic deeds and tragic fate of his older brother Hikatri.
Where the human tales of Memory, Sorry & Thorn was often light-hearted and even funny, you won’t find such a thing in this very short novel. It is a tragedy just like Tolkien’s Children of Húrin. I don’t know if this a tale for everyone, but I loved it even more than the trilogy.
Both main protagonists, Hikatri as well as Pamon Kes, are relatable, positive characters who are developing in different ways: Pamon Kes needs to redefine his place within the society, and Hikatri has to face his tragedy which changes everything.
The novel covers a lot of ground, the killing of the dragon just one of several parts, followed by a long journey through Osten Ard.
Two things I’d love to see changed: One, the logical but abrupt ending. Second, the length: my heart longs for far more than only 271 pages while my brain tells me that the tale’s density can’t be better. In a time of doorstoppers (looking at you, Sanderson!) this book honors the tradition of Earthsea’s short novels.
Wow, now I’ve touched Tolkien and Le Guin within one single review. I’ve been up to assess this as a four star book, but looking back I upgrade it to five stars. Because it’s just the kind of thoughtful Epic Fantasy I love to read.
A thousands years before the tale of Memory, Sorrow & Thorn starts with the Dragonbone Chair, two brothers of the immortal fay folk of the Sithi live in the beautiful town Asu’a. One is the stupid and proud younger brother Ineluki, who will later be known as the undead Storm King. The other brother and the main protagonist of this novel is steady and loyal Hakatri, whose tale features him as the Burning Man, one of the greatest tragic heroes of the Zida’ya (as the Sithi call themselves).
Hakatri lives as a well-reknown member of the Sithis’ leaders together with his beautiful wife, his children, cosseted by his faithful servant Pamon Kes.
One day, a human leader comes to Asu’a and asks for help, because they can’t handle a beast alone which destroys their livestock and killed men. Ineluki makes a terrible oath that he will destroy the monster. Hakatri follows him to protect his brother and is dragged into a disaster changing his life forever, and not in a good way.
Their investigations lead to the identification of the monster as one of the Great Worms which they won’t be able to fight all alone. They have to find help, not only in fighting force, but also in knowledge how to fight the beast.
The story is told from Pamon Kes’s perspective, who has to face questions about his identity as one of the Tinukeda`ya, a Changeling, as he struggles to save his master Hakatri.
Review: I am so happy that Tad Williams decided to return to Osten Ard in order to investigate this epic tale from the distant past. It fully dives into the culture and setting of the Sithi, Norns, and Changelings in a time when they still lived in cities.
Readers of the series know the antagonist Ineluki, the Storm Lord. In parts, this novel tells also his way to destruction. But mostly, it focuses on the heroic deeds and tragic fate of his older brother Hikatri.
Where the human tales of Memory, Sorry & Thorn was often light-hearted and even funny, you won’t find such a thing in this very short novel. It is a tragedy just like Tolkien’s Children of Húrin. I don’t know if this a tale for everyone, but I loved it even more than the trilogy.
Both main protagonists, Hikatri as well as Pamon Kes, are relatable, positive characters who are developing in different ways: Pamon Kes needs to redefine his place within the society, and Hikatri has to face his tragedy which changes everything.
The novel covers a lot of ground, the killing of the dragon just one of several parts, followed by a long journey through Osten Ard.
Two things I’d love to see changed: One, the logical but abrupt ending. Second, the length: my heart longs for far more than only 271 pages while my brain tells me that the tale’s density can’t be better. In a time of doorstoppers (looking at you, Sanderson!) this book honors the tradition of Earthsea’s short novels.
Wow, now I’ve touched Tolkien and Le Guin within one single review. I’ve been up to assess this as a four star book, but looking back I upgrade it to five stars. Because it’s just the kind of thoughtful Epic Fantasy I love to read.