Shadowmarch

Shadowmarch, Volume I

By: Tad Williams

Narrated by: Dick Hill

Length: 29 hrs and 19 mins

Publisher's summary

For generations the misty Shadowline has marked the boundary between the lands of men and the lost northern lands that are the lair of their inhuman enemies, the ageless Qar. But now that boundary line is moving outward, threatening to engulf the northernmost land in which humans still live - the kingdom of Southmarch.

For centuries, the Eddon family has ruled in ancient, forbidding Southmarch Castle, guarding the border against the Qar's return, but now this powerful royal line has been dealt a devastating blow. The monarch, King Olin, is being held captive in a distant land, and it falls to his inexperienced heirs to lead their people in a time of growing danger and dread.

It is on the two youngest Eddons that the heaviest burdens fall. The twins Barrick and Briony, who in such evil times have only each other, may lose even that bond as darkness closes over them. As the Qar’s power reaches out across their land, will Southmarch Castle, the only home they’ve ever known, become in fact what it has long been called - Shadowmarch?

©2006 Tad Williams (P)2010 Brilliance Audio

Read once, listened again.

I randomly bought this book when it first came out. I remember being captivated by the story. listening to it on audible renewed my mysticism and fascination with this verse.

Be patient, there is a story to tell.

Well written book with a very slowly developed storyline. You must be patient. Typical of other Ted Williams books. As usual, Dick Hill did a great job with narration.

How to Ruin a book

Let me preface this by saying that i love Tad Williams as an author, and thought i liked Dick Hill readings. After about 4 hours of Mr Hill's sibilance's and pops as he over performs, and I was looking for the fast forward button. I restrained myself, as i still have the other three books to listen, but at about the 8 hour mark i found myself seeking the off switch, as good as the story may be, the telling of it is getting in the way. I wonder if Audible would let me trade the next three, for next three in the Briar King set. How about it Audible?

Enjoyed it!

What made the experience of listening to Shadowmarch the most enjoyable?

A very complex and imaginative Fantasy world!

Dick Hill narration was nothing less than brilliant. Especially considering the very large cast of characters. I understand the criticism of the "tone" he used for Briony. I'm sure both he and the audio series Dir. had input into how she was voiced. Yes, it comes across as whiny in many spots...but I believe that this is as intended. Briony is an adolescent girl. As much as experience and setting may have conditioned her, her entire world has come apart in under a year. With the tragedies that transpire in this first book, I feel a bit of hopelessness and despair is warranted, especially given her age.

There is much of "setting the stage" here in the first book. Quite a bit of character exposition and development. Which I felt was fine and needed given the multiple storylines that are progressing and the alien cultures and history in which they reside.

I went in to this thinking it was the beginning of a fairly lengthy Fantasy story, where there is a bit of action and intrigue, this is not the equivalent of an "action film" , it is a story, with a cast of characters that draw you in and whom you begin to know and care about.

I felt it was a fantastic beginning to what "m feeling is going to be a grand and epic adventure.

Downloading the Second Book right now!

Best Regards and Good Listening,

S. E. Watson

What did you like best about this story?

The complexity of the various story-lines and the characters and setting.

Have you listened to any of Dick Hill’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No.

I felt he did an amazing job!

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

A few surprises and twists...as well as moments of interest, happiness and sadness are found here.

Any additional comments?

A very enjoyable journey into a new and complex Fantasy world..come on in, the water's fine! ;)

Could have been a masterpiece...maybe it was

Would you listen to Shadowmarch again? Why?

yes. This is a terrific story and a great performance.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Shadowmarch?

Vansen and Barrick behind the shadowline was most memorable to me.

What does Dick Hill bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Read the book! As far as listening to the story goes, Dick Hill was was remarkable. Unfortunately, his whiny voice for Briony was annoying and detracted from the intended feel of her character and the story itself, especially at first. Otherwise, the characters were superb. Unfortunately, when he read the storyline, the cadence of Hill's voice could also be very distracting and he over-performed at times. It could have been a masterpiece but these issues influenced the way the story came across. I did love his slow pace, his wonderful characterizations, his expert reading of this book. One of the best I've listened to despite the irritating flaws. One of my favorite books from Tad Williams.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I found this book to have no wasted words, a vibrant story that I will go back to.

One of the best books I've "read" in a while

I've always enjoyed Tad Williams books. Shadowmarch was very interesting, with good character development. The narrator was a perfect fit for this book - he is a good storyteller and kept my interest through the whole book. I will definitely look for other books he reads. I like the whole thing so much, I bought the same book for my Kindle so that I could read it again!

Slow start

A couple of the characters are crybabies, but they are supposed to be teenagers. Overall an interesting story. I normally like Tad Williams, he spins a great story. Since there are quite a few books I am hoping it will get a lot better.

Headline is optional or required?

The audio book wouldn't play past the second chapter, but from when I physically read the book a few years ago, I enjoyed it.

Who left the bad reviews and why??

This book is a banger. Easily up there with the greats. I put reading this book off for a year because of the bad reviews. I am a fool for that. Now it makes me remember, I read the attention span of Americans (and any modern culture) is less than that of a goldfish LOL and with TikTok taking over it goes to show how short the attention span is. Tad comes from a generation where you actually had to read, people want a sword fight every other page and other false filler "action" designed to make you go "ooo hurrrdurrrr he fight wit da sword" and anything that doesn't deliver that false artificial "action" they call slow or boring. it's not slow, it's not boring, you are just a zombie that can't pay attention. Great book, pick it up and ignore these other fools. Starting book 2 now.

A favorite performed very well

Would you consider the audio edition of Shadowmarch to be better than the print version?

The audio version brings a new view in relation to reading the books. It seems a different story in some ways and very enjoyable.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Hard to choose a favorite character there are so many great characters.

What about Dick Hill’s performance did you like?

This story is one of my favorites and I want each of my favorites told by Michael Cramer and Kate Reading. But, after a couple hours of listening, Dick Hill, completely won me over. He did a masterful job and his breadth of voices and accents were fantastic. Dick Hill did a wonderful job and did this amazing story the justice it deserves.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I love this story. This amazing story is definitely one of my top 10.

Any additional comments?

If you are a fan of fantasy epics then you need to listen to this story. You will not be disappointed!