Tad Williams is at it again.

Martinto write their own epic fantasy series.

The last in the trilogy,To Green Angel Tower, was published in 1993.

The return to this fictional world has been a long time in the making.

Persevere, and youll have a pretty good grasp on all but the most obscure references.

And, in classic fantasy novel tradition, theres maps and an appendix to help you follow along.

A lot takes place in this massive book that clocks in at 736 pages.

Thats partly due to the shifting viewpoint and globe-hopping between chapters.

The Norns, you see, are still sore that they lost the war to mortals many years ago.

Tensions are so high you could cut them with a knife.

And theyre not the same.

Simon is very much grounded because of his past.

He doesnt appreciate the glorifying of his past heroic deeds because he started out as a simple kitchen boy.

Simon and Miriameles relationship and rule are stable, wholesome and not without a sense of humor.

These are the easy good guys to root for.

The Norns are very entitled, even though they were nearly wiped out by mortals in a past war.

The Sithi are opposites of the Norns, but not altogether easy to get along with.

(The Witchwood Crownis part one in a plannedtrilogy.

Thats not to say that things dont happen in the rest of the book.

Theres revelations, voyages, disputes, battles, stealth, andsomuch treachery.

These portions fill out a rich world populated with characters that compliment each other.

Morgan comes upon a few unsettling situations that he doesnt divulge to his royal grandparents.

Nezeru has to lie to save her life.

Lies are sometimes needed to bring about truth.

Nezeru makes a profound character change, and is one to watch.

She is one of the Queens Talons, but all that changes during a mission in the field.

She purposefully misses the killing blow on her victim and is punished for it.

Nezeru is half mortal and her hesitation lands her in deep trouble.

Nezeru starts questioning how the Norns do things.

That is amplified when her party is joined by mortal Queens huntsman Jarnulf.

Even Viyeki, her Norn father, shows great change.

Viyeki is out in the world on the Queens business, and a light rain begins to fall.

Throughout the sometimes ponderous 700+ pages, you cant help but grow fond of these characters.

I think of Morgan and his drunken exploits which later lead to profound insight.

I also think of Nezeru, becoming more independent the further she travels.

With each switch of the chapter we get another viewpoint and another thread to follow.

Its quite the tapestry that Tad Williams has woven.

I know I did.

The Witchwood Crownis now available to buyvia Amazon.