Shadowrise: Shadowmarch: Volume III

One of the best things in this book is the realism of the central characters, at least the twins. Their weaknesses, fears, and inadequacies make them real, love-able and believe-able. The mystery of the shadow world is alive and deepened.

The only part I don't yet understand is the motivations of the Autarch. Why does he want to get god-like powers? If he already has so much power, what motivates him? Even the pleasures in torture, much like those of CIA operatives, needs to be explained. Was he abused that he must be abused? Is the Autarch controlled by bankers or a small spiritual community of occupying interlopers on another spiritual people's land? There are many questions of motivation missing on the evil side.

Of course, the love-able creatures below the castle, Chert and the mysterious boy Flint, make one long for the beautiful days spent in childhood with father or grandfather. The way Flint is something other, something mysterious and perhaps not-altogether-good is interesting too. Of course, the novel could use some more grey figures. The Tendon Hally character is good along these lines. Would that W. or Obama would receive their rewards for their evils too.

Overall, a good, not a great book. I'm enjoying the next one far more. Of course, after the masterpiece of the Otherworld series, the imagination of Williams is superb. You can't not like this book.

The narration by Dick Hill is adequate.

I wish I could listen to this book in one super long walk.

Worth the price. We need more quality authors like Williams.

A long story that I enjoyed while travelling recently. The narrator does a good job with the many different characters and his voice suits the tone of the story.

Tad Williams has to be one of the most imaginative writers, I've had the pleasure of reading or listening.

It becomes painfully obvious almost immediately in this book that the narrator does not like the characters he portrays. He reads them as whiny spoiled children who hate everyone and have no redeeming qualities. The sad part is that I agree with him. This is the worst "attempt" at character development I have ever been exposed to. The characters, with few exceptions, are completely unlikeable. The storyline drags like it is stuck in the bog of eternal stench. Yes, it is really that bad. I've read books by or co-authored by, Tad Williams and it is hard for me to believe this is the same writer. I'd give the book zero stars or negative stars but people tend to skip over reviews that appear to not have a rating.