The Witchwood Crown

By: Tad Williams

Narrated by: Andrew Wincott

Length: 38 hrs and 38 mins

Publisher's summary

New York Times best-selling Tad Williams' groundbreaking epic fantasy saga of Osten Ard begins an exciting new cycle! Volume one of The Last King of Osten Ard.

Enter the epic fantasy world that inspired a generation of modern fantasy writers, including George R. R. Martin, Patrick Rothfuss, and Christopher Paolini. The Witchwood Crown begins Tad Williams' next masterpiece, bringing together the best of character-driven fantasy, action-packed high adventure, and monumental worldbuilding.

Osten Ard is at a critical turning point once again. Ancient enemies, long silent, are preparing to reclaim lands that were once theirs....

Explore more of Osten Ard in Tad Williams' landmark original trilogy - Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn - and the new stand-alone novel The Last King of Osten Ard!

©2017 Tad Williams (P)2017 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"Building upon the revered history of Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn, Williams has outdone himself by penning a 700-plus page novel that is virtually un-put-down-able.... Williams’ grand-scale storytelling mastery is on full display here. Not just utterly readable - an instant fantasy classic." (Kirkus Reviews [starred])

“Readers who delight in losing themselves in long complex tales of epic fantasy will be in their element here, and there is the promise of much more to come in future volumes.” (Locus)

"Panoramic, vigorous, often moving.... Williams adroitly weaves together the tales...heralding a suitably epic and glorious conclusion.” (Publishers Weekly)

Come back joyfully for more .

A small number of other reviewers have complained about “too much homage to the earlier blockbuster volumes”, “sentimentality”and “skipping an entire generation of character development”. On this last objection, I see it as as a strength, allowing for the introduction of many new characters to mix with the old guard. Yes the first few chapters of the book are slow but we are also learning of prince Morgan’s boozy beginnings. He, like his grandfather King Seoman Snow Lock, starts as a sapling and grows to an oak (I hope). During those boring chapters were are also made aware of growing cult in Hernystyr.

The remainder of the book is good solid Tad Williams action shifting from the Hayholt, to Rimmersgard, to Stormspike, Nabban and Oldheort Forest. The Norns are on the move and the Sithi are frightened, angry, and disagreeing even among themselves.

My favorite parts of the book have to do with the mysterious culture of the Norns. The impossible journeys that teams are sent out to do for the “Mother” Utuku and the hatred, fear and contempt that most Hikkedeya feel for each other, human animals and halfbreeds. The whole hive of Hikkedeya suppresses individuality and feels like a cult to me.

Still, these passages about the acts of the Hikkedeya are often beautiful. Snatches of poetry, friendship, love, submission to death for honor. The Hikkedeya are multidimensional but for all that, still bees. Exciting bees who sometimes forget the Mother.

I highly recommend this book and look forward to the sequels. I have rated overall 4 stars, because, darn it, it’s not perfect. Yes it has to do with that slow opening. The book ends with SEVERAL terrific cliffhangers. TW has not lost a speck of his writing talent. He is on the roll!

Loved it!

Tad Williams is such a good writer, storyteller, and the reading of this book was perfect.

Worthwhile set up to a great series

A great and unique setting that reminds me a lot of GoT with worthwhile twist and differences.

I really enjoyed how the characters were betrayed and how life-like they felt.

Really picks up on the second half and rewards you for the listen!

Some really good some meh.

Tad Williams meanders as usual through a lot of details to get to the more interesting stuff. The reader is good until you get to the Norns. His choice for their voices is odd and took me out of the story. I will probably read the print version of the next one.

Been waiting

A lot of plot comes up, and a couple of twists here and there. Almost sad to return to the world of Osten Ard and discover so much time having elapsed. Sometimes the shifts in characters have seemingly absolutely no connection whatsoever with the main story, and some even just seem to never resolve by the end. Hopefully, the next book will fill in those blanks, or make some of the storylines make better sense in relation to the main story.

Great addition to the series!

An excellent addition to the Memory Sorrow and Thorn series. Same feel. Same people. Same place. Many new characters that you grow to care about. Many old friends that have been long missed. Lots of mysteries and twists revealed at the end. Can't wait to start the next book. FYI - More sexual references than prior 3 books combined.

Tad proves he's still the best!

What an amazing return to the land of Osten Tad! The story is every bit as interesting and complex as we have come to expect from Tad, and it was sheer joy to catch up with old friends while also being introduced to new and exciting characters. I will now be anxiously awaiting the next volume. :)

The narrator is quite good, and gives a wide range of accents for the various characters, making it easier to identify who we are hearing from at any given moment.

Tad Williams at his finest

I’ve been a huge fan of Tad’s writings of Osten Ard ever since I stumbled across The Dragonbone Chair in the library in the summer of ‘91. As much as I *love* the Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn trilogy, this entry in the broader narrative is, to me, the best yet, especially the first half of the book. And, as all of the Osten Ard stories, they are masterfully read by Andrew Wincott. Even if I don’t agree with some of his vocal choices for certain races/characters, he’s incredibly consistent and often I can tell who’s speaking merely be his vocal characterization, and for anyone at all familiar with the huge cast of characters that populate Tad’s books, you know this is no small feat. I read one critique that thought Tad’s pacing was even slower than MST, but I thought the pacing was much better! When encouraging friends to read The Dragonbone Chair, I always told them that if you make it past the first 100 pages, you won’t be able to put it down. In The Witchwood Crown, there is no initial slog. He jumps right into the action. And then King Simon’s visit to Elvritshalla… sublime.

Slow Start, Amazing ending

Very nice addition to the world of Osten Ard. I liked listening about where the lives of the many characters had taken them. I loved the reuinions. I did think that the book was a little drawn out at times but its all for the buildup and world building to prepare for the ending. I can't wait for the next book now!

Amazing!!

This is my first time reading Tad Williams and let me tell you I was blown away. he does an amazing job expounding upon the key piece you need to know if you didn't read his first series. Definitely recommend.