Shadowrise

Tad Williams is the master of typical fantasy and I say that in the kindest sense. There is a lot of cliche fantasy in this series, but he still manages to make it engaging, interesting and full of in depth characters. I was specifically fond of Barrick's journey. Although he is sullen and moody a lot of the time, I found his journey behind the Shadowline to be some of the most interesting parts of this installment. Although I didn't entirely fall in love with Williams characters like I did many of the characters from his Memory, Sorrow and Thorn series, they are still very well drawn out and slowly grow as the their fates force them into situations that test their courage, their persistence and their wits. In the third book of the Shadowmarch series, we start to see all the threads that have thus far been separate start to weave together into what is sure to be an epic showdown. I was happy that some of the reasons behind many things that have happened so far have been revealed, along with the motives of many of the characters that have been only hinted at previously. I look forward to the conclusion and to find out the fates of all involved