Has anyone read Tad William's Shadowmarch series?

Cafe Society
1

I am a fan of Tad William’s “Memory, Sorrow and Thorn” series, and I decided to start reading William’s other big series - Shadowmarch a few weeks ago. I think that the prose is quite good, but the glacial plot pacing, innumerable characters, each with their own point of view, and the mind numbing God myths is just getting to be too much of a slog for me. I have finished the first book and 3/4 of the second book, but the pace is getting slower all the time, and I don’t want to waste my time reading the last 2 books if they are all like this.

I am no stranger to plot inertia, having read the entirety of the published books for “A Song of ice and Fire,” and “Wheel of time,” but Shadowmarch is in a class by itself. Has anyone staggered through the entire series? Does the pace pick up in either of the last two books? Is it even worthwhile for me to try and read the rest?

2

I’m a GIANT Tad Williams fan.

That said, I’ve started the first book a half-dozen times and had to struggle to get past the introduction.

I’m about… 100 pages from the end of the first book, but I put it down about 3 months or so ago and haven’t picked it up again yet.

It really seems like he’s done this before, and better, with MS&T.

3

Not to totally change the topic, but what did you like about “Memory, Sorrow and Thorn”? I’m curious and may read it.

Note: I tried to read Otherland and found it to be far too dull for my liking.

4

This is exactly where I am. It doesn’t have anywhere near the compelling characterisation I got out of Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn. Prince whatsisface is a morose irritating little git who seems to have an incestuous obsession with his sister. Urgh.

5

I like Memory, Sorrow etc. much better but yes, I have read the whole series, and I think it got good about halfway in. I read the first half of the first book years and years ago, and then my husband bought me the rest last year, and I finished it. Still creaky in spots, and there were a few characters I never really warmed to, but it became interesting enough to finish.

We’re big Tad Williams fans over here. His series generally take at least until halfway through the first book to get interesting. I liked Otherland, but I think you need to get through the first book to start really enjoying it, because the story doesn’t get fully set up until River of Blue Fire.

6

I guess I lacked patience, then. I only read ~300 pages or so, maybe a bit more.

7

Thanks for providing some hope. I will go on and hope for the best!

8

Gosh yes, Prince Barrick is completely unlikeable, and Princess Briony only a bit less so. My favorite characters are the more minor characters like Shaso and Ferris Vanson, etc.

9

Memory, Sorrow and Thorn moved along at a much better pace than Shadowmarch. The story borrowed some from Tolkien and the Hobbit, and I suppose that is part of why I liked it, because I am a big Tolkien fan. The characterizations in MST are not as complex or as dark as Shadowmarch, which could be either good or bad depending on your taste. I just found the characters much more likeable.

10

I find it interesting that at the end of Memory, Sorrow and Thorn there is a prophecy spoken about Prince Josua’s children, twins who will be forced to go on an adventure to save the Kingdom from dark forces. Clearly he has adapted that idea into Shadowmarch, but set it in a different world to accommodate the additional mythical elements.

11

Yes, Barrick’s journey just made me want to kick him, mostly. I liked Matt Tinmouth eventually, and Vansen, and Quinnitan. There was too much borrowed Elizabethan about it, plus the I didn’t dig all the mythology. I like the Sithi better than the fairies, although I know they’re similar.

Still read it and liked parts. Otherland and Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn are my favourites.