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18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Don't be put off by other reviews ... this is worth reading., 17 April 2007
After reading the other reviews, I felt I had to say something. This book may on the surface feel like there isn't a lot happening but that is because there are lots of strands to this story - each twisting around the others. There is still so much story to be told - do you want all the answers now before the story is done?
I will say that this is a book with few moments that lighten mood or give a break in the intense storyline. At one point I wondered if any of the characters would have anything good happen to them at all! This said - the characters themselves grow and change throughout this book. Briony may annoy some, but I really liked her in this book - she never seems to give in and at least takes responsibility for herself (unlike other female fantasy characters I've come across).
I loved the funderlings even more in this book - they really need a book of their own.
I find that Tad Williams' books are great the first read but really need a second read - there's so much packed in that it's easy to miss some small but important information the first time around. I did find on my second read that because I wasn't in so much of a hurry to find out what happened next, I relaxed into the story and enjoyed it much more.
Anyway, the whole point of this review is to say that this book is a really great read and I really recommend it.
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20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The pace quickens, 6 Mar 2007
Tad Williams returns to the genius of his Memory sorrow and thorn trilogy with his second release in the Shadowmarch trilogy.
Again he has painted a huge fantasy world, this time inhabited by a maniacal man/god who looks to invade and destroy all lands who will not submit to be his subjects, fairy type creatures readying to unleash war and spreading darkness as they march and a handful of seemingly helpless humans trying to turn the tide.
A royal family ousted from their land, a princess and loyal servant, her brother losing has mind and venturing deeper and deeper into the lands now in shadow and a woman with royal blood forced to continually run and hide. These and a whole host of others are brought to life in this book.
The first in the series had much to recommend it but it moved a little slowly as the story and characters were built up. Here though no such exposition is needed and so the story flies along at quite a pace and so the tension is built up far more quickly and is kept up throughout.
There is no doubt Williams knows how to paint a realistic fantasy world and he is on top form here as he adds various characters and subplots and keeps twisting the story so that you're never too sure in which direction things might go.
athough there is detail here it is never allowed to slow the pace or drown the plot.
If you enjoy fantasy writing then this is recommended although you would be best served to start with Shadowmarch. If you have read that book then dont hesitate to try Shadowplay as it is even better and provides a well written and exciting read. Enjoy.
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9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Extremely good (A Book Swede Review), 9 Aug 2007
Well first, I'd like to say a massive thank you to Tad Williams for personally sending this one out to me, all the way from the US! It was a great feeling to receive a review copy of a book from one of my favourite authors.
That said, I was looking forward to this one with a mixture of pleasant anticipation, and dread. You see, I didn't really enjoy the first book, Shadowmarch, that much. As other reviewers have said, though, what Tad produces, even if weak for him, is still at the top of the genre.
But Shadowplay blew me away. The story moved a bit slower than to be expected in the second volume of a trilogy, but I have no doubts that Tad Williams will wrap it all up with the consummative skill he has shown in his other works. I remember feeling the same way with Book 2 of his amazing, debut trilogy, Memory, Sorrow & Thorn.
It's been said that nothing major happens in Shadowplay, which is in my opinion, a little true. Rather than the massive action and events that were expected from the conclusion of Book 1, lots of threads and storylines that seemed completely random in Shadowmarch, have been woven together to weave a story that is richer in characterisation and revelation than I think any of Williams' other works have ever been.
My favourite new characterisation was of one of the invading fairy folk. In Shadowmarch we got a glimpse of the Qar, invading fey from behind the Shadowline--a magical barrier stopping movement between the two races. In this book, though, the glimpse is much bigger when Prince Barrick, trapped behind the Shadowline meets Gyir, a high ranking soldier and personal friend to Yassamez, ruthless leader of the Shadow armies. Now don't worry if all these names sound crazy to you--Shadowmarch, Book 1 of the Shadowmarch trilogy, is obviously, very necessary reading.
It was nice to see that, for once in the fantasy genre, the bad guys aren't a nameless evil, attacking everything and anything for no reason. Cruel, deformed, mad, etc, a large majority of them may be but Gyir reveals the real reasons for their attack (though, old scores with the humans are of course to be settled. The Qar are long lived and they neither forgive nor forget...)
There were also a few moments of humour in this book. Most moments of this came (perhaps, tellingly) from the dark thoughts of Gyir.
Other characters developed well, too; Olin, kidnapped king, spoke of and reminisced of a lot in Book 1, actually plays a part in this book, and from the events of Shadowplay, an even larger part awaits him in Book 3; Princess Briony, forced from her home by traitorous courtiers, becomes very interesting, which makes a nice change as I found her annoyingly whiny in Shadowmarch.
For more reviews, amazing and regular competitions, and author interviews visit: www.thebookswede.blogspot.com
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